I recieved an order of D&H magazines with Magpul followers this week date stamped 12/12. I loaded two with 30 rds and tried them out in my Bushmaster XM15. They were very difficult to seat on a closed bolt. I compared them to an E-lander mag dated 12/12 and honestly they were as hard to seat with bolt forward as the E-lander. All the mags required a very firm slap to seat. Something I could not do with another mag in hand during a tactical reload. I did notice that the D&H mags allowed for easier depression of the mag release button compared to the E-lander, which requires firmly pressing the button and breaking you grip a little to do so.
Is anyone else having trouble seating D&H mags on a closed bolt? I am surprised to be having this problem with a USGI mag.
What is your experience level with the AR? It is well known and oft discussed that most full loaded magazines will not seat when the bolt carrier is forward.
Thanks for the replies folks. I am a novice when it comes to ARs. I have heard that downloading to 28 rds is a common practice, though I thought it was to preserve the spring in the mag more than to facilitate tac reloads. I have also read that current mag springs aren’t going to wear out just because you load to 30. So by way of contrast to the E-landers I thought the d&h mags wouldn’t have difficulties seating on a closed bolt with 30rrds, since the E-landers are criticized so much for it. A search for the issue didn’t bring much back specifically pertaining to d&h mags, and after reading Rob_s thread about USGI mags I figured I needed d&h specific info.
Do this…press down on the top cartridge of one of your fully loaded 30rd mags and you will notice that there isn’t any remaining spring travel. To insert the mag on a closed bolt there must be some remaining spring travel and loading 30rds puts you at the absolute limit requiring a very firm push. I always load my GI mags to full capacity then remove one and have never had an issue.
Thanks guys! Your experience is my lesson. I will download to 28rds and try the comparison again. Also does anyone know a better way to unload a mag than cycling the rounds through the action ( other than shooting it of coarse :neo: ).
I had the same magazine and had the same problem. D&H makes a good mag, so I am not sure if they are to blame. My PSA lower/upper has a problem with one of my mags(did not try others), my Rainier Arms does not have the problem.
I inserted the mag(30 rds) and it would not seat. I locked the bcg back, seated and it stayed. Went through the magazine a few times and still had the problem. Started to shoot it downloaded to 29 rounds, and problem solved.
I will have to try another magazine. I bought a ten pack from PSA a few months back and only brought a couple.
No other problems though…look good and shoot good. I also put some of the ranger plates on them.
Did you read the thread? Not only are they not to blame, it’s not a problem any way you look at it. IT’S NORMAL and has been since the the beginning of time, or at least since the invention of the STANAG magazine.
Uhhhh…yes, I read the thread. I also understand that he was talking about D&H magazines in particular. I have many magazines by many makers…and the D&H magazines are the only ones I have ever had this happen with so I thought I would chime in…because we have had a similar experience with a part from the same manufacturer.
Like I said…it happened with one of may rifles…but not the other. possibly due to different tolerances/specs…blah blah blah.
Only thing is the feed lips are incredibly sharp on the d&h, even after slightly sanding the edge off with 600grit it will rip flesh right off and gouge up the brass. Still better than dinging up the bullets cycling them. Also it’s kind of nerve rackin to see the primers struck, albeit inconsequential…
Let me reiterate what Grant stated. You need to put the mags and sand paper down, put the weapon down and get proper training before you end up hurting yourself, some one else or damaging your weapon.