AR15 20 round mag issues

[BobLeeSwagger223]

I got the DPMS to the range and it shot exceptionally well, I was impressed! I was getting dime sized 5 shot groups at 50 yards.

The only issue for the day was with mags. I bought (4) 20 round Brownells mags. They would feed fine for a bit, and at the end the rifle was a single shot. After firing each shot the chamber would be empty, so I had to pull the charging handle back to chamber another round after each shot.

I talked to a LE guy at the range and he looked at the mags and said the followers weren't anti tilt and that should fix the problem. Should I return the mags to Brownells and get some other brand? Or will followers fix the issue? I see Magpul makes a follower but it has to be modified for straight 20 rounders. Or should I try the Brownells follower? http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=45990/sku/30_Round_Mil_Std_Follower

Thanks for any advise!

 

[40X Guy]

I've been down that road with AR mags, and I highly recommend go here www.ultramag556mm.com and buy some of their mags. Made in Ohio by an ex marine who had issues with mags in real world Iraq and decided to improve them. These are absolutely the best! Send your Brownells back.

Frank

 

[Steave]

Are you sure it's a mag problem?

From the sound of your post, the rifle failing to load from the mag and you having to manually retract the bolt to load a second round, sounds to me like the bolt isn't going back far enough to strip a round from the mag. It sounds like this is a new rifle and your first trip to the range, and may very well be nothing more than a new rifle that needs a bit of a break in and go dirty. Give it a good cleaning and try your mags again, I'd almost bet it will run fine.

Generally the Brownells mags are good quality

 

[BobLeeSwagger223]

Thanks for the help, I did clean the rifle well before I took it out. I think I'm going to try the P-mag 20's and see how those work. Seems to be a lot of praise online for those

 

[BobLeeSwagger223]

Update: I ordered 20 and 30 round Magpul and they worked 100% the Brownells were apparently the problem! Thanks to all for the help!

 

[40X Guy]

The magpuls are in my collection also, a very good mag, glad to see things working well!

Frank

 

[nhm16]

If not using Magpuls, I would make sure to only GI suppliers, such as Colt, D&H (the bulk of my aluminum mags are D&H's, many relabeled as Bravo Company and DSG Arms) or Okay Ind./NHMTG (OEM for Colt, Bushmaster, and many others), Adventureline, etc.

I know Brownells makes their own 30 rounders, and advertised that they won some government contract for those a while back, but I don't know who makes their 20 round mags.

Also, if available it's worth paying extra for the Magpul anti-tilt follower in an aluminum mag.

 

[zooskie]

I dont think it matters if a 20 round mag has an anti tilt follower doesnt it? I thought ATF's were made to correct follower tilt in the curved 30 round mags where as straight mags dont need them.

 

[Steave]

Update: I ordered 20 and 30 round Magpul and they worked 100% the Brownells were apparently the problem! Thanks to all for the help!

Glad to hear your problem has been solved. I'm surprised to hear about problems with the Brownells mags, I've heard nothing but god things about them. Personally, I've never used them, I probably have 100-150 30 rd. AR-15/M16 mags, all older GI contract, and haven't had any problems with them with the exception of the occasional bad mag, which I just throw into the "bad mag" box. 95% of my use of these mags are with full auto M16's.

I kept hearing good things about the Magpul P-Mags and just ordered some of the 30 rounders last week, but have yet to try them, although, I have no doubt they will run just fine. I generally use 20 rounders through my RRA varminter, I think I'll probably order some of the 20 rd. Magpuls's for use with that.