Magpul PMAG Glock G17 and G19 Magazine ReviewWe all love PMAGs for our AR15s, right? So we were all super-duper excited when Magpul released the $15.95 G17 magazines. Well… and then they had a few issues with the G17 feeding issues in the smaller G19 and G29 pistols. Word of the problems spread like wildfire. Magpul quickly and very publically fell on their own sword to tell the world that they would in fact make things right and they did with those G17 magazines already in customer hands.
Magpul quickly released a new tuned generation to resolve those issues. Fast forward a year and we now have proven problem-free Magpul G17 magazines and recently also G19 magazines. After 500 problem-free rounds of the G19 magazines through Gen 2, Gen 3 and Gen 4 G19 and G26 Glocks, I am more than satisfied that they are reliable. The same goes for the new crop of Magpul G17 magazines as well. Magpul as clearly worked out the cross functional reliability issues on the magazines and now deliver the market a G17 and G19 magazine option which is half the price of original Glock magazines.
With the AR15 PMAG’s introduction, that groundbreaking design delivered a ton of features to a product which previously had none. Better handling, lighter weight and a true 30-round capacity were all notable features with arguably improved reliability. Later on, the windowed AR PMAGs also allowed us to see how full or empty our mags were.With the Glock PMAGS already being polymer and bullet proof, Magpul had a bit of a legacy to live up to. From my perspective the Magpul mags have two primary advantages advantages over factory Glock PMAGS - a potential handling improvement and price.
I love Magpul however I am not so enamored with Magpul that I will say their mags are better than Glock factory mags with have themselves evolved and changes through many… many Glock design updates. The Magpul mags deliver a solid inexpensive drop-free magazine option for Glock owners with some extra grip on the base, paint pen matrix markable base, with an easier disassembly design. I can only presume that Magpul will deliver an easy swappable SPEEDPLATE for the Glock mags utilizing the easy disassembly of the Magpul Glock mags. 
Lets also talk about what the Magpul Glock PMAGs are not. The factory Glock mags are hardened steel lined which in theory makes them stronger, they also extend less from the base of the magwell than the PMAGS and are a bit more compact. The factory mags also allow visual inspection of the approximate rounds loaded; the Magpul PMAG only shows whether the mag is fully loaded with a single window on either side of the magazine. Sorry folks, at this point until Magpul has some yet to be revealed new model with ammo windows, the factory Glock mags are the only option to view how much ammo is in the mag.FINAL THOUGHTS
I know Magpul would like me to espouse all the extra features about the Glock PMAGs, however plainly put I like that I now have a reliable Glock magazine option that is half the price. For me it comes down to the fact that I can buy a dozen Glock PMAGS for $200 versus just six factory Glock mags. They are reliable, will drop free, and even add a bit of improvements in the handling department. I am still excited about PMAGS not only for my AR15s but also for my 9mm Glocks now as well.SPECS
Glock 17 and Glock 19 PMAGs
- Compatible with all full-size, compact, and sub-compact 9mm Glock handguns
- Durable, lightweight, and extremely stiff polymer construction
- High visibility controlled-tilt follower
- Long life stainless steel spring for corrosion resistance
- Flared, easily removable floor plate
- Dot matrix panel for magazine marking and identification
- Full magazine indicator windows on both sides of body
- Drops free loaded or unloaded
$15.95
MAG546
MAG550
Made in U.S.A.
SOURCES
Magpul - http://magpul.com