melted polymer ar mags? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

rogerxd45 · 11-02-2007, 12:10 PM

ok so one of the sales people at cabelas told me that the polymer mags for the ar15 melt quite often
he said that even if you slow fire (1 round every couple of seconds) that mag feed lips will melt.
now i have had some people at cabelas say some REALLy stupid stuff to me and i dont ask them questions anymore. all i did was ask if they carry any polymer mags and he said "you dont want that"
well anyways have you guys ever seen this first hand from a gun that isnt full auto. i can see how it could happen from a full auto gun but with normal use it just doesnt seem right.

f0cker · 11-02-2007, 12:33 PM

I just spit lemonade all over my keyboard. P-Mags don't melt like that. You'd need to do a LOT of mag dumps to get it hot enough to melt them. As in I'd be more worried about warping the barrel than my mags.

Ajcrash · 11-02-2007, 12:36 PM

I guess it would depend on the brand you got.

http://www.ttellc.net/pmag.htm
"After talking with a former Navy Seal, and private contractor, the point of heat was brought up. More precisely, the mags resistance to the heat. It was pointed out that many times in Iraq, Kuwait, heck even Arizona, gear is left in a Humvee, often times for hours, where the temperatures inside the vehicle can easily reach 140F. The metal USGI mags don’t have a problem with the heat, but the pmags are made of plastic, and plastic would obviously have a lower failure point. I just don’t know where that is. So with that in mind, I commandeered the kitchen and decided to do some cooking with the Pmag. Two hours at 200F should be enough right? I mean surely if it is going to fail, it will do it at this time. I don’t even think it’s possible for the inside temperature of a car to reach 200F, but that’s beside the point. The Pmag held up to the heat. No warping, no melting, no deformation, no problems. At this point I was hungry, so I put the mag back in the oven and baked some cookies at the same time. Again, with the same results, the Pmags stood up to the heat."

If I remember correctly you get a lifetime warranty with Magpul Products, so I wouldn't be overly concerned.

Apdl · 11-02-2007, 12:37 PM

BS
Why on earth would an engineer allow for a material that will fail that easily
IGNORANCE I bet he thinks polymer framed guns will do the same

bigun · 11-02-2007, 12:59 PM

I have used Orlites in the past and now Pmags I intentionally did a 3 mag dump, bump firing as fast as I could with my old Bushmaster Dissy with the last mag used being a Orlite, no problem, no melting, lots of white smoke rolling out of the handgaurd and the barrel was white and ashy looking. I'm convinced. The Pmags are head and shoulders above the orlites. If you are talking about the old Eagle industries mags that supposedly fit either AR's or Mini 14's I can believe they would melt as I've seen a couple of them self destruct.

Badshot · 11-02-2007, 01:02 PM

I know the Orlite one's had fragility issues (poly mix not being correct causing them to be prone to cracking if dropped or slammed to hard) but Pmags don't have that issue. They're basically the same thing MagPul makes their stocks and such out of.

**agalindo** · 11-02-2007, 01:11 PM

I have a bunch of Israeli surplus Orlite mags and have never had issues with them.

Apdl · 11-02-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badshot

I know the Orlite one's had fragility issues (poly mix not being correct causing them to be prone to cracking if dropped or slammed to hard) but Pmags don't have that issue. They're basically the same thing MagPul makes their stocks and such out of.

that proves just the oppsite of the melting issue
if they are brittle then they are way way way below Tg (glass transition temperature)

Bidah · 11-02-2007, 03:23 PM

I believe that at one time there was a bad batch of Thermolds that would melt a bit with extended full auto firing.

I have used the Orlites for years, and not had a problem with heat. Extreme cold is another story though.

bigun · 11-02-2007, 03:39 PM

I'm going to be doing a bit of testing with the Pmags and my Armalite mid length this winter as I have heard rumours that the midlength is less reliable in cold climates than a standard carbine length action, something I dont believe but will put to the test anyway just to improve my confidence in the weapon and mags.

11-02-2007, 12:10 PM	#1
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	melted polymer ar mags? ok so one of the sales people at cabelas told me that the polymer mags for the ar15 melt quite often he said that even if you slow fire (1 round every couple of seconds) that mag feed lips will melt. now i have had some people at cabelas say some REALLy stupid stuff to me and i dont ask them questions anymore. all i did was ask if they carry any polymer mags and he said "you dont want that" well anyways have you guys ever seen this first hand from a gun that isnt full auto. i can see how it could happen from a full auto gun but with normal use it just doesnt seem right.

11-02-2007, 12:36 PM	#3
Ajcrash XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,216	I guess it would depend on the brand you got. http://www.ttellc.net/pmag.htm "After talking with a former Navy Seal, and private contractor, the point of heat was brought up. More precisely, the mags resistance to the heat. It was pointed out that many times in Iraq, Kuwait, heck even Arizona, gear is left in a Humvee, often times for hours, where the temperatures inside the vehicle can easily reach 140F. The metal USGI mags don’t have a problem with the heat, but the pmags are made of plastic, and plastic would obviously have a lower failure point. I just don’t know where that is. So with that in mind, I commandeered the kitchen and decided to do some cooking with the Pmag. Two hours at 200F should be enough right? I mean surely if it is going to fail, it will do it at this time. I don’t even think it’s possible for the inside temperature of a car to reach 200F, but that’s beside the point. The Pmag held up to the heat. No warping, no melting, no deformation, no problems. At this point I was hungry, so I put the mag back in the oven and baked some cookies at the same time. Again, with the same results, the Pmags stood up to the heat." If I remember correctly you get a lifetime warranty with Magpul Products, so I wouldn't be overly concerned. __________________ "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945

11-02-2007, 12:37 PM	#4
Apdl XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Burnsville, MN Posts: 2,354	BS Why on earth would an engineer allow for a material that will fail that easily IGNORANCE I bet he thinks polymer framed guns will do the same __________________ "He took off running, and we caught him, and he just kept resisting. So we just kept whipping his ass." -HulkXD "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -Albert Einstein If you are not part of the solution you are part of the precipitate Springfield XD-9 TOTAL COUNT 8206 Daily Carry Springfield 1911 Loaded Target 9mm Walther P22... needs bigger mag Ruger 10/22 Carbine Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308 Win EBR Build in progress

11-02-2007, 12:59 PM	#5
bigun XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 2,692	I have used Orlites in the past and now Pmags I intentionally did a 3 mag dump, bump firing as fast as I could with my old Bushmaster Dissy with the last mag used being a Orlite, no problem, no melting, lots of white smoke rolling out of the handgaurd and the barrel was white and ashy looking. I'm convinced. The Pmags are head and shoulders above the orlites. If you are talking about the old Eagle industries mags that supposedly fit either AR's or Mini 14's I can believe they would melt as I've seen a couple of them self destruct. __________________ Springfield Loaded Stainless,Kimber Pro CDP 2, Kimber Custom Target, Beretta 92D Centurions x2, 92FS, SIG 229 SAS, CZ75, and several other weapons that give Liberals nightmares.

11-02-2007, 01:02 PM	#6
Badshot XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,433	I know the Orlite one's had fragility issues (poly mix not being correct causing them to be prone to cracking if dropped or slammed to hard) but Pmags don't have that issue. They're basically the same thing MagPul makes their stocks and such out of. __________________ --------------------- Stupidity should should be painful! On AR15's: Learn to use your Iron Sights before you go adding all that extra crap on your gun!

11-02-2007, 12:33 PM	#2
f0cker XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 109	I just spit lemonade all over my keyboard. P-Mags don't melt like that. You'd need to do a LOT of mag dumps to get it hot enough to melt them. As in I'd be more worried about warping the barrel than my mags.

11-02-2007, 03:23 PM	#9
Bidah XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Isolated, Montana Posts: 690	I believe that at one time there was a bad batch of Thermolds that would melt a bit with extended full auto firing. I have used the Orlites for years, and not had a problem with heat. Extreme cold is another story though. __________________ -Bidah “The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views...which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.” The Doctor

11-02-2007, 03:39 PM	#10
bigun XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 2,692	I'm going to be doing a bit of testing with the Pmags and my Armalite mid length this winter as I have heard rumours that the midlength is less reliable in cold climates than a standard carbine length action, something I dont believe but will put to the test anyway just to improve my confidence in the weapon and mags. __________________ Springfield Loaded Stainless,Kimber Pro CDP 2, Kimber Custom Target, Beretta 92D Centurions x2, 92FS, SIG 229 SAS, CZ75, and several other weapons that give Liberals nightmares.

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