PMAG 10/30 Problem & Question

[andrewak47]

I bought two 10/30 PMAG and went to the range with them on Sunday. I threw in 10 rounds and tried to put it in my AR15 and it won't lock in. I took one round out and it locked in fine....maybe the rivet are put in at a very tight spec causing the spring to overload?

I had some cheap C-products 10rd mags with 10 full rounds and the AR15 locked the mag in place fine. I had an off brand 10/30 mag, stuck 10 round and the AR15 locked it in fine. I feel like it's the PMAG that's causing the problem. Anyone else have this problem?

The PMAGs uses a rivet on the side instead of a magblock inside. I'm tempting to pull the rivet out, put a homemade magblock of some sort, and call it a day?

[CK_32]

Reason I go for rebuild kits and throw in blocks..

Cant always trust peoples handy custom work.

Also include what type of AR you have.. Is it full milspec or is it commercial..

[THT]

Sounds like the rivet was placed about 1-2mm higher than the blocked mag which then makes it impossible to load on a closed bolt. Technically, you should be making ready on an open bolt anyway. The only time I load a full mag against a closed bolt is a tac reload.

[andrewak47]

I'm not sure what the diff is between the milspec or the commercial. I consider mine milspecc'ed. I hope the features help. Every other 10/30 mags I have worked fine. Just the three PMAGs I bought n.i.b from TDS are causing this problem.

AR15
Features Include:
* All Mil. Spec. Internal Parts
* Mil. Spec. Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum YHM Flat Top Upper Receiver
* "T" Marked Upper Receiver
* 16" Chrome-Moly Vanadium Steel Barrel, Heat Treated to RC 25-32
* Chambered in 5.56 N.A.T.O., Chrome-Lined with either a 1:9" Twist
* YHM Diamond Fluting Improves Rigidity and Aids in Barrel Cooling
* Mil. Spec. Bolt Carrier Assembly
* Forward Assist
* YHM Phantom 5C2 Flash Hider / Compensator (YHM-28-5C2)
* YHM Specter Length Diamond Handguard (YHM-9637-DX)
* YHM Forearm Endcap (YHM-9484-A)
* YHM Low Profile Gas Block (YHM-9384)
* Magpul Forearm Mounted Flip Front Sight)
* Magpul Flip Rear Sight)
* Adjustable Carbine Stock
* Mil. Spec. Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum Spike Tactical ST-15 Lower

[NDFMF]

This has been discussed at length before, but here's a quick answer for convenience.

When 10+ round magazine bodies are pinned or blocked to a 10 round capacity, sometimes they are made extremely tight to avoid the possibility of accepting an 11th round. This keeps you from committing a felony.

You'll notice if you have any 20 or 30 round AR mags, you can often fit 21 or 31 rounds into them. You will experience the same problem if you try inserting these into the rifle with the bolt closed. This is because normally, the rounds can be pushed down into the magazine by the closed bolt, but when it is packed to absolute capacity, there is not enough play in the spring to allow this.

You can solve this by either loading the magazines with 9 rounds, or always locking the bolt back when you reload. Or, like CK 32 said, make your own 10 rounders. Just be careful to make sure they can't accept 10+ rounds.

[andrewak47]

Sounds like the rivet was placed about 1-2mm higher than the blocked mag which then makes it impossible to load on a closed bolt. Technically, you should be making ready on an open bolt anyway. The only time I load a full mag against a closed bolt is a tac reload.

The thing is when SHTF, I want my AR15 to be ready on a closed bolt, with 10rds in the mag. With a pull of the lever and I'm ready to defend. It just gives me an assurance and confident, and also I don't have an extra round laying around.

[RRichie09]

if SHTF wouldn't u want 10+1?

As for your original question, I had some 10 rnd C-Products mags and I had to modify it because it could hold 11. The bolt would jam but it could hold 11 so I didn't want to take a chance. Now I had SLAM the mag into the rifle with the bolt closed but it puts a dent in the first round.

I would worry about it to much but if it's a big deal, get a block for it and if the block doesn't allow 10 then just sand the block a little but be very careful. It's a stupid law but it is a law for now as do your best to follow it to avoid problems.

[THT]

The thing is when SHTF, I want my AR15 to be ready on a closed bolt, with 10rds in the mag. With a pull of the lever and I'm ready to defend. It just gives me an assurance and confident, and also I don't have an extra round laying around.

While this post sounds extremely silly, here's a solution: Store your AR with the bolt locked back.

[sdearnest1981]

Just take a round out, my pmags do the same thing.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

While this post sounds extremely silly, here's a solution: Store your AR with the bolt locked back.

Not necessarily a good solution, given the information provided by the OP.

The OP wants to keep a loaded magazine in his rifle (also not necessarily a good idea, depending on storage method), requiring him to rack the operating handle to have the rifle ready to go. That's the way many LE agencies keep rifles in patrol cars (my former agency included). It's not hard to jar most AR BCGs off the bolt stop. Storing the rifle with the bolt locked back and a loaded magazine in place could result in the OP finding his rifle in a chamber loaded, safety off configuration when he expected chamber empty.