ar-15 mag info

justright58

Good Day,
I recently was given an older Colt brand 20 round mag and decided to clean it today. I've put around 200 rounds through it with no issues. It has an aluminum follower in it. I've never seen or heard of this.
Does anyone have some input? I've been around ar's for about 20 years and never saw one before.
Thanks to all replies.
John[8D]

TANK78Z

hi, aluminum followers were in most if not all early colt ar 20 rd. mags . i have at least 25 of the colt made 20 rounders all made before 1980, some are marked 5.56 cal, some are marked .223 cal. all have aluminum followers. all have been used and abused over time with untold amounts of ammo going through them , with no failures due to magazine problems.

Nwcid

quote:Originally posted by TANK78Z
hi, aluminum followers were in most if not all early colt ar 20 rd. mags . i have at least 25 of the colt made 20 rounders all made before 1980, some are marked 5.56 cal, some are marked .223 cal. all have aluminum followers. all have been used and abused over time with untold amounts of ammo going through them , with no failures due to magazine problems.




+ 100

Older info but it was up to speed when it was done http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/magazines/rawlesfaq.html

Laredo Lefty

Ditto what tank said.......

I have about 35 or 40 of those older Colt 20 rounders with aluminum followers and they are some of the most reliable mags I have.

Those were the mags I had for my M-16 when I was in Vietnam. I never saw a 30 rounder when I was in the Army.

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justright58

Thank you Gentlemen for this info.
I wish I could get more of these... any sources???
And MY MOST SINCERE THINKS TO THE VETS !!! Laredo Lefty ... God Bless.

Nwcid

I found most of mine right here on GB. Here is the really cool trick with 20rd AR mags. You put 7 of them in the old style bandoleers. Then 2 of these bandoleers fit nicely in a .30 cal ammo can. Makes a very handy grab and go package. I use these mags in my varmint gun so I just grab a can and the gun and I am ready to go.

Here is a cool pic I took of them. I have a Colt SP1 now so I need to retake this pic,

dcs shooters

Biggerhammer has some good info on AR'S. I wish they would update the info on the mags. I have a Armalite waffle mag that they say is worth $99+ The last one I saw sold on GB went for $399.I also have a few early 20's,like we had in country.

Laredo Lefty

quote:Originally posted by justright58
Thank you Gentlemen for this info.
I wish I could get more of these... any sources???
And MY MOST SINCERE THINKS TO THE VETS !!! Laredo Lefty ... God Bless.



Thanks my friend

givette

I have a bunch of "Universal Industries" (Colt contractor) 20 rd. mags. Issued to military. Vietnam authentic. Can still get them NIB, if you are patient. I did, here on GB about a year ago.

Tidbit: The "UI" stamping, when looked sideways, is a "CH". Colt Hartford.

30rd. OKay industries magazines are good. You have to look inside the top of the magazine body for the OKay logo, to insure you are getting authentic [high quality] ones. Push the follower down to see.

EDIT:Several authentic contractors (as Neal says below). Can't remember them all. I can recall only two of the companies (above). Don't rely on floorplate stampings alone. The markings I describe are on the bodies.

Best, Joe

nmyers

Well, here's something to think about: Colt Industries has never made AR/M16 mags; they have always bought them from contractors. The only markings on these mags is on the floorplate, & they are readily swapped.

Colt will not say who made their mags, but, looking closely, I am unable to tell any difference between Okay Ind. & "Colt" mags. In all likelihood there have been multiple contractors.

Neal