A lot of online sources are out of stock on Magpul Gen 2 and 3 magazines right now, and a friend of mine (no, I’m not asking for myself) got on Cheaper Than Dirt (big mistake) and saw a brand called UTG. Their 30-rounders are running just under $9.00 each.

I don’t know if they’re good quality or junk, and wanted some opinions so I can let him know whether to buy or run away.

D&H at Palmetto State Armory, sure they are $4 more than I paid a few years ago. But, I wouldn't trust a UTG mag at the range let alone my life.

I wouldn’t waste my time. They might work, but why take the bet?

https://www.primaryarms.com/ok...zine-5.56-30rd-black

I don't know anything about their magazines, but UTG overall doesn't have the best reputation. They primary offer cheap Chinese "tacticool" accessories. Similar to brands like Tapco and NC Star.

(However, they do have a small line of US-made "UTG Pro" accessories that cost more and are reportedly better quality.)

I wouldn't take the chance. Spend a couple bucks more on better quality magazines. Magazines are important.

Another vote to go to Palmetto and get some D&H Mags. The price is always right, and they are excellent mags. They're not plastic-fantastic but meet or exceed military GI spec aluminum mags. They are currently a Daily Deal til tomorrow mid day.

A short time ago, I checked Palmetto State Armory and they have:

Magpul PMAG 30 AR-15 Gen M2 MOE 5.56 Magazine - Black both window and non-window variant in stock


In reference to the link Voshterkoff posted:
Okay Industries SureFeed E2 AR-15 Magazine 5.56 - 30rd - Black

I used these (they didn't have a blue follower though) in Afghanistan along with Brownells and C-Products. For seven months plus I did my very best to abuse them to see how they would hold up and what they could handle.

It is probably the only time I will really be able to test items in field like conditions.

They were great. I few scratches and dings but they never failed, and I tried to get them to.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I don't know anything about their magazines, but UTG overall doesn't have the best reputation. They primary offer cheap Chinese "tacticool" accessories. Similar to brands like Tapco and NC Star.

(However, they do have a small line of US-made "UTG Pro" accessories that cost more and are reportedly better quality.)

I wouldn't take the chance. Spend a couple bucks more on better quality magazines. Magazines are important.

Couldn't agree more. Crap. In the early days, when I got into AR stuff, my experience with UTG and NcStar taught me all I need to know about these shitty companies. Even if the "Pro" line is supposedly better quality, I would never touch them. You don't get a second chance to make the first impression.

please stick with quality mags

another vote for Okay brand aka 'SureFeed'

----------------------------

There are two AR15 magazines.

Magpul. And Okay.

If you want your gun to work, and have faith that your shit will work, than you buy Magpul if you want polymer, and Okay, if you want GI aluminum.

Don't waste time, money, or effort, buying other shit. If you shoot long enough, and put enough rounds down range, you will come to the exact same conclusion as I have presented above.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
There are two AR15 magazines.

Magpul. And Okay.

If you want your gun to work, and have faith that your shit will work, than you buy Magpul if you want polymer, and Okay, if you want GI aluminum.

Don't waste time, money, or effort, buying other shit. If you shoot long enough, and put enough rounds down range, you will come to the exact same conclusion as I have presented above.

You must have forgot about Lancer L5 AWM mags?

These have worked well for me and though my experience with Lancer mags is limited to my .300 BLK Tavor X95, they've been dependable.

https://www.brownells.com/maga...1=Salezz1zzClearance

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
There are two AR15 magazines.

Magpul. And Okay.

If you want your gun to work, and have faith that your shit will work, than you buy Magpul if you want polymer, and Okay, if you want GI aluminum.

Don't waste time, money, or effort, buying other shit. If you shoot long enough, and put enough rounds down range, you will come to the exact same conclusion as I have presented above.

You must have forgot about Lancer L5 AWM mags?

Nope, I haven't. Sold my Lancers off pretty quickly after trading into some new ones. I'll take Okay/NHMTG, D&H, or Magpul only.

I haven't had any lancer issues per se. But there is no question till you have a zillion Okay or D&H mags there is no point in getting other mags. That actually includes magpul since with today's pricing its a 20% premium for the plastic.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Nope, I haven't. Sold my Lancers off pretty quickly after trading into some new ones. I'll take Okay/NHMTG, D&H, or Magpul only.

Did you experience problems with the Lancers?
If so, was they the new style?
If new style, what failures did you experience?
Thanks

Here are Gen2 Pmags $10 a pop.
https://dsgarms.com/magazines-dsgfivepack01

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Did you experience problems with the Lancers?
If so, was they the new style?
If new style, what failures did you experience?

Had some of the originals and then some from 2-3 years ago.

Main issues were it being difficult to consistently load a 30rd Lancer loaded to capacity on a closed bolt, the general slickness of the magazines compared to others, and the price.

Doing tac reloads I had many instances of the loaded Lancer magazine not locking into place (with several AR-15s), even with plenty of 'umph' behind them, where the same force always locked in PMAGs, Okays, or D&H. They would seem to be in place but after firing the shot the magazine would fall out. I liked them up to that point, but having that issue and a slew of Okays and handful of PMAGs, I saw no reason to keep them around.

But they do look cool.

I stacked Okay / NHMTGs deep over the past 8 years - usually for around $8-9 shipped. I have a good number of D&H in circulation (they make up the majority of my training mags), some BCM and DSG Arms floorplates which were a little cheaper at $7-ish per. I do like the Gen 3 PMAGs and have maybe 30, some windowed some not - Guns Midwest had them on sale several times last year for about $11-12.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
You must have forgot about Lancer L5 AWM mags?

No that was intentional. I left them off for a reason. I think they are an ACCEPTABLE magazine. They also cost 70% more than a GOOD magazine (Okay and Magpul). They have been much less reliable for me than Magpul and Okay. We have fine sugar sand and it jams up the Lancer mags. Magpul and Okay work perfect. Lancer? Jams (in certain conditions).

Out of the box, the Lancers need modified by shaving the limiter off the top of the floor plate. They shouldn't leave the factory with this limiter in place. Thats why they are a BEAR to load on a closed bolt with 30 rounds. This is improper designed, and they should not be sold in this fashion. Magpul on the other hand got it right. They leave enough room in the bottom of the magazine, that you can load 31 rounds. This extra room means a 30 round reload on a closed bolt fits and works perfect. Lancer provided instructions on a forum years ago on how to shave off this limiter, so they apparently endorse the idea.

So there you have it. I have old and new Lancer mags. They are not as good, and cost more money, than Magpul, and Okay.

Opinions are like assholes, and .... you have my opinion.

I DO think Lancer puts out a good product. I just think Magpul is better. And cheaper. And more rigorously tested.

Now try to find a Beretta steel ARX100 magazine if you want a FANTASTIC metal magazine, perhaps the best STANAG metal mag ever sold. Your grand kids will still be using that mag in 75 years.
https://www.berettausa.com/en-...nd-magazine/c80018p/

D&H mags.... are acceptable. They are cut rate 2nd class magazines compared to Okay, and well worth the extra $2-$3 to get a real deal Okay, instead of the D&H.

quote:

Here are Gen2 Pmags $10 a pop.

And without any effort you can find the D&H ones for 8.99 singly and if you buy in volume less like $8. and I've been able to find them for like $7 in the past, but who knows in this current mess if that's possible right now. In any case as much as I like magpul if you are just now stocking up the best strategy is GI Al.

I want to thank Rhino and Bubba for their thoughts, evaluation and experiences. Much appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Now try to find a Beretta steel ARX100 magazine if you want a FANTASTIC metal magazine, perhaps the best STANAG metal mag ever sold. Your grand kids will still be using that mag in 75 years.
https://www.berettausa.com/en-...nd-magazine/c80018p/

FN shipped SCAR 16s with a steel magazine, very similar and well built. Also heavier...