Rebuilding 30 round AR15 Mags

[JDMopar]

Just wanted to post my experience with upgrading some old AR15 mags that I bought at the gun show yesterday. I bought a bag full of old USGI 30 round mags at the show, and also purchased a bag full of MagPul anti-tilt followers to put in them. Being new at this, I figured the way to get them apart was to pry the little ears up on the bottom of the mag to release the guts. WRONG! :mad: The ears will break right off the aluminum body of the mags if you do that. The way to get them apart without boogering them up is to take a thin flat screwdriver blade, and gently pry the bent over lip of the bottom cap up just enough for the keepers on the underside of the bottom cap to clear the end of the mag body. Then while you hold it up, take your other thumb and slide the bottom cap over till the keepers clear the end of the mag body. Then just slide the cap on off, and be sure to catch the spring and ease it out. The old follower will come with it. Take carb or brake cleaner, and a small plastic brush and clean the inside of the mag body. Take the old follower off the spring, and add the Magpul anti tilt follower. Reassemble in the reverse order that you took it apart. It will only go together one way, and it's easy to figure out. I got a dozen mags that are better than new for $10 apiece, counting the cost of the used mags and new Magpul anti tilt followers. I can post a pic of the mag I boogered up if anybody wants to see how NOT to do it....lol.

[ben]

I just use a cartridge, put the bullet in the indent on the floorplate, press in and slide the floorplate towards the ramp side. If they are old, it might fight you a little, but once you get the plate to slide it goes easy.

If they are old and used magazines, I would recommend replacing the springs also. OR just give them a good stretch. You will feel it when enough is enough in the stretching. You will feel the spring "give a little".

Good luck.

ETA - If you start having problems with the bolt not locking back after last shot using these magazines.....my bet is it will be the spring. I have run into this using old 20 rounders. Functions fine with new mags...fails to lock back with old. Stretched the spring..and GTG....

[ben]

You know what, I was wrong.

I thought the 30 rounders were the same as the 20. I just got a chance to look at both. Been a while.

On the 20's push a pointy object, cartridge works fine, in the hole on the opposite end of the ramp on the floor plate. There is a spring tab there that you are pushing on. When you push on it, you can see the keeper in the slot go in and out. So, push in on the spring and the floor plate will now be able to push over to the ramp side.

Didn't realize the 30's had a different mechanism. I just put the cartidge in the hole, pushed down so the ramp raises and gave a little shove in the direction of the ramp. It slides right out. Same principle as what you did.

[Fronty Owner]

different mag brands are slightly different. I got some mil spec mags that have a round opening, I got some C Products that have a screwdriver slot. all are basically the same, the base plate slides out.

[ben]

different mag brands are slightly different. I got some mil spec mags that have a round opening, I got some C Products that have a screwdriver slot. all are basically the same, the base plate slides out.

I learn something new everyday...thanks!

[JDMopar]

Ben......good tip on the spring if the bolt doesn't lock back. Thanks.

[n2moto]

Unless you live in California why rebuild them? The Brownells mags at 15 bucks are a great deal. Great coatings, followers, and springs.

[Fronty Owner]

Unless you live in California why rebuild them? The Brownells mags at 15 bucks are a great deal. Great coatings, followers, and springs.

lemme know where you shoot.. I will be by to pick up your mags when they stop working...

Just like cleaning your firearms, the magazine needs cleaned also.

[n2moto]

The op wasn't talking about cleaning, he was building mags. Your sarcasm is better than your reading.

[slade.clark]

A really good mag to invest in is CDMAGS check them out

"Count Down Mags"