Ok, let’s just get this out there first so there is no misunderstanding. This author does not support infringements on our 2A rights. Those rights hold up and defend all the other rights we have been so lavishly blessed with. As the vast majority of Americans are law abiding citizens, we detest the very notion we (the majority) should be penalized and have our rights infringed upon due to the actions of sick minded and criminally motivated people (the minority). 
Stripping away freedoms for perceived security results in neither a free nor a secure state. You are left with a neutered society, falsely assuming they are free and secure. Disarmed citizens are then unable to resist forced compliance regardless of the scale, be it a thug trying to do you harm or a tyrannical government (foreign or domestic) overstepping its authority. I mean, that’s never happened before, right? Oh wait…
Regardless, we live in a diverse country, made up of multiple states, some of which hold vastly different options on what a free society looks like. Some of those states will sacrifice freedoms for false security by restricting the gun rights of law abiding citizens, which we of course do not support. That being said, there are countless law abiding citizens living in those states whom enjoy the shooting sports and desire to have firearms in their position for a wide variety of lawful reasons.
We are not lawyers. We never claimed to be and never even played one on T.V. We swear, it’s the truth. So take the following information at face value and verify with your state laws prior to implementing the following information.
This author has lived in one of those non-free states, for a short period of time, during his military service two decades ago. While the weather in California is awesome, their gun laws are not. There are so many things that will make or break your AR-15 from a legal standpoint it can be mind-numbing. And dangerous. Seriously, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble if your AR is configured in an “evil” configuration and ignorance isn’t going to be an excuse. Hell, it’s almost like you need a flow chart to figure it out. Oh, wait here’s one, albeit still confusing to those not familiar with California State gun laws. One issue that comes up is magazine capacity and if the magazine is detachable (able to be removed) or fixed (non-removable) to the firearm.
One company is trying to help citizens navigate the cluster that is California firearms laws. CompMag has felt your pain and set out to create a magazine that can be used as either a fixed or detachable magazine based on state law requirements, however its intended design is for it to be non-detachable. For California, the magazine needs to be fixed (if the rifle has specific characteristics, verify with your state laws) as well as have a maximum capacity of ten rounds. Because why would anyone need more than 10 rounds, right? WTH? Anyway, if your rifle falls into the fixed magazine required category CompMag’s compliant magazine called, (you guessed it) the AR-15 CompMag should do the trick.
The CompMag is made of impact and crush resistant G.F. Nylon 6. Not sure exactly what that is, however it is extremely thick and feels like a tank. It holds a maximum of 10 rounds and comes with hardware to fix the magazine to the lower receiver. This is not a permanent modification and will not damage the lower.
Note, as this magazine is thicker and has some features a normal magazine doesn’t have it will not fit in lowers that have enhanced or unique magazine wells. During our test firing session we tried fitting it in the first AR we had within reach, which was using the new Fortis License lower. The CompMag would not seat. We then grabbed the next rifle that had an Aero M4E1 lower and the CompMag fit without issue.
So we like to see if we can operate things without instructions, within reason of course. We do this for two reasons. First we are lazy. Second, if the product is simple and intuitive it gets some extra points. The CompMag is one of those items where it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The first time we ever shot a rifle with the CompMag was right out of the box without any prior knowledge.
Step One: Insert the CompMag into a compatible lower.
Step Two: Fix CompMag to the lower (we skipped this step). Because we don’t live in a state that restricts magazine capacity (yet) we didn’t use the hardware to make the magazine fixed, rather it was the loading and firing sequence we wanted to examine. For those that need to fix the CompMag to the lower the process is simple utilizing a small locking tab, machine screw and some thread locker. Spare parts are available on their website.
Step Three: Remove spring tension using the integrated CNC turned charging handle. This lowers the follower and is locked into place at the bottom of the magazine.
Step Four: Slide open the side access cover.
Step Five: Tilt rifle so magazine is laying at an angle. This will make the rounds easier to load.
Step Six: Load up to ten 5.56 or .223 rounds into the magazine.
Step Seven: Close side access cover.
Step Eight: Release CompMag Charging Handle to release spring pressure, sending the first round to the top of the CompMag.
Step Nine: Charge the AR15 as one normally would.
Step Ten: Fire all ten rounds. The CompMag does have a round indicator in case you get confused counting to ten. Hey, it can happen. Once empty, the bolt will hold open after the last round. Rinse and repeat.
This process is not practical for any sport or defense situation where more than ten rounds are needed in a hurry and a magazine change is required. That being said, it is easy to do, and for the casual plinker, the CompMag should keep you within California’s magazine laws. Manual of arms will need to be modified somewhat to accommodate the CompMag. Obviously for reloads but also solving malfunctions.
Is the CompMag legal in other restrictive states? We aren’t touching that one. We recommend checking out their blog where they have lots of information, some of which addresses that question. We would also highly recommend checking with an attorney living in your state that is familiar with the legalities of firearm ownership in that state.
We appreciate the CompMag in regards to its ingenuity and uniqueness and the fact that it does give our fellow brothers and sisters in less-than-free states some more options in how to configure their AR type rifles without becoming an “evil, black, so-called-assault-rifle”. Apparently there is also an AK variant of the CompMag coming as well. All that being said, this guy is glad he doesn’t have to use one. We like our freedom loving, standard capacity, detachable magazines just fine, thank-you-very-much. But for all of you out there that can’t partake in standard, 30 round goodness, the CompMag may be the answer to your magazine woes. At $65 it’s not cheap compared to a detachable magazine and the fact that it only holds ten rounds kind of adds insult to injury, but you have to look at it a bit differently. You only need one magazine if it is fixed, so in a way it could be the last magazine you ever need. Sorry Californians. That probably stung a little.
Looking to purchase a CompMag, click here.
