Glock mags for carry, PMAGS for training or range. Period.

The retailer that starts with B that everyone hates out west (Las Vegas based) has Glock mags for $21.xx.

+1 on CDNN Sports for factory mags, get all my mags there.

I've used 15 round PMags for multiple classes (same set of 4 mags). I shot maybe 1,500 rounds through the 4 mags in classes plus more during training, dropped them on gravel & grass, stepped on them accidentally etc. and never had an issue. As an aside I only used new manufacture, brass cased ammo. Saying that, I only use Glock mags for defense purposes. GT Distributors (https://www.gtdist.com/brands/glock/glock-magazines.html) has G19 mags for $21.99 each. They are legitimate Glock mags, but come loose packed (no retail packaging).

I don’t understand. If you ran 1500 rounds through them with no problems. Handled them roughly, dropped them repeatedly, no problems. Yet you won’t use them for carry?

When you were in the military you basically never got the original manufacturer magazines. Ever. They had been eaten up by the system years earlier. You got whoever had the been the supplier of mags at the time. Or the previous supplier. Yes, they had to meet the standard set by the supply order. And for the most part they worked, unless the govt set some silly standard that doesn’t work in sand lol.

My point is, how much testing would it take for you to use something other than a Glock mag? I ask because it’s kind of unique to Glock. 1911 guys use all kinds of non Colt mags. I prefer MecGar to OEM mags in a lot of cases. It’s like we somehow think metal lined plastic mags are the only way to make Glocks work when it counts.

Besides which, if you made a metal Glock mag , would it be possible to squeeze in 2 more rounds? Asking for a friend.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I don’t understand. If you ran 1500 rounds through them with no problems. Handled them roughly, dropped them repeatedly, no problems. Yet you won’t use them for carry?

I didn't say I wouldn't, just that I don't. I don't actually carry a G19 (CZ P-07 or Walther P99c most of the time). My G19 is my SHTF gun, so the mags sit for long periods loaded (think months to years). The polymer feed lips of the PMags hold up fine under normal use at the range, but when stressed for long periods under static loads, I have a concern (though possibly unfounded) that they will have creep issues. My background is polymer and composites engineering and I see this as a potential failure mode. If I had all the material properties I could do the calculations and let you know if it would be an issue...but I don't have them. You could also test them by loading up a few mags (minimum 3), let it sit for a long while and then shooting it. It really depends on your use case. Since my G19s came with 3 mags and an additional 3 was like $65 I figured I'd just rely on what Glock designed. If someone threw me a PMag in the middle of a firefight, I'd definitely use it...

The metal lining does a few things. It reduces the friction between the rounds and the mag wall. It also prevents the mag from bulging if loaded for long periods of time. As I mentioned, my biggest worry would be the feed lips on the PMag. I do use AR PMags, but when I store them loaded I use that little locking piece to add some rigidity to the feed lips when under the maximum static stress (fully loaded and left that way). I also typically download AR mags by 1-2 rounds to make them easier to seat when the bolt is closed.

I see it as cheap insurance to use Glock mags. I have a whole bunch of Magpul stuff and have not had issues with any of it. I just don't see a big advantage when the difference in price is about $10 per mag. With the three I would need to buy to get to six that's only a $30 difference to have that added confidence and reliability. Are Glock PMags bad? Absolutely not. I already mentioned that I use them for classes and some training. I figure if I wear one out, lose it, smash it etc. then it's not as big of a deal. I have plenty of both and have had no issues with either, just prefer to stay with Glock mags for those pistols for defensive use. I did have some issues with an ETS mag, but that was their 31 (or 33?) round mag with my G19 gen 4, but I blame myself as I may have pushed on the mag during firing. And I'm with you on Mec-gar mags. I love them for my Berettas (though they probably make the OEM ones).

You ask about testing and how much for confidence. I'm confident I could use PMags based on my experience, I just don't see an overriding reason to do so since I have plenty of the factory mags. My standard for a defense weapon is 200 rounds of FMJ followed by 50+ rounds of whatever defense ammo I plan to use without any failures that I can't readily attribute to ammo. I usually qualify 2-3 mags during this initial validation then run at least 3-4 mag loads through additional ones I purchase. The test I mention above would address my concern on the long term effects of a loaded mag on the feed lips.

I didn't serve in the military, but have heard what you report from friends and family that have/do serve. Keep in mind that the military is a .gov entity and therefore has a different set of objectives. If 99% reliable is good enough for the mission profile then they won't spend an extra 100% to make something 99.5% reliable across thousands of units. For me at a personal level, I may be spending an extra 100%, but it's only $30 or so and to me it's worth it to gain whatever non-quantified increase in reliability it buys me.

At the end of the day you have to decide what your use case is and whether the cost/benefit of PMags vs. factory fits into that. I don't think you will have issues with PMags if that's what you choose to use.

For your question on metal Glock mags, I suspect you are correct that you could cram a couple extra rounds in there with metal mags...probably more. The G48/43X metal mags increase their capacity by 50%, but apparently wear down the mag catch unless changed out for a metal one. I don't have personal experience with them, just what I've read here and a few other places.

I hear you. I guess I just think a little Glock mysticism is in play. This is not directed at you so please don’t take it that way. The magic of the Glock mag. Every other gun I own, which is almost every major brand, I own OEM mags and aftermarket brands. Never even think twice about using them. MecGar, Checkmate, Wilson, etc. You can argue MecGar makes OEM mags but it’s my understanding that KCI uses Glock tooling for their Asian military stuff.

I can’t imagine any of my magpul Glock mags bulging. Certainly not enough to impact anything. As we speak I have loaded mags that have been that way for at least a year or two and they slide in and out like they were new. Or empty.

I guess I’m just saying that some of this is just mythology. I’m guilty as well. I “feel” like oem is superior even though I’ve never had the magpul or kci mags fail other than not feeding steel cased ammo.

Eventually just like other long lived platforms, other mags will be considered acceptable for real use. Nobody demands Beretta mags, nobody demands Colt 1911 mags, CZ? Please.

quote:

Originally posted by Kampy:
For your question on metal Glock mags, I suspect you are correct that you could cram a couple extra rounds in there with metal mags...probably more. The G48/43X metal mags increase their capacity by 50%, but apparently wear down the mag catch unless changed out for a metal one. I don't have personal experience with them, just what I've read here and a few other places.

From what I've read, the Shield Arms S15 mags succeed, b/c they turn a single-stack mag into a double-stack one. They could conceivably turn a double-stack mag into a 2.5 or triple-stack mag, but they haven't worked out the feed problems. I don't know if greater-than-double-stacking in a flush-fit internal mag is as easy to work out as Surefire does w/ their quad-stack external MAG5 AR-15 mag. I suspect not. If Shield Arms delves into flush-fit G17/19 mags, I think the most capacity increase we could expect from them would be +3.

Rumor is the next Glock mag from Shield Arms will be G42/43 8-round mags that are the size as the OEM 6-round mag w/ pinky extension.