Need some opinions on mag couplers..

[billybronco]

never really been interested; however, have recently changed my mind. who, in everybody's humble opinions, makes the best? if all that are out there are polymer construction, i reckon that's what i'll have to settle with. i just see that design being rather flimsical. anybody make an alloy coupler?

thanks for all the help....

ps - what's the deal with these puppies? worthwhile??? they wouldn't happen to have anti tilt followers inside and/or quality springs, would they???

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=740

[DRich]

Personally, I'd much rather have a Redi-Mag than a mag coupler if I needed two mags on the gun. A Redi-Mag lets you use your standard mag pouches and doesn't drop two mags on the ground when you hit the mag release.

http://www.redi-mag.com/images/069.jpg

[Skintop911]

Mag couplers require the shooter to utilize a divergent reloading skill set from the handgun. When running the gun under stress, most officers I've seen will drop both mags to the ground as their hand goes to their belt for their spare.

For those without such muscle memory, or with great motivation to train for correct use, the issue can be overcome.

The Redi-Mag with the separate release for the spare would be my choice.

I haven't had good luck with the couplers at all, and quit trying.

[Robb Jensen]

Redi-mags or couplers are very fast, many competitors use them including me. The fastest reload is AT the gun. They do take some getting used to.

I use the Mag-Cinch on 2 HK mags (I use the mags both at the same level, like the Redi-Mag works). I don't use them all the time only on those stages where I know I'll HAVE TO reload or where I'll have to shoot a lot of prone and I'm shooting in Tactical division (bipod not allowed). The 2 mags used as a monopod are more stable than 1 mag..............yep I GAME THE SH** out of the 'game'. I play to win and have fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/3-gunriflefsc556sbr001.jpg

[AR15barrels]

By the time I push the mag release button, my support hand is already headed for my belt.

Switching over to a redi-mag or running coupled mags would go over about as well as when I tried the USP at a match.

That damn USP mag release lever is no substitute for a mag release button.
The USP finally got sold this year.

[C4IGrant]

About the only system worth anything is the Redi-mag (specifically the BFG version).



C4

[AR15barrels]

About the only system worth anything is the Redi-mag (specifically the BFG version).

???

Maybe the BCE version?

[rob_s]

I see all manner of mag couplers at our matches, and I see all manner of mag couplers fail at our matches. Sooner or later everyone that has used them has gotten away from them. Either they have had rounds jump forward in the mag that's not in the gun, or had the coupler shift and/or slide at an in-opportune moment, or have just dropped the pair of mags on the ground when they go for a reload.

I think they're fine for, and may even have some application in, IPSC 3-gun but don't think they're a good idea anywhere else.

[C4IGrant]

???

Maybe the BCE version?

The Blue Force Gear version is the best one I have seen to date.




C4



http://www.blueforcegear.com/prodImg/READYMAG%2002%20-%20300.jpg

[billybronco]

Okay, i think i got it. you guys successfully reverted my waay of thinking back to my old way of thinking. less bulk, less weight, less crap to have to fumble around with, right?

thanks again....i tend to get a little carried away with what i do and don't need.

[SuicideHz]

Redi-mags or couplers are very fast, many competitors use them including me. The fastest reload is AT the gun. They do take some getting used to.

I use the Mag-Cinch on 2 HK mags (I use the mags both at the same level, like the Redi-Mag works). I don't use them all the time only on those stages where I know I'll HAVE TO reload or where I'll have to shoot a lot of prone and I'm shooting in Tactical division (bipod not allowed). The 2 mags used as a monopod are more stable than 1 mag..............yep I GAME THE SH** out of the 'game'. I play to win and have fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/3-gunriflefsc556sbr001.jpg

Does that setup work with the left mag in the well ready to go? I always found that having the bottoms even with one another will leave the right mag top in the way of the ejection port door.

[onmilo]

The Mag Cinch works well as any but it still has 'issues', I have a few and they have to be kept maintained so the magazines stay tight and there is the issue of getting dirt and goo in the top of the spare in a combat environment unless you use a dustcover and then you have to remember to remove the dustcover before you slap the magazine in the magazine well and it is really just as fast to spit the empty and pull one from a belt pouch for all this additional work.

I have to agree the Redi Mag is the best option if you can tolerate yet another piece of gear bolted to your rifle.

I personally feel that if you need more than 30 rounds onboard the weapon itself you may want to consider the weight of a Beta-C magazine.

[Robb Jensen]

Does that setup work with the left mag in the well ready to go? I always found that having the bottoms even with one another will leave the right mag top in the way of the ejection port door.

Yes it works just fine (for me anyway).

[HolyRoller]

I tried a mag coupler and ditched it. If the extra mag is on the left, it's mighty uncomfortable to have it digging into your tummy unless you're wearing a vest, and if you bump your carbine into something hard enough, wonder what would happen to the mag coupler. If the extra mag is on the right, it sticks out noticeably and might catch on stuff--same reason I hang the weaponlight under the barrel instead of on one side.

Regardless of which side it's on, I also don't like how the extra mag is flapping in the breeze with nothing covering the rounds. One mag is a stable enough monopod, especially with a Magpul slipped onto it. Most importantly, if you pull your carbine's trigger and nothing happens, the IAD inside 25-50 is not reload, but transition to pistol. Never carry a rifle without a pistol.

I keep my plate carrier (which actually has plates, Level IV even) with more mags in the trunk along with the patrol carbine. There have been gunfights in police history where there was time enough to retrieve and put on the plate carrier, and others where there was only time to grab the rifle, so I like to feel able to win in either situation. For more on-gun rounds, I rigged a Chickenhawk mag pouch to the Vltor Modstock. They only give me 50 booolets for work. 30 go in the HK mag and 18 in a GI 20-rounder in the stock pouch, so picking up the carbine means picking up probably enough caps to git-r-done. The last two rounds are back in the case, one for myself, and the other for whoever led me into a fight where I needed more than 48 rounds.

[KevinB]

My unit trialed 7 different ones prior to/and in Afghanistan. Intially the seemed to be a good idea - but operationally they quickly proves us wrong.
Either they dropped a mag from being too loose (or a mag shifted to blot the ejection port etc.) or they squeezed too tight and caused feeding issues.
Also rounds where popping out of one not in the gun.

I ended up going to a Redi-Mag (I should have listened to a lot of friends long a go on them) I'm a very happy redi-mag user - and will be going to the BFG model as soon as I am back CONUS.