AICS or Alpha Mags

[Capt Beach]

Having a real hard time deciding...is there any real difference between the AICS mag and the Alpha Mag? Materials? Workmanship? Fit and finish? Functionality...

Seems like with the exception of one mag here, one mag there the AICS are on back order EVERYWHERE...while Alpha mags are available at their site...

I'm running a CDI DBM in a LA Savage in a Choate LA Tactical stock.

Thanks in advance...

Capt Beach

 

[jbailey]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I own both and can say I would buy the AI when and whereever possible over the Alpha. The AI, for some reason, just seems more durable and reliable. Not that I have had a problem with the Alpha mags, but I just can't get 100% comfortable with them.

Interested to hear what others say...

 

[rusty815]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

The alpha mag, its built just as well if not better than an AI mag and has a smaller footprint than an AI, its about 1.5-2 inches shorter if I remember correctly.

 

[vmpglenn]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

You may have to modify the Alpha mags to fit your DBM. I had to hammer down the front tabs so they would fit my AX chassis and I will have to bend the feed lips a bit to allow them to feed reliably. Use Google site search to find the threads where others have had to make similar modifications.

Alpha will take care of you, though, if the mags are problematic in your DBM.

 

[Chiller]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

If Alpha is a option...would use them

 

[BIPMaster]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If Alpha is a option...would use them </div></div>

Being a newb to bolt actions myself, could you please clarify your statement?

 

[Slickrick0999]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Alpha all the way

 

[ggmanning]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I like Alpha for size and it they are quality.

 

[Ultraman550]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Don't forget Accurate Mag. They're $65 for the 10 rounders but for some reason they hold 11 rounds. They feed my .308 with no problems.

 

[Oneteam]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Are they all the same footprint for a DBM?

 

[--BLACKOUT--]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I run the Alpha mags in my CDI bm with no modification. Contrary to what some say, I can rest the gun on the mag with no problems with feeding or running the bolt. Also, my mags drop out on their own loaded or unloaded with a push of the mag release. As a result, I can load/unload with one hand.

I haven't used any other mags and don't see a reason to.

 

[swage]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I had a few Alpha Type 1 mags. They fed reliably and were built well. The reason I sold them is I could not remove the mag from the DBM if there more than three rounds still left in the magazine. Let me rephrase that...I could remove the magazine but it was very difficult. It required me to set the rifle on it's butt and forcibly pull on the magazine. It doesn't sound like a big deal but in some of the comps I shoot you must remove the magazine while moving between shooting stations. The magazines seemed to "bow" on the sides slightly when then there were more than three rounds in them. The "bowing" caused the magazine to wedge itself against the sides of the DBM. I am using a Surgeon DBM. I'm not sure if one could duplicate the issue when using another type of DBM. I never had this issue using the AICS single stack 10 rounders.

 

[Charger442]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

i have a couple of AICS mags, 5 and 10 rounders and want to get with the a 10 round alpha to solve the AICS rattle and to get a long OAL. though its not a big deal on the rattle, when im hunting its not cool

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I run an Alpha Type 2 in my Savage 10FP with CDI DBM...easy in to DBM, easy out, and excellent feeding @ 2.94" OAL.

I will be buying more.

 

[QuietShootr]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Another Alpha Type 2/CDI fan here.

 

[WhiskeyWebber]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I only have AICS mags. My five rounders work flawlessly, my ten rounder doesn't.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Alphas are the way to go.

You may have minor fit issues at first, but a slight feed lip tweak a squeeze on the body of the mag has fixed all the issues I have seen. Its just a small issue considering you are getting a double stack, single feed mag.

Stainless steel, teflon coating, inexpensive, smaller then a AI 10rnd mag... whats not to love.

 

[Deisel]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I have run both AICS and Alpha mags. I like the Alphas better due to their shorter length. I have used them in several field matches with no issues. I am running Surgeon Scalpel .308 with Surgeon DBM.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I run Alphas on my 6.5CM and AI on my 6XC, I've found the Alpha's aren't quite as reliable when running balls out with the 6XC.

 

[McLarenross]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Ive got both and like the Alphas better cause they are shorter and no mods to make them feed 2.940" cartridges. The 10rd Alphas are almost the same length as the 5rd AICSs.

 

[jeffersonv]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I have used both. I found the Alpha mags IN MY RIFLE did not feed all 10 rounds as reliably as the AICS. I think it had to do with the shorter length of the mag and having to compress the spring to the max and it ran out of 'juice' trying to regain it's memory and feed the last few rounds.

The AICS, due to it's longer length seemed to have some spring in reserve to find the memory to feed all 10 rounds with more authority than the Alpha mag. (CRF with all 10)

FN SPR
CDI
6.5 Creedmoor

YMMV

 

[turbo54]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I have type 3 and type 4 Alphas, feeding 284 in an FN SPR with CDI. They work well, and even allow the controlled round feed to work properly when you single load a cartridge onto tge feedlips.

 

[_Shay_]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

I have both, and for me, I like AI mags better. The Alphas aren't as reliable, to me, as the AI. The AI drops free from the mag well, while the Alphas do not. The AI feed better for me as well.

 

[cal50]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

+1 for the AI

 

[ctressler]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

In my limited experience AICS mags seem to be more reliable.

 

[physhphude]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

Alpha's have been nothing but trouble for me in the badger DBM

First of all they had to be modified to fit.

Then, they made the steel too thin, so when you load 10 rounds, the magazines bow out, so they don't fit them magazine well.

And the feed lips are too high, and they are too thin, so if you bump the rifle, it will cause one to get jammed between them.

All kinds of trouble. Not a big issue if you just punch holes in paper, but if you are doing any kind of competitive shooting go with AICS

 

[swage]

Re: AICS or Alpha Mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: peacemaker.45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Alpha's have been nothing but trouble for me in the badger DBM

First of all they had to be modified to fit.
<span style="font-weight: bold">
<span style="color: #FF0000">Then, they made the steel too thin, so when you load 10 rounds, the magazines bow out, so they don't fit them magazine well</span></span>.

And the feed lips are too high, and they are too thin, so if you bump the rifle, it will cause one to get jammed between them.

All kinds of trouble. Not a big issue if you just punch holes in paper, but if you are doing any kind of competitive shooting go with AICS </div></div>

That sounds very similar to what I had experienced. I didn't have any feeding issues though. I also had to take a hammer and make a slight indention just under the area where the magazine catch engages. I was told to do this from members here on the forum. This helped slightly with allowing the mag to drop free, but the "bowing" effect with a full magazine was still present and made it very difficult to remove the magazine with rounds still left in it. I guess people's mileage may very depending on the DBM they are using.