The answer to AR rimfire magazine woes....

[Sim G]

We see much lamenting of the standard of AR magazines for the rimfire units, either full gun or upper. The amount of work or additional parts needed to either get the magazines to work or even have the gun run as close to it's CF cousin as possible with the "last-round-hold-open-add-more-parts-to-the-gun-debacle"

Obviously, some of us are able to sit back smugly for even though our chose AR is regarded as "drastic plastic", the engineers at Smith & Wesson got our magazines and gun right so that out of the box. party2 clapclap clapclap

The Smith runs, locks open, changes mags and returns to battery the way an AR should*. So much so, mine is fitted with a battery assist lever and it really is far quicker than with the support hand.

*Yes, these are .22 rimfire pseudo tacticool fun guns and not "real" AR's. But fancy spending £2K and you don't even get a hold open!

Anyhoo, looks like Bonney Packer have come up with a real nifty way to improve your magazine issues for non S&W AR's.....

It's a magazine well insert that allows you to use S&W mags and the bolt will hold open! And all for under 40 dollars.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/bo ... 56474.aspx

Should have got a Smith! :shakeshout:

[HALODIN]

I've just got the S&W mags working pretty well with my spikes and a catch-22 BHOA, 98.5% of the time it behaves just like a CF and with a bit more filing I think I can get it to 100%, but these look pretty interesting. I like the look of the new CMMG mags which I believe activate the BHOA, I just need to find somewhere in the UK where I can buy them. Alternatively Paul O from Lantac is supposed to be near to releasing his .22 mags which I believe will also activate the BHOA, so it seems there are a few choices now, but like you say, why ALL of the manufacturers couldn't get this right is beyond me.

The problem with the S&W mags is they look pretty s***, although I agree they're very functional. Hopefully Paul or CMMG's offerings tick both boxes.

[techguy]

How about the plinker tactical mags... They are 35rd so a bit longer than standard, but look better than the S&W mags, but aren't quite as functional...

[HALODIN]

I think they would suffer from the same problems as the S&W mags in a standard mag well. They're a poor fit unless you put a spacer at the front of the mag and even with that, there's still quite a bit of play in the well, which means the front of the mag can rise up and interfere with the bolt. I dare say you could fix all of that as I have with the S&W, but it's still not an `out of the box` solution for standard AR's.

In terms of looks, I still don't think they're there yet, plus I think they look a little odd given the length. I want something that's indistinguishable from a 5.56 mag, ideally a USGI metal mag if anyone with the technical know how is reading this!

One day...

How about the plinker tactical mags... They are 35rd so a bit longer than standard, but look better than the S&W mags, but aren't quite as functional...

[HALODIN]

There's some pictures of the "BETTER-MAG S&W .22 RIMFIRE MAGAZINE" here:

http://www.redi-mag.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=52

[John MH]

I've already got a couple of them. smile2

[HALODIN]

The new CMMG mags? Don't be such a tease.... :lol: Spill the beans. Any good? Do they activate the BHOA? Where did you get them?

I've already got a couple of them. smile2

[John MH]

Direct from Redi-Mag but delivered to holiday address in USA. Don't know if they work yet.

[paulbradley]

I have a V22 upper and the SGC mags are ridiculously heavy and no hold open on last round. Will any of these new mag options suit?

[kennyc]

We see much lamenting of the standard of AR magazines for the rimfire units, either full gun or upper. The amount of work or additional parts needed to either get the magazines to work or even have the gun run as close to it's CF cousin as possible with the "last-round-hold-open-add-more-parts-to-the-gun-debacle"

Obviously, some of us are able to sit back smugly for even though our chose AR is regarded as "drastic plastic", the engineers at Smith & Wesson got our magazines and gun right so that out of the box. party2 clapclap clapclap

The Smith runs, locks open, changes mags and returns to battery the way an AR should*. So much so, mine is fitted with a battery assist lever and it really is far quicker than with the support hand.

*Yes, these are .22 rimfire pseudo tacticool fun guns and not "real" AR's. But fancy spending £2K and you don't even get a hold open!

Anyhoo, looks like Bonney Packer have come up with a real nifty way to improve your magazine issues for non S&W AR's.....

It's a magazine well insert that allows you to use S&W mags and the bolt will hold open! And all for under 40 dollars.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/bo ... 56474.aspx

Should have got a Smith! :shakeshout:

this always makes me smile