Magpul Gen2 or D&H aluminum

Popular opinion is that the Pmag is the new standard for reliability and durability. I have only shot a few mags full through a couple of my Pmags but my D&H have been 100% and my Pmags haven't. I'm sure that will be an exception to be popular vote but I can only report my experiences.

I’ve been very happy with D&H over the years. The magpuls are definitely more durable they any alloy magazine especially at the feed lips.

I haven’t had issues with my magpuls either.

To be honest I just sort of prefer the aluminum mag look.

I have both Pmags Gen 2 and Gen 3 and D&H all of them have been 100% reliable and when not in use stay loaded full time. Of the pmag vs D&H go with whichever is cheaper.

My personal preference is the 20 round Lancer Mags.

The Pmags are very durable and, if you do manage to break one it's obvious it's broken. Metal mags can be off just a little and cause intermittent feed problems that are difficult to diagnose: is it the mag, the gun, the ammo, how I hold the mag...

Anecdotally, since Pmags have gotten popular at our local rifle match it's now remarkable when a AR15 has a feed problem. Feed problems used to be a daily constant thing that 'just happened'.

BSW

I have several of the gen 2 pmags and have never had a problem. I have one that still works after taking some damage in a kaboom. (My mag, wasn’t my gun or my kaboom, dumb friend picked up one of my mags loaded with 300 blk).

I had ran one of the p mags over what has the window over. Besides all scratched up. it is still 100% reliable and still use it today. It was about 3 or 4 years ago i ran it over. No way a metal or steel mag would still work after that. and it was not loaded.

Get a few of both. They are cheap enough and each one has its benefits as far as construction.

I've always been a USGI 20rd mag guy... even when I was in the Army. I bought a single 20rd Magpul magazine way back when... just to see what all the hubaloo was about, and prepared not to like it. I was wrong. Magpul mags rock. That isn't to say standard mags aren't OK, too, it just depends on what you want. Gen2 and Gen3 Magpul mags are all GTG...

Does Magpul have a lifetime warranty?

wojownik said:

What got me percolating about are the vintage USGI 20 rounders I have (Colt and Universal). They are all GTG, and many of these are 50+ years old ...

How would Magpul's polymer do over a decade or two? Would brittleness become a factor after some time?

But, what I'm basically hearing is that D&H is good to go (as is Magpul), and if they are pretty close to the same price ... might as well get both...

Click to expand...

I have some pmags from 2008. They still run fine. So far so good. Will see how they are after another decade.

This video contains one of the more cogent discussions of various STANAG magazine pluses and minuses. They came down on the side of PMAGs due to their price, durability and the ease of spotting feed lip problems at a glance:

https://www.full30.com/watch/MDEyMzA1/wwsd-magazines

Folks here are probably sick of my inserted video links, but not everyone has as much time to waste sifting through the mass of stuff published on Youtube as I do -- retirement is heaven!

PMAGs have the gray follower in them (the latest and greatest one I think?), whereas the last few D&H mags I saw were green (a bit older). It seems like nitpicking over nothing, but the geometry of magazines is very, very sensitive - look at how many aftermarket magazines have trouble running vs OEM - and even a small change can have a noticeable effect.

There's nothing wrong with older followers for hobby shooting, but if I only had to buy one, I'd go with the newest one. Of course, if you can find a D&H magazine with a newer follower, then that's a push.

And on the good side, D&H puts this teflon finish on their magazines that looks nice and really holds up well - I've definitely had better luck avoiding scratches with it than on my 20 round Brownells metal mags.

I've used 20 and 30 round Pmags, mostly 20s because the 30s don't play nice when I use a bipod. Been very happy with them and haven't had any issues. Recently bought some Brownells 20 rounders when I stopped at their brick and mortar store in Grinell, IA. They've worked fine the few times I used them, though admittedly if my life depended on it I'd favor the Pmags.

FWIW, Brownells has Pmags at the same price and free shipping with no minimum if you use code MGM. I like PSA, ordered alot from them, just happened to see Brownells is probably a better deal right now.

https://www.brownells.com/magazines...4192.aspx?avs|Cartridge_1=AKK_5xzzx56+mm+NATO

D&H makes contract magazines and I like them a lot. I ordered a few more last year from PSA for my wife’s new AR and found she prefers PMAGs and Troy. I’ve got a dozen or two of those as well and now they’re hers. She preferred the softer exterior without corners to scratch hands, etc. Goes to show I should have just asked her first.

I don't know who these are made by, but AIM Surplus has gen-u-ine Colt branded USGI magazines for $16.

https://aimsurplus.com/usgi-colt-223-5-56-30rd-ar-m16-magazines

I had Magpul magazines when I owned an AR and found them to be excellent.

Can’t go wrong with either. Then again, the standard NATO mags were/are just fine. It’s nice have multiple great options. Stay away from Pro Mag when it comes to magazines for any firearm and you’ll usually won’t have issues.