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Mec-Gar Metal Magazines For Glock Pistols: A Trusted and Affordable OEM Alternative
A significant number of companies manufacture handgun magazines. However, only a few have the reputation for making durable and reliable magazines, such as Mec-Gar. Mec-Gar isn’t just another aftermarket magazine manufacturer either. It also serves as an OEM magazine supplier for prominent brands such as SIG Sauer, Beretta, and CZ.
18 rounds of fun.
As a firearms enthusiast and owner of various Glocks, I was particularly interested in whether Mec-Gar’s 18 and 15-round metal Glock-style magazines could match the legendary performance of factory Glock mags. They both come in under the price of factory Glock mags and Mec-Gar’s 18-round magazine offers an extra round to boot. Are these finally aftermarket magazinea to compete with Glock’s gold standard?
At A Glance
- Capacity: 18 rounds
- Construction: Steel body with polymer baseplate
- Follower: Green, anti-tilt polymer
- Rear-facing witness holes
Which color follower do you prefer? Glock orange or Mec-Gar green?
- Capacity: 15 rounds
- Construction: Steel body with polymer baseplate
- Follower: Green, anti-tilt polymer
- Rear-facing witness holes
How We Tested
I wound up running a variety of FMJs in addition to some Hornady American Gunner and Critical Defense hollow points mixed in for a total of over 200 rounds through the magazine.
Loading all 18 rounds by hand is manageable with the amount of effort you have come to expect from any Glock-style magazine. However, having a Maglula speedloader makes the experience more enjoyable.
For testing purposes, I utilized six different firearms:
- Glock 17 (Gen 4)
- Glock 26 (Gen 5)
- Extar EP9 (Gen 1)
- Extar EP9 (Gen 2)
- SCT 17 Frame with Aim Surplus slide and barrel
- Ruger RXM
The Glock 17, Ruger RXM, and SCT 17.
From slow to rapid fire and through various reload drills, I ran the magazine hard. I let it drop freely during reload drills, regardless of the type of ground I was shooting on, and made sure to toss it around a bit as well.
Not to my surprise, I had zero malfunctions. Now, 200+ rounds is insignificant compared to the thousands of rounds I have put through some of my OEM Glock magazines, but you have to start somewhere.
I’m a sucker for PCCs like the Exar EP9.
The biggest issue I had was a tight fitment with the SCT 17 frame and the Extar EP9. The SCT 17 frame occasionally required manual magazine extraction, but based on tests I have run on the pistol, I am certain that this issue is related to the mag release on the pistol, rather than the magazines themselves.
The EP9 required me to remove the magazine almost every time. This did surprise me, though, as the Mec-Gar mag is one of the smoothest ejecting magazines through my Glock pistols.
Comparison to OEM Glock Magazines
The Mec-Gar magazine offers several meaningful differences from factory Glock magazines. First is capacity. Mec-Gar’s magazine holds 18 rounds compared to 17 rounds for factory Glock 17 magazines. Second is construction. Mec-Gar uses classic blued steel, whereas Glock’s construction features polymer with a steel liner.
Like the factory Glock magazines, Mec-Gar’s magazine has numbered witness holes.
In practical terms, performance comparisons between the two magazine types were equal across the board. I noticed no issues that would dissuade me from using Mec-Gar’s magazines with any of the Glock-compatible firearms I own. I appreciate the extra capacity even if it only represents a 5.8% increase in available ammo. For training and range work, Mec-Gar’s magazine has earned my trust completely.
The sticking point for defensive use, as of the writing of this article, is that my round count is only north of 200 rounds through the Mec-Gar magazine, compared to the thousands of rounds I have put through factory Glock magazines in my lifetime. I implicitly trust Glock magazines because I have put them through the ringer.
A Closer Look
Right out of the package, the Mec-Gar mag impresses with its build quality. I liked it as soon as I laid my hands on it. The blued carbon steel body, featuring Mec-Gar’s anti-friction coating, looks and feels nice. Additionally, there are rear-facing witness holes, and the polymer floorplate is sturdy.
The polymer follower is a satisfying green color and operates smoothly within the magazine’s body. I experienced no canting or sticking during my testing.
What the Community Says
The broader firearms community views Mec-Gar magazines as a solid addition to the Glock-style magazine ecosystem. A review of Reddit, forums like GlockTalk, and speaking with other enthusiasts reveals that Glock owners consider these Mec-Gar magazines a viable alternative to factory Glock magazines for training and competitions. This is a result of a combination of build quality, reliability, and Mec-Gar’s brand reputation.
The consensus is overwhelmingly positive. If you already rely on Mec-Gar magazines for other firearms, then using them with your Glock pistol makes sense.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Smooth, reliable function across all tested firearms
- Increased capacity
- OEM-tier build quality
- Provides value compared to Glock factory magazines
- Slick anti-friction coating
Cons
- Doesn’t have the same reputation as factory Glock magazines
- It had a hard time ejecting from my Extar EP9
Last Words
The Mec-Gar magazine for Glock pistols is an impressive offering from one of the world’s most respected magazine manufacturers.
In terms of usage, 200+ rounds is not enough to prove that my one magazine is “Glock Perfection,” but it’s a good start. As with any magazine, you need to test it extensively with your firearm and preferred ammunition before you trust the magazine with your life.
Glock and Mec-Gar: a match made in heaven?
The benefits of Mec-Gar’s magazine are hard to ignore. Another round in the magazine, a more affordable price point, excellent build quality, and Mec-Gar’s well-earned reputation are very compelling to anyone looking to expand their magazine collection.
Give these new Mec-Gar magazines some serious thought. You won’t be disappointed.
