PMAG Broke!

[USMC-Johnson]

I've had really good luck with the microtech mags...

 

[Pughead]

I have 6 gen3's I keep loaded and never had any issues with. That being said I worked in a factory that produced Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Great stuff but some of the additives used to change the colors had extreme effects on the brittleness. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the "only making black"

 

[FishnHunt]

I have 6 gen3's I keep loaded and never had any issues with. That being said I worked in a factory that produced Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Great stuff but some of the additives used to change the colors had extreme effects on the brittleness. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the "only making black"

Hmmm... interesting. Never woulda even thought about that. Might be a little more careful with the other FDE mag now, thanks for that.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

The cold temperatures may have made it more brittle also. Certainly this way for metals, but I am not so sure for plastics.

 

[FishnHunt]

The cold temperatures may have made it more brittle also. Certainly this way for metals, but I am not so sure for plastics.

I had the same thought, but I'm not convinced. That mag had been out in the cold for awhile, as I had loaded it right before the match and stuck it in the mag holder. Shot two full stages before I used it, so maybe two-three hours? It certainly would have made any existing issue worse, but I don't believe it woulda been the cold alone seeing as multiple people ran PMAGs at same match with no issues.

 

[Pughead]

The cold temperatures may have made it more brittle also. Certainly this way for metals, but I am not so sure for plastics.

The stuff we made was outstanding in the cold, we made after market performance snow mobile skis and conveyor belt parts used in flash freezing applications. Don't think that would be it but I'm sure it's not the exact same poly so who knows.

 

[Pughead]

Oh, forgot to mention all my pmags are black.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

I only have a couple of green ones and I don't think I have used them yet. My black ones haven't had a problem. Maybe you have hit the nail on the head, so to speak!

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I have never had a PMAG fail, and I'm hard on them. Everyone makes a lemon, it happens. Especially something that is produced in volume.

 

[nmcampbe]

I have heard the colored PMAG versions are not as strong because of the color additive, however I have no scientific explanation as to why but have heard it a couple different places. The mag in question looked to be colored. All I buy is black for this reason.

 

[jd4320t]

I do remember reading Magpul never mass produced the smoke/translucent mags because the plastic wasn't strong enough.

 

[85t5mcss]

I have heard the colored PMAG versions are not as strong because of the color additive, however I have no scientific explanation as to why but have heard it a couple different places. The mag in question looked to be colored. All I buy is black for this reason.

Link? I'm struggling to find anything on this other than "my buddy read where someone's neighbor said..."

Green dye in the polymer or black? What makes the difference in strength when the polymer is the same? I am seriously curios on this because I have several PMags (Black, OD and FDE).

 

[FishnHunt]

Link? I'm struggling to find anything on this other than "my buddy read where someone's neighbor said..."

Green dye in the polymer or black? What makes the difference in strength when the polymer is the same? I am seriously curios on this because I have several PMags (Black, OD and FDE).

One of the posts upthread mentioned color additives affecting the brittleness in different products. Magpul also told me they are only producing black, so I guess you could read something into that. I wonder if the polymer mix is originally black? Then for OD, FDE maybe they have to add something.

 

[USAFVet]

I have yet to break a PMAG but will now inspect all of mine.

 

[Stainer]

Plastic breaks and metal bends, it's going to happen eventually just sucks yours was on the first time shooting it. That's why I keep plenty of mags on hand. I have yet to have a PMag gone bad, but have had USGI mags fail. Glad to hear they are replacing it but I do find it kind of weird that they are only producing the black Pmags now. Just like the early fords, they will make PMags in your favorite color, if your favorite color is black

 

[Pughead]

Link? I'm struggling to find anything on this other than "my buddy read where someone's neighbor said..."

Green dye in the polymer or black? What makes the difference in strength when the polymer is the same? I am seriously curios on this because I have several PMags (Black, OD and FDE).

Well that's kinda the point, if you add or subtract anything from the polymer it's not the same polymer. I'm not pretending to know what's going on behind MagPul's doors, just telling what I know from working with poly. We had additives for color, abrasion resistance, heat resistance, impact resistance, additives to make it UV resistant and resistant to radioactivity. ALL of which affected the other properties. In theory black should be one of the easier colors because it took less additives, the lighter colors are harder to get right. Again not saying this is the case at the MagPul plant just what I know to be true of polymer.

 

[mvician]

Magazines are an expendable item in any weapon.

 

[ApacheTactical]

Look at Lancer mags, if you like the polymer feel and look with metal feed ramps.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I have heard the colored PMAG versions are not as strong because of the color additive, however I have no scientific explanation as to why but have heard it a couple different places. The mag in question looked to be colored. All I buy is black for this reason.

The color has nothing to do with it.

 

[billt]

I have 6 gen3's I keep loaded and never had any issues with. That being said I worked in a factory that produced Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Great stuff but some of the additives used to change the colors had extreme effects on the brittleness. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the "only making black"

Hmmm... interesting. Never woulda even thought about that. Might be a little more careful with the other FDE mag now, thanks for that.

Color additive can and does cause this in molded plastics. I'd be willing to bet it is the reason they're going to "only black". I've read of this happening to the colored P-Mags on other forums as well. Flat Dark Earth is the lightest P-Mag color they make. It most likely requires the most additive to produce the color change. That, or else it has different properties not desirable in magazine manufacture due to brittleness. All I buy are black P-Mags, and thus far I haven't had any issues. I believe this is why the government no longer issues them, and has outright banned them for G.I. use in combat zones. That move really shut up a lot of the mall ninja's and "trainers" over at ARFCOM, who used to rave about these things on a never ending basis. It was as if they, (Mag-Pul), were the only ones who make magazines for the AR-15 platform. This is a product that, over the years, has had a lot of civilians jump on the bandwagon over. Seemingly each one raving more highly about it than the last. All of a sudden breakage starts occurring on somewhat of a regular basis, then the fanfare starts toning down to more realistic levels.

I only keep P-Mags for range use. And let's be honest, that's what 100% of the rest of us do as well. For any type of self defense use, I use only Stainless Steel G.I. magazines. I doubt anyone on this board has used a P-Mag to drop someone.