Anyone using MDT metal/poly mags?

TheNatural21 · Nov 30, 2024

MDT poly/metal mags... Any good?

I have several of MDTs straight poly and straight metal mags and have been happy with them. The hybrid's metal feed lips with weight/noise of polymer body sounded great for hunting and I was thinking about trying them out next time I needed a few mags.

Now I see great prices on the black Friday sale, but they're in the discontinued category which makes me a bit worried that 1) they aren't great and 2) if I like them I won't be able to get more.

I haven't been able to find very much info on them so... Does anyone have an opinion to share?

nocoolname · Nov 30, 2024

I haven't used them in a comp situation or done anything that would really test their durability compared to the all metal ones, but I did pick up a couple during last years sale. I haven't had any issues during hunting or range trips with them. I do think they were limited to the same COAL as the full polymer mags, but if you're using them already then you shouldn't have issues. For the BF price, it never hurts to have a couple spare mags.

mgoodrich · Nov 30, 2024

I have used the MDT poly mags and I have had issues with them. If I loaded more than 4 rounds in them they would jam internally and not feed.

I then bought the poly metal mags and they didn't have any issues with feeding, so started to use these (hunting). These worked the same as the magpul magazines.

If the poly/metal mags are discontinued then I will stick to the magpul when they wear out.

Ceramik · Nov 30, 2024

I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want an non AI AICS mag.

TheNatural21 · Nov 30, 2024

mgoodrich said:
I have used the MDT poly mags and I have had issues with them. If I loaded more than 4 rounds in them they would jam internally and not feed.

I then bought the poly metal mags and they didn't have any issues with feeding, so started to use these (hunting). These worked the same as the magpul magazines.

If the poly/metal mags are discontinued then I will stick to the magpul when they wear out.

I've had several of the MDT poly mags for years now, and they've worked well in my MDT chassis'. I had issues with the older style 308 10 round poly mags in other bottom metals, and the Magpul mag I had didn't work very well in any of the MDT chassis' I have (from when the Magpul ones were first released). Brand interchangeability seems a bit hit or miss with any of the poly mags.

I thought I had an issue with some 223 poly MDT mags, but that turned out to be an issue with a sharp edge on a Savage bolt that was easily fixed.

Although the poly functions fine, the metal MDT ones have all fed a bit smoother than the polymer for me.

Ceramik said:
I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want an non AI AICS mag.

This is really good to know. I assumed my metal MDT mags would work well in other AICS rifles, but I guess that isn't accurate. (Currently any AICS chassis' I have are MDT - being in Canada their local availability and pricing is pretty appealing)

nocoolname · Nov 30, 2024

Ceramik said:
I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want an non AI AICS mag.

What chassis? I've used MDT's metal mags in factory Bergara rifles, MPA chassis, multiple MDT chassis (oryx, XRS, ACC Elite) and even in a mesa stock with their bottom metal without issues.

spife7980 · Nov 30, 2024

Ceramik said:
I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want a non AI AICS mag.

There is no published aics mag spec.

chevy_man · Nov 30, 2024

Ceramik said:
I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want an non AI AICS mag.

More than likely your chassis is off. My accurate mags work the same as the mdt mags in all my chassis. Along with Bergara and Magpul aics mags.

DeathBeforeDismount · Nov 30, 2024

The current get MDT mags (gen 5) are the best AICS pattern mags out there. I've ran just about everything in just about every chassis and bottom metal over the last few years and these are the only ones I have yet to have issues with. I would be buying them jlin bulk right now if I didn't already have like 10 of them. Accurate and OG AICS mags work but are too long and get hung up on shit. ARC are unreliable and the older gen MDT mags had a bunch of issues. I have a bunch of the MDT AICS plastic mags but I don't run them. I do run the MDT .223 plastic mags as they are the most reliable ones I have found this far.

DeathBeforeDismount · Nov 30, 2024

Ceramik said:
I bought some metal MDT AICS mags and their tolerances aren't in line with AI spec, which caused them to not fit properly in my chassis. Because the mags fall within MDTs own spec, best I could get was store credit. My personal taken is that if you are claiming your magazine is AICS pattern, it should be built to the original AI spec. If it isn't, your product isn't built correctly.

Accurate mag makes a better product if you want an non AI AICS mag.

Every mag and every bottom metal / mag latch has tolerances. It's why an adjustable mag latch is almost required to assure feeding. But there is more to it as well before you can blame the mag. MDT has 5 generations of metal AICS mags, denoted by the number of grooves on the side. The latest gen have been flawless in everything I can try from foundations with Hawkins and otm to manners mini chassis to MPA and MDT chassis.

TheNatural21 · Dec 1, 2024

DeathBeforeDismount said:
MDT has 5 generations of metal AICS mags, denoted by the number of grooves on the side. The latest gen have been flawless in everything I can try from foundations with Hawkins and otm to manners mini chassis to MPA and MDT chassis.

I didn't realize they have had so many updates! What do the different gens look like? 1 groove for 1st Gen up to 5 for 5th Gen?

We're getting a little off topic.. but I think that actually helps answer my original question. The hybrid mags don't seem very popular (only 2 people said they tried them and it didn't sound like very demanding use), which explains why I can't find much info and possibly why they are in the discontinued discount bin.

spife7980 · Dec 1, 2024

TheNatural21 said:
I didn't realize they have had so many updates! What do the different gens look like? 1 groove for 1st Gen up to 5 for 5th Gen?

We're getting a little off topic.. but I think that actually helps answer my original question. The hybrid mags don't seem very popular (only 2 people said they tried them and it didn't sound like very demanding use), which explains why I can't find much info and possibly why they are in the discontinued discount bin.

I bought a metal/poly last year, works fine. Wasn’t a 12 rounder so it’s just a back up spare.

stello1001 · Dec 1, 2024

I have prolly 3 of them. I like them and they feed fine.

I've never measured how much internal space they have or if they allow for longer loading, never done any testing in any way, etc.

Ceramik · Dec 1, 2024

nocoolname said:
What chassis? I've used MDT's metal mags in factory Bergara rifles, MPA chassis, multiple MDT chassis (oryx, XRS, ACC Elite) and even in a mesa stock with their bottom metal without issues.

ARC Xylo. As a note, I do have some MDT 3rd poly mags which work just fine in the HNT26 that I have.

spife7980 said:
There is no published aics mag spec.

If only there were some way to determine the proper dimensions based on the OE part...

DeathBeforeDismount said:
Every mag and every bottom metal / mag latch has tolerances. It's why an adjustable mag latch is almost required to assure feeding. But there is more to it as well before you can blame the mag. MDT has 5 generations of metal AICS mags, denoted by the number of grooves on the side. The latest gen have been flawless in everything I can try from foundations with Hawkins and otm to manners mini chassis to MPA and MDT chassis.

I'm sure that most people have had no issue with them, as one would assume given the popularity of the brand. The build quality is great and I won't argue that; I take issue with the fact that its 'AICS' pattern but won't fit the magwell of a chassis that fits OE AI mags perfectly. The ones I had a problem with were CIP length and purchased November '23. The issue wasn't the mag latch though, the issue was that the width of the mag at the top rear prevented it from fully seating. I would have had to Dremel out the chassis itself or file down the shoulders of the mags.

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TheNatural21

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