FAB Defense Ultimag for VZ.58 Torture Test -- spoiler: FAIL

[CitizenPete]

https://youtu.be/p_TB4lIhyyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ52rUm-yFo

[vblue42]

Anyone that's been paying attention to the Magpul AK mag dilemma should have seen this coming. Seriously surplus mags are still easy to get and we know they work. Why are people so crazy for these things when I knew they were garbage before this test.

[Orpheus]

Thanks for sharing, Pete.
To echo what vblue42 said, I think it's quite clear at this point that rock n' lock mags absolutely need to have metal reinforcements along the lips and lugs. I highly suspected that it would turn out exactly the way you posted.

[RSR]

Great videos CP.  Thanks for doing these.

One item to note -- the base plates look like they were designed to work with the AR15 version's mag couplers -- mako sells the 2 mag coupler and 5 mag coupler for reduced capacity mag states...

[TJNewton]

Great videos.  Thanks very much.

Have you done the same torture tests with original aluminum VZ58 mags?  I would expect them to do much better than the polymer, but probably not as well as steel AK mags.

[Brasky]

Anyone that's been paying attention to the Magpul AK mag dilemma should have seen this coming. Seriously surplus mags are still easy to get and we know they work. Why are people so crazy for these things when I knew they were garbage before this test.

+1. While it's nice to see a company come out with new parts for our platform, I don't see why anyone would want plastic mags for the VZ when surplus aluminum mags cost the same and weigh about the same. The aluminum mags have been proven over and over for years

[CitizenPete]

Great videos CP.  Thanks for doing these.

One item to note -- the base plates look like they were designed to work with the AR15 version's mag couplers -- mako sells the 2 mag coupler and 5 mag coupler for reduced capacity mag states...

Well that makes more sense if the rail is used with a coupler.  I was trying to think of a practical application for the rail.

Strangely enough, all the other reviews of these mags have all been positive.  Search Youtube and you'll find them.  Zahal has been commenting "great review" etc on these vlog posts, which one would surmise is driven primarily by profit motive associated with moving product out of inventory.

I like the Ultimag design and aesthetics, esp. the side window w/round count, but they are still:

• Not durable and plastic obviously fail locking lugs FAIL drop tests.
• I couldn't do the table top slam test since the 2 mags I has were already done for.
• Count as 3 - 922R foreign parts with a propriety base plate and follower design that cant be replaced with US parts to reduce the count.  I have about 25 surplus mags converted to 1 - 922R count (mag body) by replacing follower and base plate.
• No more corrosion resistant than OEM surplus mags.
• More expensive than OEM surplus mags.

Good range/plinking mags, IMO, but I wouldn't stock up on them. 

I was thinking about rebuilding/reinforcing the locking lugs off the future with a metal type epoxy (JB weld type) to see if that would work. Trivia. 

I have a medium sized bin of OEM surplus mags, including a 10 pack or two still in original factory paper and plastic. These still appear to work well. 

[RSR]

+1. While it's nice to see a company come out with new parts for our platform, I don't see why anyone would want plastic mags for the VZ when surplus aluminum mags cost the same and weigh about the same. The aluminum mags have been proven over and over for years

Looking at all other mags on the market back in 1950 and even today, the VZ58 mags are exemplary in regards to impact durability, corrosion durability, weight, continuous curve for reliable feeding, etc.  I also believe the rock to lock mag system is a more secure mag locking system than straight insertion (and IMO, though haven't done side by side, the VZ58 seems to require a shorter rock than the AK, which also makes mag changes a little faster).  Granted, mag releasing on ARs w/ drop free is a little faster, but Krebs did a spring loaded release on the AK and no reason it can't be done here.  Insertion takes about the same time with either IMO, especially if done properly with a seat/insert and then tug...  Rock and lock also makes it much easier to seat a fully loaded mag w/o needing to download like in ARs...

Further, AR mags have really only been "fixed" through private sector innovation in 2000s, after the start of the GWOT, and after the 2004 expiration of the Clinton Assault Weapons ban that limited mags to 10 rounds...  Recognizing that mag related failures are the primary cause of malfunctions w/ that weapon system (75-90% depending on who you ask), the importance of good magazines should not be understated...