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AR-10/SR-25 Magazine Buyer’s Guide: Holding Full Power
A full-power rifle caliber like the 7.62×51 in a platform similar to an AR-15 has resulted in some fantastic battle rifles over the years. Think of the SR-25 from Knights Armament or the SCAR-H.
There is some hefty firepower there, and it is one of the best platforms for SHTF.
So, if you recently moved up from the 5.56×45 to a round that doesn’t have to ask twice, you will need some spare magazines for the range or that rainy day when you must protect everyone around you.
We’ll go over magazines for every occasion and ones we think you should grab regardless of their intended use.
Welcome to our AR-10 magazine buyer’s guide!
When you need firepower, you go with a .30-caliber round. Source: reddit
Proven Magazines
These are magazines that we have used and also received great feedback on. They’ve been used and abused by many different shooters and have been proven to thrive in any role you throw them in.
Use them for the range, battle rifle roles, or whatever else you can think of.
Magpul has been creating some of the best magazines on the market for quite a long time. They’ve seen more wars and battles than Patton and have earned their spot on many magazine lists.
This mag is constructed from heavy-duty polymer and is far more than capable of taking a few rolls around the dirt. The durability of the PMAG has been proven repeatedly, and if you’re merely using it for the range, you can bet you have more than enough reliability, too.
The aggressive grip texture makes them easy to use with and without gloves and in wet weather, which is a must for some climates.
You can’t go wrong, whether behind the trees or shooting in an indoor range.
Lancer is famous for its translucent magazines. Odds are, you’ve seen them around almost as often as the PMAGs.
Those translucent magazines are made of the same materials as your Magpul magazines but take the durability up a notch with steel feed lips. I’ve taken some nasty spills with the black Gen 2 magazines, and they’ve kept up with the pace without issue.
Lancer magazines have many features that make them great for being out behind the sticks, including a switch on the floorplate for the days you may find yourself around water or sand.
The aggressive grip texture makes them easy to grab from your magazine pouch, even when your hands are wet. If you are shooting outdoors, these are definitely some magazines you want.
The Lancer mags match the furniture perfectly. Source: reddit
It’s hard to beat the durability of steel magazines. And if you don’t mind the extra weight, having them in your loadout can save you in a worst-case scenario.
They are also extremely reliable, thanks to their Advanced Geometry Followers and EverFlex anti-fatigue springs.
These Duramag steel magazines don’t have the best grip and can be slippery when wet, but they are durable enough to take some damage. This is just a heads-up so you know what you’re getting into.
However, the durability of these Duramag steel magazines is unmatched.
Match ammo can sometimes mean dimensions outside the SAAMI specification. Magpul thought of that and created a solution. Of course, it’s a magazine explicitly made for M118 ammo and doesn’t work well with regular SAAMI specification ammo.
Just like many of the other PMAGs, you’ll find a paint pen dot matrix, witness windows, and a flared floorplate.
So, if you’re shooting matches with an AR-10, these magazines are for you.
Everything you love (and don’t love) about the PMAG, but this one has a window to indicate how much ammo you have left in your magazine.
Oh, and an extra five rounds of hard-hitting .308 Winchester.
It still features the same aggressive grip texture that helps the PMAG thrive in every situation, and the paint pen dot matrix allows you to mark your magazines in case of issues with them.
The extra five rounds can add weight, but if the firepower is necessary, the weight won’t matter.
Range Magazines
No other magazine offers as much unique texturing as the Hexmag. With its honeycomb texture pattern, ripping these magazines out is a breeze.
We recommend them for the range mainly because of their price and lighter weight, which is welcomed considering how heavy the AR-10/SR-25 is on average.
But with the quality you get, having a few of these on standby for the indoor and outdoor range is a great way to ensure you’re always ready.
What kind of magazine article would this be if there weren’t excellent magazines you would never use in the real world but that were great for the range?
Not a good one, I’ll tell you that.
Magpul is also well known for its drum-style magazines. While these magazines have inherent durability, they are made more for mag dumping at the range. This drum mag features a paint pen dot matrix, a rear witness window, and a ratcheting loading lever for easy loading. There is not much more you can ask for!
Fair warning: an AR-10 with 50 rounds of 7.62×51 hanging off the bottom is not the easiest to shoulder for extended periods.
It’s hard to argue with a D-50. Source: military
If you don’t want a full drum hanging from the bottom of your already hefty AR-10, ProMag makes the most extended stick magazine available.
It’s still heavy, but it has all of your standard characteristics, like a flared floor plate, anti-tilt follower, and aggressive grip texture to help you remove the magazines—not that you’ll need it with this much to grab onto.
Hunting
It’s critical to have a magazine that won’t bang on the floor when you’re out hunting, especially when using a bipod. Five-round magazines are also light enough not to weigh you down as you trek through the woods.
These steel mags provide excellent durability and reliability, so you’ll always be ready to take the shot when the opportunity presents itself.
If five rounds aren’t enough, or you’re hunting a game that runs in packs, like wild boar, the 10-round PMAG Gen M3 magazine will keep up with you on your longest hunts.
If debris gets in your mag well, the classic texture of the PMAG will help you still be able to remove them with ease. These are great magazines for any need. They’re lightweight, durable, and get the job done.
Accessories
Magazine loader:
Loading new magazines can be a pain, especially when you’re trying to get that last round in.
So what do you do? Get a magazine loader. It’s quicker and easier, and it will save the joints in your thumb in the long run.
These work with steel or polymer magazines, so there is no need to have more than one.
Magazine pouch:
Walking back to your gear whenever you need a mag can get tedious if you’re on the range. Don’t be that shooter; make sure you have a spare mag on you. Made of nylon and featuring adjustable retention, these pouches will keep a spare mag secure and ready for when you need to reload.
Everyone knows the single taco.
Dust cover for PMAGs:
Keeping debris out of your magazine is an excellent way to ensure you don’t need new magazines every other range trip.
Dust covers keep debris out and protect your followers and ammo. They work better on magazines after they are broken in, but having them always available is a good idea.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for extra magazines or ones you don’t have, any of the ones on this list will get you by. For rugged use, I recommend Magpul, Lancer, and Duramag. I’ve had the most success with these when out in the elements.
And I can wholeheartedly recommend them for your days in the mud.
But if you’re solely looking for range magazines, the Hex Mags are a great bet. They’re cheap, and they work well.
At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with any of the magazines on the list.
Be good and take care.
