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AW vs AICS Magazines - Preference or Performance?

A

Areeves08

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 5, 2013
154
17
Canton, OH
I understand the differences and similarities between the two types of AI double stack/staggered round magazines, but there is one question I have that doesn't seem to be answered in any of the mag differences discussion. Given an action and DMB are compatible with both the AW and AICS magazines, would either perform more reliably than the other?

My intuition says that feeding from the center of the magazine on a bolt action is the way to go. With a better initial alignment between the round and barrel, the easier it should chamber and the less likely it is to get hung up.

The benefit I see to the AW over the AICS is that the 10rnd is significantly shorter/more compact. That could come in handy when loading the magazine from uneven terrain.

Am I on the right track? I'm still a few weeks out from receiving my .260, but I want to have all the ancillary items taken care of.
 
The AW's also do not have a front plate like the AICS magazines do. You can load a little longer with an AW. I think if the gun is set up correctly both magazines will feed 100% reliably. Also most of the AW's will actually hold 11 rounds.
 
The setup I've got coming is a SAC Alpha 11 Action with Black Ops Precision DBM. Both say they are compatible with either magazine.
 
I've heard internet chatter of AW magazines "erupting" cartridges out unexpectedly, but I've not seen it. Rumor is when "slamming" magazine into the mag well will cause it, but even trying to make it happen, I've not been able to duplicate the concern.

I HAVE ever dropped a loaded AW and had a round pop out, and I've ever had one pop out while in my mag holster (I keep mags upside down), but it's very ocassional.

In terms of feeding - I've never had any issue at all with the M2008 and M2013 actions I use. This action is specifically intended for AWs though, with AICS compatibility being a bonus. Perhaps a Remington (or clone thereof) isn't really "cut out" (perfect pun) for AWs though.

In my mind, if AW magazines were lousy in general, the "best sniper rifle in the world" probably wouldn't use them....!

I love AW magazines.
 
Also, bear in mind AW magazines are less versatile than AICS. Cartridges dissimilar to 308 should be carefully considered before running in AWs.

Examples: 22-250 have so much body taper, they fit loosely and wiggle around. 284 flat out doesn't fit. 243/260/7mm08 Ackleys shoulder will rub on the reinforcement rib of the magazine and tend to bind. You get the idea...
 
I love the AW mags as they are easier to load, allow a longer OAL length without modification, you can top them up with the mag still in the gun, and the double stack design is awesome.

That being said, I could see where the AICS might be a little easier to get feeding reliably out of a rifle. Both are great mag designs, but the AW style mags have become my choice for future builds.
 
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HodgdonExtreme said:
Rumor is when "slamming" magazine into the mag well will cause it, but even trying to make it happen, I've not been able to duplicate the concern.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, I have experienced that problem- with AICS mags. I ran a Rem 700 in .308 in a 3 gun match last year and had feeding issues. Turns out I was slamming them in too hard with the bolt open and the top round was rising up and getting pinched between the feed lips. It happened randomly among the 5 mags I had until I figured out what was going on. Closed bolt or slightly less violent loading and I was fine. I've never had the problem before or since with the same mags, but I've never run them quite that hard either.

Ended up around 10% down in the pack of around 85 shooters, but I was in rare form with the shotgun that weekend.
 
Well, before I spend too much $$ on mags, I think I'll try the the AW's first do to their compactness. If they don't function as I'd like, I'll pick up some AICS ones.
 
I couldn't find it anywhere, but just want to make sure you know a rem 700 will not work with AW mags without heavy modification of the feed ramp and widening the cut on the action.

That being said, the biggest concern with AW mags is proper height of magazine in relation to action, you have a very small window where you present the proper amount of case to the bolt for it to reliably pick it up. A properly setup AW mag system will also feed AICS mags perfectly.

As mentioned, easier to load, longer oal, more compact, and welded bottom so the mag doesn't explode into pieces when dropped.
 
One advantage of the staggered magazine is that you can top off the magazine through the ejection port without removing it.
 
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