PMAG Problem

[razorscs]

Hey all,

I've been having an issue with my PMAGs and was curious if anyone had an idea of what is going on. When I insert a loaded mag (less than 30 and doesn't matter odd or even count) into my LWRC on a closed bolt with a firm push, 90% of the time it will feel as though I am just slamming it into a solid surface (as if I was just tapping it on the table) and it will not seat - and most of the time even when I slowly insert it the same thing happens. When I pull the magazine out the rounds are sitting like the first photo I attached (I attached a photo of how they should be stacked for reference).

I can't figure out why I am having this issue. They are relatively new mags and I have no issue with GI mags. At this point I am thinking my best bet is to just dump the PMAGs, but I've never had a problem with others in the past on different rifles. Any ideas of what might be going on?

And sorry the photos are rotated, couldn't tell you why as that's not how they are when I open them off my desktop...

[joelogic]

Take a look at the back of the mag. Cracked feedlips?

[razorscs]

Take a look at the back of the mag. Cracked feedlips?

I just took a real close look all the way around and see no cracks. In fact compared to one PMAG I just tested that actually is functioning just fine, the width of the feed lips appears to be exactly the same - so on the surface it doesn't appear that the dimensions are out of spec.

[BarrettM99]

Make sure that the followers are not sticking or tilting too much. That could be the issue as well. Be sure that the base plate is properly seated and locked in.

[m850168]

How many PMAGs does this happen with? Does the problem occur on other rifles?

It looks like the feed lips are spreading; crack would be my bet as well. If so I would expect the problem to be occur on other rifles. Are the feeds lips the same size when the rounds are staggered as when the rounds are side by side?

I have generally heard that PMAGs hold up well, so my guess would be a defective mag or batch of mags.

[hermosabeach]

the rounds should not be side by side as shown in your first picture...

for some reason the rounds are not all going down in the mag but are pushing out side by side... Have you called mag pull?

[hermosabeach]

[hermosabeach]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QNQ7IOl5sk

[razorscs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QNQ7IOl5sk

That's exactly it! Except 3 out of my 4 do it almost every single time... It is worse on my LWRC for whatever reason, but it will do it on my POF and DD as well. I'm pretty unimpressed to be honest. Because I leave my mags loaded all the time I think I'm going to be moving my PMAGs to range duty and trying something different. I like polymer mags because my mags get banged around a lot and I have dented metal mags, but the plastic feed lips aren't quite cutting it. Think I might try a few Lancer mags.

Thanks for the input guys.

[razorscs]

the rounds should not be side by side as shown in your first picture...

for some reason the rounds are not all going down in the mag but are pushing out side by side... Have you called mag pull?

I realize it's not right - the problem is that this situation is created by attempting to insert the magazine, even if you go very slowly. When I insert it they can be stacked perfectly, but then they will do that craziness I have pictured and it will never go in haha.

[rero360]

I realize it's not right - the problem is that this situation is created by attempting to insert the magazine, even if you go very slowly. When I insert it they can be stacked perfectly, but then they will do that craziness I have pictured and it will never go in haha.

Does it happen when you insert the mag with the bolt forward or locked back?

[razorscs]

Does it happen when you insert the mag with the bolt forward or locked back?

forward

[nate76239]

Are those Gen 3 pmags? I have a couple of gen 3 10/20 and they never really seem to fit with 9 rounds on a closed bolt in one of my receivers but Gen 2 pmags fit fine. After seeing this thread I did some measuring. I found the Gen 3 pmags I have sit a little bit higher in the lower due to the space from the mag catch recess. The rounds don't end up side by side like yours. I moved some parts between rifles and found that it only happens with a certain upper receiver, the lower doesn't matter. I think that I might try using a dremel to remove about 1mm of polymer from the top part of the mag recess to make it lock in sooner. The first picture is the black Gen 3, then the fde/tan is Gen 2, and then an aluminum mag.

[Carsgunsandchics]

Because I leave my mags loaded all the time

Are you using the retainers to keep the pressure off of the lips while leaving them loaded? If not the lips will spread due to the pressure. Here's the part next to a magazine http://www.loesshillstactical.com/Sh...3/Default.aspx

[razorscs]

Are those Gen 3 pmags? I have a couple of gen 3 10/20 and they never really seem to fit with 9 rounds on a closed bolt in one of my receivers but Gen 2 pmags fit fine. After seeing this thread I did some measuring. I found the Gen 3 pmags I have sit a little bit higher in the lower due to the space from the mag catch recess. The rounds don't end up side by side like yours. I moved some parts between rifles and found that it only happens with a certain upper receiver, the lower doesn't matter. I think that I might try using a dremel to remove about 1mm of polymer from the top part of the mag recess to make it lock in sooner. The first picture is the black Gen 3, then the fde/tan is Gen 2, and then an aluminum mag.

Interesting, but also I'm surprised that the Gen 3 is closest to the GI mag. On mine I can have the mag only half full, and it will still not seat because of the rounds going side by side.

Are you using the retainers to keep the pressure off of the lips while leaving them loaded? If not the lips will spread due to the pressure. Here's the part next to a magazine http://www.loesshillstactical.com/Sh...3/Default.aspx

No I don't, because I know I will forget to take them off at the beginning of each shift and I don't want to go to slam another mag in and have that thing on there. So I can see that being the source of the issue for some of the mags (although they are all a max of 4 months old), but the worst of the bunch has remained in the rifle with the bolt forward since I loaded it, so the pressure is off the feed lips.

To be honest, the fact that storage without the dust cover can cause a problem is another reason I'm going to try out the Lancer mags; it's just not something I want to worry about. I was pleasantly surprised to see they are only $17 a mag.