AR15.Com Archives
 Korean HK-style steel mags any good?
LJM  [Member]
3/11/2012 12:52:50 PM
What's the story on these Korean made HK-style maritime steel mags? Are they any better or worse than USGI style aluminum mags and worth the hassle of ordering? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

35mm_Shooter  [Team Member]
3/11/2012 1:03:41 PM
Many would not hold open the bolt on the last round, but otherwise they were good. Welds are very nice on them.
Krinkplinker  [Member]
3/11/2012 5:31:30 PM
ironically enough, they are better than the real HK mags for the most part. But like all of the Korean glock mags I tested, the springs tend to be on the weak side. Just replace the springs, and they should all run 100% for you.
SC-Texas  [Team Member]
3/11/2012 10:26:49 PM
Where do you get replacement springs.
Krink  [Member]
3/12/2012 12:16:38 AM
anyone still have these new in the bag?
WholeBunches  [Member]
3/12/2012 9:58:27 AM
I like the one I got so much that I bought 2 more. Got mine from Copes, but it's been a couple of years ago.
corigan  [Member]
3/12/2012 1:56:08 PM
After 5 years 4 of the 10 real H&K mags I was issued have been discarded do to feed lip issues, so make of that what you will.
CosaviK  [Member]
3/13/2012 6:15:01 AM
I've got a couple that have seen mild to moderate use ( because I rotate my range mags) and have never had a problem. I really like the mags and plan on ordering more at done point. Also I would not worry about changing the springs they are stronger than the real HK from what I have read. But I do not own any real HK so I cannot say from personal experience.
runner6m  [Team Member]
3/13/2012 2:22:52 PM
I bought a bunch from Botach when they were selling them for $6. Most are still in the wrapper.
The ones I took out have been fine with 5.56, easy to load and they feed just fine. The overall construction seems tough and durable, though I wish the followers were anti tilt.

I heard the HK mags worked great with 5.45, but when I tested this Korean version I had a lot of issues with the follower nose diving and jamming up the magazine.

The bags they come in are decent too, it looks like just cheap paper but it's stronger than it looks and has a waterproof liner on the inside.
Epyon  [Team Member]
3/17/2012 4:19:17 PM
Originally Posted By LJM:
What's the story on these Korean made HK-style maritime steel mags? Are they any better or worse than USGI style aluminum mags and worth the hassle of ordering? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

http://www.robertrtg.com/images/maritimear15mag.jpg


I'm pretty sure the company that makes these mags also makes the M1 carbine mags, Glock mags, and other mags coming from Korea. I've owned several of each (except the Glock mags) and all have worked well.


KofGC  [Member]
3/17/2012 7:08:43 PM
The springs in the Korean AR15 mags are stronger/longer than HK's spring. The metal in the Korean mag is also harder than the metal used in the HK mags...I know this first hand. All their mags are good designs, but as someone has mentioned, the springs are the weak link with some of them. Of all the things to skimp on....a 5 cent spring...makes no sense.
mc556  [Member]
3/17/2012 7:40:29 PM
Who still has these I have 10 or so still in the package I wouldn't mind having some more
TnHawk-45  [Member]
3/18/2012 11:07:07 AM
Originally Posted By mc556:
Who still has these I have 10 or so still in the package I wouldn't mind having some more


+1
JoeyIsaacs  [Team Member]
3/18/2012 12:38:12 PM
Tag for source
mc556  [Member]
3/18/2012 6:35:44 PM
I couldn't find any I am thinking about selling mine as I really need some more 20rd mags
It seems like the last I saw that these were going for about 15each if anyone is interested I'll do the 8 I have that are new for 105 shipped. I'm not going to list them on the EE because I don't really care if I sell them but If you all really want them here they are. BTW it's 8 or none I'm not going to split and ship all over the place. I will trade for Pmag's though..
runner6m  [Team Member]
3/19/2012 10:22:56 AM
Originally Posted By mc556:
Who still has these I have 10 or so still in the package I wouldn't mind having some more


Botach seems to still have them. It's where I ordered mine from and they were great. Botach has gotten better about removing the ability to add item to your cart if they're not available, so these should be in stock.
Price has gone up a bit but they still come in at just under $10 with free shipping and no tax.
Botach Korean HK clones


Originally Posted By mc556:
It seems like the last I saw that these were going for about 15each

mc556  [Member]
3/20/2012 11:14:05 PM
Originally Posted By runner6m:
Originally Posted By mc556:
Who still has these I have 10 or so still in the package I wouldn't mind having some more


Botach seems to still have them. It's where I ordered mine from and they were great. Botach has gotten better about removing the ability to add item to your cart if they're not available, so these should be in stock.
Price has gone up a bit but they still come in at just under $10 with free shipping and no tax.
Botach Korean HK clones


Originally Posted By mc556:
It seems like the last I saw that these were going for about 15each



No need to roll your eyes I did a few searches and I only found one place that came up that had them at $15. I only put it up in case someone wanted some ( as there was interest on this thread) and at 13 bucks a piece shipped it wasn't like I was trying to get rich just wanted some more 20rd pmags. which happen to be about 13 bucks. Ironically I had just ordered some pmags from botach and didn't see the HK mags listed( wasn't really looking though)


runner6m  [Team Member]
3/21/2012 9:29:10 AM
Originally Posted By mc556:
Originally Posted By runner6m:
Originally Posted By mc556:
Who still has these I have 10 or so still in the package I wouldn't mind having some more


Botach seems to still have them. It's where I ordered mine from and they were great. Botach has gotten better about removing the ability to add item to your cart if they're not available, so these should be in stock.
Price has gone up a bit but they still come in at just under $10 with free shipping and no tax.
Botach Korean HK clones


Originally Posted By mc556:
It seems like the last I saw that these were going for about 15each



No need to roll your eyes I did a few searches and I only found one place that came up that had them at $15. I only put it up in case someone wanted some ( as there was interest on this thread) and at 13 bucks a piece shipped it wasn't like I was trying to get rich just wanted some more 20rd pmags. which happen to be about 13 bucks. Ironically I had just ordered some pmags from botach and didn't see the HK mags listed( wasn't really looking though)




The "roll your eyes" smiley looks like this:
The crazy eyes were meant to convey that some retailer is nuts, trying to sell them for $15.
LJM  [Member]
3/21/2012 6:15:14 PM
Guys,

Look here, the source of the pic, and the whole reason I was asking in the first place:

$14.95

RTG
cgoff  [Member]
3/22/2012 9:25:37 AM
I have a few of these but can comment on cosmetics only. They appear very well built and the finish is immaculate. They feel heavy in a way that conveys sturdiness.

That said some research on other discussion forums shows few people trust them due to their location of manufacture. What would be good is if someone could run these through a class or two and report back with concrete evidence (instead of opinion) that they hold up to their HK counterpart.
Rocketfish  [Member]
3/23/2012 8:31:17 PM
the tab on the rear of the follower that actuates the bolt catch on an empty mag is too short. They would barely engage my boltcatch in my AR but I did not like how close it was - just barely enough contact. I could envision the follower tab passing the bolt catch and then having the catch getting stuck underneath the metal follower, causing the empty mag to be stuck in the magwell.

hell with them mags
Big-Bore  [Team Member]
3/24/2012 12:52:37 PM
I bought two from CDNN when everyone was saying how they were identical to the 'over priced' HK mags (which I have a lot of and have never had a lick of trouble out of them). So I drank the cool-aid and bought a couple, WTF, two were only $20. Total garbage. Even after switching followers to activate the bolt hold open the mags would jam if more than 5 rounds were put into them, and that is just loading them, not shooting them. Total waste of money IMO.
Two mags that do not work is not a bargain over one mag that cost $35 and does work.
KofGC  [Member]
3/25/2012 10:48:53 PM
Originally Posted By Rocketfish:
the tab on the rear of the follower that actuates the bolt catch on an empty mag is too short. They would barely engage my boltcatch in my AR but I did not like how close it was - just barely enough contact. I could envision the follower tab passing the bolt catch and then having the catch getting stuck underneath the metal follower, causing the empty mag to be stuck in the magwell.

hell with them mags


It's not the tab that is short, the whole follower is short by about .020. The Korean follower....2.370(Tab...0.100) The HK follower....2.390(Tab...0.100)

With that said, I have never had a problem with any of my Korean 5.56 mags or with the 10 I've modified to shoot 5.45 to feed the cartridges and hold the bolt open when empty.

***ALSO***
You need to have the bolt carrier riding over the empty magazine in the rearward direction to simulate the tab making contact with the bolt hold open lever. When you do this, you will see that the tab on the follower engages the hold open lever by a good 1/16 on an inch....It's not an issue to worry about.



LJM  [Member]
3/26/2012 12:12:22 PM
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I took a chance and ordered 2 from Botach for $9.95 each with free shipping, and if they don't perform I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. They arrived in the mail a few days ago and although I have not had a chance to run them on the range yet, here are my observations so far:

1. The steel construction does convey a feeling of "heft", but not overly so.
2. They seat and drop free in both my PWA and Olympic lowers. I have an older, known to be out of spec Oly lower, and it will not seat any polymer mags and even some spec GI aluminum mags. If these mags run well in this gun alone I'll be happy.
3. The finish and construction of the mags appears first rate. I'm not going to trash them because of pre-conceived prejudices of the county in which they are made. They are certainly not as flimsy and throw-away as the older steel USA mags. Made in the USA does not always equal quality, just as made abroad doesn't equal garbage, IMO.
4. Only live fire, "real world use" (aka competition for me) will tell if they are worth the steel out of which they are stamped.