I’ve always been under the impression that Metalform made the magazines for Colt, and were therefore the 9mm NHMTG equivalent.
Saw this in the description at 44mag and got very curious about the validity of it. If it’s true and they got the nod from Colt as a reliable magazine then I’m stoked, as the price is great. If not…well we’ve all seen disingenuous advertising before.
ASC brand 32 round capacity 9mm AR15 magazines. Adopted as OEM magazine for Colt. Made from stainless steel with black finish and orange follower.
ASC is the old C-Products company. Or at least all the tooling from C-Products as I understand it. Checking the ASC site, they make no mention of being the OEM Colt supplier. You could buy one and see if/how well it works in your gun.
I went on the forum today looking for 9mm AR magazine info. I bought a 9mm Colt AR several years ago, and picked up several C Products magazines with the orange followers about the same time. This was during the first Obama panic, probably six years ago. So far, all of those C Products mags have run flawlessly. Even my one Colt marked mag looks like a C Products mag, but with a black follower. But, I’m seeing on here that C Products magazines now have problems. Did the company change hands? What happened to them?
Recently, I picked up a 9mm Tavor (and yes, I do like it). So, I wanted some extra 9mm mags. I bought a 3 pack of Brownell’s mags (on sale) which have a steel follower which someone here commented were actually Metalform made. I’ve had several malfunctions when I get down to the last two rounds in the magazine, and one case where the last cartridge flipped 180 degrees (bullet pointed rear), and the bolt locked back. It turns out that all three mags fail to hold the last two rounds firmly against the feed lips which causes malfunctions. Brownell’s warranty is outstanding, so I will be returning these.
My quandary is now it sounds like current C Products mags are junk (although my older ones have been flawless). Everyone here seems to favor Metalform, but I have three brand new Metalforms (branded Brownells) in front of me that consistently jam when you get down to two rounds in the mag.
So, now what magazines do I buy? It sounds like my choices are bad and worse.
And, someone will want to know I’m sure, I got malfunctions in both my Colt and Tavor with the Brownell’s mags. But, I didn’t have any malfunctions with either using the old C Products magazines.
Metalform had been the OEM for 9mm Colt mags since the SMG came out in the early 1980s.
For a period of about a year, during the 1st Obama panic, Colt used the ASC/C products mags with orange follower. They have since gone back to Metalform. The orange follower mags are hit and miss.
I would not buy the Brownells version of the Colt Metalform mag. I have reason to believe these are some type of factory seconds.
I would only buy Colt marked or blank OEM Metalform mags.
Dang I had hoped the Brownells mags would be good enough to bet your life on.
I don’t have a 9mm AR but thought about building one from a pistol. When I ran the numbers it also turns out I’d have $600 into just the upper and thats not including buying magazines. I’ll stick to the Beretta Cx4.
I purchased the Brownell’s 3 pack a few weeks ago. Except for the finish, they are identical to my Colt marked and non marked Metalforms. So far I’ve got 480 rounds through them mostly on full auto. No issues at all and I wouldn’t think twice about buying more.
I just bought a pair of Colt 32 round 9mm magazines. They were NOS stamped 6/98. I have one Metalform 32 round mag. The difference in loading was night and day. The newer Metalform was pretty easy. The pressure required for the two 6/98 Colts was uncomfortable. From the outside they look like identical magazines. After I shoot them today I will strip them and cl an them. It could have been an issue cleaning will solve. They could also be a difference in the springs used in 1998. They felt stiffer.
Either way I’m having fun! I’m going to the range with the kids today try different so I go and buffers in my 5" upper. The 16" is running great.
I need to put a set of BUIS on it then we’re heading to the range.
I have both the early mags stamped ‘Metalform’, a Colt OEM and the latest Brownells mags in 30s and 20s, they’re all the same mag, same great quality. Other than the stamps I can’t tell any difference.
I have ASC & CPD AR mags in 7.62x39, they’re fine. But you won’t find a better built mag than the Metalforms.
I love the 20’s. I just recived two in the mail a few days ago and the COLT SMG LULA magazine loader. I love that little loader! I’ve never used or felt the need for a mag loader before. This thing is a thumb saver!
Thanks Frenzy. I just ordered from PSA. $19.99 is a great deal on a 32 round Metalform 9mm AR Mag! They have PSA’s marking on the base plate.
