thats good to note. Glad my being poor paid off for once. lolI like Gen 2s better personally. Gen 3 has that hump on the back near the midline that sometimes makes seating them a tad more difficult. I have a few that I don't trust to use for anything other training because they consistently bump up against the bottom of the mag well. And I'm not talking about Anderson lowers or some other cheap brand. I have had issues seating them in my BCM and Spikes Tactical lower receivers.
Yes, there is an important difference. The Gen 3's are engineered to resolve the angle or height of the M855A1 cartridge (just like Big Army's EPM mag). You need the projectile on the 855A1 (tungsten) to clear the barrel extension so it does not eat an M4. Big difference IF you have access to 855A1.Just realized most of the mags I bought are the gen 2. I went ahead and grabbed some gen 3, and a few with the window. Is there a huge different with the two gens? I know the newest is more durable etc. But real life exp, is it worth it to get more gen 3?
How do you readily tell the differerence between generations? Illustration?
The third gen is thicker at the bottom. It also has a dot matrix at the bottom. Some use this to label different mags.How do you readily tell the differerence between generations? Illustration?
Yes, there is an important difference. The Gen 3's are engineered to resolve the angle or height of the M855A1 cartridge (just like Big Army's EPM mag). You need the projectile on the 855A1 (tungsten) to clear the barrel extension so it does not eat an M4. Big difference IF you have access to 855A1.
"Freeman, I only shoot what I can find in gun stores."
Cool, buy those Gen 2 mags and stack them deep. I have both. I only have a dozen or some Gen 3s just in case I run across M855A1 some day.
While a steel tip would also be rough on the barrel extension, a quick search indicates the 855A1 has a steel tip and no tungsten in it.... You need the projectile on the 855A1 (tungsten) to clear the barrel extension so it does not eat an M4. Big difference IF you have access to 855A1...
Truer today as more steel is used because of the expense of tungsten, but the M855A1 was originally developed with tungsten core.While a steel tip would also be rough on the barrel extension, a quick search indicates the 855A1 has a steel tip and no tungsten in it.
"Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855LF Lead Free [Green tip]: 62-grain bullet with a steel penetrator tip over a tungsten-composite core in a full copper jacket. Primarily used during training in countries with strict lead disposal laws.
Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round [unpainted steel penetrator tip] (2010–Present): 62-grain bullet w/ a 19-grain steel penetrator tip over a copper alloy core in a partial copper jacket.[95]"