FDE Pmag mod

[carbinero]

Sorry if I just missed the thread, but is there an easy mod for FDE Pmags to drop free? My black one drops fine, but not the three FDEs. Thanks.

[Jerm]

when were they made?



If you have a PMAG™ with 7/07 or 8/07 mfg date, there is a tuning procedure you can perform that may help improve drop free performance. On these magazines, additional material is present on the front face of the Feed Tower Front Wall (see below). This added material can interfere with tighter magazine wells (front-to-back) causing some drag. Be aware that Magpul cannot guarantee the results of any modification and anyone performing said modifications do so at their own risk.


PMAG™ DROP-FREE TUNING PROCEDURE



STEP 1 - BREAK IN

Break in magazine by inserting it into the magazine well numerous times (20-30 or more). Do not continue further once magazine starts to drop free. If the magazine does not begin to drop free readily, look for wear spots to determine any areas of interference. If the front or back of the magazine Feed Tower shows wear then proceed to STEP 2. If wear is present on the small Front Transition Angle between the base of the Feed Tower Front Wall and the Top Rib proceed to STEP 3.



STEP 2 - FLATTEN FRONT FEED TOWER WALL

Using a flat file, lightly remove material from the front face of the Feed Tower Front Wall. Concentrate on high spots underneath Feed Relief Cut and around and underneath the Feed Tower Molding Gate. Be careful not to remove too much material! The maximum amount that should be removed is enough to make the front face flat (planar). Test magazine often for drop-free ejection. Do not continue further once magazine starts to drop free.



STEP 3 - ADJUST FRONT TRANSITION ANGLE

Using a round file, lightly remove material from the small Front Transition Angle between the base of the Feed Tower Front Wall and the Top Rib. This area is located approximately 1/3 of the way down on the FRONT of the magazine. Concentrate on removing material in the downward direction (as the magazine normally sits in the weapon). WARNING: DO NOT dip underneath the surface of the Feed Tower Front Wall as this can create a very thin area in the magazine and structurally weaken it. Test magazine often for drop-free ejection. If necessary, repeat STEP 1 – Break-in and look for interference/wear areas.



PMAG™ MAGAZINE BODY FEATURES



Feed Tower – The top portion of the magazine that enters into the AR-15/M16 magazine well. It consists of approximately the top third of the magazine. The exterior walls of this section are generally flat and straight in order to slide easily into the rifle.



Feed Tower Front Wall – This flat, vertical wall is located on the front of the magazine and is the front section of the Feed Tower. It is rounded on the sides where there are two Locking Tabs toward the top and two Guide Tabs toward the bottom.



Feed Relief Cut – This shallow “U” shaped cut is located at the top of the Feed Tower Front Wall. It is in front of and below the bullet tips when the magazine is loaded. It allows clearance for the rounds to feed into the rifle Feed Ramps.



Feed Tower Molding Gate – This generally rectangular patch is located between the Guide Tabs. This area has some built-up material on 7/07 and 8/07 magazines.



Front Transition Angle – This feature is located approximately a third of the way down on the front of the magazine. It joins the base of the Feed Tower Front Wall with the front of the Top Rib. When viewed from the side it points approximately 60 degrees down and a 1/8” long.



Guide Tabs – Located below the Locking Tabs on the Feed Tower Front Wall. The Guide Tabs help stabilize the magazine in the rifle and help seal off the magazine well from debris intrusion.



Locking Tabs – Located on the top-sides of the Feed Tower Front Wall, these tabs engage the front of the Impact Cover (i.e. Impact Cover Locking Yoke).



Magazine Catch Groove – Located on the left side of the feed tower (i.e. Feed Tower Left Wall), the Magazine Catch Groove locks into the rifle Magazine Catch. This is a critical interface and should NEVER be modified. The lower protrusion (i.e. Magazine Catch Stop) prevents over-insertion of the magazine into the rifle. The Manufacturing Date Stamp is located directly below this area.



Manufacturing Date Stamp – This circular dial indicates the date of manufacture. It is located directly below the Magazine Catch Groove and Stop. The center protrusion contains an arrow with two numbers that indicate the year of manufacture (i.e. "07" for 2007). The arrow should point to one of the 12 numbers indicating the month of manufacture (i.e. “12” for December).



Top Rib – This feature is directly below the Feed Tower and separates it from the rest of the magazine. It is angled up at approximately 10 degrees when the magazine is viewed from the side. When inserted into the rifle, the Top Rib is directly below the rifle Magazine Well and wraps around the circumference of the Magazine Body.

[RojasTKD]

All my PMAGs drop free, window or no windowe.

Some one elsed mentioned a contact point that kept the mags from droping free. Look for sings of scraping to see if there is an eara that it a tad tight. It should loseen up with use or a little sanding. If not contact Magpul.

[Stickman]

Color in the top with a marker (or anything similar), and insert it into the mag well a few times. That will show you any wear points.

[carbinero]

Thanks for the fix. Mine are 8/07.

Also noted (cosmetically) the black mag has a nice grainy texture, whereas the FDE are smooth.

[markm]

Thanks for the fix. Mine are 8/07.

Also noted (cosmetically) the black mag has a nice grainy texture, whereas the FDE are smooth.

I just got an 8/07 FDE that's smooth... unlike my other 10/7s which are the rougher texture. The smooth one sticks in one of my mag wells pretty good. I doubt I'll go to too much effort to get it to drop though.

[SHIVAN]

I used a concrete bench to smooth out my one black PMAG that wouldn't drop free...:cool:

All others dropped free on my 6920 lower.