Looking to buy a couple of 30 rnd Pre ban Mags- What to look for or stay aw
- Thread starter buckskull
- Start date
Widow maker 223
Active member
Pre ban?? Just get some P mags, i also have a few c products that function well.
RowdyRawhide
New member
Plus one on the pmags, the windowed ones are a nice upgraded for a few bucks more
ShadowFox32
New member
My Advice..... Move to a gun friendly state. When I see stuff like this it reminds me how UN united the United States of America really are.
Question ..How can you tell the difference in pre and post ban magazines?
Question ..How can you tell the difference in pre and post ban magazines?
264WSM
New member
Obviously if I was married and have a mortgage and a job I wouldn't move either just for a couple of magazines. I copied this from NYshooters, I hope this will help you.Thread: AR-15 Preban Magazine Identification Guide Thread ToolsShow Printable VersionEmail this Page…Subscribe to this Thread… DisplayLinear ModeSwitch to Hybrid ModeSwitch to Threaded Mode08-14-2009, 05:36 AM #1 Rich
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Site Staff Join Date:Jun 2009
Location:Springwater
Posts:4,358 AR-15 Preban Magazine Identification Guide
Between the data that is available and my own personal knowledge gained from having gone through over a thousand preban AR15 magazines there are three common ways to identify 30 round preban AR-15 magazines.
The first of these methods and most reliable would be an external date stamp. The external date stamp will appear in a format of “xx/xxxx” representing the month and year of manufacture. This is the ideal magazine you would want for identification purposes. An externally date stamped magazine will look like the following:
The second method to identifying preban magazines, and the second most reliable method, would be an internal date stamp. Internally date stamped magazines are about as easy to find as externally date stamped magazines but the floor plate must be removed to verify a preban internal date stamp. With an internal date stamp it is common for both side of the magazine to be stamped with a code. These codes usually look like the following, “K4 87” on one side of the magazine and then “04 87” on the opposite. The “K4” represents the month of manufacture, the number follow the “K” will be the month, so in this example the “4” represents a magazine manufactured in April. The “87” stamp represents the year of manufacture, so this magazine was manufactured in April 1987. These stamps can appear horizontally, vertically, or even upside down when stamped inside the magazine so if you were to see a date stamp code of “K11 98” this is mostly likely a November 1986 date of manufacture due to the fact that the 86 can be stamped in any direction. Some externally date stamped magazines will also feature an internal date stamp, this is how I have verified that the internal date stamps do represent the dates of manufacture as well as confirming that the internal date stamps are stamped in multiple directions (vertically, horizontally, upside down, etc.).
The third way to identify, and the least reliable is by the lack of a date stamp. Since 1994 manufacturers have been stamping their post ban magazines with stamps that say "LEO/MIL USE ONLY", etc. along with an external date stamp. Do note though that there is a magazine manufacturer who currently produces post ban magazines that lack the MIL/LEO warning and also lacks any date stamp. Do not purchase these magazines because they are illegal regardless of whether they look identical to preban magazines or not. There are people here in NY on other forums that will tell you these magazines are preban, if they look brand new and have a damaged baseplate chances are the magazine is a postban magazine that has had a preban floorplate put on it by someone to make the buyer think they are getting preban magazines in excellent condition with just a worn base plate.
However, the majority of preban magazines lack a date stamp so 90% of the preban magazines in existence will not have any type of marking and these are legal preban magazines so don't hesitate to buy these if you get the opportunity.
If you have any questions about any of this stuff just ask.
View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message
Site Staff Join Date:Jun 2009
Location:Springwater
Posts:4,358 AR-15 Preban Magazine Identification Guide
Between the data that is available and my own personal knowledge gained from having gone through over a thousand preban AR15 magazines there are three common ways to identify 30 round preban AR-15 magazines.
The first of these methods and most reliable would be an external date stamp. The external date stamp will appear in a format of “xx/xxxx” representing the month and year of manufacture. This is the ideal magazine you would want for identification purposes. An externally date stamped magazine will look like the following:
The second method to identifying preban magazines, and the second most reliable method, would be an internal date stamp. Internally date stamped magazines are about as easy to find as externally date stamped magazines but the floor plate must be removed to verify a preban internal date stamp. With an internal date stamp it is common for both side of the magazine to be stamped with a code. These codes usually look like the following, “K4 87” on one side of the magazine and then “04 87” on the opposite. The “K4” represents the month of manufacture, the number follow the “K” will be the month, so in this example the “4” represents a magazine manufactured in April. The “87” stamp represents the year of manufacture, so this magazine was manufactured in April 1987. These stamps can appear horizontally, vertically, or even upside down when stamped inside the magazine so if you were to see a date stamp code of “K11 98” this is mostly likely a November 1986 date of manufacture due to the fact that the 86 can be stamped in any direction. Some externally date stamped magazines will also feature an internal date stamp, this is how I have verified that the internal date stamps do represent the dates of manufacture as well as confirming that the internal date stamps are stamped in multiple directions (vertically, horizontally, upside down, etc.).
The third way to identify, and the least reliable is by the lack of a date stamp. Since 1994 manufacturers have been stamping their post ban magazines with stamps that say "LEO/MIL USE ONLY", etc. along with an external date stamp. Do note though that there is a magazine manufacturer who currently produces post ban magazines that lack the MIL/LEO warning and also lacks any date stamp. Do not purchase these magazines because they are illegal regardless of whether they look identical to preban magazines or not. There are people here in NY on other forums that will tell you these magazines are preban, if they look brand new and have a damaged baseplate chances are the magazine is a postban magazine that has had a preban floorplate put on it by someone to make the buyer think they are getting preban magazines in excellent condition with just a worn base plate.
However, the majority of preban magazines lack a date stamp so 90% of the preban magazines in existence will not have any type of marking and these are legal preban magazines so don't hesitate to buy these if you get the opportunity.
If you have any questions about any of this stuff just ask.
buckskull
New member
THANKS for info 264WSM!
So now that I will be able to tell them apart is there any that I should stay away from? I am finding info on Colts with green followers, colts with black followers, colts with metal followers...? What should I look for as far a quality.. Are there companies that produced mags that I should stay away from?
Know of any good places to purchase and what would be a fair price?
Thanks
So now that I will be able to tell them apart is there any that I should stay away from? I am finding info on Colts with green followers, colts with black followers, colts with metal followers...? What should I look for as far a quality.. Are there companies that produced mags that I should stay away from?
Know of any good places to purchase and what would be a fair price?
Thanks
ShadowFox32
New member
264 Im just saying its pretty bad when a state makes up laws to make an honest man a criminal ... after all post or pre ban they both do the same thing
BigMedicine
New member
Buckskull,
Find an Army surplus store near you, thats where I buy my 30 rd. pre-bans, because I too live in New York. The name of the place I go to is called Old Sarges Drop Zone, look up their web page. Since you live in New York he may sell them to you over the phone and send them to you, I know they do alot of internet business. Give them a call, they might be able to help you out.
Find an Army surplus store near you, thats where I buy my 30 rd. pre-bans, because I too live in New York. The name of the place I go to is called Old Sarges Drop Zone, look up their web page. Since you live in New York he may sell them to you over the phone and send them to you, I know they do alot of internet business. Give them a call, they might be able to help you out.
bluetickkid33
New member
I was hoping someone would ask this. I just don't want to buy an old junk mag that doesn't feed correctly. Gotta love this great state! Where in NY are y'all located?