I'm looking at trying the new Palmetto State Armory .22LR dedicated AR upper but I'm curious about the Black Dog magazines? They offer steel feed lips and about the same price as an S&W M&P 15-22 magazine.

If they're good, I'll probably go that route rather than buying a 15-22.

I have been using them for years with zero issues in my Sig 522 and they are good to go.
At first switch to the metal feed lips they had some follower issues that they quickly remedied the issue and supplied free improved followers.
Excellent customer service.

You can also get CMMG mags from CDNN for like $10. They work great too.
https://www.cdnnsports.com/cmm...r-kel-sig522-22.html

Black Dog mags at 44mag.com...

http://www.44mag.com/category/black_dog_machine

I've got 6 that I use in my Spike's upper and have never had any problem with them.

I used them exclusively when I had a Sig 522.

Honestly liked the poly feed lip version as well as, if not better than, the metal lip version.

Bottom line, both worked perfectly in a 522, but I cannot comment on a different platform.

(IIRC, BDM was the contractor for the factory Sig 522 magazine. But I may be mis-remembering that.)

quote:

Originally posted by bionic218:
I used them exclusively when I had a Sig 522.

Honestly liked the poly feed lip version as well as, if not better than, the metal lip version.

Bottom line, both worked perfectly in a 522, but I cannot comment on a different platform.

(IIRC, BDM was the contractor for the factory Sig 522 magazine. But I may be mis-remembering that.)

I believe you are correct IRRC that's the mag that came with my 522. First one was very tight and had to return it for a replacement. Works in all my 22lr AR 15's but not my M16A1.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: samnev,

I think a lot of the manufacters use rebranded black dog mags. I have them for my SBR 22lr AR. They are all I have owned and all I will consider owning.

Same as others, have used them without issue in my 522 and SBR'd AR-22 (Nordic Components) upper.

Get yourself one of the McFadden Lightnin' Grip Loaders , easily worth the cost.

I think Black Dog is generally considered the gold standard for AR-platform .22 magazines.

In addition to Black Dog's steel vs. poly feed lips, they offer "Sonic Weld" vs. "X Form" magazines. Can anyone speak to these differences?

The regular Xform magazines are assembled with brass screws that allow the magazine halves to be taken apart to replace the nylon or stainless steel feed lips...the sonic welded models are "glued" or welded together and cannot be split to allow feed lip replacement...the spring keeper, spring and follower can still be replaced through the bottom of the magazine...

It just let's Black Dog sell them cheaper...they still carry the life time warranty and they will replace them if for some reason the feed lips fail.

I have both the nylon and steel lip mags as well as the original magazines where the feed lips are molded into the magazine body (it's the only one I have had fail...chipped lip edge)...and BD replaced it no questions asked with the replacement being an X-form...

I can see no difference between the nylon and SS lips as far as function and wear.

Thanks!