In the world of firearms, innovation is key, and Magpul has once again proven to be a trailblazer with the introduction of the AMAG™ 17 SG9™ for the SIG Sauer P320/M17 family of pistols. This product marks the beginning of a new line of Magpul alloy magazines for pistols.
According to the GunBroker.com 2023 Top 10 Best Selling Handguns report, the SIG P320 has once again secured its position as the second highest-selling handgun for the second consecutive year. The only handgun to outrank it was the SIG P365.
The SIG P320 is an extremely popular choice of handgun across a wide range of sectors. It has been adopted by all branches of the United States military, law enforcement agencies, professional marksmen and everyday consumers. Its popularity extends globally, with numerous military units worldwide also adopting it. The SIG P320 is notable for its modular design. It is also recognized for its accuracy and reliability.
The Shift from Polymer to Stainless Steel
Traditionally, Magpul has been known for its polymer magazines. However, as many modern pistols are designed around metal magazines, the use of polymer magazines has presented challenges. The narrower magazine wells leave no room for sufficient magazine wall thickness in a polymer magazine for it to fit and function reliably to Magpul standards.
In response to this, Magpul has made a significant shift. It has replaced polymer with stainless steel in the new AMAG line, ensuring the same reliability that users have come to expect. The name AMAG is coined from “alloy” and “magazine.”
Features of the AMAG 17 SG9
The AMAG 17 SG9 is a 17-round 9mm magazine that features a heat-treated stainless-steel body with polymer sub-components. The firearm magazine is equipped with many of Magpul’s time-tested features.
- High-visibility, controlled-tilt polymer follower: The follower is engineered to maintain a consistent angle as it moves up and down within the magazine. This consistency prevents the follower from tilting or jamming, which could cause feeding issues and potentially lead to a malfunction in the firearm. By controlling the tilt of the follower, the magazine can reliably feed ammunition into the firearm, even under rapid firing conditions. The follower is high-visibility orange, making it easy for users to visually confirm the presence and position of the follower. This can be particularly useful when checking the loading status of the magazine or diagnosing any potential issues.
- Stainless-steel spring: The stainless-steel construction provides strength and corrosion resistance and maintains its shape even after extensive use, ensuring reliable performance. This guarantees that the magazine continues to function effectively when it’s needed most.
- Flared, easily removable floorplate: This design feature facilitates removal for magazine maintenance and cleaning without the need for a special tool. Over time, magazines can accumulate dirt, dust and gunpowder residue, which can affect their performance. Being able to easily remove the floorplate allows for thorough cleaning of the interior components, helping to ensure reliable feeding of ammunition.
- Capacity indicators: These begin at the five-round mark and continue down the spine of the magazine in one-round increments, enabling users to conveniently track their ammunition count. This feature is particularly useful in high-stress or tactical situations where a quick glance can inform the user of the remaining ammunition. It eliminates the need to manually count or estimate the remaining rounds, thereby saving valuable time and reducing potential errors.
- Paint-pen dot matrix on the bottom: This is specifically designed for identification marking, allowing users to fill in the alphanumeric dot matrix guide with a paint pen. These markings can serve a variety of purposes. For example, users can mark their magazines with numbers or letters to distinguish them from each other, which can be particularly useful when multiple magazines are in use. This can help in quickly identifying a specific magazine or keeping track of usage. In a tactical or law enforcement context, these markings can also be used for inventory control or to designate magazines for specific types of ammunition.
Compatibility and Testing
The AMAG 17 SG9 is compatible with all P320/M17 frame sizes, including full-sized, compact and sub-compact variants. Before launching any product, Magpul conducts thorough and extensive testing to ensure quality and reliability.
Magpul provided me with five magazines for my own testing. I function tested each of the magazines with 115-, 124- and 147-grain JHP and FMJ 9mm rounds as these are the most common. Functioning was flawless as would be expected from a Magpul magazine. Although the magazine has a strong spring, I didn’t have any difficulty in loading my samples to full capacity, even when loading by hand. There were no failures to feed. Nor were there any failures of the slide to lock open after the last round. The magazines ejected smoothly from the pistol.
Should You Buy the Magpul AMAG 17 SG9?
The use of high-quality pistol magazines is paramount. The reliability of a firearm during critical moments can be a matter of life and death. Quality magazines ensure consistent feeding of ammunition, reducing the risk of malfunctions that could compromise safety. Investing in quality pistol magazines is money well spent.
With the introduction of the AMAG 17 SG9, Magpul continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and reliability. This new line of alloy magazines represents a significant step forward in the industry. It gives you the same reliability that has come to be expected in the polymer PMAGs.
The Magpul AMAG 17 SG9 is an outstanding magazine in all respects. You won’t find a better magazine for your SIG P320/M17. The AMAG 17 SG9 is very reasonably priced too, at only $34.95 MSRP. Magpul offers free shipping on orders over $75. It is made in the USA.
Sources
Magpul: Magpul.com
SIG Sauer: SIGSauer.com