Poll: Metal or Polymer magazine (WHY?)

[American123]

I'm not a veteran, but I have several friends who highly preferred Magpul to their issued steel magazines for infantry purposes.

I like windows on my mags and I like that I can disassemble Magpul mags quickly for cleaning. There are plenty of torture test videos that show what mags can stand up to. I've tried metal mags but ultimately decided for me that Magpul were my preferred magazine.

 

[Member 3687]

You forgot paper as a choice nothing worse trying to read an article on my polymer and metal phone while in the bathroom doing my morning ritual. (Centerfolds are too small)

But now for the real story.

For the AK I prefer the good old fashion heavy steel Mags because they just work, they are cheap and can also be used as a club when the ammo runs out. Yes I have some expensive quality polymer mags and they work just fine but are 2 to 3 times the price of steel and they do not work any better


For the AR I have both and do not have a preference but I will say I have a couple old school load bearing vest that will not take the P-mags as they are two thick. I also know that the Gen 2 P-mags will not run in all guns as stated before but all I run is AR15s so it is not an issue for me.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

I think it depends on the Firearm, I love the SKS anyone that knows me knows this.
But they have been around along time and tolerances vary, the polymer are way more forgiving in the SKS then metal. I find in AK Variants the same, but the SKS its more noticeable. A steel that will fit in a Norinco with no filing and will and often does take allot of work for fitting in the Yugo and the reverse can be said depending on who makes them, but most times its as I said, wait what I say again. Its Friday sue me.
For a Pistol Steel all the way always work I find more polymer issues in pistols then rifles.
But the SKS I find polymers why do not look as cool as steel tend to work better.

But what do I know.

You are correct on the SKS mags! I did a good bit of fitting on my steel duckbill, and then left it in place as a fixed mag. I feed it from stripper clips. Nice thing, it holds 37rnds!

 

[Stomper]

I'm not a veteran, but I have several friends who highly preferred Magpul to their issued steel magazines for infantry purposes.

I like windows on my mags and I like that I can disassemble Magpul mags quickly for cleaning. There are plenty of torture test videos that show what mags can stand up to. I've tried metal mags but ultimately decided for me that Magpul were my preferred magazine.

The deal with grunts is they love ANYTHING that's "different" if they think it's "cool guy" stuff and if it'll make the "less cool" grunts into "wannabe's"....

I remember US Cavalry (magazine) getting a LOT of mail-order business... LOL!

 

[MrMillspecer]

The deal with grunts is they love ANYTHING that's "different" if they think it's "cool guy" stuff and if it'll make the "less cool" grunts into "wannabe's"....

I remember US Cavalry (magazine) getting a LOT of mail-order business... LOL!

I agree , my boy asked me to send him pmags when he was in Afghanistan. Just because.

 

[Stomper]

"Just because", or just because his issued kit was banged up?

 

[MrMillspecer]

"Just because", or just because his issued kit was banged up?

Because it's what others used. He was an intelligence analyst, really didn't need them. But got them anyways.

 

[Stomper]

Because it's what others used. He was an intelligence analyst, really didn't need them. But got them anyways.

Ahhhh..... good 'ol MI... "MOAO" aka... "Mother Of All Oxymorons"


A couple months ago I pinned oak leaves on my buddy during his promotion ceremony (he's now a Lt. Commander/O-4E), who's in Naval "Intelligence" and is currently back east getting "Infantry" training as he's going on a 12-mo rotation to the "sandbox" to run an intel section.

He recently posted pictures of himself in full battle-rattle and his rucksack load-out displayed out on the floor, complaining about all the weight... I replied he forgot the ammo cans.... LOL!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

The deal with grunts is they love ANYTHING that's "different" if they think it's "cool guy" stuff and if it'll make the "less cool" grunts into "wannabe's"....

I remember US Cavalry (magazine) getting a LOT of mail-order business... LOL!

I remember going on field exercises with my issued M21 and getting hit up with all manner of questions , photo requests and just plain "Can I please see your rifle ? " requests ...
In actually combat deployments .. that didn't happen as much.

But yeah US Cavalry and Brigade Quartermaster catalog's were popular when I was in...
Andy

 

[MrMillspecer]

I remember going on field exercises with my issued M21 and getting hit up with all manner of questions , photo requests and just plain "Can I please see your rifle ? " requests ...
In actually combat deployments .. that didn't happen as much.

But yeah US Cavalry and Brigade Quartermaster catalog's were popular when I was in...
Andy

So questions of all manner, photo requests, can I please see your rifle. I think your still on duty.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Could be , Rendezvous are kinda like field exercises ... just glad I don't get shot at any more
Andy

 

[MrMillspecer]

Could be , Rendezvous are kinda like field exercises ... just glad I don't get shot at any more
Andy

Except for around here. There's a few snipers just waiting to pull the trigger. aka Certaindeaf and Stomper

 

[Raidingtime]

I'm not a veteran, but I have several friends who highly preferred Magpul to their issued steel magazines for infantry purposes.

I like windows on my mags and I like that I can disassemble Magpul mags quickly for cleaning. There are plenty of torture test videos that show what mags can stand up to. I've tried metal mags but ultimately decided for me that Magpul were my preferred magazine.

metal ones can disassemble quickly.

I have both- metal and magpul. However, all the SRF and VBSS training I did was with "old school" metal magazines with no anti tilt followers. They worked well. They put up with banging around hatches, p ways, running and gunning all day in the rain and mud, etc. They also fit well in a magazine carrier and don't get hung up anywhere between loading and unloading. Never had a problem with metal magazines becoming broken prematurely. I suppose they don't work as well as magpul magazines in being a wheel block but that's not what I'm using them for.

The window is a neat feature. Though training with emptying magazines then switching to a side arm or topping off the rifle with a new magazine between engagements is just as good if not better than checking round count with a window in my opinion.

In the end, it comes down to preference unless you're in the military then it comes down to what the experts are using. So far that choice, from what I've seen, are metal magazines.

Any ways, I'm off to the range with 6 loaded 30 round metal magazines and 6 metal pistol magazines.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

I remember going on field exercises with my issued M21 and getting hit up with all manner of questions , photo requests and just plain "Can I please see your rifle ? " requests ...
In actually combat deployments .. that didn't happen as much.

But yeah US Cavalry and Brigade Quartermaster catalog's were popular when I was in...
Andy

Yep, Andy! When I was liaised to the infantry, who just a couple months before had went to the M-16, the grunts were fascinated by my M-14! Especially when I test fired, before entering the DMZ, on full auto! "Wow man, what's that?" "A real rifle!"

 

[Sgt Nambu]

metal ones can disassemble quickly.

I have both- metal and magpul. However, all the SRF and VBSS training I did was with "old school" metal magazines with no anti tilt followers. They worked well. They put up with banging around hatches, p ways, running and gunning all day in the rain and mud, etc. They also fit well in a magazine carrier and don't get hung up anywhere between loading and unloading. Never had a problem with metal magazines becoming broken prematurely. I suppose they don't work as well as magpul magazines in being a wheel block but that's not what I'm using them for.

The window is a neat feature. Though training with emptying magazines then switching to a side arm or topping off the rifle with a new magazine between engagements is just as good if not better than checking round count with a window in my opinion.

In the end, it comes down to preference unless you're in the military then it comes down to what the experts are using. So far that choice, from what I've seen, are metal magazines.

Any ways, I'm off to the range with 6 loaded 30 round metal magazines and 6 metal pistol magazines.

Nice!!!

 

[MEP1000]

For me it boils down to how the magazine feels. For the life of me I just can't get used to the polymer mags.

 

[Howard1955]

 

[MrMillspecer]

View attachment 356809

And they keep the dogs teeth cleaned. What can't they do ?

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I wonder if the cat put the dog up to chewing on that pistol....
Andy

 

[MrMillspecer]

Andy thought they were paper.




Only kidding my friend.