07-07-2018, 01:45 AM
I can't get Grendel to feed at all from my BCM steel mag. I can from Magpuls, but only about 5 rounds, and if you leave more than one in them they swell over time and you'll have to cuss yourself for ruining it. I've used Troy Battlemag 30s as well, but they swell immediately after more than three are loaded. Again, DONT leave any poly mags loaded with any Grendel ammo or you'll come back to a mag that has seemingly permanent swell. I got my two to work again, but they don't work well. I've relegated them to trash basically. You can use 30 round poly mags (The ones I have tried that worked the best were the gen 2 Magpul 30s) to get started, but be prepared to load 4-5 at a time, as you shoot.
The Stoner mags are the sharpest edged things I've ever used. The ones I've got scream "hurry hurry hurry get them out the manufacturing door before folks realize how cheap our QC practices are". These mags are my - only if I lose every other mag I own - mags. They are 5 rounders, and what they did was take a 30 round mag spring and compress the coils together to take up the room in the bottom of the mag that would normally be filled by another 5 rounds. My E-landers have all worked well, but one of them arrived with a bent-in spot weld in the front right at the top, so that particular mag limits my OAL to a rather short 2.235sh. That one happens to be my only 17 rounder; my two tens, and my 4 24s all work like clockwork, with any round I feed them. I have two ASC mags, and one 6.8 PRI mag. None of them feed reliably. I heard that the PRI 6.8 Waffle mags work fine, but I have not found that to be the case with Hornady Black, Federal, or Starline brass reloads.
Of all the mags I have on hand, only the poly mags did not scratch or scrape new brass while feeding into the chamber. Some (the darn Stoner are by far the worst) worse than others. My ASC and Stoner mags look to be made at the same place, but the ASC are definitely more finished looking.
The E-landers are finished in a slightly glossy black powdercoat or paint which resists chipping, but is starting to wear at the edges; The Stoner mags have cheap black paint that is chipping off in big flakes; while the others are all parkerized or anodized. The ASC and Stoner mags would likely "wear in" and not scratch as badly but for me, because I have other options, I have not spent the time or effort to fix the issues. None of the mags scratched the brass bad enough to make me concerned about the life of the cases.
I have a feeling after hearing about LRPPF's visit to the Ammunition Storage Components booth at SHOT '18 that ASC has stepped up their game a little on the Grendel mags, giving them an AK like curve. I think this was a move Alexander thought helpful if I recall correctly. I hope this to be true, as better mags are a welcome note for Grendel owners.
My recommendation would fall with the E-lander 17 rounders. They are the right length for prone hi-cap shooting with a bipod, they are the better of the options quality wise, and they function well.
My two cents.
The Stoner mags are the sharpest edged things I've ever used. The ones I've got scream "hurry hurry hurry get them out the manufacturing door before folks realize how cheap our QC practices are". These mags are my - only if I lose every other mag I own - mags. They are 5 rounders, and what they did was take a 30 round mag spring and compress the coils together to take up the room in the bottom of the mag that would normally be filled by another 5 rounds. My E-landers have all worked well, but one of them arrived with a bent-in spot weld in the front right at the top, so that particular mag limits my OAL to a rather short 2.235sh. That one happens to be my only 17 rounder; my two tens, and my 4 24s all work like clockwork, with any round I feed them. I have two ASC mags, and one 6.8 PRI mag. None of them feed reliably. I heard that the PRI 6.8 Waffle mags work fine, but I have not found that to be the case with Hornady Black, Federal, or Starline brass reloads.
Of all the mags I have on hand, only the poly mags did not scratch or scrape new brass while feeding into the chamber. Some (the darn Stoner are by far the worst) worse than others. My ASC and Stoner mags look to be made at the same place, but the ASC are definitely more finished looking.
The E-landers are finished in a slightly glossy black powdercoat or paint which resists chipping, but is starting to wear at the edges; The Stoner mags have cheap black paint that is chipping off in big flakes; while the others are all parkerized or anodized. The ASC and Stoner mags would likely "wear in" and not scratch as badly but for me, because I have other options, I have not spent the time or effort to fix the issues. None of the mags scratched the brass bad enough to make me concerned about the life of the cases.
I have a feeling after hearing about LRPPF's visit to the Ammunition Storage Components booth at SHOT '18 that ASC has stepped up their game a little on the Grendel mags, giving them an AK like curve. I think this was a move Alexander thought helpful if I recall correctly. I hope this to be true, as better mags are a welcome note for Grendel owners.
My recommendation would fall with the E-lander 17 rounders. They are the right length for prone hi-cap shooting with a bipod, they are the better of the options quality wise, and they function well.
My two cents.
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