REVIEW: MAGPUL PMAG30 Steyr AUG, F88, F90

You are welcome! Even if it's a bit like cheating: something else is inside the Steyr AUG. It's a MAGPUL PMAG30 Steyr AUG, F88, F90. And that's remarkable because for the first time there is an alternative to the magazines from Steyr itself, which – upon closer inspection – were the world's first PMAGs, or plastic magazines, and were far ahead of their time. Introduction date StG 1977, the shooter is still quite taken with the good idea. MAGPUL revolutionized the magazine market in America with plastic magazines, displacing metal. Now they are finally coming to Austria and Australia.

The old man and the young competition: the PMAG30 from MAGPUL comes individually shrink-wrapped and securely packaged. Lots of small print for a magazine...

There they lie peacefully side by side. The biggest noticeable difference: black versus transparent. The PMAG has a window to observe the loading state. The great trick of the Steyr magazine is that it is completely transparent and you always know how much is there. In terms of weight, little has changed. Both are empty at 180 grams.

The cut at the top is slightly different. MAGPUL also uses an orange follower and the insertion of the cartridge is reversed: Steyr's first right, MAGPUL's first left. The rifle accepts both...

Magazine at the front top: Steyr relies on a bump, MAGPUL on a plastic beam. Both fit well in the weapon, the PMAG a bit tighter than the original magazine.

The backside is completely similar. Bump against beam once again.

One noticeable difference is that the PMAG is about 1.5 centimeters longer than the original magazine. However, it is a few millimeters thinner because it has flat lamellae on the body. Saves some space in the magazine pocket.

MAGPUL opts for the classic MAGPUL look for the magazine, the shape is like the M4 magazine. The window for checking the loading status is also the same. The transparent AUG magazine is more generous there. The rest is probably a matter of habit.

All disassembled: the spring in the PMAG is slightly shorter and firmer. The interior is orange.

And the interior cut is slightly narrower, the cartridge sits tightly, with one millimeter between the tip and the housing wall. Steyr is a bit more generous there - 2/3 mm.

Magazine attached. You can see the advantage of the orange color. At a quick glance, you can immediately see it.

On the weapon, here an AUG A3Z. Looks great, the Steyr gets a completely different aesthetic with the black magazine.

CONCLUSION: Finally an alternative. In the land of Steyr, you pay almost 50 euros for a magazine, this one is cheaper (37 euros with us are still 20 dollars in the USA) and yet from a quality manufacturer. On the range, we have convinced ourselves that the magazine works just as well as the original. It even sits a bit tighter in the weapon than the original and handles well. And now please give us a 40-round magazine, dear friends from MAGPUL. And a drum magazine...

The MAGPUL PMAG30 Steyr AUG, F88, F90 is available directly from ARMAMAT for 36.90 euros each.

MAGPUL on the internet: www.magpul.com

ARMAMAT on the internet: www.armamat.at