Magpul has had massive success with its PMAGs, which have been feeding the AR, AK, and Glock platforms for years. Now, Magpul is bringing something new to the table with its AMAG.
The “A” in AMAG stands for alloy, and Magpul is positioning this magazine as a solution for those who require more strength and durability than polymer can give.
I’ve used many PMAGs over the years…and I mean many! As I write this, there are 16 next to me, plus one AMAG. And now that I’ve had some time with the AMAG, I will give you my first impressions and discuss where I think it could be improved.
My First Impressions of the AMAG.
The first time I saw the AMAG, it got lost in a pile of my Smith & Wesson magazines. Yes, seriously. The resemblance is uncanny, and so is the feel. Side by side, you can quickly get the two confused.
The AMAG feels sturdy, which is what you would expect from a stainless-steel alloy magazine. It is lightweight but gives you the confidence to put it through its paces without worrying about falling apart.
With a full and half-full magazine, there’s no magazine rattle, it runs flawlessly, and it works with almost every Sig P320.
However, I’m not a massive fan of the spacing between the magazine baseplate and the bottom of the M17/M18 grip modules, but I guess you can’t have it all.
I was pretty shocked that these magazines cost what they did, considering how much quality was put into them.
On The Range With The AMAG
You know how some aftermarket magazines start presenting issues once you get to the range? Stovepipes, failure to feeds, you name it. Aftermarket magazines are famous for their ability to bring problems to an excellent firearm.
But that wasn’t the case here. Actually, I didn’t suffer one stoppage. All 17 rounds always went through my M18 as if I were using the factory Sig mags that came with it. I dropped it on the ground a few times (because why not?) and still never had an issue.
I used 115-grain Magtech and 124-grain Federal FMJs, in addition to self-defense loads such as 124-grain Speer Gold Dot, which I use for concealed carry. All of these rounds went through with no issues.
From there, I went through a few drills. Mozambique drills, failure to stop, and drawing from the holster with a combination of the two drills.
On the range, the AMAGs proved to be solid. There were no hiccups, issues with the feed lips, or anything of the sort, even after dropping them in the dirt and concrete. The magazine gets a ten out of ten there.
What I Think Is Next
So far, we’ve seen little of the AMAG series, with only the Sig Sauer P320/M17 offering. I’m sure this is due to Magpul trying to get a government contract for the U.S. military’s handgun of choice.
If the Glock 19X had won, the first AMAG magazines likely would have been Glock magazines.
I’m no fortune teller, but I’m sure we’ll see these offered for Glock very soon. From what I could tell, Magpul wanted to get the AMAG on the market with Sig Sauer first so the military could field it and put it through its paces.
It also puts the magazine on the map since many shooters prefer battle-tested products. It’s a smart move, but Glocks are still the most popular and purchased pistols in the world, so Magpul can only hold out for so long.
After Magpul gives us the Glock magazines, my guess is we’ll see them being offered for other popular handguns like FN and CZ, and then for the AR-15 and AR-10 platforms.
It only makes sense. After all, the PMAG saw massive success in the military for years before it switched to the new Sig Sauer MCX Spear. And now that there’s a more durable option at a cheaper price point, Magpul is definitely positioning the AMAG for a bright future.
Conclusion
The new AMAGs are promising. They seem to be just as solid and dependable as the factory Sig Sauer P320/M17 magazines, yet they cost a fraction of the price. I suspect the AMAGs will see huge success, just like the PMAGs.
This will be especially true once Magpul starts expanding to other platforms like Glock and the AR-15, which is where it had most of its success with the PMAG anyway.
It’s still early, but after spending time with the AMAG, I think we will see big things coming from Magpul soon. What do you think?
Be good and take care.