Eric
28 January 2013, 21:02
Full capacity magazines for the AR15/M4/M16 are just about worth their weight in gold right now. Manufacturers are putting out product as fast as they can, but still not keeping up with consumer demand. The Mako Group has recently introduced a 30 round magazine with some impressive claims:
E-LANDER MAGS are high-performance durable steel magazines.
30 round steel magazines for AR-15/M16/M4 magazines.
Made in Israel for the Tavor, M16, and common sidearms, they were tested by special military forces
and anti-terror units. These magazines have proven to withstand severe combat conditions and requirements.
Backed by over six decades of experience the company has specialized in the manufacturing of precision-stamped metal parts and tools with an uncompromising commitment to quality and reliability. A wide range of the companys products are exported to worldwide customers.
High performance steel body - strong heavy-gauge steel
Tested by special military forces and anti-terror units
Fine resistance body coating, enduring up to 96 hours salt-spray test.
This exceeds the military salt-spray test requirements.
State-of-the-art anti-tilt self-leveling followers in several colors.
Improved reinforced floorplate.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2968.jpg
Since there wasn't much information available on these, I limited my purchase to 6 magazines, which came directly from Mako. The cost of about $19 each was more than what I had been paying for USGI, Magpul Pmags, Lancer AWM and D&H magazines. However, $19 was full MSPR and the other mags have an MSRP that is approaching this price-point as well. Keep in mind that most of us rarely pay MSRP, with street prices often being about 20% less. Many of the other mags are so far back-ordered that some vendors have inflated their prices to well over that of MSRP.
The finish and weight of the E-Lander magazines was somewhat reminiscent of the HK maritime magazines. Both are steel construction, but the HK mags are actually a bit heavier and cost substantially more. Just out of curiosity I threw a few magazines on the scale to get an idea how much of a weight difference there was between steel, aluminum and polymer mags. Are weights listed are for empty 30 round magazines.
HK: 8.8 ounces
E-Lander: 7.6 ounces
C Products Stainless: 5.8 ounces
Pmag (rev m w/o cover): 5.2 ounces
Lancer AWM: 4.4 ounces
D&H (Magpul follower): 4.0 ounces
USGI (Okay w/green follower): 3.8 ounces
E-Lander mags are cleanly constructed with uniform welds and lines. The finish is evenly applied and rather glossy, more so than what I would prefer to see. Disassembly is accomplished by removing the captured floorplate and insert, then pulling the spring. The insert and follower stay attached to the spring and there isn't any need for further disassembly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2974.jpg
The follower is an anti-tilt design which is very similar to the Magpul version. The spring is similar to USGI, but the bottom coil is configured to attach to the insert. I did swap the spring and followers between an E-Lander mag and a USGI mag and they appeared that they each would function, but no live fire testing was done.
The length of the E-Lander (top) mag appeared to be about the same as typical USGI as well as C Products Stainless Steel mags (middle), but the HK version (bottom) is a fraction of an inch longer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2996.jpg
Prior to hitting the range I test fit several of the E-lander magazines in a variety of rifles, which included Colt, Armalite, Stag and Bushmaster. The mags seated and dropped free okay when empty, but not when loaded. Loaded magazines, whether loaded to a full 30 rounds or downloaded to 28, were difficult to seat with the bolt forward. While this would be easy to dismiss as an anomaly specific to one magazine or one rifle, it was fairly consistent with a variety of combinations. Using a push/pull wasn't getting them seated and a solid slap on the bottom of the mag was required to get then magazine catch to engage and retain the magazine. This made doing tac loads just about impossible. Loading from an open bolt (bolt locked back) did not cause any issues.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2987.jpg
At the range I experienced no feeding issues once the mags were successfully seated. Quite frankly, I was disappointed in the seating issues with the E-Lander magazines. I had high hopes for them. These particular mags were stamped with a "14" and laser engraved with "M.D. 12/12" which I assume is a production date. A couple more unusual, but not critical observations were made. When loaded with 6 or more rounds, there is something that rattles inside the mag. Also, unloading live rounds manually from the mag was unusually difficult.
My preference would have been to get more range time with the E-Lander magazines prior to sharing this information, but I figured this was a good starting point and I'll be sure to include an updates as more rounds are put downrange.
I tried to make a video to demonstrate the issue of getting the mag to lock in place on a closed bolt. I only had the point-n-shoot camera handy and poor lighting, but you get the idea. Each of the mags were loaded with 30 rounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HbTMkmE3GU&feature=youtu.be
E-LANDER MAGS are high-performance durable steel magazines.
30 round steel magazines for AR-15/M16/M4 magazines.
Made in Israel for the Tavor, M16, and common sidearms, they were tested by special military forces
and anti-terror units. These magazines have proven to withstand severe combat conditions and requirements.
Backed by over six decades of experience the company has specialized in the manufacturing of precision-stamped metal parts and tools with an uncompromising commitment to quality and reliability. A wide range of the companys products are exported to worldwide customers.
High performance steel body - strong heavy-gauge steel
Tested by special military forces and anti-terror units
Fine resistance body coating, enduring up to 96 hours salt-spray test.
This exceeds the military salt-spray test requirements.
State-of-the-art anti-tilt self-leveling followers in several colors.
Improved reinforced floorplate.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2968.jpg
Since there wasn't much information available on these, I limited my purchase to 6 magazines, which came directly from Mako. The cost of about $19 each was more than what I had been paying for USGI, Magpul Pmags, Lancer AWM and D&H magazines. However, $19 was full MSPR and the other mags have an MSRP that is approaching this price-point as well. Keep in mind that most of us rarely pay MSRP, with street prices often being about 20% less. Many of the other mags are so far back-ordered that some vendors have inflated their prices to well over that of MSRP.
The finish and weight of the E-Lander magazines was somewhat reminiscent of the HK maritime magazines. Both are steel construction, but the HK mags are actually a bit heavier and cost substantially more. Just out of curiosity I threw a few magazines on the scale to get an idea how much of a weight difference there was between steel, aluminum and polymer mags. Are weights listed are for empty 30 round magazines.
HK: 8.8 ounces
E-Lander: 7.6 ounces
C Products Stainless: 5.8 ounces
Pmag (rev m w/o cover): 5.2 ounces
Lancer AWM: 4.4 ounces
D&H (Magpul follower): 4.0 ounces
USGI (Okay w/green follower): 3.8 ounces
E-Lander mags are cleanly constructed with uniform welds and lines. The finish is evenly applied and rather glossy, more so than what I would prefer to see. Disassembly is accomplished by removing the captured floorplate and insert, then pulling the spring. The insert and follower stay attached to the spring and there isn't any need for further disassembly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2974.jpg
The follower is an anti-tilt design which is very similar to the Magpul version. The spring is similar to USGI, but the bottom coil is configured to attach to the insert. I did swap the spring and followers between an E-Lander mag and a USGI mag and they appeared that they each would function, but no live fire testing was done.
The length of the E-Lander (top) mag appeared to be about the same as typical USGI as well as C Products Stainless Steel mags (middle), but the HK version (bottom) is a fraction of an inch longer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2996.jpg
Prior to hitting the range I test fit several of the E-lander magazines in a variety of rifles, which included Colt, Armalite, Stag and Bushmaster. The mags seated and dropped free okay when empty, but not when loaded. Loaded magazines, whether loaded to a full 30 rounds or downloaded to 28, were difficult to seat with the bolt forward. While this would be easy to dismiss as an anomaly specific to one magazine or one rifle, it was fairly consistent with a variety of combinations. Using a push/pull wasn't getting them seated and a solid slap on the bottom of the mag was required to get then magazine catch to engage and retain the magazine. This made doing tac loads just about impossible. Loading from an open bolt (bolt locked back) did not cause any issues.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Magazines/IMG_2987.jpg
At the range I experienced no feeding issues once the mags were successfully seated. Quite frankly, I was disappointed in the seating issues with the E-Lander magazines. I had high hopes for them. These particular mags were stamped with a "14" and laser engraved with "M.D. 12/12" which I assume is a production date. A couple more unusual, but not critical observations were made. When loaded with 6 or more rounds, there is something that rattles inside the mag. Also, unloading live rounds manually from the mag was unusually difficult.
My preference would have been to get more range time with the E-Lander magazines prior to sharing this information, but I figured this was a good starting point and I'll be sure to include an updates as more rounds are put downrange.
I tried to make a video to demonstrate the issue of getting the mag to lock in place on a closed bolt. I only had the point-n-shoot camera handy and poor lighting, but you get the idea. Each of the mags were loaded with 30 rounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HbTMkmE3GU&feature=youtu.be