New: CPD/Duramag 20 round 6.5 Grendel mag review.

[VASCAR2]

I received two new CPD/Duramag twenty round 6.5 Grendel magazines today. The fit and finish look very good. I like the matte finish and the magazines loaded easily. Both magazines held twenty Wolf steel case 100 grain FMJ ammo. The magazines fit and ejected from a couple of my lowers without issue.

Here are the two magazines and were shipped in the plastic package.



Here is a picture of a CPD/Duramag 20 round mag next to a E-Lander 17 round mag.



This picture shows the 20 round CPD/Duramag sitting on the E-L 17 round mag. The overall size is comparable to the E-L. I tend to prefer the matte finish on the CPD/D mags.

[VASCAR2]

For size comparison here is a 17 round mag with a 20 round 5.56/223 mag next to the CPD/D 20 round mag.




This picture shows the E-L 17 round mag, curved body 20 round 5.56/223 mag next to a 20 round CPD/D.



This photo shows the 17 round E-L mag setting on the 20 round CPD/D to show difference in profile. The CPD/D is lighter and feels more like a traditional aluminum 5.56/223 mag. The E-Lander mags use a heavier gauge stainless steel and are significantly heavier than the CPD/D stainless steel mag.



For comparison 17 round E-L next to early 15 round C Products mag next to the 20 round CPD/D.

[VASCAR2]

This photo is of a 17 round E-Lander next to a 10 round ASC next to 20 round CPD/D.



This is my PSA 12” Nitride 6.5 Grendel pistol with 17 round E-Lander mag in the well.



Same PSA pistol with 20 round CPD/D in well.




I just stepped out the back door and fired 20 rounds of Wolf FMJ steel case ammo at my 50 yard target. It was raining so not much of a test but all 20 rounds fed and ejected perfectly. The mag ejected from the well easily and this appears to be a great mag. I like the size, weight and appearance of this mag. I purchased these two mags from Aim Surplus for $18.95 each with free shipping. PA had the same CPD/D for $31 in stock. I think this will prove to be a popular mag for the 6.5 Grendel and 6 MM ARC. I hope CPD/D can keep their production quality high and get fewer lemons.

[A5BLASTER]

Thanks for the review sir. Well written.

I been saying for a good bit the CPD/ Duramag's are the best of the metal grendel mags. Their 10 and 26 round mags have been nearly 100% flawless for me except for one or two I had to tweak a feed lip on.

[VASCAR2]

I have been waiting on C P Defense/Duramag to release a mid capacity magazine. Looks like they have a solid design. I just hope they can make them in quantity and keep up their quality. I just compared the stamped alignment ridges between the E-Lander 17 round mag and the 20 round CPD/D 20 round mag. The placement and depth appear to be the same in both brands of magazine.

I don’t think this is a CPD/D 7.62x39 body with a 6.5 Grendel follower. I think this new CPD/D 20 rounder is a 6.5 Grendel specific magazine. My gut feeling is this new magazine will function with the 6 MM ARC.

[VASCAR2]

I decided to add three more pictures. The first picture is an ASC 25 round mag next to a 20 round CPD/Duramag.



This picture is a CPD/D 20 round mag sitting on a 25 round ASC mag.



Last picture is PSA 6.5 Grendel pistol 12” Nitride barrel with 20 round CPD/D in the well.

[Old Bob]

I have 3 C Product Defense (CPD) 20 round 6.5 Grendel mags that I bought some time ago (don't remember when or from whom - can't find receipts might have been last January). I think they're stainless steel but their bodies are magnetic. They will hold 20 rounds but that last round is a tight squeeze. I believe the bodies are nitrited. They're definitely not painted like my Stoner 6.5 mags. They look a little different than the current CPD 20 rounders. On my mags the middle guide rib is wider & deeper for about the first 2 inches or so. I've had no issues with these mags. All 3 feed & function well.

VASCAR2... I can't see the followers in your photos. Is the hump on the left or right side? Mine are on the left... looking from the back of the mag. Also, do your mags have part or serial numbers stamped on them? I can see some stampings on the 20 rounders that I can't quite make out. Mine have what looks like laser engraving: CPD 6.5 Grendel (Painted over).

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[A5BLASTER]

I have 3 C Product Defense (CPD) 20 round 6.5 Grendel mags that I bought some time ago (don't remember when or from whom - can't find receipts might have been last January). I think they're stainless steel but their bodies are magnetic. They will hold 20 rounds but that last round is a tight squeeze. I believe the bodies are nitrited. They're definitely not painted like my Stoner 6.5 mags. They look a little different than the current CPD 20 rounders. On my mags the middle guide rib is wider & deeper for about the first 2 inches or so. I've had no issues with these mags. All 3 feed & function well.

VASCAR2... I can't see the followers in your photos. Is the hump on the left or right side? Mine are on the left... looking from the back of the mag. Also, do your mags have part or serial numbers stamped on them? I can see some stampings on the 20 rounders that I can't quite make out. Mine have what looks like laser engraving: CPD 6.5 Grendel (Painted over).

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That's strange CPD said they have never made a 20 round grendel mag before now.

Are your mags stamped grendel anywheres? Wondering if someone passed off some 7.62x39 20 round mags as grendel mags.

[Old Bob]

That's strange CPD said they have never made a 20 round grendel mag before now.

Are your mags stamped grendel anywheres? Wondering if someone passed off some 7.62x39 20 round mags as grendel mags.

You can't see it in my pics because I painted over it (Duracoated). It looks like CPD's logo followed by "CPD 6.5 Grendel" is laser engraved on the mags. I tried to remove the duracoat on one mag but nothing I have is aggressive/strong enough to remove it. I don't have any acetone. Attached is a screen shot of the logo from the Duramag website. It's the same as the one on my mags.

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I wish I could remember where I got them. I'd say they have made 20 round mags before but maybe sold them as 17/18 rounders. :confused:

[VASCAR2]

I remember when CPD introduced the curved 26 round 6.5 Grendel magazine and they did offer a 20 round curved magazine. After the first batch of curved 20 round mags the mag was discontinued.

The new CPD/Duramag 20 round mag does have A different follower design where the first cartridge loaded is on the right side (ejection port side). On most 5.56/223 mags the first cartridge is loaded into the left side (non ejection port side). On a full 30 round 5.56/223 mag the top even number cartridge will be on the right side. A quick way to tell if you’ve loaded 31 cartridges is if the top cartridge is on the left, non ejection port side of the magazine.

On the CPD/D the even number cartridges will be on the left, just the opposite of my other 6.5 Grendel mags. Here is a picture of the follower.



Here is a picture of the of the floor plate of the twenty round mag.



Here is a picture of the right side markings on the mag.



Here is a picture of the left side markings.

[VASCAR2]

The identifying stamped markings are exactly the same on both magazines so there doesn’t appear to be unique individual serial numbers. Here is a picture of Wolf 100 grain FMJ steel cased ammo in the mag. This mag is fully loaded with twenty cartridges and you can see there is sufficient clearance for the length of the Wolf Cartridge. The CPD/D mag will accept a longer cartridge overall length than the E-Lander mags. As mentioned before the CPD/D mags are stainless steel.

[VASCAR2]

Here is a picture of a seventeen round E-Lander mag fully loaded with Wolf 100 grain FMJ steel cased ammo.

[FRB6.5]

Thanks for all the comparison pics VASCAR2! I need to try some of these out.

[VASCAR2]

Someone on ARF.com was curious about using the 20 round CPD/D mags from the bench. I posted these pictures of my rifle setting with a Harris bipod. Oh well what is a few more pictures.

I tried to get pictures with the 20 round CPD/D mag in the well of my 18” 6.5 Grendel. It is to late in the day to get decent lighting. This is the best I could get.



Here is a picture of my 16” 6.5 Grendel taken on a different day with a 17 round E-Lander in the well. The 20 round CPD/D and 17 round E-Lander work well for me shooting off the bench or from a bipod. That is a Harris Bipod in the picture with both rifles.

[VASCAR2]

Here is a picture of the 18” 6.5 Grendel with a 24 round E-Lander mag in the well. The Harris bipod is at the same height but the rifle is resting on the mag and the pistol grip is not touching the step.

[Old Bob]

I remember when CPD introduced the curved 26 round 6.5 Grendel magazine and they did offer a 20 round curved magazine. After the first batch of curved 20 round mags the mag was discontinued.

The new CPD/Duramag 20 round mag does have A different follower design where the first cartridge loaded is on the right side (ejection port side). On most 5.56/223 mags the first cartridge is loaded into the left side (non ejection port side). On a full 30 round 5.56/223 mag the top even number cartridge will be on the right side. A quick way to tell if you’ve loaded 31 cartridges is if the top cartridge is on the left, non ejection port side of the magazine.

On the CPD/D the even number cartridges will be on the left, just the opposite of my other 6.5 Grendel mags. Here is a picture of the follower.



Here is a picture of the of the floor plate of the twenty round mag.



Here is a picture of the right side markings on the mag.



Here is a picture of the left side markings.

Yup, the first round goes into the right side of the mag on my CPDs as well. Since I already have functioning CPD 20 rounders I ordered two 26 rounders & one 5 rounder at Joe Bobs.

[Croak]

I have ten of the 20 rounders on order from Aim Surplus, needed something a bit shorter for range days and with now 5k+ rounds of Wolf stocked up, it's nice to have a place to park more of that ready to go.

Should be set for mags for awhile, since I have 4 Amend2 10rd and 17 of the 24rd E-Landers. I bought 8 of the E-Lander mags from Midway, and then keep throwing one or two extras into my cart at Brownells if I need to hit an amount that triggers a coupon code or bigger coupon code, so those were basically "free".

[RobertFL]

I bought two of the Duramag 26 round and a 20 round mag. I loaded all 3 and with no problems. After 3 weeks of them sitting fully loaded I got to shoot the 20 round mag. I only shot 8 rounds but had no problems, no need to adjust or polish feed lips. I did not get to try the 26 round mags, it was about 100 degrees and 100% humidity. Earlier I was mowing my trails at the Club and the 100 yard shooting range so I was in no shape for serious shooting.. However the 12 inch GM 1/7.5 monster barrel shot the Gunner ammo nicely at 50 yards and 100 yards. The Duramags like my other CPD 5 and 10 round 6.5 Grendel mags seem to be just fine.

[maximus83]

Thanks for the for the review Vascar2, nice pics contrasting the mags. I ordered a batch of 10rd and 20rd Duramags.

Question for those who have used both. How do the Duramags stack up against the new Amend2 mags? I haven't gotten any Amend2 yet, glad they're working on polymer mags, not 100% convinced those are dialed in from what I'm reading on this forum.

[VASCAR2]

For the size I decided not to buy the Amend2 since they are ten round mags. I have enough ten round 6.5 Grendel mags and like the mid size 17 round E-L and 20 round CPD-D best. I just don’t do as much shooting where I need the 24 + round mag. I still have several 24 round mags and carry 24 round mags with my truck gun. I think the 24 + round mags are better for defense, CQB drills or run & gun matches.