Tandemkross is well known in the Kel-Tec fandom. They make upgrade accessories for many of Kel-Tec's firearms. They recently have come out with an extended base pad for the PMR-30 magazine. Since the CMR-30 rifle uses the same magazine these will work for that as well.

The extended base pad design is similar to the Magpul AR15 magazine Ranger tab and Glock mag speedplates.

As an owner of a PMR-30 and CMR-30 these extended base pads look like they will work well. The magazine release on those guns is at the heel of the grip and the magazines do not drop free. The factory base plate has a little protrusion at the front of the magazine which helps the shooter to pull the magazine out. Now with this larger loop it will be easier to pull the magazine out expecially if there is a malfunction. The added length of the extended base pad also helps with insertion of the magazine. If you look closely you can see at the rear of the extended base pad that there is material that blocks the bottom of the magazine release, thereby helping to reduce the possibility of accidental magazine release.

The magazine extended base pads are sold in pairs for $24.99 on Tandemkross.com.

For the longest time, the only .30 caliber rifle I shot with any regularity, was the en bloc clip-fed M1 Garand in .30-06. This changed when I recently found a CMMG MK3 CBR in FDE for a price I couldn’t refuse.  The rifle came with a solitary 20-round Magpul PMAG, but I’ve never been someone to be content with owning a single magazine.

Ostensibly, the CBR looks like an AR10, so I began looking for AR-10 magazines, that’s when I ran into an issue that AR-15 owners never deal with: compatibility. Evidently, there are two major patterns of .308 Win AR’s on the market, the traditional AR10-pattern and the DPMS-pattern.

When I reviewed the Ruger Precision Rifle last year, I used M14, AR10 and DPMS magazines in the same gun, and naively thought that the AR10 and DPMS magazines were the same pattern. After a little research, I found that Magpul .308 AR magazines are DPMS pattern, and so are the majority of available .308 AR magazines on the market today.

This illuminated a lightbulb in my mind, reminding me that Lancer Systems had sent me a pair of L7 AWM magazines for the Ruger Precision Rifle. Rather than research if they were compatible or not, I just grabbed one and shoved it in my CBR’s magazine well.

Much to my delight, it fit and locked back the action properly.

Extracting the magazine, I couldn’t help but admire how over-built it is, especially for a polymer mag. Everyone knows polymer mags have greater tensile strength than their steel or aluminum counterparts, but they rarely exhibit a fraction of the reassuming heft of metal magazines.

The L7 is different.

Constructed of high-impact super-durable translucent polymer, the Lancer L7 AWM feels near bomb-proof in a shooter’s hand. The walls of the magazine’s body are thicker than Lancer’s L5 5.56 AR15 magazines, giving it a more rigid feeling. Even still, the magazine closely resembles a scaled up 5.56 magazine, only perfectly straight, almost like a 20-round USGI magazine made of polymer – except the base plate runs parallel to the barrel.

Another trait it shares with the 5.56mm L5 AWM magazines is the integral steel feed lips and reinforcements. This is great news for shooters who worry about the longevity of their magazines. The slot on the mag body that engages the magazine retention peg inside the rifle’s mag well, is made of steel. So it will take thousands upon thousands of reloads to damage it.

Additionally, the feed lips being made of steel means if they’re ever damaged, a pair of heavy pliers could be used to bend them back in place. Whereas a set of purely polymer lips would require disposal or risk trying to JB weld some new lips with predictably disappointing results.

I’ve only had a chance to run about 500 rounds of mixed .308 win through a pair of L7AWM magazines in my CBR and Ruger Precision Rifle, but thus far they are performing great. Even with the increased back pressure and carbon build-up incurred by running a sound suppressor.

It’s not the cheapest .308 magazines in the world, but I’d argue the L7 AWM is one of, if not the best commercially-made example on the planet.

The STANAG or standard M-16/AR-15 magazine is the most common rifle magazine in the United States. Inexpensive, lightweight and available in dozens of capacities, these little ammunition delivery devices can be found in nearly every gun shop in America.

 Whether your favorite is HexMag, Magpul PMAG USGI surplus or Lancer varieties, chances are if you’re reading this post, you own at least a handful. One of the greatest, but least known aspects of these magazines is their compatibility with different weapon systems. So if you’re stocking up on mags in case of a potential ban, it might be equally wise to pick up an extra rifle or two without having to worry about buying enough magazines for them. After spending an inordinate amount of time scouring gun shops, personal ads and various gun forums I’ve found four great guns that utilize these prolific magazines.

Armalite AR-180

The first rifle on our list is the brainchild of the M16/AR16’s original designer, Eugene Stoner. Stoner and his partner Arthur Miller envisioned an alternative to their AR15 rifle that would be easier for less developed nations to build than the M16. So instead of aluminum forgings, the AR-18 was built from two major materials – steel stampings and polymer furniture.

While steel stampings are a low-tech solution for developing nations, they’re a pricy one for modern firearms. Which is why Armalite reintroduced the rifle as the AR-180B in 2001, replacing the stamped steel receiver with a polymer one. Bad news for Armalite is that this rifle never gained much traction, the good news for shooters is that this means the guns are still fairly affordable. – Plus, if the thought of a polymer receiver worries you (some people accidently break theirs by repeatedly disassembly) NoDak Spud makes an awesome replacement aluminum receiver for around $200.

But why would someone buy this over a standard AR15? For starters, it’s a dedicated short-stroke piston driven rifle. Meaning, it tends to run better when dirty, or subjected to the elements. Also, the ‘B’ model is astoundingly light for a piston gun. - It barely tips the scales at five pounds.  While the AR-180 and 180B aren’t currently in production, used examples can be found for around $700 in good to great condition.

Zastava PAP M90NP

AK lovers just stopped in their tracks at this addition to the list. Yes, there is a full-sized 5.56mm AK rifle that uses STANAG magazines! (There’s also a pistol, the M85NP, but I’m leaning towards shoulder-fired guns in this piece)

Like all Zastava Products, the M90NP is made in Serbia to demanding standards. The M90 is basically a modified NPAP/M70 rifle rechambered in 5.56mm with a magazine well adapter bolted on. What this means in practical terms, is that the rifle can use both furniture and accessories meant for Yugo or Serbian pattern full-sized AK rifles while still utilizing inexpensive AR15 STANAG magazines.

This is particularly great news for shooters living in states with magazine capacity bans or limitations – since the only standard capacity 5.56mm AK magazine to arrive stateside in appreciable numbers are for the Norinco 56s rifles. This is frustrating for shooters like myself who once lived in ban states since no other AK uses these pattern magazines.

Other cool features of the rifle include an adjustable gas system to regulate its long-stroke piston driven bolt and carrier – this allows the gun to be dialed in perfectly for specific loads. Also, the rifle features Yugoslavian-pattern side rail for mounting optics or optics rails. The only real downside on the M90NP is weight. The hefty blaster is roughly 11 pounds unloaded! While this makes hiking with the rifle a pain in the ass, it goes greatly reduce felt recoil.

SIG MCX / 516

SIG Sauer is known for building ultra-reliable pistols and rifles. On the rifle side of things, they’re also good about utilizing commonly available STANAGs – SIG 550 series notwithstanding. While the SIG 516 is admittedly more AR15 than not, it doesn’t utilize the same direct impingement system.

I was going to originally limit to addition to the list to simply the MCX, but since I am a die-hard fan of my personal 516 Carbon TS, I wanted to bring more attention to it. One of my favorite things that both rifles have in common, is their use of AR-15 style controls. Shooters like me that learned the majority of their gun-handling on an AR15 or M16, will feel right at home behind either these rifles.

Why pick either gun over a standard DI AR15?

In a word: Reliability.

In two: Reliability; Silencers.

Direct impingement rifles tend not to play well with sound suppressors, simply because the increased backpressure of running a silencer tends to mess with the timing of a DI gun. This is especially true for newer production guns, because manufacturers tend to intentionally over-gas guns to make sure they run with the most underpowered dog-crap ammo available. Otherwise some guy trying to save money of ammo will otherwise invariably post all over the internet that their gun is junk because it wouldn’t run heavily water-damaged Pakistani surplus from the 1970s.

This is particularly problematic when running a can, because the already over-gassed rifle working in conjunction with increased back-pressure leads to filthy guns and premature wear on the action.

What about reliability? Well, objectively piston guns tend to run cleaner, and are thus less likely to foul up as quickly. But more importantly, both these guns have adjustable gas systems. So shooters can regulate their rifle to run optimally with a desired ammo, suppressor of combination of both.

The only downside to these guns is price. Both are roughly double the price of a mid-level AR15 carbine. Which isn’t to say they aren’t worth the money, that’s up to the shooter and what the demand of the weapons. Though with the increasing demand for the MCX, shooters who decide they don’t like the MCX after buying can most likely sell it used for full price.

IWI X95

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, chances are you’ve seen or heard of the Israeli Tavor carbine. The polymer-shelled, long-stroke bullpup carbine seamlessly melds the internals of an AK-47 with an ergonomic ultra-futuristic stock. The result is one of the most compact carbines in existence that still manages to stay North of the ATF regulations dealing with barrel and overall length.

While wildly popular, the original Tavor drew criticism for its unorthodox controls stemming from its unusual configuration and layout. IWI’s response came in the form of a civilian-legal adaptation of the Micro Tavor: The X95.

The X95 still utilizes the same reliable method of operation as the full-sized Tavor, but swaps out the awkward magazine release for one nearly identical to the M16s. This means a shooter can reload the X95 while leaving their firing hand on the pistol grip.

Though more than that, the X95, like the Tavor it succeeds, shines brightest in terms of ergonomics and compactness. So while their method of cycling the action is more reliable and robust than the AR15’s direct impingement, they also tend to be slightly less accurate at long range.

Thankfully, the rifle is still easily combat accurate out to 500 yards and beyond with proper ammunition. Personally, I find it to be an ideal suppressor host simply because its reduced length and rearward point of balance help negate the additional weight of running a sound suppressor like the Surefire RC2.

This is why my wife loves running the Tavor suppressed – most guns are simply too front-heavy and awkward with a can attached for her. Less you dismiss this by thinking she’s not very strong, this gal does 35lb curls. She can handle the weight, but prefers something less tiring to hold.

There are plenty of options available today that run these common, inexpensive magazines. While the overwhelming majority are simply AR-15s or derivatives of them, there are a few exceptions out there for the discerning collector or enthusiast.  The four above are among my favorite, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also enjoy a run-of-the-mill AR-15 as well. But for shooters who either don’t want an AR-15 or simply want a reliable rifle that uses common available magazines, the market is larger than most think. You just have to know where to look.

Do you load your magazines to capacity?

This seemingly innocuous question evokes a very different response depending on whose answering and their life experiences. The average duck hunter would scoff, explaining that he uses a wooden dowel to prevent that because he doesn’t want a hefty fine from DNR.

A Vietnam veteran would tell you that doing so it tantamount to suicide, since early M16 20-round magazines would often fail if loaded past 17 rounds and stored too long. Glock users would tell you they normally load their mags to the brim, if their thumbs can take it.

Personally, I only load specific types of magazines to capacity – My AKM, Glock and G3 magazines. I do those because they don’t get prohibitively difficult to insert when fully loaded. My AR-15 magazines can be a tremendous pain in the ass to securely seat when filled to the brim. I’ve made the mistake of dropping a loaded mag from my AR-15’s mag well when pressing the bolt release because it wasn’t fully inserted.

How about you? Fill out the one=question survey below, and add your comments below. We’d love to hear from all our readers out there.

Double drums have been in use since about 1930, where German forces employed the MG13 light machine gun using a 75-round stamped steel design, as well as the aircraft-mounted MG15.  Even the precursor to, “Hitler’s buzzsaw”, the MG34, was modified to use similar drums.

Aside from the Wehrmacht’s use of double drums, the majority of drum magazines used in the Second World War were actually shells that housed short belts of ammunition. (This was a rudimentary solution to converting a stationary MMG to a mobile LMG) While single drum magazines remained relatively common with ComBlock light machine guns like the RPK and even showed up occasionally on modern designs like the Ultimax 100, double drums virtually vanished until the early 2000s. The only exception being the Beta Systems C-Mag.

Then came the the Armatac CL.

Armatac CL (Roman numerals meaning 150) is the brainchild of designer, Mike Snow. The first run was made from billet aluminum. The design is strong but heavy and expensive at nearly $800. The drum's claim to fame was high reliability. See, the advantage of double drums over single varieties, is twofold:  Increased capacity without increased height, and better reliability by utilizing two springs to provide more even, stronger magazine spring tension.

One aspect that set the Armatac apart from competition designs like the Beta Company C-drum, is that it doesn’t graphite lubrication. While not a large concern for civilian shooters, soldiers utilizing drum magazines in dusty or sandy environments often lack access to cleaning supplies, and thus can’t regularly maintain their equipment. Still, the magazine’s heft, left something to be desired. 

 Thankfully, as sales of the original CL increased, Armatac was able to manufacture a lighter, less expensive version using high-impact polymer moldings. This new lightweight model sells for half the price of the original, while boasting better tensile strength. Additionally, the polymer SAW-Mag weighs only 4.9 pounds empty and around 8 pounds loaded with 150 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. That’s a lot of firepower in a very lightweight, streamline package.

However, the Armatac basically weighs the same as equivalent ammo loads in separate magazines – so why would someone bother with the more expensive drum?

For starters, the drum doesn’t need to be reloaded as often and has the same vertical profile as a 30-round magazine. This makes it ideal for overwatch or suppression since the user can remain in the prone position with 150 rounds ready to unleash on any targets of opportunity. Also, it can be used as a makeshift bipod - the drum’s wide, flat bottom can be used as a steady support; it even features a central trough for the support hand and can utilized offhand with good balance.

Unlike most drum magazines, SAW-Mag proved very reliable and tolerant of dusty environments. It's also very robust: Armatac videos show a fully-loaded drum being bounced off concrete pads and emptied out the business end of fully automatic weapons with no malfunctions whatsoever. While the mag’s excellent reliability in due in no small part to the design, it’s also aided by the high quality manufacturing done by Superior Arms – a new company that purchased Armatac several years ago, and continues to support the brand.

The main benefit of this magazine are the capacious reserves of ammunition available without a reload. While most effective in heavy barreled LMGs or SAWs, the CL enables even standard AR-15/M15 carbines to act as makeshift support weapons in a pinch thanks to the firepower it provides. Most importantly, it keeps all the ammunition clean in dusty environments. In a vehicle moving through clouds of dust raised by the rest of a convoy, every link on an exposed belt and every top of a box magazine being swapped introduces more sand into the rifle action. SAW-Mag doesn't have that problem, being sealed from the elements.

For transport, a shoulder bag is available. The magazine may be attached to the weapon while still in the bag - though the bag lacks a pocket for a loading device. - a vital accessory given the heavy springs within. These heavy springs are remarkably reliable and are guaranteed for 300,000 rounds cycled. Disassembly is straightforward and simple, requiring the user to remove four screws. Also, maintenance is minimal – only plastic dummy cartridges that function as followers should be inspected periodically.

In sum, Armatac SAW-Mag is a reliable design with a clear use niche. It can be use with semi and fully automatic weapons, having been tested at cyclic rates up to 1100rpm. In my use

Yeti Wurks has been making 3D printed upgrades for the CZ Scorpion Evo3. One of the items they make is a US made 3D printed magazine base plate. They even made a +3 mag extension. I reached out to Eric of Yeti Wurks and asked if he could modify his design and make the extension longer to add 10 rds to a 30 rd Scorpion magazine. He had dabbled with a +10 extension but he said he could not get it to work because he did not have a spring that could work. However I did. So he sent me his first prototype. Unfortunately it did not work. The channel for the extension was in the wrong position so the follower could not slide down into the extension. Eric redesigned it and sent out the new prototype you see in the photos above.

Since it is 3D printed and only a second prototype design there are some issues. There is some slack with the position of the extension in relation to the mag tube. If the extension is pushed all the way rear ward, the follower cannot slide down into the extension. So I shimmed the extension at the front leading edge of the mag tube. Once properly aligned the follower can travel up and down with out issue. The corners of the extension were a bit sharp so I filed them down to allow for smoother operation.

I ran the Scorpion and this specific magazine in a USPSA match just last weeked. It fed the Scorpion Evo3 flawlessy.

While testing the magazine extension, A small hairline crack was seen along the side of the magazine extension. So Eric of Yeti Wurks is going back to redesign the extension andd make it more robust. No details on price or availability just yet.

Crimson Trace MVF-515 Review

A few years ago, I had a chance to compete in the last Crimson Trace Midnight 3-gun event to ever be held. Part of my invitation as a writer, included my choice of a handful of Crimson Trace products to use at the match. I picked up a pair of green and red laser/light combination units and a Modular Vertical Foregrip from Crimson Trace that includes a laser and light unit built in.

At the time, might stock of AR-15 accessories was a bit thin, so I figured why not kill three birds with one stone? Get myself a tac light, tac laser and a VFG in one cool package. Also, since it was a gift, I didn’t bother looking up reviews for it beforehand.

When the MVG-515 arrived, the first thing I noticed was how cool the packaging is. I know that sound stupid, but first impressions are permanent, and aesthetics/packaging is important when you’re paying hundreds of dollars for a product. It’s important to make the consumer, (me in this case) feel like they’ve invested well. The Crimson Trace MVF certainly succeeds in that regard, but what about performance and features?

I’ll be honest, I’m awful at reading instruction manuals. I like to sit down, play with something for an hour and get solid visual memory of how it functions and feels in my hands. Yes, even with firearms I still do this.

So When I first played with the MVF-515, I found its features to be lacking – like it wasn’t a very well thought-out product. At least that was until I went to the trouble of actually reading the instruction manual.

See, by default the MVF has both its laser and light set to momentary only. So if you depress the button for either function, it remains on only while you continue to hold said button. Above these buttons is a small nipple-like nub button that functions as a master on/off switch. If the user holds this button down, it cycles through the available functions of whichever component is above it. So the right one controls the tac light, and the left one controls the laser.

This is actually pretty cool. It means shooters can independently program either accessory to fit their personal or mission critical needs. The available functions include a momentary normal, momentary strobe and constant on/off. While tactically I normally like to have my lights set to momentary so I can quickly clear an area without broadcasting my position to anyone lurking nearby, the stiff controls of the MVF make it difficult to depress fully and hold.

This might seem like a bad attribute, but it actually helps prevent shooters from accidently turning on either portion of the light, or from it being clicked on while inside a rifle case or safe.

One thing I found surprising about the MVF, is the extent to which the laser portion of the grip is adjustable for windage and elevation. Sure, most laser aiming modules are adjustable, but this thing has like 40 MOA of adjustment. While obviously not necessary, it’s nice to have just in case your rail doesn’t quite fit the handguard, and you need to adjust the light or laser accordingly.

The problem with adjustable lasers is the same one that plagues adjustable sights. Murphey’s law says guns with adjustable sights will invariably land on them. Which in this case, means lose zero.

So after running hundreds if not thousands of rounds through various guns with the MVF mounted on them, I can say with total confidence that it holds zero well enough for a laser sight. Basically, if there was a point of impact shift, I couldn’t see it or measure it.

Additionally, the light attached produces 200 lumens, which isn’t the brightest tac light on the planet, but it does strike a good balance between rays of the sun and battery life. Using my unit sparingly while running night shoots or clearing rooms in a house for demonstrative purposes on a regular basis has yet to drain my first pair of batteries.

After spending a good amount of time with the unit, I have to say it’s not perfect for every situation and I particularly don’t like the weight of the unit when mounted on heavy-barrel carbines. Where this unit really shines (pun intended) is on either SBR carbines or bullpups like the X95, where its added weight isn’t as noticeable since it’s located closer to the center of the carbine itself.

Throw up some Devil Horns, it’s time for part three of our, ‘AR-15 Magazine Guide’ – the Metal issue!

Metal magazine have gotten bad rap as of late, industry giants like Glock and Magpul Dynamics have dominated the market for over a decade now with their polymer prodigies. No long ago, the words, ‘plastic’ and ‘cheap’ were synonymous.

Now, every time a writer or company mentions plastic in their products, it’s referred to as high-impact polymer.  – Don’t get me wrong, plastic or polymer magazines have distinct advantages over metallic ones, but metal magazines have their own perks that have been understated.

One advantage of aluminum or steel magazines over polymer ones, is their longevity and user-serviceability. Ask anyone who has used and abused their magazines hard, and they’ll tell you that even the much lauded Magpul PMAG will fail on occasion.

Because of the material’s elasticity and tensile strength, polymer magazines generally fail in only one way – they crack. Exposure to certain chemicals or varying temperature extremes can cause these mags to become brittle. Metal magazines, on the other hand, almost never crack, but can dent fairly easily.

If they become dented, this can affect their ability to either properly lock up inside the host rifle, or to reliability feed rounds. This is more the case with aluminum magazines than steel ones. Thankfully when this occurs with either, the shooter can normally fix the mags by simply disassembling the mag, and bending the dents out.

Though personally, I wouldn’t bother unless you have to – magazines are consumable items.

Buy I digress, if you’ve got metal mania, check out these examples of metal magazines available on the market today.

Okay Industries SureFeed Magazines

Despite their name, these mags are much better than just, ‘OK’. Constructed of lightweight aluminum and available in 20 and 30-round varieties, these mags have been in service for more than 40 years. In fact, Okay industries co-developed the original 30-round USGI magazine with the Army back in 1976.

Back then the magazines were a matte grey color and originally used traditional metal followers. Now, Okay Industries ships their SureFeed magazines in a corrosion-resistant, semi-gloss black finish and the metallic followers are replaced by anti-tilt polymer ones.

While these mags aren’t as high-speed, low-drag as the latest and greatest from Magpul or Lancer, they are an affordable alternative and one that if properly maintained will outlast the shooter.

Bushmaster Aluminum 30-round Magazines

Only a few years ago Bushmaster was considered one of the top dogs in the AR-15 game. Because of this, Bushmaster of BFI, sold incredible amounts of firearms and, you guessed it, magazines.

The standard Bushmaster magazines is a light matte gray-finished aluminum-bodied and available in an odd assortment of capacities and shapes. The 30-round versions look like any other STANAG 30-rounder, just with a gray finish.

Their reduced capacity models, however, are a bit different. Traditionally, 20-round AR-15 magazines are straight with an angled baseplate. They follow the original specs set forth by Armalite and the military back in the early days of the M16.  

Bushmaster 20, 10 and even 5-round magazines look more like someone took the curved profile of the 30-round magazines and simply cut the body when they reached the capacity desired. So 5-round magazines feature a subtle amount of body curve, and 20-round mags look like a Japanese wooden bridge.

Aesthetics aside, these magazines are like any other, and feature good, but not outstanding reliability. Look for models with green anti-tilt followers for increased reliability. Just like with any other STANAG, if it ships with a USGI standard follower, simply buy a pack of Magpul anti-tilt followers and replace it.

Steel Magazines

The overwhelming majority of AR15/M16 magazines on the market today are made from either polymer or aluminum. There are a few exceptions though. Two major military arms makers produce steel STANAGs as well as a few surplus options exist on the market today for the savvy buyer.

The first of which is the HK-pattern, SA-80 magazine. When the British military was struggling to get their L85 bullpup to run correctly, Heckler and Koch was contracted to fix the design. Among the myriad of upgrades made by HK, they also changed out the aluminum USGI STANAG shipping with the rifles to a more crush-resistant all-steel magazine.

These magazines are hefty and almost feel like a loaded aluminum mag when empty, but are damn near bomb-proof. AK-lovers like myself enjoy these mags because they’re reminiscing of the WARSAW-pact AKM steel magazines we so adore.

The other major military arms makers responsible for producing steel STANAGs is FNH/FNA. These jet-black (and also FDE) heavy-gauge steel mags ship with their SCAR-16 carbine and are much more durable than their aluminum counterparts.

As for the surplus magazines, these are made in Singapore and some suggest are military surplus from their armed forces. They normally bear no markings whatsoever, but stand out from other steel mags with their phosphate matte gray finish that adds a few ounces to them.

All of these magazines are great choices for shooters who want the durability of polymer magazines, with the heat-tolerance and solvent-proof construction of metal mags.

Surplus USGI Aluminum Magazines

This is a tricky category to cover, since the quality and functionality of these mags can be a total crap-shoot. This isn’t because of any issues dealing with their construction or build quality, but rather because they’re surplus and have aluminum bodies.

The latter is important, because unlike polymer and steel magazines, aluminum ones are far easier to accidently bend out of shape, thus rendering them useless. – Seeing as by definition these magazines are all in used condition, how can a shooter ensure they’re not buying a neat paperweight?

Use your finger, seriously.

Take your index finger, or any finger thin enough to fit inside the magazine body, and push the follower down. If the magazine is significantly distorted or damaged, the follower will bind at some point. One thing you’ll probably notice while performing this check, is how easy it is to tilt the follower forward or backward.

You’re witnessing firsthand, what put Magpul on the map – their anti-tilt follower. This may seem like a tangent, but is actually very relevant. Many of these magazines have a bad reputation for unreliability. Thankfully, purchasing a three-pack of anti-tilt followers goes a long way to improve their function.

This list may not seem as exhaustive as the polymer one, but that’s mostly because polymer magazines have become vastly more prolific in the last decade. That doesn’t mean aluminum or steel magazines don’t have their place in one’s go-to AR grab bag.

I’m a tremendous proponent of more is more when it comes to magazines, and variety is the spice of life. You never know when a collector might want one of these mags, and thus give you great leverage in trading towards something you really want, or that the latest and greatest gun cleaner might melt your poly mags. While this is admittedly unlikely you’ll never think to yourself, “Damn, I wish I hadn’t bought so many different magazines”. 

Lastly, this isn't an exhaustive list - there are dozens of contracting companies from countless countries that manufacture STANAG magazines in one form or another. Also, I intentionally left out any drums or coffin magazines as they deserve a dedicated piece to themselves.

When CZ-USA released the Scorpion 9mm pistol for civilian sale in the United States, it completely bucked a trend in SMG-based, pistol-caliber carbines: it was affordable.

In the past, examples from Heckler and Koch, IMI and even FN-USA with their PS90 were simply far too expensive for most shooters to consider in lieu of a rifle-caliber carbine like an AR-15. Because of the price of the gun, lack of effective range and cost of magazines, civilian versions of sub machineguns saw limited commercial success outside of collectors.

CZ sought to change all this with their CZ, and did so with great success. Due partially to the low cost of the gun, the invention of a pistol stabilizing brace from SB Tactical, and the EVO’s super-affordable magazines.

The latter of which is the focus of this month’s, “Mag of the Month” piece.

Constructed of translucent high-impact polymer, the Scorpion’s magazines are available in 10, 20 and 30-round capacities. They weigh next to nothing, feed flawlessly and best of all, normally run under 20 bucks!

Compare that to 9mm sub-gun mags from HK that range in price from $30 to $80 depending on manufacture, collectability or capacity. So even with the very nice (and much more affordable) introduction of Zenith roller-delayed guns and magazines, the higher cost of ownership of EVO-alternatives can be a tough pill to swallow.

With the EVO’s stellar reputation for reliability, phenomenal performance when suppressed and inexpensive magazines, it makes a great option for home defense or bugout kits for shooters who want a reliable, affordable and quiet option.

My friend Brian Miller is a firearm tinkerer. He has a milling machine and a 3D printer and makes his own custom parts for his guns. He made a coupler to connect two Vepr 12 magazines end to end, so it becomes one giant magazine. He has made custom optic mounts as well as muzzle brakes for his Vepr12.

Well recently Brian had an idea to add 8 rounds to a Colt SMG magazine. I think my +10 extension for the CZ Scorpion magazine may have inspired him. Colt made a 9mm AR back in the 80s. It was fed with a modified Uzi magazine. Due to the new USPSA Pistol Caliber Carbine division being made official, pistol carbines are becoming increasinly popular. It is not uncommon to shoot a USPSA match where a stage or two have a round count north of 30 rounds. So having 8 more in a 9mm AR is most welcome. Since the Colt SMG mags typically hold 32 rounds, this extension makes it a nice even 40 rounds.

I am now more eager for an IWI X95 9mm conversion kit so I can use Brian's extensions on their mags.

At the moment they are not available for sale.

The FN America SCAR17S is one of the best battle rifles out on the market. It fires a 7.62x51 cartridge but the recoil is oddly soft for a .308 winchester rifle. The short stroke gas piston system allows the gun to keep on firing in all manner of conditions. Even though it only has a 16.25" barrel witn 1:12 twist, it is accurate out to 800 meters.

FN offers magazines in two different capacities. 20 rd mags or 10 rd mags. The SCAR17S magazine is actually a modified FN FAL magazine. The SCAR17S and FAL Mag body is the same. FN just cut a mag catch notch into the side of the mag body, removed the front notch and changed the feed lip shape a bit. Then they added a plastic bumper to the base plate.

These mags are great but they are a bit pricey and they weigh a lot. Empty, the factory 20 rd mag weighs 8.6oz.

For a lighter option there are aftermarket polymer magazines. One of the first to come to market was Molon Labe Industries. They made a universal polymer magazine that they can cut to different lengths and have different capacities. Regardless of size the magazines are all the same price.  They come in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 rd capacities. I have had some issues with reliability with the 25 rd mags. Fail to feed. Also when loading the rounds into the magazine, the magazine tends to swell a bit and does not drop free if you need to fix a malfunction. They are lighter than the factory magazine though. A 20 rd mag weighs 6.1oz and the 25rd magazine weighs 8.1oz. One thing nice about the Molon Labe Industries magazines is their giant base plate. It is perfectly flat and a little wide so it acts like a mono pod.

Another contender in the polymer magazine category is Moses Mag. They started off by making polymer magazine for FAL pattern rifles. And since the FAL magazine is not that different from an FAL magazine, it was not that difficult to alter the mold and make a polymer magazine for the SCAR17S. The magazine is the lightest of all the SCAR17S compatible magazines. Empty it weighs a mere 4.6oz. That is almost half the weight of the factory FN magazine. The Moses Mag SCAR-H magazine holds 21 rounds of .308 winchester. However if you load it to a full 21 rounds, you will have a difficult time inserting it on a closed bolt. So it is best to leave it at 20 or open and lock the bolt for the full 21.

The final magazine is basically an extended metal magazine similar in design to the FN magazine. ASC makes this long metal magazine and it holds 25 rounds. Weight wise it is not that bad at just 8.1oz. Still lighter than the factory magazine. Both the ASC magazine and the Moses Mag magazine have sloped base plates. While you can monopod the rifle on the magazine, all the weight is concentrated on that one narrow section of the magazine. Both magazines are equally priced at below $30 each.

Earlier this month I was at the 2016 FN 3Gun Championship match at Peace Maker National Training Center. I have staffed this match for five years. This year, Lucas Oil was one of the largest sponsors for the match. I will be honest, I have not heard of Lucas Outdoor Products before. As staff we have our own sponsored staff dinner with a slew of prizes just for staff. One of the items that many of us got was a 2 fl. oz bottle of Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed wax.

I was a little confused as to why this was included in the staff prizes. In fact at the competitor awards dinner Lucas Oil were giving away samples of their products and the Slick Mist Speed Wax was given out to the competitors. I spoke with their representative during the match and she said that the Slick Mist Speed Wax works as a polymer based lubricant that does not attract dust or particles. Most shooters use the Slick Mist Speed Wax to lubricate their pistol magazines. One friend said he uses it in his 2011 magazines.

You simply dissassemble your magazine and clean the inside of the magazine tube body. Then you spray the Slick Mist Speed Wax inside the magazine tube and wipe it dry with a rag. Then reassemble your magazine and load it up. You will notice smoother movement of the follower as well as the cartridges do not drag against the mag tube as much.

You can find Slick Mist Speed Wax online or go to lucasoil.com.

What do you do when your accessory sales are outrageously low? That’s a no-brainer.  Buy Crimson Trace.  Smith and Wesson began the process of acquiring Crimson Trace back in July and finalized the deal on August 29th.  By making this decision, Smith and Wesson not only opened up a door for themselves to be a powerhouse in the accessory market for all firearms, but they also created an opportunity to implement groundbreaking technology into their lines of firearms. 

From a business standpoint, purchasing a company that produces high-quality light and laser combos makes sense for Smith and Wesson.  They have been taking steps to improve this by recently acquiring the knife maker Taylor Brand for $85 million earlier this year.  Combined, these are some of the smarter moves we’ve seen a significant gun producer make in the last few years. 

Let's look at it this way:  Say someone is looking for a concealed carry piece and debating between the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield and a Glock 43.  Both very high-quality firearms, and even though Glock was late to the party introducing the 43, they still have a devoted fan base that buys nothing but Glock handguns.  This is where acquiring Crimson Trace is going to play a massive part in the growth of Smith and Wesson’s sales.  If that person wants a high-quality laser to put on that new Glock 43, they’re going to be purchasing it from Crimson Trace – ahem - Smith and Wesson. Smith and Wesson have set themselves up in the marketplace to provide accessories for pretty much any gun someone could want a laser for. 

Now let’s get into the not-so-obvious benefit to this deal.  As many of us know, the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard comes equipped with an integrated laser right out of the box.  With Smith and Wesson acquiring one of the best laser companies in the industry, it isn’t a far cry to think that this isn’t going to be the last time we see special combos like the Bodyguard.  When money is tight, having to purchase a gun for $400 and then spend another $200-400 on a light and laser combo on top of that isn’t the most appealing thing in the world. 

Imagine how S&W will be able to control the market by implementing built-in laser sights on their lines of guns, for a smaller upfront cost since they already own the technology.  Who knows what kind of technology Crimson Trace had hidden up their sleeve that now belongs to Smith and Wesson after the acquisition?  They can integrate all of these ideas into their guns, and give them new features that set them apart from your average handgun, all while keeping the consumer price competitive. 

                Smith and Wesson have just made one of the smartest decisions in the gun industry.  Ninety-five million dollars is not small price tag by any means, but the magnitude of sales that this investment will create in the future is worth the upfront investment.  In an industry that is booming now more than ever, having something to set you apart from the average gun manufacturer is not something to be taken lightly.

The fastest reload is when you don't have to do one. That is why high capacity magazines or drum magazines are awesome. However what if you don't have those types of magazines? How can you make your regular reloads faster? Economy of motion. Why waste time reaching for a spare magazine from a pouch either on your waist or on your chest? Coupled magazines are the way to go.

Coupling mags is easy. Some companies make couplers themselves. CZ-USA has couplers for their Scorpion Evo 3 magazines. They are inexpensive at under $13 for a pair and they work with the stock 20 rd magazines or the 30 rd magazines.

Magpul makes a mag coupler to join two PMAGs together.  It is a two piece design with two long metal screws and it clamps on the front and rear of the mag bodies.

There are also 3rd party mag couplers I coupled two 35 rd magazines for my M&P15-22 with a Mission First Tactical mag coupler. Which you can see below. 

Running coupled mags is faster than traditional single mag reloads. Yes there are some rather fast people out there who can reload in a blnk of an eye, but the simple physics of it all, reloading from a coupled mag will be faster is performed by the same person doing a traditional reload. You do not have to ove your hand as far to retrieve the next magazine.

For bullpup rifles, couped magazines can be an issue because you could have a spare magazine on the outside of the gun and it could interfere with your shooting arm. Here is a trick shown by an Israeil woman from Zahal about offsetting your coupled magazines and twisting them when reloading a Tavor. 

Sound suppressors, silencers cans – whatever you want to call them, are great to reducing the volume of a gunshot. While they aren’t as quiet as the bird-chirping-into-a-pillow Hollywood suppressors in movies and TV, they go a long way in keeping a shooter’s hearing undamaged. Though they do have some shortcomings, in this case, increased fouling.

Fowling? Like hunting birds?

No, fouling – the act of debris collecting inside a machine. Firearms don’t foul-up on their own, but thus far, every design that fires a projectile with gun powder of any sort, leaves residue behind after the shot. Part of this residue is a mixture of burnt and unburnt powder escaping back into the action, or carbon build-up.

Carbon is an infuriatingly stubborn material. Every product used a cleaner or solvent for it, still requires scrubbing to fully remove it. Most of these products are very strong, and not terribly great for human beings to come into contact with. The same can be said for certain finishes and polymers – like the ones used to build magazines.

Thankfully magazines don’t tend to get terribly dirty – unless you’re running a sound suppressor.

Suppressors reduce the sound of shot by controlling the rate of expansion on escaping hot gasses generated by burning powder. With the suppressor reducing the velocity of escaping gasses, some of the gas will escape back into the firearm’s action.

Why?

Because gas, like water and electricity always follows the path of least resistance. Compared to the pressurized can on the end of the gun’s barrel, the freshly unlocked chamber of a semi-automatic firearm is an open door. If your firearm is magazine-fed, that magazine tends to act as a catch basin for carbon, debris and all sorts of crud being flung back into the gun.

After firing 50 rounds through an AR-15, it’s magazine will show noticeable amounts of carbon and unburn powder collecting on both the inside and outside of magazine walls. After 500 rounds, the magazine will feel like it has sand in it, and the follower will glide with all the smoothness of a cinderblock dragged on concrete.

So how do you keep your magazine running with increased buildup, without having to clean it constantly?

Lubricate it, though not with just any old gun oil. Oil and grease are magnets for dirt, sand and carbon. While they’ll keep carbon from collecting on metal components that are subject to extreme temperature, components like magazines that are often exposed to dust, dirt and grim will get dirty extremely fast. Think a wet lollipop dropped on dirty shag carpet.

My solution is dry graphite lube. The stuff works pretty damn good, and unlike wet lubricants, doesn’t attract dry particles. Don’t buy the grease stuff, get an aerosol can and give the inside of your magazine a quick spray. Yes, it will make your magazine look filthy – but it will make cleaning a breeze.

Once you’ve fired a few hundred rounds through the same mag, simply remove the follower from your magazine, and wipe the inside with a shop rag a few times. Once that’s done, spray again with the graphite, and you’re good to go.

Best part is, the stuff can be found for pretty cheap at big box stores and car part shops. It’s normally under 9 bucks a can. One word of caution: aerated graphite is insanely lightweight, and readily goes airborne. If you’re going to spray a magazine with this stuff, do so outside and ideally with a painter’s mask on. I’m no doctor, but I can’t imagine breathing graphite is good for your lungs. 

Thanks to a MP5 Enthusiasts group on Facebook, I learned of an inexpensive polymer magazine for MP5s. It is made in Turkey by MKE. MKE are the ones who make MP5s and are imported by Zenith Firearms.

MKE makes their MP5s using original H&K tooling that they purchased many years ago. The MKE/Zenith MP5s come with three metal magazines. They are nearly identical to the H&K MP5 magazines.

Above you can see the MKE polymer magazine next to the metal MKE magazine.  I have only inserted the magazines and have not yet had an oppotunity to test fire them. So far they lock up but have a bit of play when you move the magazine front and back. When I insert them the magazine doesn't quite lock up with the mag catch and I have to shift the mag back or forth to make sure it seats. It is a little difficult to tell but the polymer MKE magazines are a smoke clear plastic. So you can see the rounds in the magazine.

For years gun writers, forum-posters and gun shop clerks alike have almost universally recommended the 10/22 as a new shooter’s first rifle. Their reasoning was sound back when .22LR ammo was cheap and plentiful, but what about now?

With steel-cased .223/5.56mm at roughly 22 cents a round when purchased by the case, and .22lr at about a third of that – the economics aren’t hard to justify for shooters who love putting lead down range any chance they get.

Though even as recently as last year, the price and availability of .22lr made purchasing a .22 rifle a tough sell over an AR15 or AKM carbine. While both of these military-inspired firearms are great tools, they’re much more expensive than the average 10/22 and can’t be used at many indoor or close-range shooting ranges. Areas ideal for new shooters to learn the core skills of marksmanship.

Skills like sight alignment, trigger control and follow-through – the kind that require hundreds if not thousands of repetitions to ingrain in a shooter’s brain. Obviously the reduced cost per round greatly assists the affordability of doing this, but the trade-off is that the reduced recoil doesn’t prepare shooters to deal with it on larger caliber firearms.

But this article isn’t simply about justifying the purchase of a .22lr carbine over a center-fire model, it’s about the Ruger 10/22 specifically. So, what is the Ruger 10/22?

It’s a semi-automatic, magazine-fed direct-blowback rifle chambered in .22lr. The 10/22 is available from Ruger in roughly a dozen configurations that differ in finish, stock material, barrel length/type and included accessories. Some 10/22s now ship with threaded barrels so they can accept muzzle devices like compensators and sound suppressors.

With prices on AR15 carbines dropping to record levels as the market becomes ultra-saturated with them, should the average shooter forego the rimfire Ruger in favor of an AR15?

Not necessarily. While not suitable for home defense or three-gun competitions, the 10/22 is an excellent rifle not just for beginners, but also tinkerers. The Ruger 10/22 is the most prolific rimfire carbine in the United States, and as a result has dauntingly-large aftermarket support. Some companies even make complete receivers for shooters to build their ideal gun from. Conservable, given all the different parts available, I would estimate there are over 1,000,000 different configurations for the gun.

More than that, it means the gun can grow with you as a shooter. Which is why the folks at the Appleseed clinics recommend a Tech Sights-equipped 10/22 for their students to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship.

More than that, there are advantages to owning one of these little guns over an AR15, like the ability to hunt small game. Animals like squirrels and rabbits are easy prey for the soft-shooting automatic, making it a great hiking or bugout gun. This is especially true given how lightweight both the ammo and the rifle are.

It may not be as tacticool as an AR15 or AKM carbine, but the little Ruger still has a part to play in a shooter’s collection. It’s often thought of as simply a starter gun, but the Ruger 10/22’s endless array of aftermarket parts, simple-design and rugged construction make it a great choice for any shooter in need of a quality firearm.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 70 years, you’ve see, shot or know of the Ruger MK series of rimfire pistols. The brainchild of the late, great Bill Ruger, this Nambu-influenced plinking pistol is among the most prolific in the world and its success enabled Ruger to become the massive company it is today.

Ruger’s little handgun is a direct blow-back pistol that closely mimics the grip angle of the German P08 handgun of the first world war or the 1911 depending on the model. The gun has evolved three times since its introduction in 1949 as the Ruger Standard Model. Originally feeding from detachable 9-round, single-stack magazines, Ruger increased their capacity to 10 rounds in later iterations.

The pistol has seen action not just at home dealing with paper adversaries, but also as an integrally-suppressed tool for covert military operations as far back as Vietnam. The MKII and III models added more variants with different barrel profiles and grip styles, but the internals have always remained more or less the same – a stamped steel, inexpensive target pistol for the average consumer.  But this classic plinker has one downside to its design: disassembly.

Tearing down the Ruger requires three hands and a screwdriver unless the gun has been taken apart multiple times. Because of this, new shooters (one of the target demographics of the gun) would struggle with basic maintained of the pistol. Which has evolved in several people learning to clean their Ruger pistol without taking it apart – if they clean it at all.  Ruger has finally addressed this in their latest iteration of the MK series, the Mark IV.

“While the heavily redesigned Mark IV maintains the same classic outward appearance as the Mark III, it incorporates a significant improvement customers will love – a simple, one-button takedown for quick and easy field-stripping. A recessed button in the back of the frame allows the upper receiver to tilt up and off of the grip frame without the use of tools. The bolt simply slides out of the receiver and the barrel can be properly cleaned from chamber to muzzle. “

 Though the engineers at Ruger weren’t content to simply change the takedown procedure to resemble that of a scaled-down AR15, but also they’ve replaced the steel stamping construction of the lower receiver with machined aluminum and improved the ergonomics.

 “Other significant improvements include a one-piece grip frame that is precision CNC-machined from a solid piece of stainless steel or aluminum; an ambidextrous manual safety and a redesigned bolt stop for more ergonomic operation. The magazine drops free on release for faster reloads and a redesigned magazine disconnect safety prevents discharge when the magazine has been removed.  Internal improvements include changes to the hammer, sear, bolt and firing pin for smoother, more reliable feeding.”   

 Ruger hasn’t forgotten what makes the gun great, and like all the previous Mark series of handguns, retaining some backwards compatibility with components designed for previous versions of the gun.

“The Mark IV is compatible with a variety of Mark III aftermarket accessories including sights, scope bases and magazines.” 

Ruger stated that these new plinkers should be shipping to retailers soon, and will initially be available in blued and stainless and initially only heavy target variations.

The M1 carbine has an interesting, amazingly complex and controversial history – invented by a convict in prison, built by Winchester (and other arms makers) for the US military and was the first step for the United States towards adoption of a genuine assault rifle.

The M1 carbine was the first American firearm to be equipped with a night vision optic, and is the most prolific American firearm of the Second World War. The original version is semi-automatic only, but late war saw the M2 select-fire variant and M3 night-vision-equipped parameter defense models introduced.

While the gun had is detractors primarily because of its lack of stopping power and range when compared to the standard rifle round of the Us military at the time, the .30-06, it proved extraordinarily popular on the post-war surplus civilian market.

Since the US dumped so many of these guns onto the surplus market, rifles, magazine and ammunition were dirty-cheap. I’ve spoken to the owner of the most exhaustive collection of M1 carbines on the planet, and he recalled National Guard armories giving away thousands of rounds just to avoid having to do paperwork on leftover live rounds. Hell, the US government lent millions of rifles to ally nations like Korea to assist in rearming after both the Second World War and Korean War.

Sadly, the days of free ammo and affordable magazines for the M1 carbine have long since passed. but KCI, Korean military equipment manufacturer, still retains the magazine-building equipment it developed in the past for its borrowed carbines. Since the price of tooling up has long since been recouped, KCI can offer magazines for much cheaper than American surplus examples that are on par in terms of function and quality.

Available in 15 and 30-round varieties, these staggered-column box-type magazines are remarkably lightweight despite their all-steel construction. Since the magazines are fairly light, they can also be crushed by a boot-stomp on pavement, or simply by being stored underneath very heavy equipment. This bares mentioning, because many surplus magazines are dented because of rough storage or handling.

So what?

So, these replacement mags are an excellent investment for shooters worried about the ever-dwindling supply of surplus American-made mags. Plus, these are perfect range mags if a shooter is concerned about damaging historically-significant magazines.

Overall, these Korean-made mags are nearly identical to surplus examples at a fraction of the cost. The only real differences are the origin of the mags, and the finish on Korean mags tends to be a little more black than original examples. Though unless someone is shining a flashlight on the mags and comparing them side-by-side, the difference is immaterial. 

According to Larry Houck, Product Manager of Holsters and Duty Gear at Vista Outdoor Inc., the Blackhawk! QuickMod pouches have been around for two years. However not many people know about them or have even seen them.  Blackhawk! has made magazine pouches in the past. They were a no frills basic affair that simply held magazines on a belt or interfaced with their Serpa line of drop leg rigs. The older design mag pouches were focused on duty or military use.

The new QuickMod Cases can be used for duty or military but where they really shine is competitive use. The single mag case is available for pistol magazines or AR-15 magazines. But what sets them apart from traditional mag pouches? First of all the pouch has 360 degree rotation around the belt attachment. Second and this is the most unique feature of the QuickMod Cases, is their quick detach belt attachment design.

There are magazine pouch systems like the Safariland ELS system or 5.11's Slick Stick system. However they are not as sturdy and simple as the QuickMod system. The Safariland ELS is a two part design. A female coupler is attached to an ELS belt. Then the male end is attached to a magazine pouch. The ELS mag pouches only offer a limited 90 degree range of angle adjustment compared to Blackhawk's 360 degree of rotation. Another fantastic feature of the QuickMod design is that it is tool-less with the exception of the belt adjustment. As you can see in the photo above, the bottom hook is adjustable for belt sizes 1.5 to 2.25 inches wide. You need to remove the screw and pull the hook away from the QuickMod case. There is a threaded rectangular plate on the other side and it can fall out if you don't hold it in place. Once the hook is removed you can reposition it for a better fit depending on your belt size. Once adjusted that is the only time you need a tool for the QuickMod case.

Here is a quick video showing how the QuickMod cases work.

Some of you may be asking "why would you need 360 degree rotation of a magazine pouch"? And the answer to that would be for speed and competition. If you take a look at how USPSA or 3Gun shooters set up their belts, you will see their pistol mag pouches are usually angled to the back. This aides in faster reloads and getting the magazine out faster. Another issue is the ability to remove the magazine pouch quickly. Many shooters set up dedicated rigs to hopefully have everything they need. However in the sport of 3Gun, stage design can alter drastically and you may have to utilize one gun more than another. If that is the case then your belt and pouch setup may not be suitable for that specific stage. This is one reason why the Safariland ELS system is so popular with 3Gunners. It allows them to rearrange their belt setups on demand. As I noted earlier, the ELS system uses a two piece design. The female coupler is affixed using the holes in the ELS belt. This limits its position to only where their are holes and it makes it harder to make small adjustments. With the QuickMod design you can slide the mag pouches forward or rearward along the belt for a more customized setup. You can mix and match other pouch designs or belt attachment methods. For example, I have a Shotgun Shell caddy that uses a Blackhawk serpa belt Modulock. That way I can attach my shell caddy at whim depending on the stage or match.

The pistol QuickMod Case can fit single stack or double stack magazines in 9mm or .40 s&w. Double stack .45acp magazine did not quite fit, I was able to force a Glock 21 magazine and an FNX-45 magazine but only the feed lips were able to be inserted. I did not want to force the entire magazine into the QuickMod case as it would be difficult removing the magazine.

I tried all my various AR15 magazines and they all worked in the AR QuickMod case. While I do not have any, I don't think the ETS AR magazine will work due to the coupler protrusions molded into the sides of the magazines.

The QuickMod Case is a great self contained design that allows the user a world of adjustability to their needs. They retail for $40.95 for the pistol case and $50.95 for the AR case. Now that does seem a bit high for a mag pouch. However if you look at Safariland ELS systems, they have magazine pouches for different magazines. You would need a separate magazine pouch for a Glock magazine and a STI 2011 magazine or a single stack magazine. That is three separate mag pouches with separate ELS forks for their couplers. Whereas you only need one QuickMod Case for any of those magazines.

For more information on the Blackhawk! QuickMod Cases go to their website.