Since Magpul came out with their 40-round PMAG earlier this year, it was guaranteed that other magazine manufacturers would follow suit and produce their own 40-rounders. One of the first overseas knockoffs I’ve been sent is this IK-520 magazine from MWG Industries . . .
Do they work? For the most part, yes. On the outside, the magazines appear to be just as structurally sound and well made as any of the second tier magazines I’ve come across. They don’t have the Magpul level of fit and finish, but they’re a far cry from Hera Arms’ first magazine attempt. The website claims that the magazines are “steel reinforced” and while I can’t see any metal bits sticking out, they do feel more rigid than a normal polymer magazine would be.
The overall design of the magazine is very…Bulgarian. It’s slightly reminiscent of the waffle design on some of AK magazines, but with some Tapco and Magpul spice sprinkled in for good measure. Not something I’d call “pretty” but not really ugly either. Utilitarian might be the best way to describe them.
While the overall design allows you to slot these puppies into open-top AR mag pouches, the lop on the bottom is going to cause issues with double-stacked magazine pouches and you won’t be able to close the flap on a covered pouch. Thankfully there are people who are already producing pouches for the 40 round magazines and they work pretty well.
As far as actual function, it works. The magazine pretty reliably feeds rounds to the gun. The only issue I had was, once in a while, when the magazines are new, the bolt won’t lock open after the last round is fired. That tells me that the spring tension could be a little heavier.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with the MWG mags. They’re not something that I’d use in a competition, but for practice sessions they’d be just fine. The only problem is the price — PMAG 40-round magazines are exactly one dollar more — and those work all the time, every time. So, given the option, I’d prefer to lay down the extra samolian for the real McCoy.
MWG IK-520 40-Round Magazines
Weight: 0.4 lbs.
Capacity: 40 rounds
Colors: Black
Price: $18.95
Overall Rating: * *
When a PMAG is only a dollar more, there really isn’t any competition. If these were $10 I’d be all over them like a fat kid on chocolate cake.