Magpul Glock PMag 17 GL9  magazines, is it live or is it Magpul

I spoke to Magpul at the 2015 SHOT show and really wanted to try out their new PMag 17 GL9 for the fullsize Glock 17. They also offer PMag 15 GL9 which is a flush fit for the Glock 19. Now the PMag 17 GL9 is compatible with all double stack 9mm Luger Glocks but does protrude a bit from the compact and subcompact.

The magazines were released and shortly after Magpul volunteered to recall them due to minor feed issues on the G19 and G 26. The full story can be found on their facebook page. They were very good about it, got the issue corrected and made good with the folks who bought the first generation. I got a couple of updated magazines in the mail in the beginning of July and pressed them right into service.

Initial Range Trip

Magpul-1

I took both magazines out and ran them through my Glock 17, with a Lonewolf barrel as well as the factory barrel and a Glock 19, and a Glock 26, all factory. After running each magazine several times without issue from either pistol

PMag-6

PMag-3 PMag-4

Factory Glock magazine                                    Magpul PMag 17 GL9

I took some measurements and weighed them. You can see the 17 GL9 weights 770 gr and the factory Glock magazine weights 1187gr, a difference of 414 gr. I did make a math error on the video while trying to add the difference in my head.

I loaded one magazine full and left the other empty and let them sit for a month to see if any problems will show up, periodically taking them out and shooting them, and reloading each as they were before. You can see the 17 GL9 on the right has the same ambidextrous cut as the Gen 4 Glock magazines, so if you are a southpaw and have switched your magazine catch around, the Magpul PMag 17 GL9 will still work with your pistol.

PMag-9 PMag-10

The 17 GL9 does not have the witness holes as the factory Glock magazine but it does have a single witness hole at the bottom right. When you see your brass in the window you know the magazine is loaded to capacity, as denoted by the 17 beside the window.

PMag-7

After a month of being loaded and used through about 100 rounds one Magpul 17 GL9 magazine feed lips measured .333″ and the one I shot about 250 rounds but was store unloaded the feed lips measured .331″, so the difference is .002″ which is nothing. The factory Glock magazines I measures averaged .339″

PMag-5

Here you see how far the 17 GL9 sticks below the receiver of the Glock 26, Gen 4 but function was just fine

 

Second Range Trip  

 

Conclusions

If you are looking on stocking up on magazines for your double stack Glock pistols, be it the 17, 19,or 26 and are on a budget the Magpul PMag GL9 is a viable option. Proving to be as reliable as factory magazines, a shade lighter, and about half the price to me it is worth giving them a try. You will notice in the video the PMag 17 GL9 dropped free from all of the Glocks, even when empty. Though I have only been testing them about a month with about 350 rounds through both, one with about 100 and the other about 250, so far I have experienced any issues. I will continue to leave the one loaded and carry and shoot them on a regular basis and will report back from time to time. The fact the GL9 has a little thicker base pad, it worked will with my Glock 17 and the shallow magazine well I use to speed up my reloads, though the current magazine extensions do not work with the PMag 17 GL9. I believe Magpul did well with this one. For the review on the Magpul PMag 15 GL9 please follow this link. 

Specifications

The PMag 17 GL9 is a 17-round Glock 9mm handgun magazine featuring a new proprietary all-polymer construction. High visibility controlled-tilt follower, stainless steel spring, easily removable floorplate for cleaning, paint pen dot matrix for mag marking, ridged floorplate edges for better grip, and 17rd indicator windows. Drops free loaded or unloaded.The PMag 17 GL9 is compatible with all full-size 9mm Glock handguns, as well as compact and sub-compact variants with some protrusion below the grip. Made in U.S.A.

  • Compatible with all full-size, compact, and sub-compact 9mm Glock handguns
  • Durable, lightweight, and extremely stiff polymer construction
  • High visibility controlled-tilt follower
  • Long life stainless steel spring for corrosion resistance
  • Flared, easily removable floor plate
  • Dot matrix panel for magazine marking and identification
  • Full magazine indicator windows on both sides of body
  • Drops free loaded or unloaded

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

8 thoughts on “Magpul PMag 17 GL 9 Glock magazine, is it live or is it Magpul”
  1. what are the availability of these as I have not seen them around or maybe I have not looked hard enough.On average what are they running for price per mag. Also are these mags compatible with finger grip extensions? such as pierce or hough specifically zeroing in on the G26

    1. I have seen some at my local gunstore and Midway USA has them in stick, and they run around $15-$17 from what I have seen.
      The magazine and grip extensions out now will not work with the Magpul PMag 17 GL9.

  2. Have you tried drop tests? The one thing that is great about the stock Glock mags is the abuse it can take. I never saw issues with it being dropped and getting dirty. Is it time for you to do dirty test?

      1. You could get even more extreme. I watched another guy testing Magpul AR mags and another vendor. He would throw them up and let them land on asphalt/concrete, shot them, ran them over. Surprising both mags did quite well. I am hoping Magpul continues with this kind of quality with Glock mag.

  3. […] It was before SHOT Show 2016 that  Magpul sent me a couple of their PMag GL9 magazines to try out and review.  It was last year I reviewed the PMag GL 17 for full size Glocks and they were solid magazines that worked and gave no trouble. You can read that review by following this link. […]

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