Is it common for magazines to be bad right out of the box?

[DEAR_JOHN]

I've had a few magazines just not work. It's like there's no friction at all, the bullets just come out without any effort. I had this happen with a couple of AR magazines, a Promag AK magazine, and lately a SGM 26 round magazine for my new Ruger LC in .45, which is a Glock knock off. Oh, Glock doesn't make a .45 magazine with 26 round capacity. It's either SGM or KCI. Glock does make the .45 magazine with a 13 round capacity, however the weapon came with a SGM 13 round magazine. Before this I had a bad Ruger mini 14 magazine with 30 rounds and I mailed it back in and they sent me another one. It had the same issues.



The latest magazine in question would be the .45 SGM 26 rounder. The gunsmith at Marksman range even took it apart, oiled it down, and replaced everything, and it's still a paperweight.


So, is this common to have an occasional bad magazine out of the box, that just needs to be put in the trashcan.

[pxmcc]

yes, because they're made in China..

actually, my Black Tail magazines were bad as fuck, right outta the box. wait, does that even count tho..

[MisterMeat]

Yes it is common. The National Review is one magazine that is bad right out of the box, and it should definitely be placed in the trash can.

[O'Mike]

https://www.glockstore.com/Kriss-G21...Mag-30-Ext-Kit


.

[DEAR_JOHN]

Originally Posted by O'Mike

https://www.glockstore.com/Kriss-G21...Mag-30-Ext-Kit


.

Hey ole buddy, I was really hoping you would add your opinions to this post.

Originally Posted by DEAR_JOHN

I've had a few magazines just not work. It's like there's no friction at all, the bullets just come out without any effort. I had this happen with a couple of AR magazines, a Promag AK magazine, and lately a SGM 26 round magazine for my new Ruger LC in .45, which is a Glock knock off. Oh, Glock doesn't make a .45 magazine with 26 round capacity. It's either SGM or KCI. Glock does make the .45 magazine with a 13 round capacity, however the weapon came with a SGM 13 round magazine. Before this I had a bad Ruger mini 14 magazine with 30 rounds and I mailed it back in and they sent me another one. It had the same issues.



The latest magazine in question would be the .45 SGM 26 rounder. The gunsmith at Marksman range even took it apart, oiled it down, and replaced everything, and it's still a paperweight.


So, is this common to have an occasional bad magazine out of the box, that just needs to be put in the trashcan.

[O'Mike]

OK, sorry for the lacking ROS.


Yes, I do think it is common for magazines to be bad right out of the box. Less common than it used to be. I've got a box with a few ones that I can't seem to get to work. Back when I was into the civilian version of the AKM, I had a big box of em'. Once upon a time I would spend hours trying to figure out why one did not work, now I don't bother. If they run good I keep them, otherwise into a scrap box.

The pickings are slim for what you need, not like 9mm. Since the KRISS is a higher end boutique weapon, the parts for it are a bit pricey as well. However, you probably don't need a few dozen magazines for your Ruger. Try one of the extensions and see how it works on a factory Glock magazine and let us know. There may be another brand of extension as well out there. IIRC that store we keep talking about might have a few. If I get a chance this week I'll drop by (and maybe the AMP in the same center) and check on it for you.

Did anything leave the flock this weekend? I quickly stopped by Pasadena and noticed it had a lighter crowd than I expected. Election panic has not started yet I guess, or just game day and time. Did notice that the price for a new pony like yours was way above what you were offering yours for.








.

[DEAR_JOHN]

Originally Posted by O'Mike

Did anything leave the flock this weekend? I quickly stopped by Pasadena and noticed it had a lighter crowd than I expected. Election panic has not started yet I guess, or just game day and time. Did notice that the price for a new pony like yours was way above what you were offering yours for.

For some reason or another, and I can't answer why, I'm not a big fan of the High Caliber gun shows that we had this past weekend, but I really like the Premier Gun shows which is in Pasadena on the 19th and 20th of this month. I live within 5 minutes of the Pasadena Convention center, so I go when I can.


About the Colt Python, I'm sort of torn. I don't want to give it away for too cheap of a price. The gun is sweet to fire, beautiful to look at, just all in all a great weapon.

[Anonymous01]

Yes, new magazines can fail "right out of the box" for a number of reasons;


1. Just because they are "new" doesn't mean that they're manufacturer's specifications. GarandThumb has a usual, over scripted and staged YouTube post in which he shoots an original 1911 (not A1) with original 1911 magazines and all run flawlessly. At the time, both were 108 years old and no springs, etc., had been replaced.


Similarly, I've never seen a Browning or Inglis Hi Power 13 round magazine fail. The Mec-Gar 15 round magazines that are flooding the market are less reliable for a number of reasons:
- Plastic follower
- Much stiffer spring
- Highly polished, but more brittle magazine tube.
Unfortunately, Mec-Gar now supplies about 80 - 90 % of the "factory" magazines to ALL manufacturers based on price alone. (Yes, they are the cheapest in bulk.)



2. Nobody test fires weapons and magazines anymore. They ALL just assemble parts, put them in a (logo) box and ship them.


The stoppages you describe with AR-15 mags (I call it vomiting live rounds) is typical because the top one or two spot welds in the spine have cracked and the feed lips no longer hold tension on the stack 'o cartridges. Load each mag to full capacity, and slap the spine into your palm. If the magazine pukes cartridges, put it on Gun Trader. Keep in mind that Eugene Stoner intended for the 20 round magazine to be used ONCE and then discarded.



3. Never, ever buy magazines off Gun Trader.


The first P Mags had a clip that you had to put on top of the loaded mag that kept the magazine body from polymerizing (polymer gun talk for melting) and losing multiple rounds. That was a big no-go for me, and I haven't looked at P Mags since.


I'm not a collector or casual enthusiast. I prefer weapons and original magazines that have been around a while, preferably through two or more global conflicts. That rules out about 95% of the crap that's being hyped today by Factory Team Spandex that just won the Circle Jerk Cup.


That's my $0.02, worth everything you paid for it.