Gen M3 PMAG not dropping free [Archive]

jaybirdritenour2

07-05-13, 23:11

Anyone else having issues with the new Magpul Gen M3 Pmags not droping free in some rifles? They dont drop free in my Knights rifle but the gen 2 did fine.

They said they made them more compatible for more magwells. But I guess not for Knights.:(

Stickman

07-05-13, 23:14

I just tried a few Gen 3 PMAGs in two different KAC lowers. Three were 30 rounders, and two were 40 rounders. No problems with either type.

Rockhopper

07-05-13, 23:21

i have had nothing but issues with the gen 3 30 rounders dropping free. gen 2's work great in my MEGA, not the gen 3's.

jaybirdritenour2

07-05-13, 23:24

I just tried a few Gen 3 PMAGs in two different KAC lowers. Three were 30 rounders, and two were 40 rounders. No problems with either type.

Gen 3 or the new Gen M3? The M2 were also called gen 3.

Rockhopper

07-05-13, 23:26

m3. new ones.

jaybirdritenour2

07-05-13, 23:27

Maybe their are just some batches of off spec ones out there?

Ryno12

07-05-13, 23:34

Not an issue in any of my Colt, BCM, Noveske or Aero lowers.

Sent via Tapatalk

Rockhopper

07-05-13, 23:35

Rattlehead

07-06-13, 00:33

muldoon

07-06-13, 09:32

Try tightening or loosening your mag catch

Quiet Riot

07-06-13, 11:15

i doubt that but anything is possible. maybe give them a call. i do not care as i only have 3 or 4 of them so i just shelve them and do not use them. all mags, in two different MEGA recievers. all new gen 3's and none of them drop free. i have plenty of gen 2's. ill just keep using those instead.

I have no problems with any of the Gen M3 mags I've used in either of my Mega lowers. One is forged and the other is billet. Mags drop free from both, including the following Gen M3s I've tried so far:

PMAG 10

PMAG 30 Non-Windowed (this is on video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ST-wJ1Ekj8)

PMAG 30 Windowed (video up soon)

PMAG 40 (this is on video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWzbWadH2-g)

As suggested in another post, did you try loosening your mag catch?

Ironman8

07-06-13, 12:20

Just a thought...

Look at the over-insertion tab on the backside of the Pmag and see if there are any rub marks. It could be that the slot at the back of the magwell in the lower is catching the over-insertion tab by a hair and not letting it drop free.

I have an early Gen2 Noveske "FFL" Lower that didn't work with the GenM3 Pmags due to the over-insertion tab. Once I rounded off the tab (took off the 90* angle and basically made it a 45*) the mags were basically ejecting out of the magwell. They actually drop better than any other mag I own now.

If you want to try it, take a file and just gradually take off material until you see a difference. I used a dremel to take off most of the tab and then filed off the rough edge that was left behind, but you may not need to take off as much material.

joelawp7

07-07-13, 06:11

I have some windowless Gen3 PMAGs I got back around the beginning of the year that do *not* drop free from my SR-15 lower. However, I just picked up some Gen3 windowed PMAGs that *do* drop free from the same lower.

One of these days, I'll get around to touching up the sticky PMAGs with a file so they drop free.

Quiet Riot

07-13-13, 09:00

I finally got my video on the Gen M3 Windowed PMAG 30 up. It also shows these mags dropping free from one of my Mega lowers.

Didn't Mega have a batch they found out had tight magwells?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoxB-H6y8d0

Kilo 1-1

07-20-13, 21:02

I have three M3 mags that will not drop free from my lower. One of them sporadically doesn't activate the bolt catch (confirmed when taken upper off and inserted mag to see if it activates the bolt catch), this is unacceptable. I have one 40 rounder M3 mag that drops free (sample size of one) and locks back properly after last round. All M2s drop free and function 100%.

Lower is RRA. Upper is BCM LW 16" carbine.

I really like Magpul products, and have been using their magazines since 2008...but the current M3 mags are something I'm having issues with and are what I consider unacceptable (bolt not locking back sporadically with one of them). Never had issues with the older Gen 1 and later M2 magazines (or the 40 rounder Pmags).

Vinh

07-20-13, 23:42

Recently purchased one M3 to try out. It does not drop free from my KAC lower, two Colts, or a SCAR.

samuse

07-21-13, 08:33

The ones I had dropped free from my Colt lower, but getting them in was a problem. The 2nd to the top round would try to pop up from under the top round making loading on a closed bolt might' near impossible.

I know that can happen with any mag, but damn near every time I pulled a mag from a pouch I had that problem.

Chinh

07-21-13, 08:44

If any of y'all in Houston, I have a few m3 if you wanted to test more then one mag

Robb Jensen

07-22-13, 13:10

I just tested a M3 PMAG (manufactured 6/13) and it worked fine in and dropped free in:

All of our new DD rifles.
A Colt 6920 (the new ones marked M4 Carbine).
A new HK MR556.
All new S&W M&P15s we have in stock.

kdcgrohl

07-22-13, 18:36

Just tried an M3 in two different KAC IWS lowers(both with QD cups).
Neither would let the M3 mag drop free.

Tried a Colt and a Noveske, both dropped fine.

destin

07-23-13, 08:42

Do not drop out of my Bcm or Colt

kdcgrohl

07-26-13, 08:53

Just tried an M3 in two different KAC IWS lowers(both with QD cups).
Neither would let the M3 mag drop free.

Tried a Colt and a Noveske, both dropped fine.

Tried all seven of the M3 mags I had laying around in two KAC lowers, none would drop free. After some light file work to the stop under the mag catch indention, the M3's match the dimension on the older mags.

If your mags aren't dropping free, this is probably why:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/stuff/IMG_20130725_195958_682_zpsc93bbb21.jpg

Army Chief

07-26-13, 11:27

Just to make this relevant, if you do have mags which aren't dropping free, it might prove helpful if you could include the production date code, so we could potentially isolate if this is perhaps a batch issue, or something related to specific lowers.

AC

maw1777

07-26-13, 15:27

Mine drop free, empty or loaded. DPMS receiver.

93 FOX

07-26-13, 17:07

No problems with my Noveske or Spikes lowers, they drop free loaded and unloaded.

joelawp7

07-28-13, 10:01

New PMAG 30 M3's (6/13 date):

SR-15 lower (new style lower): Do not drop free
BCM Lower: Do drop free
DD Lower: Do drop free

New PMAG 30 M3 Window (6/13 date):

SR-15 lower (new style lower): Do drop free
BCM Lower: Do drop free
DD Lower: Do drop free

FWIW, I've spoken with Magpul CS regarding this issue and they replaced the initial batch (purchased around 1/13) of problem PMAG 30 M3s (non-windows). However, the replacement PMAGs exhibit the same behavior (do not drop free from a new style SR-15) as the PMAGs they replaced.

Based upon my small sample set (18 PMAG 30 M3s in 3 different lowers) it appears there is just enough variation between the Window and non-Windowed versions that the non-windows do not drop free.

I've held off "tuning" my mags with some judicious file work until I could verify my initial drop-free problem was not related to specific batch. Since the behavior appears consistent between different batches I'm going to go ahead with the "tuning" solution...

midSCarolina

07-28-13, 17:24

3 Gen3 non-windowed Pmags from 3/13 drop free from my LMT and Noveske lowers. Also dropped free of my friend's PSA lower.

StrikerFired

08-06-13, 20:21

All 10 of my G3's drop free from my S&W lower

FloridaWoodsman

08-09-13, 16:11

I got a couple of 20-round Gen3 magazines. When loaded, they needed a bit more firmness than my steel mags to get them to lock into place on insertion. On release, though, they dropped readily from a Spike's lower.

Trying them in a plastic New Frontier lower, they did not drop of their own weight, but I would attribute it to a more snug fit in the magazine well rather than a latching problem.

Big A

08-10-13, 08:47

All of my M3 mags work in both my Colt LE 6920 and Stag Model 1. I have 4 30rnd and 2 20rnd mags. Date codes for the 20's 3/13 for the 30's 4/13. They all drop free, feed properly and lock the bolt catch like they're supposed to. I have 2 30's in the package still with the same date code as my others. All were bought from the same LGS in June through the beginning of this month.

Warp

08-11-13, 10:57

trob_205

08-11-13, 11:58

I've had 1 m3 not drop out of my LWRC. Other than that good to go. Still pisses me off tho

Ron3

08-11-13, 15:26

Whatever the issue it sounds like a file and three minutes solves the drop-free problem. Not a BFD.

BadMan Hunter

08-11-13, 18:11

I just wanted to add that last Thursday I received my new Colt 6920LE MAGPUL Edition that came with a Gen 2, 30 rnd Mag and in addition I also 3 more MAGPUL Gen 3. 30 rnd Mags to go with it. I have now tested all 4 mags with and without rounds in them and I'm happy to say that all 4 so far have worked flawlessly. Each one has dropped without hanging up in any way. Hopefully the trend will continue.

Ridgerunner665

08-11-13, 18:22

I bought 4 gen 3's from midway...all of them drop free from my Sig 516.

Little Creek

08-11-13, 18:34

I have 17 PMAG 30 Gen M3. They are from 2012. The three I took out of the wrapper will not drop out of my Colt M4, my DDM4V7lw, or my S&W M&P 15. The other 14 are still in the wrapper. I emailed Magpul and asked to exchange. I have not yet received a reply. I expect the recent production PMAG 30 Gen M3 magazines drop free.

I recently got 3 Gen M3 10 rounders, 5 30 rounders, and two 40 rounders. They all drop free. I also have a bunch of PMAG 30 Gen 2 and they all drip free from all three carbines. I use nothing but PMAGs.

domestique

08-12-13, 04:01

Sub'd

Will check today and make sure my window M3 Pmags drop free from my KAC and BCM lowers

Tzed250

08-12-13, 04:26

Gen3 30, Gen2 30, and USGI 20 all drop free from my JD Machine lower. The Gen3s were purchased in March IIRC.

avengd7x

08-12-13, 12:10

I've got 2 SR15's made earlier this year that gen 3 pmags don't drop free from. the gen 2 pmags work fine.

haven't tried them on my bcm lowers yet, or on my sr15 from 2009.

jaybirdritenour2

08-12-13, 16:09

Sub'd

Will check today and make sure my window M3 Pmags drop free from my KAC and BCM lowers

Please do, I will pick up some windowed m3's if they drop free in my SR15. Looks like the windowed versions drop free so far. What is sad is I bought 12 m3 Pmags for 500.00 during the panic just so I would have them and none of them droped free in my SR15.

TroyK983

08-14-13, 11:02

I had issues with the M3 dropping free from my GEN 2 Noveske lower. Had to do some file work on the tab on the spine. They are good to go now, though they seem to need a little more love to lock in place on a closed bolt compared to the M2 or steel mags. Production dates are 2/12 and 6/13. They did however drop free from both of my N4 Noveske lowers and my issued Colt patrol rifle before making any mods.

jaybirdritenour2

08-24-13, 12:38

I bought a new Window M3 and it drops free from the exact same Knights lower the new non-window m3 wouldn't. I guess the window version works in a few more rifles. Its time to get a bunch of them since now I can get them for their normal price. I have already gotten rid of the ones that wouldn't drop free. I don't want any mags around that wont work in all my rifles flawlessly.

dr225

08-24-13, 15:00

15 M3 Pmag 30 rnd and all drop free from my Armalite A2 rifle and BCM LWT Midlength. Colt would not, but had a lot of problems with it anyway, a lemon. 2012 date codes ordered them just before the Newtown Tragedy.

prq9218

08-24-13, 17:04

Gen3 Pmag drops just fine from my aero precision lower.

Malig8r

08-25-13, 00:49

25 M3 30 rnd Pmags tried in brand new Mod1. None of them would drop freely. They disengaged but hung up in the magwell. Production dates of 4/13 & 5/13.

Tried Troy Battlemags & they all fell freely as did the USGI mags.