The best AR-15 magazine
Quick answer: the Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3 (around $15) is the best AR-15 magazine for most people. Magpul lists it at 5 oz, with an anti-tilt follower, reinforced feed lips, an over-insertion stop and wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms, from the AR-15 and M4 to the HK416, SCAR MK16 and IWI Tavor; all 41 of its reviews on OpticsPlanet are five stars. If you want to see your round count, the GEN M3 Window (around $20) is the same magazine with MagLevel windows. On a budget, the GEN M2 MOE (around $15) does the job in a standard AR-15, but Magpul says it is not compatible with HK416 or SA80 rifles. If you need fewer rounds, see the 10- and 5-round picks: the Hexmag Series 2 (10 rounds in a full-size body), the fixed CompMag Gen 3 and the Duramag SS (5-round stainless steel).
Choosing an AR-15 magazine comes down to three things: whether it fits your rifle's magazine well, what capacity you need, and whether you want a window or a steel body. Every card names the exact model row we checked, including its capacity and colour. We read the maker's own page for Magpul, Hexmag and CompMag; we found no Duramag maker page, so the Duramag specifications are labelled as the retailer listing's. This page covers AR-15 pattern magazines (5.56x45mm, .223 Remington and, where the maker lists it, .300 Blackout); it has no AK magazine picks.
AR-15 magazines compared
| Magazine | Best for | Capacity | Body | Window | Weight | OpticsPlanet rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magpul PMAG 30 GEN M3 | Overall | 30 | Polymer | No | 5 oz | 5.0 (41) | around $15 |
| Magpul PMAG 30 GEN M3 Window | Round count | 30 | Polymer | Yes | 5 oz | 5.0 (60) | around $20 |
| Magpul PMAG 30 GEN M2 MOE | Budget, standard AR-15 | 30 | MOE polymer | No | 5 oz | 5.0 (62) | around $15 |
| Hexmag Series 2 | 10 rounds, full-size body | 10 | Polymer composite | No | 4.9 oz | 4.1 (105) | around $10 |
| CompMag Gen 3 | Fixed magazine | 10, fixed | Polymer | Round counter | Not listed | 4.6 (47) | around $60 |
| Duramag SS | 5 rounds, steel | 5 | Stainless steel | No | Not listed | 4.5 (31) | around $25 |
Magpul, Hexmag and CompMag figures are from each maker's own product page; Duramag figures are from the retailer listing. Ratings are OpticsPlanet's, shown with the number of reviews. Prices are bands for a single magazine; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks: 30-round AR-15 magazines
Best AR-15 magazine overall: Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3
30 round · polymer · 5.56x45mm / .223 Rem · 5 oz (Magpul) · STANAG 4179 compatibility · card: MAG557-BLK, Black, single magazine
around $15exact price on OpticsPlanet
The magazine to buy by the stack. Magpul lists the GEN M3 at 5 oz and 7.5 inches long, with a constant-curve interior, a self-lubricating anti-tilt follower, reinforced feed lips, an over-insertion stop and a crush-resistant polymer body, tested, in Magpul's words, "in extreme heat, cold, mud, and sand". Its real advantage over the older GEN M2 MOE is fit: Magpul lists wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms, naming the AR15, M4, M16, SCAR MK16/16S, HK416, MR556, M27 IAR and IWI Tavor, where the MOE is not compatible with the HK416 or SA80. Magpul also lists a National Stock Number for the black model. All 41 reviews on the listing are five stars. Reviewers praise reliable feeding; one notes the bolt holds open, and another finds it lighter and quieter than a metal magazine. The trade-offs are modest: there is no round-count window (that is the next pick), it costs a little more than the MOE, and Magpul lists it for 5.56 and .223 only.
Pros
- Wide STANAG 4179 compatibility, including HK416, SCAR MK16 and Tavor per Magpul
- Over-insertion stop and reinforced feed lips (Magpul)
- Paint-pen panels for marking loads, and a removable floorplate for cleaning
- All 41 reviews on the listing are five stars
Cons
- No window: you cannot see how many rounds are left
- Costs a little more than the GEN M2 MOE, which does the job in a standard AR-15
- Magpul lists it for 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington only, not .300 Blackout
- A smaller review record than the other two PMAGs here: 41 reviews on the listing
Best for: nearly every AR-15 owner, and anyone who also shoots a rifle on the GEN M3 compatibility list from Magpul, such as an HK416 or SCAR MK16. If you want to see your round count, pay a little more for the Window version.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Magpul Industries |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington (Magpul) |
| Body | Polymer |
| Platforms | AR15 / M4, HK416 / SA-80; wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms (Magpul) |
| Weight | 5 oz |
| Length | 7.5 in (max) |
| NSN | 1005-01-628-5106 (black, per Magpul) |
| Made in | USA (Magpul) |
| Spec source | Magpul's MAG557 product page; body material from the retailer spec table |
| Model on this card | MAG557-BLK, Black, single magazine (UPC 873750006178); the listing also sells 3 and 10 packs and OD Green, Medium Coyote Tan and Modified Coyote Brown |
“0 feed issues. This is a well established magazine.”
Zach, owner (IN) via OpticsPlanet
Best AR-15 magazine with a round-count window: Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3 Window
30 round · polymer · MagLevel windows · 5.56x45mm / .223 Rem · 5 oz (Magpul) · card: MAG556-BLK, Black, single magazine
around $20exact price on OpticsPlanet
The same GEN M3 magazine with windows. Magpul says the MagLevel windows, with a high-visibility indicator coil and clear markings, provide a continuous, accurate round count, and the retailer adds that the windows are on both sides and read from 1 to 30. Everything else matches the standard GEN M3 on Magpul's page: 5 oz, 7.5 inches, the over-insertion stop, reinforced feed lips and the same STANAG 4179 compatibility list, and Magpul lists an NSN for the black model. Reviewers bring up the window more than anything, and the most helpful review says "the amount marker on the window is accurate to how many rounds are left." Of 60 reviews, 58 are five stars and two are four stars. The costs are small but real: it costs a little more than the plain GEN M3, and two reviewers mention the lack of dust covers, one of them in a four-star review.
Pros
- MagLevel windows show a continuous round count (Magpul)
- Same STANAG 4179 compatibility and over-insertion stop as the standard GEN M3
- Magpul lists a National Stock Number for the black model
- 58 of 60 reviews are five stars, the other two four stars
Cons
- Costs a little more than the standard GEN M3 for the same magazine plus windows
- No dust cover: one owner writes "No dust covers but I highly recommend."
- Magpul lists it for 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington only
- The window adds nothing if you always reload before the magazine runs dry
Best for: anyone who wants to check the round count at a glance, on the range or for a home defense rifle. If you mark your magazines and never need to count, the standard GEN M3 is the same magazine for less.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Magpul Industries |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington (Magpul) |
| Body | Polymer with MagLevel windows on both sides |
| Platforms | AR15 / M4, HK416 / SA-80; wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms (Magpul) |
| Weight | 5 oz |
| Length | 7.5 in (max) |
| NSN | 1005-01-615-5169 (black, per Magpul) |
| Made in | USA (Magpul) |
| Spec source | Magpul's MAG556 product page; window detail from the retailer features |
| Model on this card | MAG556-BLK, Black, single magazine (UPC 873750007625); the listing also sells 3 and 10 packs and Medium Coyote Tan, Modified Coyote Brown and OD Green |
“the amount marker on the window is accurate to how many rounds are left.”
Gavdaddy, owner (WV) via OpticsPlanet
Best budget AR-15 magazine: Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M2 MOE
30 round · MOE polymer · 5.56x45mm / .223 Rem · 5 oz (Magpul) · AR15 / M4 only · card: MAG571-BLK (MPN MGMPI571BLK), Black, single magazine
around $15exact price on OpticsPlanet
The budget pick, and the least expensive 30-round magazine on this page. Magpul lists the GEN M2 MOE at the same 5 oz and 7.5 inches as the GEN M3, with a constant-curve interior, an anti-tilt follower, an impact and crush-resistant MOE polymer body, paint-pen panels and a removable floorplate, and the retailer lists an over-travel insertion stop and a stainless steel spring. For a standard AR-15 it is all most people need. The limit is compatibility: Magpul states it is "Not compatible with SA80 and HK416, or similar, platforms", so if you own one of those rifles, buy the GEN M3. One owner calls it the industry standard, many reviewers praise the price, and 61 of 62 reviews are five stars. The small complaints: one owner wishes it came with a dust cover for long-term storage, and another found it a "Somewhat tight fit in my lower but still not an issue."
Pros
- The least expensive 30-round magazine on this page
- Same 5 oz and 7.5 in as the GEN M3, made in the USA (Magpul)
- Anti-tilt follower, paint-pen panels and a removable floorplate
- 61 of 62 reviews are five stars
Cons
- Not compatible with SA80, HK416 or similar platforms (Magpul)
- No window
- No dust cover: one owner writes "Just with they had the dust covers for long term storage."
- One owner reports a "Somewhat tight fit" in their lower receiver
Best for: stocking up for a standard AR-15 or M4-pattern rifle on a budget. If you also run an HK416-style rifle, spend a little more on the GEN M3.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Magpul Industries |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington (Magpul) |
| Body | MOE polymer |
| Platforms | AR15 / M4; not compatible with SA80 and HK416, or similar, platforms (Magpul) |
| Weight | 5 oz |
| Length | 7.5 in (max) |
| Spring | Stainless steel (retailer features) |
| Made in | USA (Magpul) |
| Spec source | Magpul's MAG571 product page; spring and insertion stop from the retailer features |
| Model on this card | MGMPI571BLK, Black, single magazine (UPC 873750008264); the listing also sells 3 and 10 packs and a 100-magazine case |
“It's the industry standard for a reason.”
Jane, owner (OH) via OpticsPlanet
10- and 5-round AR-15 magazines
Some shooters need fewer than 30 rounds: because of a state or local capacity limit, for a hunting rule, or simply for shooting from a bench. Capacity rules differ by state and sometimes by city or county, and they change, so check your own state and local law before you buy; this page does not give legal advice. Each pick below solves a different version of the problem. The Hexmag keeps the full-size feel at 10 rounds, the CompMag is a fixed magazine that stays in the rifle, and the Duramag is a short 5-round steel magazine.
Best 10-round magazine in a full-size body: Hexmag Series 2 AR-15 10 Round
10 round in a standard-size body · polymer · 5.56 / .223 / .300 BLK (Hexmag) · 4.9 oz · card: HX1030-AR15S2-ODG, Olive Drab
around $10exact price on OpticsPlanet
A 10-round magazine that looks and handles like a 30. Hexmag says its patented True Riser System limits the capacity inside a standard-size body, designed to meet strict compliance regulations in specific regions of the United States. Hexmag lists it at 4.9 oz and 7.5 inches long, the same length Magpul gives the PMAG 30, in its POLYHEX2 composite, for 5.56, .223 and .300 Blackout, with a lifetime warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee, made in the USA. Every orderable row on this listing is 10 rounds. It has the most reviews on this page, 105, and the lowest rating, 4.1 out of 5, and the reason is mostly expectations: several reviewers bought it thinking it held 30, and the most helpful critical review admits "I just looked at the picture and thought I knew what I was seeing." The genuine faults are feeding complaints from some owners, two owners reporting feeding problems with .300 Blackout (other reviewers say it runs .300 Blackout fine), and a baseplate that Hexmag secures so the end user cannot take the magazine down.
Pros
- Full-size body keeps the feel and length of a 30-round magazine (Hexmag)
- Lifetime warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee (Hexmag)
- The most reviews on this page, 105, with 82 saying they would recommend it
- Several colours on the listing
Cons
- Easy to mistake for a 30-round magazine: several reviewers did
- Some owners report feeding problems; 23 of 105 reviews would not recommend it
- Baseplate secured to the body, so no takedown for cleaning (Hexmag)
- Hexmag lists .300 Blackout, but one owner writes "they jammed from the first round" with it
Best for: a rifle that must use a 10-round magazine but where you want the full-size feel. If a fixed magazine is what you need, look at the CompMag instead.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Hexmag |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 rounds, limited inside a standard-size body (True Riser System) |
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO, .223 Remington, .300 AAC Blackout (Hexmag) |
| Body | POLYHEX2 advanced composite |
| Weight | 4.9 oz |
| Size | 7.5 x 2.66 x 1.125 in |
| Baseplate | Secured to the body; no modification or takedown by the end user (Hexmag) |
| Warranty | Lifetime, plus 60-day money-back guarantee (Hexmag) |
| Made in | USA (Hexmag) |
| Spec source | Hexmag's Series 2 10-round product page |
| Model on this card | HX1030-AR15S2-ODG, Olive Drab (UPC 859922005644); FDE, Clear, Smoke, Carbon Fiber and Black rows are also 10 round, some at a higher price |
“It's not too tight and not too loose where you could load an 11th round.”
Kipp, owner (CA) via OpticsPlanet
Best fixed AR-15 magazine: CompMag AR-15 Gen 3, 10 Round
Fixed 10 round · polymer · round counter · 5.56 / .223 / .300 BLK / .277 Wolverine (CompMag) · card: 860005632239, Black
around $60exact price on OpticsPlanet
A different kind of magazine: a fixed one. CompMag describes a fixed magazine designed to be contained in or permanently attached to the firearm. It installs with no drilling or modification. For California and Rhode Island, CompMag's own instructions remove it by opening the action, taking off the lock cover and pushing it out with the included release tool; the method can differ by state, so follow CompMag's instructions for yours. The retailer says you reload it without breaking the action, and that it fully loads on a closed or open bolt. CompMag lists a round counter that includes the chambered round, a bolt hold open after the last shot, walls 150% to 300% thicker than most polymer magazines, a 17-7 stainless spring and a lifetime warranty, made in California. Reviewers praise how easy it is to install and remove; 35 of 47 reviews are five stars. The trade-offs are the ones you would expect: reloading is slow (one four-star owner writes "Just a lot slower to reload."), two reviewers call it bulky, and two two-star reviews report a sticking lever or double feeds. It costs far more than any detachable magazine on this page.
Pros
- Installs without drilling or modifying the rifle, and comes out with the included tool (CompMag)
- Round counter includes the chambered round; holds the bolt open on the last shot
- Reloads without breaking the action (retailer listing)
- Lifetime warranty (CompMag)
Cons
- Slow to reload compared with a detachable magazine
- Bulky: two reviewers list it as a con
- Two two-star reviews report a sticking lever or double feeds
- Costs far more than any detachable magazine on this page
Best for: owners who need a fixed magazine on an AR-15. One owner sums up its place: "This will do if you're only interested in practice and not having to reload in an emergency situation."
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | CompMag |
|---|---|
| Type | Fixed magazine; CompMag gives state-specific removal steps (release tool included) |
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Caliber | .223, 5.56, .300 Blackout and .277 Wolverine (CompMag) |
| Body | Polymer, walls 150% to 300% thicker than most polymer magazines (CompMag) |
| Spring | 17-7 stainless steel |
| Features | Round counter including the chamber, bolt hold open, steel charging handle |
| Warranty | Lifetime (CompMag) |
| Made in | California, USA (CompMag) |
| Weight | Not listed |
| Spec source | CompMag's AR-15 Gen 3 product page; loading details from the retailer features |
| Model on this card | 860005632239, Black, 10 round (UPC 860006532239), the listing's single orderable row |
“Does not require any modification of your firearm and can be removed in under a minute.”
Kyoung Lee, owner (CA) via OpticsPlanet
Best 5-round and steel magazine: Duramag SS AR-15 5 Round
5 round · 410 stainless steel · orange follower · 5.56 / .223 / .300 BLK (retailer) · card: 5X23041188CPD, black with orange follower
around $25exact price on OpticsPlanet
The short, steel option. The retailer lists this Duramag SS as a 5-round magazine in 410 stainless steel with a matte black finish and an orange follower, for 5.56x45mm, .223 Remington and .300 AAC Blackout. We could not find a Duramag maker page, so these are the retailer listing's specifications. A 5-round body sits close to the magazine well, which reviewers like for shooting off a bench and for hunting; one reviewer who names the 5-rounder writes it is "still very light, perfect for hunting or bench rest work." Several reviewers prefer the steel body to polymer, and 26 of 31 reviews on the listing are five stars. The trade-off is fit: the three one-star reviews all describe it seating or feeding badly, one calling it "Way too tight in any of my AR platforms". Note that the listing's review pool reaches back to 2017 and mixes in reviews that describe 10-round magazines or name C-Products Defense, so read the rating as the listing's, not only the 5-round version's. It is also the most expensive detachable magazine on this page.
Pros
- Short 5-round body, handy for bench shooting or hunting
- Stainless steel body instead of polymer (retailer listing)
- Lists 5.56, .223 and .300 Blackout
- 26 of 31 reviews on the listing are five stars (the pool includes older reviews of other capacities)
Cons
- Fit complaints: all three one-star reviews describe tight seating or feeding problems
- The most expensive detachable magazine on this page, for five rounds
- No maker page found; specifications are the retailer listing's
- One owner reports it would not feed .300 Ham'r
Best for: bench shooting, sighting in, and hunting where you want a short magazine; check your state's hunting rules for rifle magazine capacity. Test the fit in your lower before you rely on it.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Duramag |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO, .300 AAC Blackout, .223 Remington (retailer spec table) |
| Body | 410 stainless steel, matte black |
| Follower | Orange |
| Weight | Not listed by the retailer |
| Spec source | Retailer listing (no Duramag maker page found) |
| Model on this card | 5X23041188CPD, black with orange follower (UPC 766897410710), the listing's single orderable row |
“This 5 rounder is stainless steel and still very light, perfect for hunting or bench rest work.”
Lon, reviewer (OR) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose an AR-15 magazine
- Check the magazine well. A standard AR-15 takes all of these. For an HK416, SCAR or similar rifle, Magpul lists the GEN M3 models for wide STANAG 4179 compatibility and says the GEN M2 MOE is not compatible with SA80 and HK416, or similar, platforms.
- Pick the capacity you need. Thirty rounds is the standard. If you need 10 or 5, read the capacity on the exact model row: the Hexmag holds 10 in a 30-round-size body, and several reviewers missed that.
- Match the caliber. Magpul lists these PMAGs for 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington. Hexmag and CompMag also list .300 Blackout, as does the Duramag's retailer listing, but test before you rely on it.
- Decide on a window. The GEN M3 Window shows the round count through the body; the CompMag has a round counter. The others need a look or a count.
- Polymer or steel. The PMAGs and the Hexmag are polymer and light at around 5 oz. The Duramag is stainless steel, which some reviewers prefer, but its one-star reviews are all about fit and feeding.
- Test before you trust it. Load it fully, seat it, and fire it at the range before you count on it. Fit complaints on this page, from tight seating to feeding problems, vary by rifle.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's rifle magazine category sorted by most reviews and kept AR-15 pattern magazines. For each one we opened the full model list to find the new, orderable row each card links to (used and demo units set aside), noted the capacity and colour of that row, and read every review on the listing, including every low-star one. We checked specifications against the maker's own page for Magpul, Hexmag and CompMag; we found no Duramag maker page, so the Duramag card uses the retailer's listing and says so. Claims we found only in secondary research, such as military adoption histories and drop tests, were left out. Our scores are our opinion; ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best AR-15 magazine?
For most AR-15 owners, the Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3. Magpul lists it at 5 oz with an anti-tilt follower, reinforced feed lips and an over-insertion stop, and wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms, including the HK416, SCAR MK16 and IWI Tavor. All 41 of its reviews on OpticsPlanet are five stars. For a round-count window, the GEN M3 Window. On a budget, the GEN M2 MOE, if your rifle is a standard AR-15 or M4 pattern.
PMAG GEN M3 or GEN M2 MOE: what is the difference?
Both are 30-round polymer magazines that Magpul lists at 5 oz and 7.5 inches. The difference that matters is compatibility: Magpul lists the GEN M3 for the AR15 / M4 and the HK416 / SA-80, with wide compatibility with most STANAG 4179 platforms, while it states the GEN M2 MOE is not compatible with SA80 and HK416, or similar, platforms. In a standard AR-15 either works; the MOE costs less.
Do PMAGs work with .300 Blackout?
Magpul lists the three PMAGs on this page for 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington only. Some reviewers say they run them with .300 Blackout, but that is their experience, not Magpul's specification. On this page, Hexmag, Duramag and CompMag list .300 Blackout for their magazines, though two Hexmag owners report feeding problems with it while other reviewers report none.
What is a 10/30 magazine?
A 10-round magazine built in the body of a 30-round one. The Hexmag Series 2 on this page is one: Hexmag says its True Riser System limits the capacity inside a standard-size body, and it is 7.5 inches long, the same length Magpul gives the PMAG 30. Check the capacity before you buy, because several reviewers mistook it for a 30-round magazine.
Which magazine capacity is legal in my state?
Magazine capacity rules differ by state and sometimes by city or county, and they change, so check your own state and local law before you buy. This page does not give legal advice. The 10- and 5-round picks are here for readers who need a lower capacity, and the CompMag is a fixed magazine for rifles that need one; CompMag lists on its own page the states it markets it for.
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