My Promag 10 rounders came in today...

[Dave3006]

I ordered 10 of the Promag 10 round magazines from fourfourmag.com. The guy shipped them promptly and I have been very happy with the responsiveness and customer service. The magazines look almost identical to the factory 5 rounders. There are very very slight differences. The fit and finish look good. I plan to test them on Saturday. I will report back. My criteria for success, in my mind, will be zero failures to feed and zero failures to lock back the bolt. I have loaded all 10 with South African ball ammo and some American Eagle. I did notice that the magazines have more play side to side than the factory 5 round mags.

I hope they work. I spoke to the company President of Promag. He is going after the Ruger OEM business pretty aggressively. Maybe that means these things work.

Dave

[Tady45]

Hi Dave, Good luck on your new mags. Do they make 20 30 round mags as well? Have you ever used PMI? I have a 10 round John Mason Co mag that works very well. I have another after market (no name) that works about 50% of the time..:) Tell this gentleman that if he makes a good product, us Mini owners will be lined up around the block..........

Larry:ar15:

[DKRichards]

Originally posted by Tady45
.....Good luck on your new mags. Do they make 20 30 round mags as well? Have you ever used PMI? I have a 10 round John Mason Co mag that works very well...........
Larry:ar15:


Larry, check around in this forum, we have been going over magazine issues for a couple of weeks.
Briefly, I don't recall is ProMag makes anything but 5 and 10 round magazines. You might ask Mark at fourfourmag.com

PMI magazines seem to be popular and work well. I have 2 there work 100%.

Ruger's magazines seem to work the best of all (when you can find them)

The others, including John Mason and USA, seem to sometimes work fine else they are terrible. The bad ones can sometimes be corrected with a little work (there's a piece on that on the forum somewhere also.)

There is a good piece on Mini 14 magazines here: http://perfectunion.com/forums/forumdispla...p?s=&forumid=27 (http://perfectunion.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=27)

That's a "Mini 14 FAQ". Good luck! :)

[DKRichards]

Dave, the mags I ordered from fourfourmag.com haven't arrived yet, but should early next week I expect. Please do let us know how the magazines function at the range.

My 30 round PMIs also exhibit a little side to side play. It's more pronounced, I suspect, with the longer magazines.

How far below the stock do the ProMag 10 rounders extend? I got the impressive probably 1.5 inches or so? Are your blue or SS?

My criteria for them is the same as yours! I was pleased when the PMIs worked so well last week. It takes awhile to load 30 rounds!

[Dave3006]

DKRichards, That is good to hear that your PMIs have side to side play and work perfectly. After I posted this last night, I loaded a couple of the magazines and inserted them into my Mini-14. With the safety on, I released the bolt to chamber a round. The rounds would not chamber automatically without a slight bump on the op rod (like I have to do on my Garands). I don't know how big of a deal this is. I have to do this frequently with my factory five round mags too.

As an occupant of Kali, I just might have to go on a trip to a free state and admire some PMI 30 rounders. Of course, it would be illegal to actually have one follow me back. So that would be out of the question.

[Stu Thorneloe]

Hey Dave 3006,

I've been following this thread pretty closely. Did the president of ProMag make any mention of producing Mini-30 magazines?

Thanks.
Stu
:sniper:

[Dave3006]

He did not. I didn't ask though.

Dave

[DKRichards]

.....The rounds would not chamber automatically without a slight bump on the op rod (like I have to do on my Garands....

I tried that with the Ruger 5 round magazine and it did the same thing the first time I tried to chamber a round in the new rifle. However, when I ejected that round, the next several chambered okay. I'd not worry too much about it until you go to the range.
Plus, it helps to not be timid when drawing back the bolt and letting it go! <g> I figured that's what kept the first round from chambering, but who knows.

-Doug

[DKRichards]

Originally posted by Stu Thorneloe
Hey Dave 3006,

I've been following this thread pretty closely. Did the president of ProMag make any mention of producing Mini-30 magazines?

Thanks.
Stu
:sniper:

Why not check ProMag's web page? They don't have decent photos of their products, but they do list them all.

[Satan2655]

Originally posted by DKRichards


Plus, it helps to not be timid when drawing back the bolt and letting it go! <g> I figured that's what kept the first round from chambering, but who knows.

-Doug

I find the most success pulling back the bolt until you can depress the bolt locking mech (to hold the bolt open). If you then draw the operating slide back until it clicks and drops the plunger, you can release and it will feed perfectly. Just let that sucker go, don't baby it home. These guns are designed for this!

If you are shooting mag after mag like I do, and use a brass catcher, this is an automatic thing, since the follower of the previous mag automatically holds the bolt open.

[gutpile]

hey guys, my 10 round magazine from mark came in today, it works great, fits snug, feeds just like the ruger mags, and the bolt has a positive lock open on the last round, my only complaint is that i cant get it to lock inplace with the bolt closed, but when the bolt is back, it slips in and locks up just as well as the ruger 5-rounders do. i think we have finally found a decent 10 round magazine for our mini's......try one

[Dave3006]

Thanks gutpile. Did you test it at the range yet?

P.S.

I wasn't babying the bolt at all when the first round wouldn't feed.

[Satan2655]

Originally posted by gutpile
my only complaint is that i cant get it to lock inplace with the bolt closed, but when the bolt is back, it slips in and locks up just as well as the ruger 5-rounders do.

gut,

This brings us back to the theory of multiples of nine. For a ten-round mag, load only 9 rounds, for a 20 rounder, load only 18. Makes for better reliablity and easier to insert into the mag well.

This doesn't seem to apply to 5-rounders at all...

[MW740]

I've found that if the bolt is locked back you can chamber a round by giving your Mini a good smack on the side of it's butt. The bolt makes a great sound as it slides home.:ar15:

[Satan2655]

...which is exactly the reason the bolt latch mechanism shouldn't be used as a 'safety' device. ;)

[gutpile]

i went out behind the barn and burned off a clip in the new magazine and it works great, and satan i loaded 9 and it works flawlessly with the bolt closed, it is a good magzine, it works as good as factory ruger mags.

[Dave3006]

Man. I wish I could go outside and burn off a clip in an empty field! Well..., I could. I just would be on the Channel 7 news at 6:00 - I can just see the headline "Paramilitary right wing extremest spraying high power bullets dangering the children"

Dave
Mission Viejo, Occupied Kalifornia.

[Dave3006]

Ooops. I forgot about the danger of lead to the environment and hurting the trees. How insensitive of me.

[Satan2655]

LOL! Yeah, I used to be able to do that when I lived in the middle of nowhere, Colorado. Now, if I did that, I'd probably end up wounding/killing several. I'd hate to have the SWAT team over at my house, I simply don't have enough to feed them all.

[bushwack]

I was checking out some parts last night & found that TAPCO is selling 18 round Eagle Mini-30 mags. I know hicap mags for the Mini-30 are pretty rare.

Good shooting
Bushwack

[Satan2655]

Reliable ones are rare. I appreciate the lead. I ordered one just to test it. I'll let you all know my opinion (as if you asked).

[glynb]

Hey Guys,

Been lurking for some time-this forum is the best that I have found on the Mini-14 that's on the Web. I have a ss/ Mini 14 with a Hogue overmolded stock, and a black warrior muzzle break. Both are must haves for any Mini. I recently received 2 no-name steel 20 rd mags from Forrest Co. (in California, $11.95 a piece), and a PMI 10 rd mag from Mark Gleason (Fourfourmag $18.95 a piece)). The difference is immiediatly seen. The no-names (I think USA) are cheaply built. It appears that they just slapped some thin steel around a mold, quickly painted them, and shipped them out. The PMI's on the other hand, are heavier, built better, and seem an all around better quality product. I am waiting for a Promag 10 rd mag I ordered straight from the company (26.95). All the mags that I have gotten seem to fit tight, and cycle rounds well, and all hold the bolt open after the last round. I haven't been to the range yet for the ultimate test.

The way I see it I would rather pay more for a well built PMI or Promag that only holds 10 rds, than pay less for a cheap gun show mag that holds more rounds. I think Promag, and Mark Gleason will be the best source for a steady supply of steel high quality mags that should work everytime. I'll let y'all know how the ultimate test goes.

:sniper:

[Dave3006]

The ones you got from fourfourmag were Promag 10 rounders not PMI. The part number is ruger09. It is the same for the Promag from the factory. It is good news yours worked. I am off to the range in 5 minutes to test my Promags.

[Flak 2]

I have a few of ProMags 10 round AR15 mags. When loaded to 10 rounds theres quite a bit of pressure on the top round sometimes the carrier does'nt have enough momentum to chamber the first round, but will feed 9 rnds perfect. It is said that if the BATF can get 11 rnds. into the mag regardless if it will feed or not it, it fails and cannot be put into production. I don't know if it's possible but all you guys needing 10rnd. ProMags might want to call CDNN Investments down in Texas (1-888-588-9500)and see if they intend to stock them. The price on new ProMag 10rnd AR15 mags is $9.99ea. through them. Good luck

[glynb]

Originally posted by Dave3006
The ones you got from fourfourmag were Promag 10 rounders not PMI. The part number is ruger09. It is the same for the Promag from the factory. It is good news yours worked. I am off to the range in 5 minutes to test my Promags.

Dave 3006,

In response to your post I vsited the Fourfourmag website again. I observed that it has changed, and is indeed saying that the 10 rd. mags are Promags. When I ordered I could have sworn that it said PMI for the mag description. Oh well, my eyes and mind are getting old. A new post on the website is that Gleason is selling 20 rd blued and stainless mags for $20.00. It does not say what brand they are, but he does give a lifetime warranty. It also states that Promag will be the OEM for Ruger.

Sorry to hear about your mag problems, Dave. You are probably already doing this but I have observed that when loading my mags I MUST MAKE SURE THAT I LOAD ALL THE ROUNDS WITH THE BASE TIGHTLY SEATED AGAINST THE REAR OF THE MAG. Even if I load one round in the mag not properly seated it will doublefeed and screw up loading for the rest of the rounds. Just my .02.

Thanks,

glynb

---------------------------
For those who fight for it Life has a meaning that the sheltered will never know

unknown US Marine/ Khe Sanh

[Cheesehead]

glynb,the fourfourmag.com site says the 20,30 and 40 round mags are Western brand.Those are not very reliable mags,stick with PMI or Ruger factory for good reliabl mags.

[glynb]

Originally posted by Cheesehead
glynb,the fourfourmag.com site says the 20,30 and 40 round mags are Western brand.Those are not very reliable mags,stick with PMI or Ruger factory for good reliabl mags.

Thanks Cheesehead,

Preciate the info.

glynb:sniper:

[DKRichards]

Originally posted by Dave3006
Thanks gutpile. Did you test it at the range yet?

P.S.

I wasn't babying the bolt at all when the first round wouldn't feed.

Dave, did YOU test at the range yet? :D

I'm anxious to hear how your ProgMag 10 round magazines function and if they will allow you to load them to capacity.

A ten round mag that only works with 9 rounds is defective IMHO. I don't mind it they don't insert into the rifle unless the bolt is back; that's how I insert them 98% of the time anyway.

My 30 round PMIs work fine with 30 rounds (knock on wood).:D

[DKRichards]

"When I ordered I could have sworn that it said PMI for the mag description. "

You're not going nuts; it did say that! Dave3006 and I spoke with Mark at fourfourmagdotcom and he told us "PMI" stands for ProMag Industries. I think he changed it on his web page as he was getting so many call! :)

As far as I know, Precision (aka Precision Magazines Industry, aka PMI) didn't make 10 round mags and has gone out of business. Hard to believe they went out of business if you ask me; their pre-bans are going for really high prices! :eek: