Magpul PMAG magazines: where the future began
Before the year 2007 polymer magazines for modern sporting rifles and military firearms were largely considered too cheap to be reliable, particularly for professional field use. Then Magpul arrived and…
Of all the products encompassed in the Magpul Industries Corporation's MOE line of original firearms equipment, basically none can claim to be nearly as technically and commercially successful as the PMAG polymer detachable magazines.
Magpul PMAG magazine: different models and variants supporting all the basic modern firearms for tactical and sport shooters
First introduced in 2007 as the dedicated magazine for the Magpul "Masada" prototype rifle – currently being manufactured as the Bushmaster/Remington ACR adaptive combat rifle – ithe PMAG magazines redefined the standards of their segment: before their launch, and exception given for the specific models conceived for some strictly proprietary weapon systems, polymer magazines (and more specifically, AR-15 compatible polymer magazines) were largely considered a cheap but nonetheless impopular alternative to metal magazines, too unreliable to be taken into serious consideration for high-intensity professional field use.
The launch of the Magpul PMAGs shifted the paradigm; ever since, PMAGs became the top choice of many frontline military units and law enforcement agencies, as well as of an ever-increasing number of civilian shooters looking for utter reliability.
Manufactured in millions, Magpul PMAGs also spawned countless outright clones and imitation attempts by the competition. As a matter of fact, it's thanks to the Magpul PMAGs if today polymer magazines are more popular than metal magazines among professionals and MSR users.
The PMAG magazines are available with or without visual check windows
The PMAG magazines are available in black or desert tan
The 3 basic platforms: 5.56mm NATO, 7.62x39mm Russian, 7.62x51mm NATO
The popularity and reliability of the PMAGs is mainly due to the unique polymer blend used in their manufacture, which ensures light weight and versatility without compromising structural integrity, allowing them to remain sturdy and to work correctly even after years of intense use, to withstand shocks and to perform flawlessly even in adverse environmental conditions and in extreme climates.
The polymer bland is the Magpul Industries' best kept secret, it has never been leaked or violated, and remains unmatched so far. Nine years after their initial launch, there are twenty-nine variants of the Magpul PMAG platform available on the market.
We can plainly say that the advent of polymer magazines has totally changed the tactical, sporting and marketing life of all kind of modern rifles.
In the picture: a Colt M4 Commando, with 3 different variants of Magpul Pmag GenM2 magazines
The original 5.56x45mm caliber Magpul PMAGs have so far been replaced by the PMAG GEN M2 and PMAG GEN M3 variants – available either with or without a side window, and in 10- 20- 30- or 40- rounds magazine – which will fit in AR-15 type rifles and carbines as well as in tighter European-type STANAG 4179 magazine wells used found in firearms such as the HK-416 variants, the 5.56mm version of the FN SCAR, and bull-pup rifles such as the FN F2000, the IWI Tavor line, the Chinese Type 97, and all variants thereof. The EMAG 30 MagLevel is a specialized variant of the PMAG, fully STANAG-compatible but more specifically conceived for the British SA-80 rifle.
PMAGs are practical and versatile
Robust, reliable and easy to handle
The AK world also has its own dedicated line
The PMAG AK/AKM and PMAG AK-74 magazines are likewise available in 10-rounds, 20-rounds and 30-rounds variants, and are conceived for 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm caliber versions of the AK rifle design.
The PMAG LR/SR 7.62x51mm caliber magazines are available in 10-rounds, 20-rounds and 25-rounds versions, and will feed any semi-automatic or manually-operated firearms compatible with Knight's SR-25/M110 and DPMS LR-308 magazines.
Among the most recent entries in the line are the PMAG 5 7.62 AC, PMAG 10 7.62 AC and PMAG 5 AC L magazines; those specialized variants will accept 7.62x51mm or .30-06 Springfield ammunition and will feed any standard-action, short-action or Magnum action bolt-action rifle fitted with an AICS-type detacheable magazine well. They're also part of Magpul's own Hunter 700 chassis system for Remington 700 rifles.
The protection cover of a 7.62x51mm NATO magazine, opened
The protection cover of a 7.62x51mm NATO magazine, closed
The Magpul logo
Other variants of the Magpul PMAG line include the PMAG 30G MagLevel – conceived for the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle and the SL8 semi-automatic sporting rifle, and also compatible with the XM8 LAR and the Croatian-made VHS-1 and VHS-2 bull-pup rifle systems; the PMAG 30 AUS GEN M3, compatible with the Steyr AUG bull-pup rifle, originally developed for the Australian Armed Forces; and the PMAG D60 5.56mm 60-rounds STANAG-compatible drum magazine, primarily conceived for infantry automatic rifles and other sustained fire platforms, but also useful for several competition shooting disciplines as well as for leisure shooting and training.
The Magpul PMAG magazines are available in basically every country where this kind of item is legal to purchase and own by civilians, from websites like Brownells at average prices ranging between 15 and 30 USD.
Polymer magazines are so versatile and reliable that... governments are trying to ban to civilians and sport shooters the use of the bigger ones (so, terrorists will be the only one enabled to use them, as many local administrations in various countries do not have the money to acquire them)