Best 6.8 mags?

Bread is People · #1 07-08-09, 01:11

Who out there makes good quality 6.8 mags? Is there any real difference in the various makers and their mags? If they were available, I'd go with USGI mags or Pmags, but they don't exist (at least not yet) and I'd like some input. Also, if it was possible, would simply changing a 5.56 mag's follower to a 6.8 follower do any good or is the contour of the 6.8 specific mags different? (I don't own any 6.8 mags, so I can't make a comparison)

Sensei · #2 07-08-09, 07:53

PRI and Barrett

d90king · #3 07-08-09, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanesmith

PRI and Barrett

Pretty much the only options out there...

Stephen_H · #4 07-08-09, 09:00

I think the CProducts mags are an excellent mag at an excellent value. Their early 6.8mm mags suffered from feed lip angle issues, but all the mags I've bought in the last year or so have been reliable out of the box. Plus, at $14 a pop, you could buy three of them for the price of a PRI or Barrett.

The PRI and Barrett's are good mags and I think their reliability when new makes them good candidates for service or duty mags, but in my opinion they suffer the same issues as the HK 5.56mm mags; they are heavy and expensive to replace. At $35 to $45 a piece one is much less likely to toss it into the berm when it has reached and/or exceeded it's useful service life.

Stephen

BSHNT2015 · #5 07-09-09, 00:09

PRI, Barrett, and C-Product, shot the C-Product and PRI-they worked fine-no problems, handle the Barrett at the SHOT-they stopped me from running out with it

crenca · #6 07-09-09, 01:37

Start with C-Products. Cheap(er), and they now work (they had teething problems when they first came out).

If you have to have 30 rounds and a tough mag, Barrett. Priced high however, and you will defiantly feel the weight of a fully loaded mag on your gun. I only have one and have dropped it on the feed lips fully load at least twice on concrete. Only a small scuff to show for it.

PRI has had consistent and recent quality control issues. Many users report various issues such as mags out of spec and getting stuck in most mag wells. Worse, they are prone to the "sticky follower" issue which is really the mag body being too narrow dragging the follower, which in turn uses up all the spring energy pushing through this spot, which leaves none left to properly feed rounds (giving you misfeeds). Add that to their high price, and they fall past the bottom of the list. Hand loaders like them however in that they allow the greatest load out (reportedly to 2.30").

Pro-Mag makes a 10 and 15 if memory serves, however I don't have either and have heard nothing either way about them...

BLACK LION · #7 07-10-09, 14:37

PRI and Barrett mags have been tagged as best across the board...

I dont own any.

I have used and will continue to use the imprived C-products mags as I have yet to have reliability issues. Besides that 12.00 for a mag is stellar.

crenca · #8 07-10-09, 14:43

There is yet another thread about recently purchased PRI mags over at 68forums. A user filed down his follower trying to get around the "sticky follower" issue, but found that the body was too narrow and the rounds don't stack properly leading to improper feeding. So his fix did not lead to a working mag. I never tried to file mine but I did try swapping out the follower with ones from other working mags. This was a no go, leading me to a slightly different conclusion than the poster (He thought the follower may have been a bit out of spec - I believe the PRI mag bodies are defective).

If you feel you have to go with PRI, just be ready to deal with warranty support...

davidk · #9 07-19-09, 00:55

I have had the best luck with Barrett's.

ramrod · #10 07-29-09, 20:22

I think the barrett are excellant mags and they hold 30rds. Cproducts are just as good but only like 25-26rds.

DocGKR · #11 08-01-09, 20:09

We have great success with Barrett and PRI; the CP's have been inconsistent...

crenca · #12 08-01-09, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocGKR

We have great success with Barrett and PRI; the CP's have been inconsistent...

Based on user reports on the interweb (not scientific by any means) PRI and CP have switched places in the last year or year in a half. PRI has a frighteningly high rate of the sticky follower issue (and as one user proved out it's not merely the follower being out of spec, the mag bodies are defective). They will quickly replace them if you call warranty support, if you like doing such things. CP on the other hand seems to have worked out their issues, even incorporating the recommend feed lip mod into their production - something that PRI has yet to do. When you consider CP's are less than half the cost of either PRI or Barrett, it really makes sense to start with them and move to Barrett if you need 30 rounds and a tank tough mag...

N.Franklin · #13 08-01-09, 23:46

Im having issues with barrett mags not locking the bolt back on the last round and seizing up, seems to be about 1 out of 4 of my used barrett mags have excessive follower tilt that allows the bolt catch to get under the lip on the rear of the follower, locking a empty mag in my gun. Did this to me on the range a few times last week in my LWRC, duplicated the problem at home with CMMG and LMT lowers as well. I wont be spending $40 a mag with barrett anymore.

tpe187 · #14 08-02-09, 16:23

Recently got into 6.8 with a Noveske 14.5" barrel and bolt. I got 3 PRI mags, 3 Cproducts mags and 2 Barret mags to test out.

All had at least one issue.

PRI mags. One of three bodies was out of spec allowing the mag spring to pinch between the forward reinforcing rib, which leads to the spring getting stuck about half way down. The follower still moves when you push it down, but the spring is stuck.

CProducts. They use half the thickness in the steel they use to make the mags. They feel like an aluminum mag. Not sure on the durability of these mags, but I guess at $12 ea you can chuck the ones that get damaged. One of three of mine fails to drop free on a RRA lower. No other issues right now.

Barret mags. Almost impossibe to seat with the carrier forward. The feed lips are angled up slightly and you really need to smack the mag hard for it to catch. Not possible to load using the push/pull method. Probably the best construction of the bunch, though while practicing the modified navy qual, I managed to bend one of the feed lips pretty badly. This was on a mix of quarter size gravel and greass. Maybe it was just a fluke, but messing up a $40 mag on the first day was a little rough.

Having tried all three, for duty use I would go with PRI and thoroughly test each mag before entering them into service. For me they are the best balance of construction, weight, and length. As mentioned above, I would try the Cproducts mags to see if they work for you. Many with PRI mags are having the same problems as I experienced, but the company will replace them. I still have to contact them and relay my story. Hope that helps

DocGKR · #15 08-02-09, 17:30

Interesting...we have not purchased 6.8 mm mags during the past 18 months, so it may be time to get some more and re-assess current production quality; also, all of our 6.8 mm uppers are on Colt M4/M16/6920 lowers, so that may be a factor as well.

crenca · #16 08-02-09, 18:24

TPE187,

I am curious whether the Barrett mag was loaded? I ask because I was all thumbs one day and dropped by fully loaded Barrett mag twice directly on a concrete. One of those times, I am certain it was directly on the feed lips. Nothing to show for it except some scuff marks. I am confident that the CP mags would have been unusable. Don't know about PRI, but I am of the opinion the Barretts are thicker and better made. This led me to believe that the Barrett mag is the one to go to war with. I have not had any issues inserting a full Barrett with bolt forward. Also, because of the price point, CP mags are the ones to go with for most uses - thin but they work until you drop them.

By the way, you might simply try filing a bit off the top of those feed lips to get the insertion behavior you want - now that you have $40 dollars invested

IMO, mags are one of the dirty little secrets of getting to 6.8. They simply are not where they should be. Nothing close to the consistency and quality control of say a PMAG in 5.56.

Many of the 6.8 "gurus" praise PRI because they like the fact that they can hand load out the farthest on them. They don't seem to care in the least if regular Joes purchase them and have to deal with warranty support out of the box. Early adopters are like that. Based on my very unscientific survey of users over at 6.8forums, PRI's defect rate is somewhere between 10 and 20% right now - at least in the 25 rounder.

Anyone here try the Pro-Mag in 6.8? They are the 4th manufacturer, having recently put a 10 and 15 rounder on the market (IIRC). Since their reputation is not the best in 5.56 I have not tried them yet...

ccoker · #17 08-03-09, 16:44

I have 2 10rd PRIs

neither have given me any problems
I like them because I can load the rounds to 2.30 for max loads/velocity as well as a decreased bullet jump for tighter groups

tpe187 · #18 08-03-09, 17:01

The Barrett mags were not loaded. The drill I was doing requires three magazines loaded with five rounds each. From standing shoot to bolt lock, move to kneeling while reloading, shoot to bolt lock, reload while moving to prone, shoot to bolt lock. If I remember correctly, I was using the Barrett mag second, so it dropped while going from kneeling to prone. It could have hit just right, though its a significant ding on the forward edge of the feed lip. I also need to check the seating problem in some of my other lowers. My issue is that its and SBR upper right now and I've only got a couple SBR'd lowers to use it on. I'll check it with my LMT's and Colt's to be sure though.

OAL is not that much of a concern for me because I'm using the 110gr OTM with canalure so I crimp them at 2.245 OAL.

I still need to give PRI a call and send my one mag back.

In my opinion, the big killer for the 6.8 is the magazine reliability. Trying to fit within the parameters of the 5.56 receiver doesn't leave much room for error. Plus, I've gotten pretty used to the reliability of the PMAG's in my rifles.

BLACK LION · #19 08-04-09, 12:02

I have 13 C-products mags ... I have both black magpul followers and grey...I have both the glossy and unfinished metal bodies... standard spring and floorplate , although I will swap them out for the magpul floor plates and maybe better springs in the long run. At this point there is no need to full with them becuase they operate perfectly.

I purchase my 10 rounders from JTdistributing and they are some of the best yet.
I have not botherd to purchase the PRI or Barrett mags becuase I have no desire to. At 12.00 a pop I am more than prepared to deal with any issues that may come about and would have no problem dumping them in a fight.

I disagree that the downside to the 6.8 is the magazines... I had a 1911 that hated chip mccormick mags as well as some other well praised mags but that doesnt make the 1911 a less favorable platform...
Bottom line is, you can get mags that work ...or get them and make them work...
It has nothing to do with being a guru or a fan...its all about believing in your rig and doing everything it takes to make it operate optimally...
I do think magpul should make a 6.8 pmag though...definately. They already make 6.8 specific followers.

crenca · #20 08-05-09, 00:28

[quote=BLACK LION;425400]
It has nothing to do with being a guru or a fan...its all about believing in your rig and doing everything it takes to make it operate optimally...
I do think magpul should make a 6.8 pmag though...definately. QUOTE]

Amen to pmag making 6.8.

No offense, but only guru's and fans "believe" in rigs. Most users simply want them to function as they are supposed to, without having to amateur gun smith them out of the box. Particularly mags, which are simple metal boxes with a spring and a plastic do-dad - how hard can it be to get it right? Particularly if you consider $40 for something that is an order of magnitude less complicated engineering wise than that toaster you bought 3 years ago - that still works and cost half as much as the mag.

We all know magazines are the weak link in the black rifle world. Maybe not surprising given their roots in gov/military - not known for their quality control. Still, to take an already weak link and do worse with it (as 6.8) is not a good situation to be in.

I am with the poster on CP - only their cost justifies the trouble...