I’ve noticed the little section of dots towards the bottom on both sides of some of my PMAG® magazines, but never thought about why they are there. Turns out Magpul started molding these in Gen M3™ product starting around 2014. They provide a handy 4 digits on each side so you can dot matrix up to 8 characters to label your Magpul magazines. Just fill in the dots with a fine point sharpie of a contrasting color! I think I am going to put my initials on one side and sequential numbers on the other. That way I can easily identify my magazines at the range and make note of any one that malfunctions.
I’m sure many of you are hand-slapping your forehead thinking everybody already knows this, but maybe I can help some of the slower ones in the herd, like me!
Since I started this I feel justified to take it off-topic
I have also been pondering the differences between 5.56/.223 and 300BLK magazines. My internet searching has lead me to conclude the 300BLK magazine becomes critical when using the larger/heavier subsonic 300BLK bullets. However, looking at vendor marketing photos they look idenical to me other than exterior labeling. So, I dug deeper and snipped some photos and you know what? It’s apparent it is not just marketing:
I have highlighted in red the differences I see in the follower and case designs. I have purchased, but not tested some subsonic loads. I am convinced I am going to get some 300BLK magazines now.
For full transparency, I had a surgery on my right hand in May and now a surgery on my left shoulder 2 days ago. I am in no condition to be testing anything right now, but bored to tears and trying to at least keep my brain active
None of them look like a “G” to me. #2 is the Magpul recommended design. Stand alone, #4 looks the best to me. Combined with the block “C” and “H” #1 kinda goes with the flow.
Based on 2 votes for #1, #1 is the winner. Sorry @Karacal, lower receiver is an American made PSA, $29.99
There is a little more wiggle room for the bullet in the 300BLK magazine. These are 150 grain 300BLK cartridges in the photo (my shoulder not strong enough to pull out the 300 BLK suppressed ammo yet).
Think I will also color code the “PMAG” logo on the Gen M2 (white) and Gen M3 (green) dust covers so I can keep them straight - yes I do use the dust covers
I actually slide them a bit higher on the magazine than when I took this photo.
I am just toying with the more permanent labeling idea. The 300 BLK magazines will have numbers starting with 30 for 30 caliber, and the 5.56mm numbers will start with 22 for their caliber. That leaves me with 2 digits, or 100 unique serial numbers for each if I start at 00. I.E. 3000-3099, and 2200-2299. I don’t anticipate owning more than 100 of each.
I bought white and green finger nail polish and tried applying with a toothpick. It was a disaster! I tried some Red sharpies I have in fine and ultra fine tips. The ultra fine tip worked best, but the red really doesn’t show up very well. I have ordered a couple of white ultra fine point and will try them when they get here.
I accidentally smeared the 1st two numbers flipping them over before they were dry. I also learned it was better to just touch the square rather than trying to fill it in perfectly. The two smears don’t look as bad in person, so all in all I am pretty happy with the results.
