Are you looking for the best AR-10 magazine? If so, then you’ve stumbled into the right place. Finding the best magazine to fit your AR-10 rifle perfectly is what you need regardless if you’re using it for hunting, target practice, home defense, or anything else that would require the use of a rifle.
To give you a good starting point on where to look for a magazine, we’ve decided to give you eight different choices to start with. We handpicked these knowing that they are currently the best on the market for certain categories.
Before we get into the list itself, let’s quickly dive into why you’ll need some spares handy for your AR-10 and a brief guide on how to tell the difference between a great AR-10 magazine from those that are low in quality.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for AR-10 Magazines
- BEST 10-ROUND MAGAZINE: D&H Industries, Inc. - AR 308 Magazines
- BEST DRUM MAGAZINE: Magpul PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3, 7.62x51 Magazine
- Hexmag AR-10 20 Round Magazine
Comparison Chart of the Best AR-10 Magazines
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Why Would You Want Spare Mags For an AR-10?
If you’re looking to buy a magazine for your AR-10, it may be wise to purchase extra if need be. There are a few advantages as to why you’ll want to get spare magazines. Here are some reasons why it’s not smart to pass up on the idea:
What If You Malfunction?
There will come a time when you’re out in the field or in a competition and your rifle will somehow jam up on you. More specifically, the rounds inside your magazine may have a hard time being fed. This can pose a potentially dangerous hazard that can cause serious damage to your gun and may cause injury on your end.
That’s why you’ll need spare magazines to alleviate this crisis as quickly as possible. Most will be easy to release in the event of a malfunction. Once removed, you can safely replace it with a spare.
Malfunctioned magazine is the least that you want when firing. (Source)
More Ammo on Hand
Of course, your magazines will have a certain limit. There will come a time when you'll need more than eight to ten rounds on hand. This could come in handy once again in situations like target practice or shooting competitions.
In these situations, you can't rely on just one or the old "empty and reload" method. Not only will you have more ammo on hand, but you'll also spend less time trying to reload just one magazine.
Testing Out Different Capacities
What if you’re not a fan of having spare magazines of the same capacity? You can probably mix it up a bit. So if you have a magazine or two that has ten rounds apiece, try getting spares that either have a lesser count (i.e.--eight rounds) or a count just slightly above normal (like 12 rounds). You may find that you might be more comfortable with one or the other depending on the application.
Characteristics of a Great AR-10 Magazine
If you want to buy a great AR-10 magazine, you have to know some of the major distinctions between a great mag and the ones that are considered low-quality, crappy, and have poor performance. If you’re a first-time buyer, you might be stuck with having no idea of what to look for.
However, we’ve put together this quick guide on how to choose a great one without having to sacrifice quality or anything else. Here’s what we recommend you should look for:
Reliability
One of the top qualities of a great magazine is the level of reliability it has. How good is it in terms of feeding your rifle? Will the rounds stay straight? Do they move smoothly? A good, reliable magazine will have features like a self-lubricating system that ensures reliable feeding and jam-free functioning.
However, some of them won’t have this type of luxury. So it would be wise to get a magazine lubricant that will keep the reliability of your magazine at its best maximum performance.
Lancer L7 AR-10 .308/7.62x51mm 5-Round Advanced Warfighter Magazine
How Many Do You Need?
Not all magazines are created the same. You’ll come across capacities ranging from eight to as high as 20 or more. The intended purpose of how you use your AR-10 rifle will likely be the deciding factor in how many rounds you’ll need for one magazine.
For example, if you’re hunting, you should consider finding one with a capacity on the low end. If you’re a competitive shooter, you’ll be more apt to find a magazine with a higher count.
Easy to Use
Ease of use is very important. You’ll want a magazine that will be easy to attach so you’re ready to go in seconds. At the same time, you’ll want one that will be easy to release and is able to fall freely to the ground without getting damaged. This quick release feature will also come in handy in the event of the magazine malfunctioning.
Review of the Best AR-10 Magazines
The following is a list of eight of the best AR-10 magazines currently on the market. To the best of our knowledge, these are considered the best available. While the list may be subject to change at any given time, this will give you an opportunity to get you a closer look at each to see which one will fit your personal needs or preferences.
Whether you’re on a budget or have some money to play with, there is a magazine that is bound to fit you perfectly. With that said, let’s get right to our list:
Best 10-Round Magazine:
D&H Industries, Inc. - AR 308 Magazines
Pros
Cons
First, we’ll be taking a look at the D&H Industries AR .308 magazine. This is what we believe is the best ten-round magazine currently on the market right now. The body is made from high-quality steel, making it a tough little unit. Of course, this will hold up to ten rounds of your favorite AR-10 rounds. If five rounds are too little and 20 rounds are too much, then obviously, a ten-round magazine is a happy medium, wouldn’t you agree?
This has an orange follower designed to make the loading process easier for you. If you opt for the 20-round magazine, this will have a green follower (not that it would matter, since you’re getting the ten-round).
All and all, you’re getting a pretty strong, damage-resistant magazine that is designed to be your best friend out in the field or at the shooting range. Either way, you’d love to fire off ten-rounds with this magazine. That is if you decide to go with this magazine in particular.
Bottom Line
The D&H magazine is without a doubt your dream magazine if you’re a fan of the ten count capacity. Aside from that, it’s pretty durable and will do quite well in the longevity department. If you’re in search of something that will last you years or even decades, you’ll probably be quite happy with a magazine like this.
This might also be a good starter magazine for those who are first time AR-10 users. The reason being is that ten rounds may be a good starting point that will help them make the determination of either preferring fewer rounds or more rounds.
Best Drum Magazine:
Magpul PMAG D-50 AR-10 7.62x51 50-Round Drum Magazine
Pros
Cons
OK, so maybe 10, 20, or even 30 rounds aren’t enough for you. If that’s the case, you’re going to love the best drum magazine that’s on the market right now. This Magpul PMAG magazine holds up to 50 rounds. Yes, that’s 5-0.
If you like the drum shape and think that it would look absolutely intimidating on your AR-10, then you’re going to love this magazine in particular. This is one rugged, lightweight magazine that is designed to get you through a long day at the range or throughout a shooting competition.
Not to mention, the cycling and feeding reliability will be top-notch as you’re using this. This has a polymer body designed to be durable and impervious to all kinds of abuse. In other words, this drum magazine is built like a tank.
Once attached, you’ll feel like you’re firing from a tank instead of an AR-10 rifle. If you’re looking for a magazine that will get you through the day at the range, then consider the Magpul PMAG drum magazine as your best possible option.
Bottom Line
Maybe you’re crazy about the idea of having 50 rounds or just want to fill it up to about 25. Either way, this drum shape is perhaps a perfect design to have if you want to make your AR-10 look a little beefier than normal. And there’s definitely no shame in doing that.
But regardless of if you want it for the round count or for the look, this magazine might be your best bet if you don’t like the usual slide-on magazine design.
3. Hexmag AR-10 20 Round Magazine
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the Hexmag AR-10 20-Round magazine. Upon first look, you’ll notice that the material used for manufacturing this tough-as-nails magazine is known as PolyHex2 Advanced Composite.
This is a polymer-style material designed to make sure that the magazine itself is not damaged in the slightest, especially when it hits hard surfaces. On top of that, this is guaranteed to give you the best grip.
However, the material does pull the double duty of being tough and very easy to grip. This comes in handy when you want to change out magazines in harsh weather conditions. If you want to repair the magazine, you can easily remove the floorplate without ever having to rely on a single tool.
If you’re looking for something that can withstand harsh conditions and will be impervious to damage, the Hexmag might be the best choice for you. This is a magazine that you can use for a day out on the range or a day out in the field when there is big game out and about.
The Hexmag, by the looks of it, is designed to take on anything that stands in its way. If you want something tough, get this and you likely won’t regret making the decision.
Bottom Line
The Hexmag has proven that it can hang with the best of them. Not only is it perfect for your AR-10, but if you own any other rifles, like the 6.5 Creedmoor, then you’ll probably need a magazine for that as well.
Of course, you might want to give this a whirl first to see if it’s worth the investment to get another one. It’s all-around tough, can be used in most applications, and is pretty darn reliable. If this doesn’t get your head nodding in agreement, we’re not sure what will.
Best 5-Round Magazine:
Lancer L7 AR-10 .308/7.62x51mm 5-Round Advanced Warfighter Magazine
Pros
Cons
OK, so maybe the idea of having a 20-round magazine is too much for you. And don’t worry, we won’t judge if you’re among the handful of people that think that way. Thankfully for you, we’ve chosen the best five-round magazine for your AR-10.
The Lancer L7 AR-10 5-Round Advanced Warfighter is not only a good five-rounder to have in your possession, but it’s a tough-as-nails magazine that you’ll want to last you a long time. The material made for the exterior is polymer, making it quite durable and resistant to any hard surface damage or weather conditions.
Inside this magazine is where it makes the big bucks (figuratively and literally if you’re out hunting). The stainless steel rear feeding lip is designed to give this a very reliable, jam-free feed so your rounds are aligned correctly and are ready to go.
If you’re looking for a magazine that won’t give you any grief and is perfect for some good ol’ fashioned big game hunting, then the Lancer magazine could be yours for the taking if the features and low round capacity are more your speed.
Bottom Line
If you fancy yourself a fan of the five-round magazines, you might have found one in the Lancer. The body of this is very durable and won’t easily damage in most situations. Plus, you can easily clean it and oils and solvents won’t cause any damage.
The reliability is very good and probably will rival all the others on the list. If you hold reliability to a higher standard, then you’ll want to choose the Lancer as your next possible AR-10 magazine.
Best 30-Round Magazine:
ProMag DPMS LR-308 Magazine, 30 Rounds
Pros
Cons
If you’re more of the 30-round type of AR-10 shooter, then you’re in luck. We have a magazine that will best fit your needs. The ProMag DPMS LR-308 magazine.
This carries up to 30 rounds. Perfect for when you want to spend an extended day out on the range or if you’re in the heat of competition. The main reason you might need 30 rounds is obvious: you want to save more time and not waste a whole lot of it on reloading every few rounds. We get it.
Timing is everything, no matter what you use your AR-10 rifle for. This magazine is constructed from polymer, is designed to be resistant to all kinds of damage, and will hold up very well in weather conditions.
If you’re out hunting and it’s starting to rain like crazy, you’ll feel confident in knowing that the amount of rain won’t damage your magazine. Inside the magazine is a spring that is heat-treated for extra durability.
In plain English, you’re getting a magazine that’s pretty tough from the inside out. So the likelihood of this lasting you a very long time is pretty good.
If you’re looking for a magazine that will last you many years and would want nothing more than a magazine that can hold a ton of rounds, you’re going to love this ProMag so much you’ll be happy to call it your own.
Bottom Line
Like those who want as little as five rounds, there are those that want 30. Either way, we always have a magazine handy for each. If you’re among the latter, who wants a reliable, jam-free magazine for their AR-10 with up to 30 rounds, then why settle for anything other than the ProMag?
The impressive thing that sticks out about this is that it is also a very affordable magazine that will fit most budgets. Even if you’re not in love with the 30-round capacity, you can fill it up halfway and still get you the same reliability.
5. Magpul PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3, 7.62x51 Magazine
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at another great AR-10 magazine. This Magpul PMAG 7.62x51 Magazine can hold up to 20 rounds.
So ideally, this can be good for situations like target practice or competitive shooting. But don’t write off any of the other purposes either. We’re just giving you an idea of what it can be best used for.
Initially, this was designed to be an upgrade from a previous model's magazine. So if you have something older than this model, this would be a good choice for an upgrade.
The magazine itself is made from high-quality materials that will ensure that it is durable and won’t easily become damaged if you happen to quickly release it and it hits a hard surface.
You want a magazine that’s built to last from the inside, out. If any of these characteristics and features check off the wishlist of your ideal product, you might like the Magpul PMAG magazine.
Bottom Line
The Magpul has proven itself to be a very reliable 20-count magazine that can be used for just about any purpose.
Despite claims of it not being a drop-free magazine, this has highly durable materials that will resist any damage, should you happen to accidentally drop it on the floor or some other hard surface. If you’re looking for something that’s tough and can hold a good deal of AR-10 ammo, then this might be worth the investment.
6. D&H .308 AR-10 "Retro" SR25 20 Round Steel Magazine
Pros
Cons
Now, we’ll be looking at another AR-10 magazine for the budget shopper. We take pride in finding products that are not only top-notch in quality, but affordable for most budgets. We’ve decided to go with the D&H .308 AR-10 “Retro” SR25 20 Round Steel Magazine.
One thing that you’ll notice about this is that it has a Teflon-coated exterior, which means this puppy will be difficult, if not impossible, to damage. Who knows...Teflon doesn’t allow anything to stick anyways.
Other than that, this holds up to 20 rounds of your favorite AR-style rounds. So, you can use it for just about any kind of purpose for an AR rifle, including hunting, target practice, and even competition shooting.
This is made to take on anything weather related. Plus, if you drop it on the floor or a hard surface, it won’t break. In other words, the thing is just darn near indestructible. This proves that it’s not a cheap, low-quality type of magazine. If you’re looking for a product that is built to last and won’t break the bank, the D&H magazine might be the best investment you’ll make.
Bottom Line
For a budget product like this, the D&H magazine is quite impressive. This is low in price and very high in quality. This is exactly what you'll want to look for in a magazine, especially if you're on a budget. So, if that fits your personal criteria, then, by all means, choose this product.
At 20 rounds, you can use this for just about any purpose. Besides, you don't actually need this many rounds in order to use something a product like this. Add on as many as you'll need and you'll be good to go for a day at the range or a day out in the hunting field.
Best From Magpul:
Magpul - AR .308 20rd Pmag Lr/Sr Gen M3 Magazine
Pros
Cons
Finally, we’ll be taking a look at our last AR-10 magazine. And for this, we’ll be sticking with the Magpul brand. If you are someone that knows and trusts the Magpul brand quite well, then you’ll love one of their latest magazines. This is an AR .308 20-round PMAG magazine.
This 20-round count magazine is designed for almost any purpose that you can think of. Aside from that, the body of the magazine is made from polymer, which of course means that it will be a tough little unit that won’t easily get damaged.
Not only is this a great magazine for AR-10s, but this is also compatible with other rifles like the .308 Winchester. If you’re looking for a magazine that will best fit your AR-10 and your .308 Winchester, you’d be insane not to get two so you have one for each.
Bottom Line
If you're looking for a magazine from a brand that you can trust like MagPul, then this magazine might be your best choice. A lot of gun owners tend to buy accessories based on the name alone.
If you're a first time user and want a brand name to give a try, then Magpul might be worth the closer look. Who knows? You might love it so much, it may be the only brand you'll go with.
Conclusion
Finding the best AR-10 magazine is no easy task. If you know what to look for and have some personal preferences, then the search may not be so tough. No matter how many rounds you’ll need, it’s important to find a magazine that will last you a long time and will be reliable for as long as you use it.
