Magazine Questions

bluto4566 · February 26, 2012, 13:20

I was at a gun show yesterday and picked up several mags like the one on the left:

They have stickers on the bottom that read "MADE IN AUSTRIA" and are steel. When I got them back I noticed subtle differences in these and other mags I already have.

I noticed differences in the followers and lugs on the back. Does any of this matter? FYI the mag on the right is aluminum, the other two are steel. I paid $14 each for them. Was this a good price (assuming they work)? Another vendor was selling like new mags that he thought were of Korean manufacture

Are they any good? I understand that the best mag is one that works but, at a show I can't exactly take them for a test dirve so this got me thinking, which mags are generally good and which are to be avoided?

Thanks for you help,
Bluto

**def90** · February 26, 2012, 13:28

Austrian mags.. excellent mags, great price. The differences you see are cosmetic based on the country and time when/where they were produced. The followers and the floorplates are likely very different as well.

RPBII · February 26, 2012, 13:33

Stay away from the Korean mags. Stick with surplus mags.

**def90** · February 26, 2012, 14:15

Generally any surplus mag should be good to go..

The only ones that are an issue have been the aftermarket mags like the Korean made ones and some of the DSA mags..

NHBandit · February 26, 2012, 18:27

Never seen any Austrian Aluminum mags. Does the one on the right also have the "Made in Austria" sticker ? Aluminum mags IIRC are generally believed to be South African and are among my favorites. Sometimes referred to as para mags although I'm not sure if they were originally intended to be issued with para rifles. Korean mags suck, DSA US made mags suck.

bluto4566 · February 26, 2012, 21:00

The aluminum mags do not have the "MADE IN AUSTRIA" stickers on them. Sorrry if that was unclear. I picked the aluminum ones up at another show a year or so ago. Do all the Austrian mags have the three holes in the back? The same guy that I got the Austrian mags from had some inch mags that appeared to be unissued, packed in cosmoline. He wanted about $40 each for them. I have no use for them but if someone else wanted them I'd be happy to pick them up and let them go for my cost plus shipping. Next show's not until March 10.

February 26, 2012, 13:20	#1
bluto4566 Registered Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 62839 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blaine, Wa. Posts: 26	Magazine Questions I was at a gun show yesterday and picked up several mags like the one on the left: They have stickers on the bottom that read "MADE IN AUSTRIA" and are steel. When I got them back I noticed subtle differences in these and other mags I already have. I noticed differences in the followers and lugs on the back. Does any of this matter? FYI the mag on the right is aluminum, the other two are steel. I paid $14 each for them. Was this a good price (assuming they work)? Another vendor was selling like new mags that he thought were of Korean manufacture Are they any good? I understand that the best mag is one that works but, at a show I can't exactly take them for a test dirve so this got me thinking, which mags are generally good and which are to be avoided? Thanks for you help, Bluto

February 26, 2012, 13:28	#2
def90 Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 50609 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Peoples' Republic of Boulder, Colorado Posts: 8,848	Austrian mags.. excellent mags, great price. The differences you see are cosmetic based on the country and time when/where they were produced. The followers and the floorplates are likely very different as well. __________________ There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live. Public libraries cannot let the public decide what is allowed in the library, or it would be brimming with pornography and gun magazines.

February 26, 2012, 14:15	#4
def90 Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 50609 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Peoples' Republic of Boulder, Colorado Posts: 8,848	Generally any surplus mag should be good to go.. The only ones that are an issue have been the aftermarket mags like the Korean made ones and some of the DSA mags.. __________________ There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live. Public libraries cannot let the public decide what is allowed in the library, or it would be brimming with pornography and gun magazines.

February 26, 2012, 18:27	#5
NHBandit Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 7986 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 3,933	Never seen any Austrian Aluminum mags. Does the one on the right also have the "Made in Austria" sticker ? Aluminum mags IIRC are generally believed to be South African and are among my favorites. Sometimes referred to as para mags although I'm not sure if they were originally intended to be issued with para rifles. Korean mags suck, DSA US made mags suck. __________________ Live Free or Die

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February 26, 2012, 13:33	#3
RPBII Registered FALaholic #: 19720 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,235	Stay away from the Korean mags. Stick with surplus mags.

February 26, 2012, 21:00	#6
bluto4566 Registered Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 62839 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blaine, Wa. Posts: 26	The aluminum mags do not have the "MADE IN AUSTRIA" stickers on them. Sorrry if that was unclear. I picked the aluminum ones up at another show a year or so ago. Do all the Austrian mags have the three holes in the back? The same guy that I got the Austrian mags from had some inch mags that appeared to be unissued, packed in cosmoline. He wanted about $40 each for them. I have no use for them but if someone else wanted them I'd be happy to pick them up and let them go for my cost plus shipping. Next show's not until March 10.