Factory 15 rounders or Mec-Gar 18 rounders?

Which do you prefer?

I prefer the Mec Gars.

+1 on the Mec Gars. I've used dozens of them and they've been nothing short of perfection for me.

Nothing wrong with factory (aren't they, or didn't they used to be, made by Mec-Gar?), but the only time I've bought anything except 17- and 18-round Mec-Gars in the past several years is when I bought Mec-Gars with the +2 bases already installed.

Sig factory mags in the past were generally mecgar. But at some point the factory switched to checkmate. Those had some teething issues but I'm told nowdays are generally OK.
I would pick a mecgar mag over a checkmate factory one every time. An factory mag made in Italy or a german one is a wash.

Second that for Mec Gars

Yes

As-in yes factory 15 rounders (when made by Mec-Gar) and Mec-Gar 18 rounders and Mec-Gar branded 15 rounders and 20 rounders for extra credit!

I've never had any Check-mate Sig mags, but been issued plenty of them for M9s. Never shot enough M9 to know if they have an issue. When deployed, I only carried 3 Beretta factory mags (made by Mec-Gar ) outside the wire.

Either / or for me. I often look for cheap used factory Sig 226 mags. The majority of them I have found work just fine but appear worn. And you can also rebuild them.
I have some new Mec-Gars that are fine but pick them up only when I can find them on sale.

I have three flavors of 226 so I have a bunch of 15 round factory mags. I like the flush fit, but the 18 round MecGars only stick out slightly more than the 15 rounders. I'm fine with either.

Your subject line should be clearer.

Come on, guys. It's not that hard.

"P226 mags- Factory 15 rounders or Mec-Gar 18 rounders?"

I bought a nice supply of the best factory P226 mags made, so I use those. And if you are wondering what those are, its the made by Mecgar in Italy 15 rd mag in the really smooth black anti-friction coating. Followed by the same magazine in the blued steel coating.

The phosphate Mecgar mags I keep around for spare parts. But I don't use them for serious use, as they are not as good as the anti-friction coating or blued coating. And they caused us a ton of issues on the line with jams. The phosphate mags need dissembled and heavily scrubbed out on the inside with a brush.

Mec-Gar AFC for the win.

18-round anti-friction Mec-Gars are all I use in my P226s.

SIG factory phosphate dovetail 15 rnd. mags, Mec-Gar Blued 17 rnd., Mec-Gar AFC 18 rnd. mags...I've used numerous examples of each, in several P226s and thousands of rounds. Never had a bit of trouble with any of the mags cycling the guns, with the exception of a couple isolated issues with some old SIG mags in which the magazine spring may be slightly worn.

The 15 and 17 rnd. mags are flush fit (a nice feature) and the 18 rnd. mags will provide for more capacity but with a corresponding extension past the grip frame.

I would trust any of the mags I listed for defensive use, but currently rely on the Mec-Gar AFC 18 rnd. mags when I carry 9mm. I'm debating whether switching back to the 17 rnd. mags for the flush fit is worth losing a single round of capacity.

I've even used a few non-marked P226 mags, likely Pro-mags, that have cycled various P226s with no issue, other than they intermittently fail to lock the slide back after the last round. I would not use these for defensive purposes and relegate them to range duty only.

I prefer the no longer made 17 round MecGar with the flush fitting metal base plate.

I have not been a fan of a lot of Mec-Gar mags for many years now. Since they went to the blue packaging. They changed to proprietary springs and all the mag springs are too weak IMO. And I don't like going through them to get new ones. Not all of the Mec-Gar mags are like this though. I'm mainly just not a fan of the Optimus line.

Please don't go stepping in with the factory mags are Mec-Gar made. Okay, I know. Some are, many aren't. There are a ton of different magazine manufactures out there. And if anyone has had experience working in a factory, even the same item has parts from different sub-vendors all the time. And Factory mags are built to different specs, even if they're made in the same factory as Mec-Gar branded mags.

I prefer the older zipperback, Sig marked mags for my 228s and 226s...never had a single issue..i do have some M'gar mags and they work fine, i guess its just a preference. matter of fact, I just bought 6 of the phosphate M'gar mags from the classified section

quote:

Originally posted by bolo4tom:
I prefer the older zipperback, Sig marked mags for my 228s and 226s...never had a single issue..i do have some M'gar mags and they work fine, i guess its just a preference. matter of fact, I just bought 6 of the phosphate M'gar mags from the classified section

My biggest issue is the Mecgar mags with the OEM springs that are weak to begin with and need OEM replacement. Mainly the Optimus line. Aside from that, I don't have an issue with any of the old school Mecgar mags really. Even the hollow follower ones that some people dislike. I've not had a problem with them for the most part.

I have been using factory 15 round USA made (Checkmate made?) SIG P226 9mm magazines for over 3 years now with no issues.

I expected them to not be reliable due to posts I had read in the forums, but my experience with them has been very positive and I now consider them to be just as good as German or Italian made magazines.

quote:

Originally posted by CAR:
I have been using factory 15 round USA made (Checkmate made?) SIG P226 9mm magazines for over 3 years now with no issues.

I expected them to not be reliable due to posts I had read in the forums, but my experience with them has been very positive and I now consider them to be just as good as German or Italian made magazines.

Early Checkmate mags had issues from what I read. But, subsequently, they are just as reliable as Mec-Gar and German mags. My current 229-1 and 226 Checkmates have been flawless, also.