Magazine Detail

[Go Navy]

I had reported in another thread about a stiff magazine release. Meanwhile, I had ordered a magazine from Fulton Armory. Fulton, you all probably know, is a very respected rebuilder of military arms. Their M1 Carbine has been praised by a number of writers, including Gun Tests Magazine, which accepts no advertising.
I also have a magazine on order from Auto Ordnance, the maker of my Carbine. It's not here yet, but it will be interesting to compare it...read on....
The Fulton Armory magazine arrived last night. Today I compared it in detail to the Pro Mag magazine my dealer gave me with my new M1 Carbine from Auto Ordnance. There is a crucial difference. The Fulton Armory magazine has a third "nub" sticking out, which you will see in the attached picture. This "nub" is right near the left forward edge of the mag, and it acts directly on part of the cam surface of the mag release.
Guess what? The Fulton mag goes in and out like a champ!
The Pro Mag only has two nubs, both on the back side of the mag, NOT the third nub. The Pro Mag does not go in without some fussing around although it releases ok.
Conclusion: Pro Mag magazines for the M1 Carbine are not properly designed. I bought a second one when I picked up my Carbine and was charged $19.99 for it....it's going back because it's still in the original package.

[wjkuleck]

Originally Posted by Go Navy

I had reported in another thread about a stiff magazine release. Meanwhile, I had ordered a magazine from Fulton Armory. Fulton, you all probably know, is a very respected rebuilder of military arms. Their M1 Carbine has been praised by a number of writers, including Gun Tests Magazine, which accepts no advertising.
I also have a magazine on order from Auto Ordnance, the maker of my Carbine. It's not here yet, but it will be interesting to compare it...read on....
The Fulton Armory magazine arrived last night. Today I compared it in detail to the Pro Mag magazine my dealer gave me with my new M1 Carbine from Auto Ordnance. There is a crucial difference. The Fulton Armory magazine has a third "nub" sticking out, which you will see in the attached picture. This "nub" is right near the left forward edge of the mag, and it acts directly on part of the cam surface of the mag release.
Guess what? The Fulton mag goes in and out like a champ!
The Pro Mag only has two nubs, both on the back side of the mag, NOT the third nub. The Pro Mag does not go in without some fussing around although it releases ok.
Conclusion: Pro Mag magazines for the M1 Carbine are not properly designed. I bought a second one when I picked up my Carbine and was charged $19.99 for it....it's going back because it's still in the original package.

WOW!

Thanks for the kind words, and even kinder business.

Best regards,

Walt Kuleck
Fulton Armory

[Go Navy]

You are most welcome, Walt. I sent an email to your company containing the same info; hope it is helpful. Keep up the good work.

[Go Navy]

I spent more time comparing and studying the three different brands of currently manufactured magazines that I have.

The first picture, which shows an end view of three different M1 Carbine magazines, shows from left to right: Fulton Armory, ProMag, and Auto-Ordnance products. Note the following:
1) The Fulton product on the left, as mentioned before, has the extra support lug.
2)The middle item is the ProMag. Note that its two lugs are higher up compared to the other two magazines, but it is also just slightly taller at the top.
3) The right hand item is by Auto Ordnance. Its two lugs are about the same height as those on the Fulton magazine.

The second picture is more interesting. It shows the top views of, from left to right, Auto Ordnance, ProMag, and Fulton. Note the following:
1) The Auto Ordnance mag, on the left has feed lips that are spread pretty far apart. This magazine refuses to insert and lock into my carbine; these lips are hitting the receiver sides (bolt guides?) before it will fully seat and lock. Notice also that the rib on the side is a bit thicker than the others, but that doesn't seem to cause a problem.
2) The ProMag, in the middle, has feed lips that don't seem symmetrical, and the cutout area is further aft than the other two. I don't know if that is good or bad. However, this magazine will insert and lock in place, albeit with a little manipulating.
3)The Fulton mag, on the right, has feed lips that are curved inwards at the breech end, and possibly a little more curved at the back end, too. This magazine inserts and removes with no difficulty at all.

I have not actually loaded and fired from each of these magazines so that is the next step. I'm going to send the Auto Ordnance magazine back to Auto Ord and ask them to inspect it, particularly since I'm trying to use these magazines with their M1 Carbine. I could try to bend the feed lips myself, but I might make a mess out of it.

[Orlando]

Why not buy USGI carbine mags and be done with it? You wont have any problems with them. They are plentiful now for $10.00 /$12.00 each

[M14man]

Because GI mags are illegal in California!!

[Go Navy]

M14man is correct. I live in Queen Pelosi Province. Only bad guys are allowed to own magazines over 10 rounds capacity. However, I'm going to a gun show nearby in a couple of weeks, and will pick up some G.I. mags if I find them.

I hate to say it, but I suspect that gun shows are going to be stomped out pretty soon.

[74man]

When you go to gun shows and are looking for the USGI mags, check on the front of the Mag. Kahr Arms rifles. If you notice that the Mag. in the front fits a groove in the front of the mag well. The 15rd's don't have that and they just fall out of the mag well. Just another something to look for when tring to use USGI parts. I bought 4 each 15's and I took some Stainless Steel just the thickness and width and length I needed and used Structural Adhesive to install the blocks on the front of the 15rd mag to fit the slot in the front of the mag well. I don't know if the new Kahr Arms M1's have the slot but mine is three years old and has the slot in the mag well. My inventive piece works just fine. Also remember to keep anything illegal off the range, it can be confiscated. Also remember that some ammo works better than others, stick with the ammo's that work.

[Go Navy]

Originally Posted by 74man

When you go to gun shows and are looking for the USGI mags, check on the front of the Mag. Kahr Arms rifles. If you notice that the Mag. in the front fits a groove in the front of the mag well. The 15rd's don't have that and they just fall out of the mag well. Just another something to look for when tring to use USGI parts. I bought 4 each 15's and I took some Stainless Steel just the thickness and width and length I needed and used Structural Adhesive to install the blocks on the front of the 15rd mag to fit the slot in the front of the mag well. I don't know if the new Kahr Arms M1's have the slot but mine is three years old and has the slot in the mag well. My inventive piece works just fine. Also remember to keep anything illegal off the range, it can be confiscated. Also remember that some ammo works better than others, stick with the ammo's that work.

74man: You're right, my 2008 Auto-Ord M1 Carbine has a groove in the front of the mag well. Plus, all three of the aftermarket mags I picked up (Auto-Ord, ProMag, and Fulton) have "rails" on them which follow the groove in the mag well.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the earlier and later versions of the mag release. My understanding is that it was redesigned later in WWII to hold 30 round mags. The mag release on my Auto-Ord carbine has the letter M underlined on it, which is the later generation design that works with a third support lug on the mag. They show three types of mag releases on page 45 of Larry Ruth and Scott Duff's book "The M1 Carbine Owners Guide". (Otherwise I wouldn't know a doggone thing about it!)

Since I don't own any G.I. mags at present, I don't know how they'd work in my Carbine.

Thanks very much for your advice.