Elevate Your Ruger P-Series Performance: The Definitive Guide to Enhanced Magazine Reliability

For owners of the legendary Ruger P85, P89, P93, P94, and P95 9mm pistols, finding a magazine that matches the robust dependability of their firearm is crucial. Whether you're a dedicated competitive shooter, a self-defense enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys extended range sessions, the quality of your magazine directly impacts your pistol's performance. When considering an upgrade or seeking reliable spares, one name consistently rises to the top for its exceptional quality and proven track record: Mec-Gar.

This comprehensive guide delves into the specifics of the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N 17-round 9mm Luger magazine, engineered to perfectly complement your Ruger P-series pistol. We'll explore why this particular magazine is an indispensable accessory for enhancing reliability, increasing capacity, and ensuring a smoother shooting experience.

Why Your Magazine Choice Matters: More Than Just a Box for Bullets

Many shooters underestimate the critical role a magazine plays in the overall function of a semi-automatic pistol. It's the primary interface between your ammunition and the firearm's feeding system. A high-quality magazine ensures consistent cartridge presentation, smooth feeding, and reliable cycling. Conversely, a subpar or worn-out magazine is often the root cause of common pistol malfunctions such as failures to feed, failures to eject, and double feeds.

For Ruger P-series owners, who appreciate the rugged design and enduring performance of their firearms, pairing them with a magazine of equivalent quality is paramount. The MEC-GAR MGRP8517N is designed precisely for this purpose, offering an upgrade that can significantly enhance your pistol’s capabilities.

Addressing Common Questions for Ruger P-Series Owners:

• "What's the best high-capacity magazine for my Ruger P89?" The MEC-GAR MGRP8517N stands out as an excellent choice, offering a 17-round capacity, which is a significant increase over standard factory magazines, without compromising reliability.
• "How can I improve the feeding reliability of my Ruger P95?" Often, feeding issues stem from worn or low-quality magazines. Upgrading to a new, precisely engineered magazine like the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N can dramatically resolve these problems, ensuring smooth cartridge delivery into the chamber.
• "Do Ruger P85 magazines interchange with other P-series models?" Yes, the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N is specifically designed for cross-compatibility with the Ruger P85, P89, P93, P94, and P95 models chambered in 9mm Luger, making it a versatile option for owners of multiple P-series pistols.
• "Where can I find reliable, extended magazines for my Ruger P-series pistol?" The MEC-GAR MGRP8517N is a widely recognized and trusted option, available from reputable dealers like DEGuns, ensuring you receive an authentic, high-performance product.

The MEC-GAR MGRP8517N: A Deep Dive into Performance and Durability

Mec-Gar has a global reputation as a premier magazine manufacturer, producing magazines for many of the world's leading firearm companies, often serving as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for renowned brands. This deep expertise translates directly into the quality of their aftermarket offerings, including the MGRP8517N.

Key Features and Engineering Excellence:

1. Extended 17-Round Capacity:
   • This magazine extends your firepower, providing two additional rounds compared to typical 15-round standard capacity magazines. For self-defense scenarios, this increased capacity offers a crucial advantage, potentially allowing for more engagements before a necessary reload. In competitive shooting, fewer reloads mean faster stage times. For range practice, it translates to more shooting and less time spent reloading, making your training sessions more efficient and enjoyable.
2. Robust Nickel Finish:
   • The MGRP8517N features a durable nickel finish. This coating provides superior corrosion resistance compared to traditional blued or phosphated magazines, protecting against rust and wear, even in challenging environments or during prolonged storage. The slick surface also contributes to smoother insertion and removal from the magazine well, as well as easier cleaning.
3. High-Quality Construction Materials:
   • Each magazine is crafted from heat-treated carbon steel, a material known for its exceptional strength and resilience. This ensures the magazine body can withstand the rigors of consistent use, drops, and impacts without deforming.
   • Inside, a high-tensile strength spring maintains consistent pressure on the follower, crucial for reliable feeding over thousands of cycles. This spring is designed to resist "taking a set" even when stored fully loaded for extended periods, a common concern with lesser quality springs.
   • The anti-tilt follower, typically made from a durable polymer, guides cartridges smoothly into the feed lips, minimizing friction and preventing nose-diving or other feeding anomalies.
4. Flawless Compatibility:
   • Designed specifically for Ruger P85, P89, P93, P94, and P95 9mm Luger pistols, this magazine ensures a precise fit and reliable function. This means no wobbling, no excessive play, and consistent lock-up within your firearm's magazine well.
5. Detachable Design:
   • As a detachable box magazine, it allows for quick and efficient reloads, essential for both tactical applications and recreational shooting.

The Operational Advantage: Real-World Scenarios

Investing in high-quality magazines like the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N offers tangible benefits across various shooting disciplines and real-world applications.

For Self-Defense and Home Protection:

In a critical self-defense situation, every round counts, and absolute reliability is non-negotiable. An extended capacity magazine like the 17-round MEC-GAR provides additional rounds, potentially crucial in a multi-threat scenario or when faced with an unexpected number of aggressors. More importantly, the robust construction and precise engineering ensure that your firearm will feed reliably when your life depends on it. A failure to feed at a critical moment can have dire consequences, making magazine quality a top priority for any defensive firearm.

For Range Training and Skill Development:

Spend less time reloading and more time honing your shooting skills. With a 17-round capacity, you'll experience fewer interruptions during drills, allowing for more continuous practice on fundamentals like sight alignment, trigger control, and recoil management. This not only enhances your training efficiency but also makes your range sessions more enjoyable. Reliable magazines also help diagnose legitimate firearm issues versus magazine-induced malfunctions, ensuring your troubleshooting is accurate.

For Competitive Shooting:

Competitive shooters constantly seek advantages to shave seconds off their times. An extended capacity magazine means fewer reloads per stage, which can be a significant advantage in disciplines like USPSA or IDPA. The smooth nickel finish and precision engineering of the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N contribute to faster, more confident magazine changes, helping you maintain your focus on the target and transition between shooting positions fluidly.

Understanding and Maintaining Your Pistol Magazines

To ensure the longevity and continued reliability of your MEC-GAR MGRP8517N magazines, proper care and maintenance are essential. While magazines are designed to be robust, they are also wear items and require occasional attention.

Anatomy of a High-Quality Magazine:

• Magazine Body (Tube): The primary structure, typically made from steel or polymer, which holds the cartridges. The MEC-GAR MGRP8517N's heat-treated carbon steel body offers exceptional durability.
• Follower: A component inside the magazine that pushes the cartridges upward. Anti-tilt followers, like those found in Mec-Gar magazines, are crucial for consistent feeding, preventing cartridges from nose-diving or tilting inside the tube.
• Spring: The coiled wire spring that provides upward pressure on the follower and cartridges. A high-tensile spring, as used by Mec-Gar, resists compression fatigue, maintaining its strength over time.
• Baseplate: The removable bottom cap that retains the spring and follower, allowing for disassembly for cleaning and maintenance.

Essential Magazine Care Tips:

1. Regular Cleaning: Over time, carbon fouling, gunpowder residue, and even dirt can accumulate inside the magazine, particularly around the follower and spring. Disassemble your magazines periodically (refer to your firearm's manual or general magazine maintenance guides for safe disassembly) and clean the components with a nylon brush and a gun cleaning solvent.
2. Lubrication (Minimal): Most modern magazines, especially those with nickel finishes, require very little internal lubrication. A very light, almost dry film lubricant on the spring can reduce friction, but excessive oil can attract debris and lead to feeding issues.
3. Spring Inspection: Inspect the spring for any signs of kinking, bending, or significant loss of tension. While Mec-Gar springs are designed for longevity, continuous use can eventually cause wear. If you notice a reduction in spring strength or start experiencing feeding problems, consider replacing the spring.
4. Follower Check: Ensure the follower moves freely within the magazine body and is not cracked or chipped. An anti-tilt follower should maintain its orientation throughout its travel.
5. Feed Lip Integrity: The feed lips at the top of the magazine are crucial for correctly presenting the cartridge to the chamber. Inspect them for any bending, cracks, or damage. Damaged feed lips are a primary cause of feeding malfunctions and usually necessitate magazine replacement.
6. Proper Storage: Store magazines empty when possible to relieve spring tension, though high-quality springs like Mec-Gar's are designed to be stored loaded without significant degradation. Keep them in a dry environment to prevent corrosion.

Choosing the Right Magazine: OEM vs. Aftermarket Considerations

When selecting magazines for your Ruger P-series, you'll encounter both Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket options. Mec-Gar occupies a unique and highly respected position in this landscape.

While "OEM" magazines are those produced by the firearm manufacturer themselves, Mec-Gar often manufactures these very magazines for many major gun companies. This means that an "aftermarket" Mec-Gar magazine, like the MGRP8517N, frequently meets or even exceeds the quality of factory-branded magazines, often at a more competitive price point.

What to look for in any magazine, whether OEM or aftermarket:

• Material Quality: Heat-treated steel is preferred for durability.
• Spring Quality: High-tensile, durable springs are non-negotiable for reliability.
• Follower Design: Anti-tilt followers are superior for consistent feeding.
• Fit and Finish: A snug fit in the magazine well and a smooth finish indicate good manufacturing tolerances.
• Reputation: Choose brands with a proven track record for reliability and quality control, like Mec-Gar.

Legal Considerations for High-Capacity Magazines

It's important to be aware of the laws regarding magazine capacity in your specific jurisdiction. While the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N offers a 17-round capacity, some states and localities have restrictions on magazines holding more than a certain number of rounds (e.g., 10 or 15 rounds). Always verify your local and state laws before purchasing or possessing high-capacity magazines. Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

The MEC-GAR Advantage for Your Ruger P-Series

Mec-Gar's commitment to precision engineering, quality materials, and rigorous testing ensures that their magazines deliver consistent, dependable performance. For Ruger P-series owners, the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N 17-round 9mm Luger magazine represents a significant upgrade or a reliable spare that will enhance your pistol's functionality. Its durable nickel finish, robust steel construction, and extended capacity make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to maximize their shooting experience, whether for self-defense, training, or sport.

When you're ready to equip your Ruger P85, P89, P93, P94, or P95 with a magazine that truly matches its legendary reliability, the MEC-GAR MGRP8517N is the definitive answer. This high-performance accessory is readily available at DEGuns, ensuring you can acquire this essential upgrade with confidence.

Feature	Description	Compatibility
Model Number	MEC-GAR MGRP8517N	Ruger P85, P89, P93, P94, P95
Caliber	9mm Luger
Capacity	17 Rounds
Finish	Nickel
Material	Heat-Treated Carbon Steel
Follower	Anti-Tilt Polymer
Spring	High-Tensile Strength
Type	Detachable Pistol Magazine
UPC	765595441312