Why I Keep Buying the Metalform Colt 9mm Magazine
In case you've spent any kind of time tinkering with AR-9 builds, you've possibly realized that selecting a metalform colt 9mm magazine will be the quickest way in order to fix feeding problems that plague most pistol-caliber carbines. Generally there is something extremely frustrating about going to the range with a brand-new build, just to get it switch into a single-shot bolt action since your magazines can't keep up along with the cycle price. I've been generally there, and honestly, it's why I ended playing around with the "budget" options and just stuck with what actually works.
Why the particular Steel Construction Actually Matters
Most people getting in to the 9mm AR world today are usually pushed toward Glock-pattern lowers because, well, later Glock magazines lying around. But for people that prefer the visual and the straight-line feed of the original Colt SMG pattern, the metalform colt 9mm magazine will be the gold standard. These aren't those flimsy, thin-walled things you observe in the clearance bin. They are built from cold-rolled steel, and you can have the weight and rigidity the second you pick one up.
The problem with plastic or polymer mags inside a Colt-pattern magazine well is that will they tend in order to swell when they're fully loaded. When the mag increases, it doesn't drop free. If it doesn't drop free, your reloads be a two-handed wrestling match. With these Metalform sticks, that's never a problem. The steel stays exactly the exact same shape whether it's empty or filled with 32 rounds of 115-grain FMJ. Plus, let's be real, the stick-mag look just appears "right" on a subgun-style build.
The Magic is in the particular Feed Lips
In case you ask any kind of gunsmith who specializes in the AR-15 platform about 9mm malfunctions, they'll almost always point to the feed lips. On many cheaper magazines, the feed lips are possibly too soft—meaning they will bend over time—or they aren't formed correctly to lead the round straight into the chamber in the right angle.
The metalform colt 9mm magazine uses the very specific angles for the feed lips. These are reinforced and heat-treated to make sure they don't distribute apart under spring pressure. I've acquired some of these mags for many years, dropped them on concrete during exercises, and stepped upon them by accident, and they still feed as reliably because the day I actually took them away of the plastic. Once the bolt provider group comes forwards, it strips the round off the mag and sends it straight to the particular barrel without that will annoying "ker-chunk" audio of a circular hitting the feed ramp too low.
Let's Talk About the Fans and LRBHO
One of the biggest headaches with 9mm ARs is getting the bolt to lock back on the last round. This might sound like a basic thing, but it's actually a mechanical nightmare to obtain right across different brands of decreases and uppers. The metalform colt 9mm magazine comes with a metal follower having a very specific tabs designed to indulge the bolt catch.
I've tried some of the polymer-follower mags on the market, and while they work with a while, the plastic tab eventually models off. Once that tab is gone, your Last Round Bolt Hold Open (LRBHO) becomes a "maybe it will, maybe it won't" circumstance. Because Metalform uses a metal follower, that contact point stays sharp. It strikes the bolt catch with authority all the time the mag operates dry. It's a small detail, but when you're shooting a match or just want your weapon to function like it's supposed in order to, it's a huge deal.
Compatibility Across Different Systems
Even though we call it a "Colt" magazine, these items work in a huge variety of firearms. Obviously, these are the go-to for the Colt 6450 plus its modern descendants, but they also work flawlessly in Stone River Arms, CMMG (the older devoted lowers), and also the different mag-well connectors like those through Sylvan Arms or even Hahn Precision.
I actually use the metalform colt 9mm magazine within a mag-block adapter I threw in to a standard 5. 56 lower. Usually, those adapters are finicky as heck. However, because the Metalform mags have like consistent external dimensions, the adapter retains them perfectly. There's no side-to-side wobble, and the height is definitely exactly where this needs to end up being for the bolt to pick up the next round. If you're jumping between different builds, having the box of these mags means a person don't have to "this mag only works in that gun" nonsense.
Smashing Them In
I will state, in case you get the brand new metalform colt 9mm magazine , the springs are going to be stiff. Like, "I think I'm likely to break my thumb" stiff. This is actually an excellent sign—it means the springtime tension is high enough to keep up along with high cyclic rates—but it can become a problem for the particular first few journeys to the range.
I recommend getting a Maglula Uplula loader. Seriously, don't also try to load these to capacity by hand when they're new. After regarding five or six full load-and-unload series, the spring settles in perfectly. This stays strong enough in order to push that final round up to the path of the particular bolt, but it won't seem like you're fighting a hydraulic press for the 30th round in.
Comparing the Cost vs. Efficiency
You may definitely find 9mm mags for $15. You might even discover some for $10 if you're searching at the obvious plastic ones. Yet in my experience, those are "disposable" magazines. They're fine for a casual plinking session exactly where you don't brain a malfunction every single other mag, however they aren't something I'd trust.
The metalform colt 9mm magazine generally sits in that will $30 to $40 range, depending upon where you find them. To some, that feels pricey regarding a 9mm mag, but you have to look at this as an extensive investment. I'd go for five mags that work 100% of the particular time than 10 mags that keep me clearing jellies every few minutes. These are the exact same magazines that several high-end manufacturers mail with their $1, 500+ carbines, and there's a reason for that. They don't want the reputation of their weapon being ruined by a cheap magazine.
A Be aware on Maintenance
Maintenance is pretty straightforward, that is an additional reason I like them. Since they're steel, you do want to keep a very gentle coat of essential oil on the outside if a person live in a humid environment, in order to prevent any surface area speckling. Every few months, or after the particularly dusty variety day, I'll take the floor plate away, pull the springtime and follower out there, and wipe the inside from the body with a dry rag. You don't want to crud up the inside along with oil—just keep this clean and dried out, and they'll operate forever.
The ground plates are also removable, which will be great if you need to include weighted basepads intended for competition or "pull tabs" for easier extraction from an upper body rig. They adhere to the standard Colt pattern, so the particular aftermarket support for accessories is enormous.
Final Ideas from the Variety
At the end of the day, the metalform colt 9mm magazine is really a strong piece of equipment. It's not flashy, it doesn't have got fancy windows or weird textures, but it feeds rounds in to the chamber without drama. In a globe where we spend countless dollars on optics, triggers, plus handguards, it seems silly to give up on the 1 part that actually moves the ammo into the gun.
If you're struggling with your AR-9, or when you're just starting a new build and want to skip the "troubleshooting" stage, just grab a few these. They've been the industry regular for decades for a reason. Once you see how much more reliable your carbine is with a correct steel magazine, you probably won't wish to go back to anything else. They just work, and honestly, that's the best compliment I can give to any piece of firearm equipment.