Maglock ARs - likely to jam? Problem if it does?

[tabascoz28]

I have the maglock\kingpin setup on my semi pistol AR and it's hit and miss depending on your setup. All tolerances are different depending on fit of the upper and lower with the bolt. At a certain point the ARmaglock might even look illegal because the splitting of the reciever doesn't actually stop the bolt which may or may not be a requirement...

My 556 upper bolt holds back but the 9mm bolt is 50.50. The way these systems work the bolt hold is just barely making contact with the bolt and a slight movement will drop it forcing a manual bolt reset if it drops before insertion of a fresh mag. You won't really know how well or crappy it will work or if it's even tweakable until you install it on your rifle.

[sfvshooter]

I have several RAW's for HD and SHTF, but I also have a few AR Maglock/Kingpin combo rifles. I haven't experienced any problems with them and I'll venture most issues you hear about are user related. If you install it and set it up properly and train with it, you shouldn't have any issues.

Having said that, failure rate will be lower with featureless since you're not adding any new items to your rifle that can go wrong, but I can't stand fingrips. I have 1 on a backup AK I purchased post 2017 and it's horrible. I've tried about 4-5 different types and they're all awful.

[sbo80]

I haven't experienced any problems with them and I'll venture most issues you hear about are user related. If you install it and set it up properly and train with it, you shouldn't have any issues.

I can't say one's worse than another, but all firearms are subject to malfunctions occasionally. That's what failure drills are for. Now maglocked rifles can be much harder to manage, and much slower. Grip fins aren't that bad to get used to, and I certainly consider them less of a handicap than the fixed mag. I only run a fixed mag on a pistol since that's the only option, and I use 10rd pmags, no 10/30s.

[naz]

Hey OP, your best bet is try to out in class and change based on your experiences

I did watch a friend drill out a magazine to drop the rounds and it would have been a simple thing to clear if the mag release worked as intended. But he really likes the look of the pistol grip so that’s cool. His gun his choice

[BigPimping]

If this is for a personal defense at home, you would be far better suited with a shotgun. A mag locked AR pattern rifle is a range toy.

[67Cuda]

Fixed mag or featureless, when the **** hits the fan, all bets are off.

[jarhead714]

Yes, problem if it does.

[ActionExpress]

Featureless is the closest you can get to "true" AR function with a magazine button, so that is the perfered way if you are relying on it for HD, as many have said before.

IMO if you are going mag lock, the Hogue FF + Kingpin is one of the best combos. Shave down that pin a smidge then you can easily perform bolt back magazine drops, the key step to fixing a double feed. If you cannot drop the mag with the bolt back on a mag lock setup its only going to be a matter of time before you get a potential range ending day.

[tabascoz28]

Featureless is the closest you can get to "true" AR function with a magazine button, so that is the perfered way if you are relying on it for HD, as many have said before.

IMO if you are going mag lock, the Hogue FF + Kingpin is one of the best combos. Shave down that pin a smidge then you can easily perform bolt back magazine drops, the key step to fixing a double feed. If you cannot drop the mag with the bolt back on a mag lock setup its only going to be a matter of time before you get a potential range ending day.

You take the good with the bad. The "true" function of an AR is it's ability to hide it's flash location better. Better stability with a forward grip, to collapse and stow the weapon when in a vehicle as well as simply drop a mag and pop with one button press.

For me, I don't need my position hidden, I usually c-clamp, the stock is already to my length of pull when it's pinned. I just don't want my weapon stopped for a prolonged time when changing mags or stopped even longer in case of a double feed. Being able to use larger mags makes it so that the need to change a mag is delayed even further.

[nedro]

I have the maglock\kingpin setup on my semi pistol AR and it's hit and miss depending on your setup. All tolerances are different depending on fit of the upper and lower with the bolt. At a certain point the ARmaglock might even look illegal because the splitting of the reciever doesn't actually stop the bolt which may or may not be a requirement...

My 556 upper bolt holds back but the 9mm bolt is 50.50. The way these systems work the bolt hold is just barely making contact with the bolt and a slight movement will drop it forcing a manual bolt reset if it drops before insertion of a fresh mag. You won't really know how well or crappy it will work or if it's even tweakable until you install it on your rifle.

I'm trying to figure this out, because my ARmaglock with kingpin never jams or fails holding back the bolt.

As to jams, the kingpin opens up the two halves so little, that you can still cycle the bolt when needed. And the mag locking mechanism is fully adjustable.

What am I not seeing? I don't want to get into a bad situation if I'm not seeing the entire picture here.

[SCVlongstroke]

Plenty of videos online for you class 3 malfunctioners out there.

[ActionExpress]

You take the good with the bad. The "true" function of an AR is it's ability to hide it's flash location better. Better stability with a forward grip, to collapse and stow the weapon when in a vehicle as well as simply drop a mag and pop with one button press.

For me, I don't need my position hidden, I usually c-clamp, the stock is already to my length of pull when it's pinned. I just don't want my weapon stopped for a prolonged time when changing mags or stopped even longer in case of a double feed. Being able to use larger mags makes it so that the need to change a mag is delayed even further.

Yea good point on the last sentence. Ability to use freedom week mags on featureless builds is nice.

[SigSauerP226]

Maglock kingpin seemed like the best option. One thing I remember a little while back was questioning the legality of the Armaglock and kingpin. I had one on my AR pistol at the time and when people started discussing some scenarios I tried it on my featureless. I locked the bolt back, separated the upper and lower, and was able to release the bolt and pull the trigger. I didn't have a live round so no idea if it would fire, but the fact I could return the bcg into battery and potentially fire the weapon seemed to make it not a legal option for maglock device just from my understanding. Curious if others are of the same understanding as I am? I shelved it because I just prefer to stay out of the gray and my featureless AR with Thordsen is a great rifle.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Maglock kingpin seemed like the best option. One thing I remember a little while back was questioning the legality of the Armaglock and kingpin. I had one on my AR pistol at the time and when people started discussing some scenarios I tried it on my featureless. I locked the bolt back, separated the upper and lower, and was able to release the bolt and pull the trigger. I didn't have a live round so no idea if it would fire, but the fact I could return the bcg into battery and potentially fire the weapon seemed to make it not a legal option for maglock device just from my understanding. Curious if others are of the same understanding as I am? I shelved it because I just prefer to stay out of the gray and my featureless AR with Thordsen is a great rifle.

Others have similar concerns (including myself) and of course the creator won't test it because it's "not designed that way" but will readily throw his rifle across the ground to prove something else. Caveat emptor.

[FNGGlock]

I went this route on my M&P as I really don't like fingertips per se.
The only thing is that I have to hold my elbow out when shooting offhand with the Thordsen vs being able to tuck it with a pistol grip. Not a huge issue, but noticed that is they way I can run the different options.

Most maglocked ARs can be "fixed" with a pair of good side cutters in a few seconds in a SHTF type scenario, where featureless will take longer (though only a few minutes if you have the grip/stock handy and the tools. BUT for HD/SD maglock is definitely not my first option, would rather just use the carbine with a Thordsen stock.

Thirdsen stocks may look a bit funky and are pricey, but they do function well. Especially if you are used to traditional rifle stocks.