12rnd Billet AW magazine for BR size cartridges from Gray Ops
- Thread starter Rio Precision Gunworks
- Start date
Has anyone asked "why billet?"
Magazines are simple to stamp and weld. Billet adds a huge cost increase with a massive waste.
Are they just avoiding stamping because they already have a bunch of CNC mills running? Or is the quantity so low it doesn't justify a set of dies?
Seems like a solution in search of an answer. They could stamp out bodies way cheaper and sell a ton more. I know I'm not spending that much to switch from MDT AI mags to get a tiny bit shorter mag. I currently run MDT 12 rounders, and paid less for 5 mags than they want for 2...
Magazines are simple to stamp and weld. Billet adds a huge cost increase with a massive waste.
Are they just avoiding stamping because they already have a bunch of CNC mills running? Or is the quantity so low it doesn't justify a set of dies?
Seems like a solution in search of an answer. They could stamp out bodies way cheaper and sell a ton more. I know I'm not spending that much to switch from MDT AI mags to get a tiny bit shorter mag. I currently run MDT 12 rounders, and paid less for 5 mags than they want for 2...
This is a mini chassis issue. Standard M5 dbm (OTM, Hawkins, MDT, etc) doesn't have this issue with chassis, Foundations, etc.
These mags run MUCH MUCH smoother than AICS, MDT, etc mags. Like, stupid smooth... I didn't believe it until I used them.
So polish your feed lips? I had one that wasn't as smooth as the others. 2 minutes with a stone and it was glass smooth.
Or, of all the stupid things, if you can live with the length restriction pmags feed amazing right out of the box. The longer fed lips also mean they feed BR cases perfectly, at least in every rifle I've tried them in.
The smoothest lips on an AICS mag still won’t feel as smooth as a well set up dsdf mag though.
Fortunately no one is making you buy these if you can’t see any benefit for your uses.
Fortunately no one is making you buy these if you can’t see any benefit for your uses.
How much do you think the cost is to setup a new process for bending and welding mag bodies for a company that doesn't do this, and already CNC's everything?
the die cost alone wouldn't make sense, not to mention these are VERY competitively priced if you factor in things such as:
1. The base cost of a mag - 85 bucks for an AW
2. BR Kit - Self print, 10 bucks if you have a 3D printer, 40+ if you buy one
3. cost pf max extension - 10 bucks if you can 3d print one, 40 if you buy one, plus the fact you have to hack apart an AW mag.
So DIY you're looking at 170 on the high end, and maybe 120ish on the low end if you can source the proper parts.
These mags are a deal, and have an adjustable mag catch, feed smooth, and are made by dudes who know what they're doing.
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