Buy or Pass on Korean Glock mags?

L

leadcounsel

Moderator
About to buy some more Glock mags, and looking specifically at the Gen 4 KCI Korean 30+ round mags for 9x19 and .40.

$10 each in bulk. Are they a buy or pass in your view?
 
If you're asking you already know your answer.;)

I usually stick with OEM mags on the pistol front(not AR guy and know they have a bunch of different mfrs there so not extending comment t that). As you said Glock that likely means you're anticipating some defense application potential. I'd doubly make sure you can get the best mags your can for pistols with that purpose in mind.

Don't skimp when you life depends on it.
 
I've heard from folks that if you buy the mags and replace the springs with Wolff springs of Glock springs they work fine.
 
Buy or Pass on Korean Glock mags?
About to buy some more Glock mags, and looking specifically at the Gen 4 KCI Korean 30+ round mags for 9x19 and .40.

$10 each in bulk. Are they a buy or pass in your view?
Click to expand...

Budget to replace the magazine spring, and possibly the baseplate. If I were you, I wouldn't depend on them.

Springs in the KCI are notably weak.

glockvskci2sm_zps7bbbd08e.jpg
 
I have around 20 of the 17 round Korean mags, and for the most part, they have been as good as my Glock factory mags. I use them for practice, and they get shot every week.

After a number of years of steady use, I did start to have some issues with some of them, and I replaced the springs in 10 of them with Wolff springs. Problems went away. I dont know how may cycles they had/have on them, but I shoot on average, around 300+ rounds a week out of the lot, so its a bunch. Cant say if the factory mags would have done better or not, as I dont have a baseline for them.

I also have a half dozen of the Korean 33 rounders, and three of the factory Glock 33 rounders.

About a month ago, I found a couple of the Korean 33 rounders in the safe that had been loaded for a couple of years and I had forgot about. They didnt fare well when I took them to the range. Lots of stoppages, and the followers seemed to be hanging up. When I first got them, I shot them a good bit, and they seemed to work fine. The ones that werent constantly loaded, still seem to be fine too. I replaced the springs and followers on the two that were having troubles with Glock parts, and they seem to be working OK again.

The three factory 33 rounders really havent been all that great either, and Ive had a number of occasional stoppages with them as well. The more I shoot them, the better they seem to be getting, but I still seem to get at least one stoppage from the three, and sometimes more, every time I take them along.
 
And now the question will be expanded to include the new Magpul G17 magazines. I haven't even used mine yet.

And I wait for the G21 Magpul mags so I can use one to speed load a Ruger Vaquero in .45 ACP. No metal feed lips to scratch my Ruger, you see. It does look a little strange on the firing line.

Bart Noir
 
As "Training mags" id say go for it

The fact they are 30 rounders tells me they are not for range use. Unless maybe for a 9mm AR that uses Glock pattern mags.

For "serious" use, id pay the extra and use Glock OEM sticks
 
My 17 round mags are ok for range use. My 33 round mags are complete garbage. I loaded up the mags the night before a range trip, the next day I had 100+ rounds of 9mm rolling around in the bag.
 
Glock OEM mags are already some of the most affordable in the market.


Just focus on buying quality, OEM Glock mags.


If you're he type of person that has to have 80-100 mags for a handgun, I can't help you. If you can get 40-50 OEM mags, don't you think it would be the smarter choice? Mag ownership isn't a contest here.


I have a bunch of the Korean 33 round Glock mags that I bought cheap. I never even opened them. I plan on selling them in the next panic at great profit.
 
The 17 and 19 Korean mags are still a deal for practice mags, even if you need to replace the springs down the road. They are basically 2 for 1, and they do work. You'd probably have to do the same for the factory mags anyway if youre shooting them as much.

I really woudnt have an issue using mine for anything serious, as they get run every week, and work as well as the factory mags.

With the 33 rounders, Glock or Korean, unless something gets better, all of a sudden like, Im not all that hot on using either for anything serious, and its not like I want them for practice, so they may just get sold off at some point. Neither of them are as reliable as the Korean 17 rounders.
 
I thought I was going to "save some money" on my first purchase of 33 round mags, and bought the Korean. They were all GARBAGE.
I replaced them with real Glock mags, at $45 each, and I trust the Glock mags. Never again will I buy anything but Glock for Glock.
 
KCI mags

I have four KCI mags. I bought them when they were selling for about $10 each. I have two G19 mags that I have used at the range extensively. I bought them just to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear on my factory mags. I wasn't expecting much when I bought them, but they have never had a hiccup in about 5,000 rounds over 5 years. That being said, they are still strictly for the range and never used for carry. I bought a couple of the 33 round mags as well, but I just stuck them back for a rainy day. You never know when they might be worth a lot more than $10. ;)
 
All my Glocks, I only buy factory Glock mags. You can always get used Glock mags for cheaper (maybe a few bucks more than KCI mags but with better quality and function).

Yg
 
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