It’s that time again to buy a bunch of magazines and I am deciding between Pmag 30’s or 40’s. I’ve gotten very comfortable with 30 round mags and don’t really use 40’s, but the times they-are-a-changing and it seems 40’s are becoming more popular, especially with new shooters.
If these will likely go into the closet for the future generation, what would you guys buy? This is strictly for Pmag’s…
I’d say 40s are more of a novelty. Added weight and length. Makes carrying them a bit different. I’d buy a few if you want them but personally I wouldn’t stock pile them.
Same thoughts as Jaysop. Fully loaded they are heavy and clumsy to use, and just about out of the question for shooting from prone.
It’s hard to know what will be considered best in 5-10+ years. I would include some quality aluminum GI mags in your stockpile.
I like the 40 rounders since they hold two whole boxes of ammo. I’m just getting into ARs and they are the only mags I own at the moment so I don’t have any 30s to compare.
Me, I’m just gonna keep my eyes open for sales and keep stocking up. Probably buy a bunch more 40s, but I plan on snaging up plenty of 30s, pmag and GI and some 20s also.
40s Clumsy? Nah they don’t feel clumsy to me at all. Don’t seem abnormally long either.
Fascinating.
I only use 40’s with extensions for 3gun, and they are sweet for that. Rest of the time I use 30’s or 10’s for bench work. By the way 30’s are much nicer and more stable for mono-poding.
I have avoided the 40s because of the difficulty of shooting prone. It is already difficult enough at times to shoot with a 30. The 40s are definitely long and clumsy
That’s funny. Color me stupid but I keep a 20 in the house gun.
Yes, you are obviously “stupid.” 
You need at least a D60 or a 100rd Surefire. Because Heat.
I keep 30’s for the house gun but find I generally prefer 20’s for anything that might involve prone or bench shooting. I will monopod a 30 sometimes, but it limits your position options if you are that close to the ground or bench. In timed competition I use both 20’s and 30’s depending on the stage.
I run 20s and 30s in my rifle. I see the 40 as a novelty mainly but I can see it’s utility in 3 gun.
this.
I think 30rd mags are the perfect size. But I do like 20rd mags. And I can see the utility of a 40rd mag or 60rd drum though.
I generally run 20s for the ease of shooting from more positions. 30s are a great option as well but I’m not a fan of the 40.
I voted 30 round mags. It’s been the standard for a long time and you can even use ALICE pouches to hold the thirties. If I was going to buy a high capacity AR mag it would be a Surefire 100 or 60 at least.
I have a mix of 20s and 30s. I generally prefer 20s for ease of shooting prone.
I haven’t bought any 40 round magazines, only 30’s and 20’s. The 20 round magazines are more user friendly shooting from the bench or prone. Also, I am comfortable using and carrying 30 round magazines for general purpose use and don’t have a need for a larger capacity magazine. I store extra loaded 30 round magazines in 30 caliber and 50 caliber ammo cans which would be impossible with 40 round magazines. For me, anything over a 30 round magazine would be a novelty.
PMAG40’s worked just as good at the 30 rounders. Yes, they are longer but I am not dropping into the prone anytime soon. I think there are definitely situations where they are handy. 3 Gun could be one.
The new curved 20 round pmags are really nice for general purpose use.
The standard capacity 30s are great for “monopod” prone and stacking deep.
For general purpose a 30 round pmag, or 30 round usgi mag for that matter is more useful in most situations.
Do 40s have a place? Yes. 3 gun being one, and if one puts a little thought into things, there are other places that they can be of use too. Hell, when I used to run my Eagle Universal Chest rig, the side pouches that were on there were perfect for a ATS medical insert on one side, and one or 2 40 round mags with Magpuls on the other. That said, 30 round mags, and 20s make much more sense 99% of the time. Which is while I have a handful of 40 round mags and other “high” capacity mags, and hundreds of others.
For general use I prefer 30s, but they are also what I’m most familiar/have the most muscle memory with. If I know I will be bench shooting or in the prone often at the range I prefer 20s due to their being short like me. In what may seem odd to some, for zeroing purposes I use 10s.