[2-1-1] Early Designs
-------
The original AR-15 magazines were made by ArmaLite, the company responsible for the design of the AR-10 and AR-15 rifles, among others. They were aluminum, 20-round magazines and had waffle-pattern ridges, though later examples had only the vertical ridges. These mags are very rare, and are generally collectors' items. Floorplates were stamped:

ArmaLite(r) AR-15
Patents Pending
CAL. 223
COLT'S PT.F.A.MFG.CO.INC.
HARTFORD, CONN.U.S.A.

[2-1-2] Colt
-------
All Colt-marked magazines were actually made by a sub contracter, Universal Industries, a division of Okay Industries. GI-Contract Colt 20s had alloy followers and are marked with a "UI" stamp (for Universal Industries) on the front narrow wall of the magazine. Tilted on it's side, the "UI" becomes a "CH" (Colt, Hartford). The US Military switched to 30-round magazines in the early 1970s, and Colt-marked 20s made after the switch had black plastic followers. Anodizing is generally gray or silver in color.

[2-1-2-1] Colt .223
---------
Early US Air Force contract magazines. Early runs had shiny alloy followers; later runs were dull alloy. Made from 1965-1967. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) COLT AR-15
CAL. .223
COLT'S PT.F.A.MFG. CO.INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-2-2] Colt 5.56mm
---------
Army and late Air Force contract Colt mags with 5.56 stamping. These have dull alloy followers. Note that there are no dimensional differences between mags marked .223 vs. 5.56. Made from 1969-1971. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) COLT AR-15
CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S PT.F.A. MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-2-3] Colt Commercial 5.56mm
---------
Colt sold mags made for the commercial market with standard USGI mag bodies and black plastic followers. Generally, the black plastic followers are considered less reliable than the Mil-Spec alloy followers. Made from 1980-1989. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S FIREARMS DIVISION
COLT INDUSTRIES
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-2-3-1] Colt Nickel-Plated 20s
-----------
Colt had a small number of 20-round mags finished with in nickel, for sale with a limited run of nickel-plated SP-1s in the late 70's. These mags are rare, and are among the few mags desirable by collectors regardless of condition. Note: some people have confused silver or gray anodized mags with no finish remaining for nickel-plated mags. Nickel-plated mags are noticeably brighter and smoother.

[2-1-2-3-2] Colt .222
-----------
Colt had a run of mags made with floorplates marked CAL .222 designed to be shipped with rifles chambered in .222 Remington. These rifles were for export to countries where civilians are barred from owning guns in military calibers. They are dimensionally the same as standard .223 mags.

[2-1-2-3-3] Colt 7.62X39mm
-----------
Several lots of mags have been made for Colt's 7.62mmx39mm AR-15 rifles. These are standard 20-round .223 bodies with a floorplate marked 7.62x39mm. They will hold 7-8 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. Made from 1980s-1994. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) CAL. 7.62 X 39
COLT'S MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-2-3-4] Colt 5-Round Mags
-----------
Colt had a small number of 5-round magazines made for hunting in states where magazine capacities are limited to 5 rounds. This was done by taking a standard 20-Round magazine and adding an upside-down U-shaped insert to prevent the follower from traveling far enough into the magazine to allow more than 5 rounds to be inserted. As these magazines are legal pre-ban mags, many people remove the insert. These mags, in 5-round format, are favored among hunters as the spring pressure is the same as a standard 20-round mag. Made from 1974-1994. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S FIREARMS DIVISION
COLT INDUSTRIES
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-2-4] Colt LEO 5.56MM
-----------
These mags were made after the 1994 Crime Bill banned the manufacture of over-10-round-capacity magazines for civilian sales. These mags are marked Law Enforcement/Military Use Only. USGI-type mag bodies with black plastic followers. Made from 1994-present. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-1-3] Adventure Line Manufacturing Company
-----------
Army and late Air Force contract mags made by Adventure Line Mfg. Co. Adventure Line was eventually aquired by Center Industries. Dull alloy followers and gold/bronze colored anodizing. Made from 1966-1971. Floorplates stamped:

ADVENTURE LINE MFG. CO.
PARSONS. KS. U.S.A.

[2-1-4] Simmonds Precision Products Incorporated
-------
Army and late Air Force contract mags made by Simmonds. Dull alloy followers and gold/bronze colored anodizing. (Simmonds was a division of Okay/Universal Industries). Made from 1966-1971. Floorplates stamped:

(S Logo) M16/M16A1 CAL 5.56 mm
UNIVERSAL INDS. DIV
SIMMONDS PREC. PROD. INC.
WEST HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-2] 30 Round Magazines
-------
USGI 30 round magazines are aluminum-bodied and have black or green plastic followers. The body of the magazine is straight on the top 2/5, then curved forward for the next 2/5, and straight again on the last 1/5. Like the 20s, 30-round mags are hard anodized and moly dry-film coated.

[2-2-1] Colt 30-Round Mags
-------

[2-2-1-1] Early Colt 30-round Mags
---------
Army and late Air Force contract mags. The first Colt 30-round mags had dark green, hard-plastic followers with Colt part number 62665A stamped in white on the follower and part number 62667 stamped on the side of the body. These followers did *not* have the lengthened front "anti-tilt" leg that later green followers have. These mags are rare and collectable, though considered unreliable by some. Made from 1967-1969. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) COLT AR-15
CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A

[2-2-1-2] Colt 30-Round USGI Contract & Commercial Mags
---------
Made by Okay Industries, these mags had black plastic followers up until the early 1990's when the "anti-tilt" green follower was made Mil-Spec, though commercial mags continued to use up the supply of black followers for some time. Made from 1972-1994. Floorplates stamped:

[1970's Production]

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S FIREARMS DIVISION
COLT INDUSTRIES
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[Recent Production]

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-2-1-3] Colt LEO/Military 30-Round Mags
---------
After the passing of the 1994 Crime Bill, all high-capacity magazines were marked "For LEO/Military/Gov't/Export Use Only" and are illegal to possess for most. Standard USGI-type mag body and green followers. Made from 1994-present. Floorplates stamped:

(Pony) CAL. 5.56 MM
COLT'S MFG. CO. INC.
HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-2-2] Okay Industries 30-Round Mags
-------
Okay Industries is a current US Military contractor, and is the subcontractor that manufactures all Colt-marked AR-15 magazines. They also sell magazines under their own name, identical except for the floorplate stamping. Early mags had black plastic followers; mags made since 1992 had green "anti-tilt" followers. Made from late 1970s-present. Floorplates stamped:

(Okay Logo) INDUSTRIES, INC.
NEW BRITAIN, CONN. U.S.A.

[2-2-3] Center Industries
-------
Center Industries is a current US Military contractor. Parsons and Adventure Line were aquired by Center. Center is one of the largest manufacturers of M16/AR15 magazines, and recently (1999) received a new GI contract for 10 million mags over several years. Early mags had black followers; mags made since 1992-3 have green "anti-tilt" followers. Made from 1980s-present.

*WARNING* Center Industries is not marking its post-ban magazines with the required "FOR LEO/MILITARY/ GOV'T/EXPORT USE ONLY" verbiage. All Center mags since the late 1980s have the date (in 12/99 format) and Center's CAGE code (6P199) stamped on the side of the mag body. It seems that some individuals have ground the date stamp off of some post-ban magazines and refinished the area. These magazines are being sold at gun shows to unsuspecting folks as pre-ban mags. Possession of these post-ban magazines by non-approved folks can result in a felony charge.

Floorplates stamped:

CENTER INDUSTRIES CORP.
WICHITA, KS. U.S.A.

[2-2-4] Adventure Line Manufacturing Company
-------
Adventure Line was one of the early magazine contractors, making both 20 and 30-round magazines. Adventure Line was aquired by Parsons, and eventually by Center. Adventure Line mags had gold-colored anodizing, black followers, and have especially long-lasting moly finish. Made from late 1960s-early 1970s. Floorplates stamped:

ADVENTURE LINE MFG. CO.
PARSONS, KS. U.S.A.

[2-2-5] Parsons Precision Products
-------
Parsons bought out Adventure Line, and was eventually aquired by Center Industries. Parsons mags all had black followers. Made from early 1970s-early 1980s. Floorplates stamped:

PARSONS PRECISION PRODUCTS
PARSONS, KS. U.S.A.

[2-2-6] Cooper Industries
-------
Cooper Industries is well-known as the only M16 mag contractor to lose its contract. There had been reports of problems with Cooper mags in the field, and an investigation uncovered that Cooper had mixed "reject" mags in with those that passed inspection. Some Cooper mags were found to have only 3 spot-welds per seam, instead of the usual 6-7. Others were oversize and wouldn't fit into mag wells, or had the mag halves welded together unevenly, causing feed problems. Although the majority of Cooper mags were fully in spec, the US Army recalled all Cooper mags. Always examine any Cooper mag for fit and welds before buying, preferably in your own lower. Because of the stigma surrounding Cooper mags, you can often find them at bargain prices. As long as you know what to look for, they can actually be a bargin. Made from mid 1970s-mid 1980s. Floorplates stamped:

COOPER INDUSTRIES
UPLAND, CA (r) 786
MFG. CODE 030389

[2-2-7] Sanchez Enterprises
-------
Sanchez magazines have aquired a wholy undeserved reputation as being bad mags. It began when it was discovered that Sanchez magazines exhibited a higher-than-normal rate of failure when feeding the last few rounds in a magazine, particularly during full-auto fire. An investigation found that Sanchez magazines were in-spec, and no explanation was ever given for the increase in the failure rate. Instead, the problem was corrected with the new green "anti-tilt" followers. The Green Followers (GFs) were first seen in Sanchez magazines in 1988, and became standard issue for all M16 magazines in 1992. Sanchez mags should be considered on par with any USGI-spec mag. Made from early 1980s-early 1990s. Floorplates stamped:

(DSI) SANCHEZ ENT.
MANSFIELD, OH USA

[2-2-8] Labelle Industries
---------
La Belle is best known as the only manufacturer to have offered magazines finished in teflon (in place of the moly dry-film) from the factory. However, the majority of La Belle mags were for USGI contracts, and had the standard moly finish. In early 1994, just before the Crime Bill was passed, La Belle made several lots of mags finished in black or gray teflon for sale to civilians and LEOs. AR15 manufacturers Bushmaster and DPMS were the largest distributors of these mags, though several other companies also offered these teflon mags with their own floorplate stampings. Teflon La Belle mags are widely considered the best of the USGI 30-rounders. La Belle was bought by General Stamping in 1995. Made from late 1980s-mid 1990s. Floorplates stamped:

LA BELLE IND.
OCONOMOWOC, WI. U.S.A.
MFG 90435

[2-2-8-1] Bushmaster Firearms Incorporated
---------
Bushmaster sold gray teflon Labelle mags with black Bushmaster floorplates until their supply of these pre-ban mags ran out in late 1998. The last of the mags had unmarked black floorplates. It appears that Bushmaster is making their 2nd Generation 10-round magazines from cut-down, post-ban teflon Labelle mags. Made in 1994. Floorplates stamped:

B.F.I.
WINDHAM, ME (Snake)
U.S.A.

[2-2-8-2] Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services (DPMS)
---------
DPMS sold black teflon Labelle mags with DPMS floorplates until they ran out in late 1998. Made in 1994. Floorplates stamped:

DEFENSE PROCUREMENT
MANUFACTURING SERVICES, INC
OSSEO, MN 55369

[2-2-8-3] Armalite Incorporated
---------
Not the original Costa Mesa, CA ArmaLite; this is the company formerly known as AR15 manufacturer Eagle Arms and currently located in Genesco, Il. Armalite supplied teflon La Belle pre-ban 30-round mags with Armalite rifles. Made in 1994. Floorplates stamped:

(Lyon)
ArmaLite

[2-2-8-4] Eagle Arms Incorporated
----------
Eagle Arms is now Armalite, but still makes a bargin line of AR15 rifles under the Eagle Arms name. La Belle-made Eagle Arms magazines were supplied with pre-ban Eagle Arms rifles. Made in 1994. Floorplates stamped:

EAGLE
ARMS
INCORPORATED

[2-2-9] General Stamping
----------
General Stamping bought out La Belle, and made USGI contract 30-round mags for the military. All General Stamping mags are post-ban, and restricted to military, LEO, and export use only. Made from 1996-present. Floorplates stamped:

GENERAL STAMPING
OCONOMOWOC, WI. USA
RESTRICTED LAW ENFORCEMENT
GOVERNMENT USE ONLY

[2-2-10] Fabrique Nationale (FN)
--------
FN is the current contractor of the M16A2, A3, and A4, as well as the M249 SAW, all of which use M16 magazines. FN also makes steel M16-type magazines for their competing rifle called the FNC. Made from late 1980s-present. Floorplates stamped:

FN MFG. INC.
COLUMBIA, SC
MFG. CODE
3S679

[2-2-11] Diemaco
--------
Diemaco is a Canadian company that makes AR magazines for the Canadian military's M16's, called C7s and C7As. As these magazines are not made in the US, they are not required to have date stamps on them, but nearly all of these magazines are post-ban. The Canadian military was still using locally-produced Thermold magazines around the time of the 1994 Crime Bill. Floorplates stamped:

DIEMACO
MAGAZINE, 5.56MM
30 ROUNDS
P/N:07465C NBOM: 20085

[3] Aftermarket Magazines
--------

[3-1] Metal Magazines
--------
The majority of metal aftermarket magazines (Sterlings excepted)are very substandard, using cheap springs, flat floorplates, and black plastic followers. The mag bodies are often dimensionally out-of-spec, being too large to fit in the AR mag well, or will be assembled with one half higher than the other, resulting in the feed lip on one side being too high or low. The feed lips aren't connected to the rear of the mag body like USGI mags are, making the feed lips weak. These mags are either made from steel and are quite heavy, or made from aluminum stock that is about half the thickness of USGI mags. The "finish" on these mags is black paint applied directly onto the mag body. These mags are known for their feeding problems, short life spans, and poor workmanship. However, they cost less than real USGI mags and are widely available, which is enough to attract many buyers at least once. Recently, the prices on these magazines has risen to near-USGI levels, giving further reason to avoid buying the aftermarket magazines at all.

[3-1-1] Sterling
-------
Sterling one of several companies who manufactured a version of the ArmaLite AR18. They also made a semi-auto version called the AR180. These rifles share few parts with the AR-15 series, but the magazine design is very similar. The differences are the mag catch hole, which on the AR18/AR180 is a thin slot on the opposite side of the mag, and the follower design, which has a lower shelf for the bolt hold-open. Many of these magazines also had standard AR15 mag catch holes, and work in AR15s. Sterling mags are steel, and were available in 20, 30, and 40-round capacities. They are the only 40-round magazines available that used high-quality springs and mag bodies, and are highly sought after. For dedicated use in an AR15, the follower should be replaced with an anti-tilt green follower. In addition to aiding the feeding of the rounds, this will also allow the follower to trip the bolt hold-open on an AR15. Sterling magazines were last made in the early 70's. Floorplates stamped:

By
STERLING England

[3-1-2] USA
-------
USA Magazines is the largest and most well-known aftermarket AR15 magazine manufacturer, though they make many other types of magazines as well. USA made 30 round magazines with both steel and aluminum bodies, and also made steel 40 round mags. These mags have no floorplate markings, and have round drain holes in the sides of the mag body on the top and bottom end of the mag.

USA magazines are often misleadingly advertised as "USGI" mags, especially the aluminum-bodied mags. These are quite possibly the worst AR mags on the market, and should be avoided. No brand markings.

[3-1-3] Triple K
-------
Triple K mags

[3-1-4] Western Metal Products
-------
Western Metal Products

[3-1-5] ProMag
-------
ProMag is a well-known handgun magazine manufacturer who also made steel 20-round AR mags. These are some of the few aftermarket 20s that are of the straight-body design. The most common problem with these mags is being too large to fit in the mag body. As long as they fit, they seem to feed and function pretty well. No brand markings.

[3-1-6] Millet
-------
There is some speculation that Millet magazines are simply repackaged USA magazines, as there doesn't seem to be any evidence that Millet existed as a company before the 1994 ban. The magazines themselves seem to be identical, and the packaging is even similar.
Avoid these mags. No brand markings.

[3-2] Plastic/Nylon/Polymer Magazines
-------
Quiet
No finish
Bulky

[3-2-1] Orlite
-------
Orlite magazines were developed for the Israeli Armed Forces. The bodies are made from high-melt-temp black nylon with a steel reinforement mesh imbedded in the top 1.5 inches to strengthen the feed lips. New Orlites come with a rubber cap to help keep sand out of the mag. Orlites have a rib around the middle of the mag which helps to seal the bottom of the mag well and also prevents the magazine from being over-inserted and the feed lips damaged. The location of the rib was based on the deep mag well beveling on Colt M16s, and in ARs that aren't beveled as deeply, early Orlites won't seat completely. This is easily correctable by trimming a bit of material from the top surface of the over-insertion rib; just enough to allow the mag to seat. This problem only occurs with early Orlites with mold numbers from 0/1 to 0/19. Starting with batch 0/20, the rib was moved about 1/32" further down the mag body, and these later mags work in all ARs with no modification. Used Orlites are often found at gun shows with their over-insertion ribs completely ground off. Avoid these mags, as it's too easy for these mags to be over-inserted, banging the feedlips against the bolt or getting stuck. Orlites are quite reliable, and were general issue in the Israeli Army through the 80s, but it was found that they don't hold up to hard combat use as well as USGI mags, which Israel switched to in the 90s.

[3-2-2] Thermold
-------
Thermold magazines were developed by Master Molder in Wilson, South Carolina, and were "pitched" to the US military as a replacement to aluminum "USGI" mags, but the US military was unable to come to an agreement with the owner. Master Molder then licensed the design to the Canadian military, who manufactured a version of the Thermold 30-rounder as the standard-issue magazine for their military. Thermold magazines are made from a dark gray polymer and have anti-tilt followers. They have several reinforcement ribs across the lower half of the mag body.

[3-2-2-1] USA Thermold 30s
-------
The most common of the Thermold mags, these were made using DuPont Zytel, a fiberglass-impregnated plastic that is very strong and has a high melt temperature.

[3-2-2-2] Canadian Thermold 30s
-------
The Canadian military licensed the Thermold design, but did not use Zytel as the polymer, using a less expensive plastic as a substitute. This was not a wise decision, and the Canadian military had problems as a result. The most famous problem was the feed lips melting when their ARs were fired for extended periods on full auto (especially with blanks), leading the Canadians to dub the magazines "Thermelts". The other common problem was the mags splitting or cracking in cold temperatures or when dropped. After Desert Storm, the Canadian military changed to USGI aluminum mags, which are now standard issue.

[3-2-2-2-1] Canadian Thermold "Blank" 30s
-------
The Canadian military made some Thermolds with bright orange plastic as "blank only" mags. These are relatively rare, and are made with the same plastic as the standard Canadian mags.

[3-2-2-3] Thermold/Master Molder 20s
-------
Master Molder made straight-bodied 20 round mags. These are US-made from Zytel and are the best aftermarket 20s. Mold markings:

[3-2-2-4] Thermold 30/45
-------
Among the most unique magazine designs, the 30/45 magazines were designed with an extendable bottom section that would allow the magazine to be fully loaded to 30 rounds and stored (with the base extended) with the spring under minimal pressure. This allowed long-term storage of fully-loaded mags with no wear to the spring or the feed lips. They can also be loaded with 45 rounds when the base extended, though they shouldn't be stored in this configuration.

[3-2-3] Ramline
-------
Ramline (now owned by Blount) manufactured a 30-round magazine that was designed to work in both AR15s and in Ruger Mini-14s. The mag body and follower are made from a transparent yellow/brown plastic and the spring is the standard coil-type. Because the mag is longer front-to-back compared to a GI magazine, the Ramline mags are an extremely tight fit in AR15 magwells, and often require some sanding to fit. They tend to fit better in Mini-14s. The plastic used in the mag body is brittle, and the feedlips tend to crack and break over time.

[3-2-4] Eagle
-------
Eagle made a 30-round magazine which they called "Beta" (not to be confused with the Beta-C drum magazine; the companies aren't related). Eagle magazines are a dark grey transparent plastic, and they have ribs on the bottom similar to Thermold mags. These mags use flat-wound "constant-tension" springs attached to the front and back of the follower, similar to the design found in most high-capacity 10/22 mags. The plastic mag bodies are brittle, and crack easily, especially at the feed lips.

[3-2-5] MGW
-------
MGW is best known for its 90-round "snail" drum, but they also make post-ban legal 10-round plastic mags. The polymer used for these magazines is very soft, and the feedlips tend to deform easily under the excessive spring pressure common to all post-ban 10-round magazines. The result is a mag that will sponaneously eject its ammo. These mags should be avoided.

[4] Drum Magazines
-------

[4-1] Beta
-------
The Beta Company manufactures a 100-round, dual-snail drum with replacable feedtowers to fit several types of 5.56mm rifles. These drums are used in some military units in the US and abroad, and are also used by SWAT divisions of several US cities. Most of the pre-ban drums are supplied with AR15-type feed towers, and BATF has ruled that changing the feed tower to a tower for a different type of rifle would be "creating a new hi-cap mag".