Sunday 27 March 2022

Gen 2 Vs Gen 3 Pmags: A Practical perspective from a Canadian Point of View

It is often assumed that a generational jump is an improvement that is natural and needed to make the product perform better.

But this does not necessarily hold true with Pmags.  Specter Arms continues to carry both Gen 2 and Gen 3 Pmags because their subtle differences actually translate into changes in performance.  And depending on your firearm, those performance characteristics can get worse or better with the later generation of Pmag.  Sometimes, a generational change doesn’t impact performance at all so it makes sense to go with what is less expensive.


The quick and fast rule is this:

In Canada, if you are running any firearm that is not listed below, either Pmag generation works equally well.  Specter Arms sells windowed Gen 3 Pmags or non-windowed, Gen 2 Pmags.  The deciding factor is cost and the window.

But if you are running a WK180C or WS-MCR, Gen 2 Pmags do not work well; pick the Gen 3.

If you are running a Benelli MR1, Gen 3 Pmags do not work well; pick the Gen 2.

If you are running an early generation of the Type 97, neither work well.