A2 Mags in an A1?

[ShipDate]

Ran into something strange today. A friend and I were at the range and he has an older Colt AR with an A-1 upper. I am not sure of the vintage but from what he said about it I am guessing the rifle was built in the late 70's-early 80's maybe?
Anyway, none of the mags that we had would work in the rifle. The bolt would go about halfway home and stop, yet without a mag and shooting single shot it worked just fine. I have a newer DPMS and all of the mags worked fine in my rifle.
So my question is: Is there a difference in magazines from the A1 days to now? Also the A1 had a silver bolt carrier instead of black. I know that is vague but perhaps it was the bolt carrier?
Just curious. Thanks!

[Ranger]

I know that I cannot use the polymer mags in my A2, they do the same thing, they don't seat all the way. I was going to modify them but just picked up a bunch of steel magazines and sold off the polymers.

[rammit]

I have steel GI's, aluminium mags and magpuls and both work in my dmps A2 and my m4gery

[Quib]

So my question is: Is there a difference in magazines from the A1 days to now? Also the A1 had a silver bolt carrier instead of black. I know that is vague but perhaps it was the bolt carrier?
Just curious. Thanks!

Magazine specs have not changed between the days of the issued A1 rifle and the adoption of the A2.

As far as having what I believe you are describing as a chrome bolt carrier, this should not matter either. The chrome bolt carriers and those that are parkerized are interchangeable and share the same basic dimensions as well.

What brand of magazine were you using?

[ShipDate]

What brand of magazine were you using?

Sorry for the late response. Some are marked "NHMTG/Hartford, CT" and some are "D&H Industries." Both are metal 30-round GI-type.
My friend had a 20 round GI type mag but don't know the brand.


I really should have taken a look inside his rifle to see what might have been going on. I didn't think there was a difference in mags or bolt carriers. For all I know something wasn't put together right.

[Paladin]

I have an A-1 Colt Sporter II that was made in the '60s, and while I haven't shot it a great deal, it has fed ammo from both aluminum and poly mags w/o a problem.
Just my .223 cents worth,
Dave
[Luck][AR15]

[AGC]

Sorry for the late response. Some are marked "NHMTG/Hartford, CT" and some are "D&H Industries." Both are metal 30-round GI-type.
My friend had a 20 round GI type mag but don't know the brand.


I really should have taken a look inside his rifle to see what might have been going on. I didn't think there was a difference in mags or bolt carriers. For all I know something wasn't put together right.


Might be the magazine catch not being properly adjusted? Letting the magazine ride too high into the well and catching on the bottom of the bolt carrier.

Some lower receivers have issues with non-GI mags as the dimensions of the well are not quite correct. But that shouldn't be a problem with a Colt lower; that's pretty much the standard that magazines were intended to fit.

Shouldn't be a bolt carrier issue either. Different manufacturers have made changes to the bolt carrier, but so far as I know the front of the lower bolt carrier---the part that seems to be hanging up here---should be the same on all variants. And, again, as a Colt rifle it should be the standard that the others were cloned from.

There's a chance it could be the hammer catching on the bottom of the bolt carrier. A magazine in the rifle might be causing enough drag to slow the bolt carrier group and allow the hammer to catch it. Check the gas rings on the bolt while you're at it; if they're worn the bolt may be moving slow even before the magazine adds friction.

But check the magazine catch first, it's quick and easy.