ARC 10 round Mags

[Srgt. Hulka]

I have a John Hancock on order. This will be my first precision rifle other than my Clark 22. I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row before it arrives in April or May. Obviously, the rifle is not sold with Mags, so I'm looking to purchase a couple. Since the ARC mags are made by the same manufacturer as the the Nucleus action, would it be best to stick with them, or would I be GTG with any mag, AI, Magpul, etc.? Are there mags that I should avoid? Would you recommend the double stack 10 round or a 5 round mag?

Thanks guys.

 

[Ledzep]

You'll be okay with:

AICS
Accurate mag
Pmag AICS pattern
ARC mags
MDT
Any other AICS pattern

You may or may not have success with Alpha magazines. I put in an order like 1.7 years ago and never heard back from the guy. It's hit or miss you either get your stuff right away or it's a process of wasted time trying to get your money back.

AI AW magazines WILL NOT work.

Only two of those options are double stack-single feed (maximize space/height). ARC and Alpha mags both use the same concept. The ARC mags are hands down made better and hands down better customer service.


You will find that with EVERY magazine there is a crowd of people that they work great for and a crowd that they work spotty for, and a crowd that they just outright suck for. Lots of variables at play and ideally they would all work fine, but there is such a thing as fitting magazine latches, DBM/pillar height, aftermarket followers, etc... for a reason.

 

[leftyk82]

Your action will accept any AI pattern magazine (AICS, Accurate, Alpha, American Rifle Company) and likely the Magpul AICS ones (someone may confirm/deny that). It will not accept an AW magazine or any SR-25 or AR-10 style.

You will find mixed reviews on Alpha and ARC, the former for availability and communication and the latter for 'wings' on the follower. That said, I have four ARC mags and like them.

 

[demolitionman]

Who sells aftermarket followers?

 

[leftyk82]

Who sells aftermarket followers?

MK Machining is the only vendor that I'm aware of that does.

EDIT: Although I remember reading somewhere that Ted at ARC was either redesigning or altering the followers some time this year.

 

[spife7980]

MK Machining is the only vendor that I'm aware of that does.

PVA does as well

 

[jg6.5]

You may or may not have success with Alpha magazines. I put in an order like 1.7 years ago and never heard back from the guy. It's hit or miss you either get your stuff right away or it's a process of wasted time trying to get your money back.

This.

I went back and forth with him on a few type 2 mags. A good friend of mine had a few of them and they ran (and still run) great straight out of the box, so I ordered a few. Somewhere in between when my friend ordered his and when I ordered mine, Alpha apparently tweaked their feed lips (or maybe I just got bad ones, I don't know) and my 6.5CM would not even come close to feeding them (I'm sure I could've bent the feed lips on them myself, but I'm paranoid about dicking with something and being stuck with it if I break it in the process). I talked to him about it, and he told me I needed his type 3's for the 6.5CM. I thought to myself, "the type 3's are for short mag cartridges, but he's the manufacturer so he probably knows more than I do about his product" and went along with him. Lo and behold, the type 3's arrive and surprise surprise...they don't work. Called him back (again) and he finally admitted to confusing the 6.5CM with the 6.5SAUM and told me to send them back and he'd modify a pair of type 2's for me based off of a 6.5CM he owns (which is confusing to me how he'd confuse the CM with the SAUM if he owns one). After a few phone calls and emails over 3 months and no mags, I filed a claim with my CC company to recoup to cost.

Long story short, yes, alphas are hit or miss. I've seen them run great, but my personal experience with them isn't that great.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

Thanks guys.
I think I'm going to go with them ARC mags then, since that is who made the action, plus, they just look like good quality mags.
I found a couple vendors seiing them, but I may just wait until they are in stock at ARC or PVA, see if they have the new follower in them.

Thanks again.


Is it April yet?

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

Nice, I'm behind you on the list but have been working on the same line of questioning

Edit: I thought I remembered seeing it somewhere, but this quote is taken right from the PVA website in the description of the JH

"Magazine compatibility with AICS pattern metal box magazines"

The word metal would seem to exclude magpul

 

[Ledzep]

Ted likes magpul stuff. Early M5 Mausingfields were not compatable with MDT or Magpul polymer mags, but he has since made changes to new production Mausingfields to allow them to use Magpul magazines. I'm pretty certain I've seen him state in one of his videos explaining the features of the Nucleus that he mentions that there is Magpul compatibility in that action as well.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

Ted likes magpul stuff. Early M5 Mausingfields were not compatable with MDT or Magpul polymer mags, but he has since made changes to new production Mausingfields to allow them to use Magpul magazines. I'm pretty certain I've seen him state in one of his videos explaining the features of the Nucleus that he mentions that there is Magpul compatibility in that action as well.

That would certainly be less expensive than steel mags. I like PMags for my ARs, but I wasn’t sure about the reliability on bolt guns. I may buy one of each and see which I like better.
Thanks LedZep.

 

[man32ahan]

I’m in the same boat. Got a John Hancock on the way as well and have been wondering whether to go ARC or AI magazine route.

I will probably just get some of each and see what it likes the best and sell the others on here.

 

[jg6.5]

Expounding on my post above about my misfortune with Alpha, I will say that I have 3 5 rounds AI mags that have all been flawless so far.

 

[Desert_Racer]

I just got my first ARC mag, and put the MK Machining follower in it. Runs great. I had to notch the shit out of my R700 to make it work, but I suspect it will work without any problems in my Nucleus.

 

[Cody S]

For a dasher the only magazine I will recommend is the ARC 10 rounder. 100% flawless with no spacer kit or any modifications

 

[demolitionman]

Is there any real world quality or feeding difference between AI brand aics mags vs the Accurate Mag AICS?

 

[swhiteh3]

Is there any real world quality or feeding difference between AI brand aics mags vs the Accurate Mag AICS?

I shoot with both AICS mags, and AICS Magpul mags, in my Mausingfield, and have LOTS of live-fire and dry-fire rounds through both. I much prefer the feeding of the Magpul magazines, but the MPA extensions on the metal AICS mags run so well that I will run those magazines when I need the additional capacity. I WISH that Magpul would make a 15 round version of their Magpul AICS mag.