I’ve heard conflicting information regarding the compatibility of the Magpul AICS mags and the AW cut TL3 actions. Can anybody confirm or deny this? And if the Magpuls work is it still worth it to buy the ARC mags?
TL3 and Magpul AICS
- Thread starter texasleftychef
- Start date
Running Magpul magazines in an AW is possible, but the feed lips of the magazine need to be trimmed to fit in the receiver.
The AW cut receiver is designed for the AW magazines. It will accept AICS pattern magazines as well, but has the potential for feeding issues. The AI cut receiver has a shelf at the rear of the magazine well so the magazine bottoms out to avoid binding when feeding if the magazine is being pushed up. If your only ever going to use AICS pattern magazines, we would recommend you buy the AI cut magazine well.
The AW cut receiver is designed for the AW magazines. It will accept AICS pattern magazines as well, but has the potential for feeding issues. The AI cut receiver has a shelf at the rear of the magazine well so the magazine bottoms out to avoid binding when feeding if the magazine is being pushed up. If your only ever going to use AICS pattern magazines, we would recommend you buy the AI cut magazine well.
I run Ruger magazines in my Tl3 aw cut. They are only $30 and they work flawlessly. https://www.brownells.com/magazines...e-polymer-magazines-30-caliber-prod97709.aspx
TL3 Creedmoor in a KRG W3 Gen5... Magpuls certainly fit without issue, however, they do not work reliably in my setup. Even after considerable trimming and grinding on the feed lips and body the bolt continues to override the round. Working the issue from the other end, I replaced the mag catch with the extended version to dial in feed height but still nada. ARC mags ran without issue even before cutting down the extended mag catch to a perfect height. The improvement I see now is the bolt starts to CRF almost immediately rather than the initial push feed start it had before, if that makes any sense.
Sounds like somebody already has several AW mags and wants to get some more and wondering what will work before he spends money on gear that won’t work. Appreciate the help.
The words "..AW mags guaranteed to work," are tough to confirm. It depends completely on what you're trying to feed. Some cartridges run like a champ in AW and some won't run at all without fine tuning. The AICS platform is more refined and generally more reliable across the board, but when you have the AW's running well, they're fantastic.
Just as an FYI, AICS cut receivers make up about 35% of our 220 total options. AW is right at 30%.
