If you are new to the AR-15 kingdom, you may be wondering why there are so many options in magazine capacity. From 5-round to 60-round, there are a lot. If you get into drums, they hold even more. 30-round AR-15 mags are by far the most popular and probably the best magazine for overall size compared to capacity. But if 30-round mags are the cool kid on the block, why all the others? Who wants a 10-round mag when you could have a 30?
There is a purpose for each one of these mags, and some have more benefits than others. Sometimes I wonder why we need so many options for one rifle. But after all, this is America; the place where people are only happy if they have options. We want more options than a Mcdonald’s Dollar Menu or we think the world is ending. So, options we have.
In this article, we won’t get into the quality of brands. Instead, we will look more at the capacity and what, if any, value they have.
5-round mags
It may seem strange to have a 5-round magazine for a battle rifle. I mean, why even make them? The best answer is hunting. Many states have magazine capacity limits for shotguns and rifles. For rifles, 5-round mags are the most common. Having a magazine that allows you to use your AR-15 for hunting is worth the cost of the mag. The 5-round mag and a quick-release red dot allow you to mount a scope in minutes. And just like that, you have a hunting rifle. Because AR-15s are so versatile, they make great multi-purpose guns.
10-round mags
We looked at 5-round mags, so what on earth are 10-round mags for? These are also used for hunting and long-range shooting. In this case, though, it’s not because of hunting laws. People often use 10-round mags because they need the clearance space when shooting close to the ground and a 20 or 30-round mag sticks out of the gun too far. If you are trying to shoot prone, you need the clearance the shorter mag gives you.
Another reason for 10-round mags, unfortunately, is for states that have magazine capacity restrictions. California and New York limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. In California, the magazine must be a “fixed” mag, meaning the magazine cannot be removed from the gun without taking the upper receiver off.
20-Round mags
20-round AR-15 mags are not as popular today, but most people don’t know they were the original magazines when the M16 was being passed out by the thousands in the 1960s. During the Vietnam war, 20-round mags were standard issue. Back then, this was considered high capacity for most rifles. While they are not as popular as they used to be, many still like the 20-round mags because of their length. If you want a compact rifle with a short mag that will not catch on things, a 20-round mag is a great option. I have a few of these that I keep in my rifles when storing them.
30-round mags
This is the standard issue magazine for the military and the mag that most people use. 30-round AR-15 mags are the perfect size for a rifle. It’s not too long and still holds plenty of ammo. Because this is what most people use, there are more options for 30-round mags than any other including metal, polymer, see-through, and more. Most mag carriers for vests and belts are designed for 30-round mags.
While I use some lower and higher capacity mags, 30-round mags are what I use the most. One of my favorite 30-round AR-15 mags are the Lancer see-through mags. They come in a variety of colors, or you can get them in clear or black. Lancer gives you the best of both worlds by placing metal feed lips over a polymer mag.
40-round mags
There are several companies making 40-round mags that are the same thickness as 30-round mags, but longer. I personally don’t like these mags and don’t see the point unless you just really like Rambo mags. They are so long that there is not much room for maneuverability. They are also hard to carry unless you just throw them in a bag. But they do hold 10 more rounds so if you like that look, go for it.
60-round mags
This is just personal preference, but the 60-round ATI mags are among my favorite AF-15 mags when it comes to high-capacity. This is because of the overall size compared to capacity. The ATI mag is 10 inches long, which is the same length as 40-round mags. It is thicker, but I don’t mind the extra thickness for 20 more rounds of ammunition.
Drums
Drums are a type of magazine, but instead of the box-style mag, they are round (like a drum). They work by holding the ammo in a spiral pattern and usually hold 50-60 rounds. There are good and bad things about drums. If you want high-capacity without a longer mag, the drum can work when shooting prone or using a bi-bod attached to the barrel. The bad thing about drums is they are too bulky to carry in any type of mag holder. I can fit the 60-round box mags (ATI) in a regular mag holder on my vest. Because of this, I like to use drums as the primary mag in certain rifles and then switch to box mags when the drum is empty.
Final thoughts on AR mags
I’m not sure you could add any more AR-15 mags to the long list we already have. I’m sure someone will come up with something else someday. But until then, we still have a lot to choose from. Short mags are great for hunting and make the rifle compact when needed. Standard 30-round mags are a perfect all-around size for daily use and loading up on a vest carrier. And when you want to send a lot of ammo down range, the 40 and 60-round mags will get the job done. If you want options for mags, you won’t find a better variety than with the AR-15 rifle.
