10-round Mini-14 Mags

S

Skorzeny

New member
I recently purchased a couple of 10-round mags for my Mini-14 from CDNN.

The quality of manufacture seems to be quite high (even better than PMI). The sale person told me that they were "Masen" or "Forrest" and that they are very high quality.

While I have not tested the magazines for reliable feeding, they unfortunately do not appear to lockback the bolt when empty. When pushed from the bottom and held with some pressure, they do, but NOT when simply inserted and the bolt pulled back.

Should I return these OR see if they feed 100% and, if so, keep them? Did anyone else have a similar problem with these mags?

In a related story, I have some 20-round and 30-round mags (including PMI) that will not activate the bolt hold-open device. So, when I insert them into the rifle and pull the bolt back, the bolt will stay locked, only because it is caught by the follower. As soon as I release the magazines, the bolt slams shut.

Anyone else have this problem, too?

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
What you describe sound like "John Masen" Mags. I have a few and none of them will lock back. They also have a habit of "bolt-over". Like you mentioned, if you push up on the bottom they work perfect but I consider that a defect.

The only good thing I can say about them is that the mag body itself seem to be well made and it looks good.

I am strictly a PMI guy now. They are ugly mags but the function flawlessly.

GOOD LUCK

[This message has been edited by FireForged (edited September 02, 2000).]
 
FireForged:

Thanks for the information. Did your Masen mags feed 100% (meaning, was the failure to lock back the only defect)?

BTW, what do you think about my PMIs having this particular problem of failing to activate the bolt hold-open device? Have you or anyone else ever experienced this problem with PMIs?

Thanks again!

Skorzeny


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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
The Masen Mags would sometimes cause a bolt over. Meaning that the bolt would pass right over the bullet and not chamber. This happened in all the Masen Mags that I have tried.

I have NEVER had a PMI Mag cause any type of problem in my Mini. I have ordered several and have tested them all. If your PMI Mag is giving you a problem, I would bet that it is some unusual defect.

Check out www.realammo.com for new PMI Mags $25.00

[This message has been edited by FireForged (edited September 03, 2000).]
 
Actually, I got two of my PMI's from the company you recommended. One worked fine (only tested 30 rounds), but the other one mis-fed and failed to activate the bolt hold-open device.

The company promptly replaced the defective one with a new one. Unfortunately, this one fails to activate the bolt hold-open device as well (only the follwer keeps the bolt open). I do not know how it feeds. I will have to test it out. I am wondering whether I should just return it now OR check it out to see if it feeds and functions okay otherwise.

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
The problem you describe is typical of Masen mags. Had four and two did this. The problem is with the projection at the back of the follower that activates the bolt hold open lever in the rifle. If you measure the length of that projection and compare with a factory Ruger mag, you will find the projection on the Masen mag shorter. I have informed Masen of this problem and apparently the company does not care about fixing it.
 
Well, well... I tried some of these mags at the range today.

The 10-round Masens I bought from CDNN were all junk! They couldn't even feed the first round of each magazine! Simply awful! I hope that CDNN takes them back and exchanges them for some other merchandise.

The 30-round PMI mag from RealAmmo.com also did not feed occassionally. This was a replacement for an earlier defective one. Hopefully, the company will take a return yet again and give me another replacement PMI (or a refund as I am getting rather tired of trying Mini-14 mags of various kinds).

I am going to try my best to buy a Romanian SAR-1 AK clone this weekend. High quality, fully reliable 30-round magazines at $10 a pop! Can't wait...

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
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