I'm eagerly awaiting my newly purchased m11 and want to stock up on things like a new slow fire upper and mags while I wait. Would you all recommend the plastic zytel mags or the steel usmachinegun metal conversions? Or something else.

Z-mags.

Or at least, that's what all the cool kids are using.

Z mags are ok for short term if your willing to fix them and tinker. I went will all steel south African mags. I put about a 30 degree shoulder cut on the catch area. Polished all working surfaces and cut back the feed lips. These are just enhancements not all are necessary. Those mags just don't fail at all. Down side is expense and weight. Along time ago a gun outlet had them for sale at 5$ a mag I bought 200 and never will need another mag. But I see them from 20-50$ if you can find them.

I think there are some upgrades to the Zmags nowadays. But all 10 that I have are broken and warn down and useless.

I bought a bunch of zytels when they were selling new for $8 a couple years back. I only use ten or so at a time and if one did start to fail I tossed it or scavenged the components for the parts bin. Still use my PAM mags every now then to keep them alive I bought so many mags when I first got my gun four years ago my stash is still pretty good. I don't get to shoot as much as I would like no where to go shoot FA. Still have most the plastics left they have been worth the money. If you can pick any of the mags up cheap and they are new(ish) I wouldn't pass them up. Haven't had to buy any of the Zmags yet. If I needed mags that is what I would buy today.

Also probably goes with out saying but I don't keep the magazines loaded unless I'm going to the range the in the next couple of days. I have heard differing views from gunsmiths, metallurgists, active duty as to what wears out a mag more quickly, I.E. Being loaded for an extended period of time or frequent use. No one seems to agree, so I error on the side of caution and leave them unloaded.

m40a1308m, you can't be talking about the Shockwave ZMAG...There is no "tinkering" with these. They are new high quality steel mags made for the M11. As far as I'm concerned there is no other choice when you want the best mag available for the M11. Conversions don't come close.

Shockwave technologies ZMAG. All steel and fit and function has been great in my gun.

I thought you guys were talking about the Zytel (plastic) mags too.

I did the modifications to the PAM2 mags like mentioned.

I'm not sure which rock I've been under, but I didn't know the Shockwave Technologies Z-MAG existed.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, now I'll have to order some. Having a mag stop finally, will be a good thing.

Awesome! I ordered a bunch of the shockwave mags. Can't wait to test them out.

Sorry, I could have been clearer, I meant the shockwave Z-Mags, not Zytels.

ZMAG fit and fire great on my M11/9 sub gun.

Shockwave Z-mags for the win. Beautiful fit and function.

I was referring to ZYTEL mags. The ZMAGs look nice and I might give one a try.