Whether you use an AR 15 for hunting, sport shooting, or self defense, having extra AR 15 magazines is always recommended. Since magazines operate with compressed springs, they wear down over time, resulting in feeding malfunctions that are frustrating to clear and fix. Instead, if you have plenty of extra AR 15 magazines, you can remove the rounds from a faulty one and load a new one, preventing issues. Plus, having more than the one or two that came with the weapon is useful because you can reload easily and have extras ready for training drills and other scenarios.
Generally, the magazines that come with your rifle when you purchase it will fit and work the best with the weapon. However, if yours did not come with any or you need replacement magazines, the Magpul PMag and Pro Mag magazines are some of the top sellers. Both of these are made from durable polymer to lower the overall weight of the weapon while protecting your rounds.
Generally, the answer is yes. As long as you are using a mil-spec lower receiver, any AR 15 magazine that is chambered in .223 or 5.56x45mm NATO will fit with any lower receiver that matches the chamber. This is to ensure consistency and easy usage. However, if you have an AR 15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel, .300 Blackout, or another caliber, these must be used in a lower receiver with the proper chamber.
The most common size for AR 15 magazines is a 30 round option. This is the standard size that is available in most states in the United States. The second most common is a 10 round magazine, which is the maximum size allowed in states like California, Colorado, and Illinois. On the other end of the spectrum, you can find drum magazines that hold 50 or more rounds, although they tend to be more expensive.
We have a wide variety of AR 15 magazines available here at OpticsPlanet. Some of our top sellers are from well-known, trusted brands, like CMMG and TRYBE Defense.