Finding the best AR-15 magazine coupler might be a challenge. Thatโs because youโll be tasked with the responsibility of finding one through all the other low-quality and cheap models that are currently flooding the market. To serve as a starting point, weโve decided to compile a list of five of the best AR-15 magazine couplers that are currently hot on the market.
This will give you the opportunity to choose one that is high in quality and superior in performance. It will definitely give you more of an advantage over those who have ineffective magazine couplers.
Before we get to our list, weโll talk about what they are and the purpose that they serve. Weโll also give you a brief guide on what distinguishes a great magazine coupler from one that is considered crappy.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for AR-15 Magazine Couplers
- OUR TOP PICK: Magpul - AR-15/M16 PMag Mag-Link Magazine Coupler
- RUNNER-UP: Fab Defense - AR-15/M16 Magazine Coupler
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Lancer Systems - AR-15/M16 L5 Magazine Coupler
Comparison of the Best AR-15 Magazine Couplers
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What is a Magazine Coupler and What Are They Used For?
A magazine coupler is used to fit two AR-15 magazines together. This is designed to help you reload your AR-15 rifle with a lot more speed and efficiency. Plus, it will allow you to keep some extra ammo handy at all times regardless of what your application might be.
Magpul - AR-15 / M16 PMag Link Magazine Coupler
Whether youโre hunting, target practicing or using your AR-15 for competitive shooting purposes, a good magazine coupler is a convenience when you want to save yourself time rather than waste it by manually loading one magazine.
What Makes a Great Magazine Coupler?
The most important question asked is: what distinguishes a great magazine coupler from one that is considered low-quality and ineffective? This list below will answer that question in a few parts. This is something to refer to when youโre a first-time user of these magazine couplers. Youโll never have to worry about having to buy something that is disappointing and cheap. With that said, hereโs what distinguishes a good coupler from a bad one:
Material
Of course, the material is one of the most important aspects of any accessory. Thatโs because high-quality materials like polymer are designed to be tough and withstand all kinds of damage. The higher the material quality, the better it will last. Especially for years or even decades to come.
Installation
These magazine couplers are easy to install. This means you wonโt have to rely on the services of a professional gunsmith to get the job done for you. Also, you wonโt have to worry about the skill level that you have when it comes to gunsmithing skills. Luckily, all of these magazine couplers are all drop-in or easy to install.
Functionality
A great magazine coupler will allow you to be able to release magazines as quick and simple as possible. They will fasten and stay in place until you need them. While they are fastened, they will remain in place when youโre running or firing multiple rounds. So long as the screws or fasteners are tightened properly, you wonโt have to worry about losing your extra magazines.
Review of the Best AR-15 Magazine Couplers
Below is a list of five of the best AR-15 magazine couplers that are currently on the market. As you take a look at each of them, it is important to carefully note any features or abilities that they may have. While they share the same purpose, they are different in some aspects like the material or design.
Also, the pros and cons of each might come in handy so youโll know what to expect once you settle for a magazine coupler that you like. Now, letโs kick off our list with what we chose as our โbest overallโ magazine coupler:
Best Overall:
Magpul - AR-15/M16 PMag Mag-Link Magazine Coupler
Pros
Cons
First, weโll be taking a look at the Magpul AR-15/M16 PMag Magazine Coupler. If you have a couple of 30-round mags handy and need them at your disposal at any time, then this magazine coupler might be worth the investment. This is made from reinforced polymer and can fit almost any 30-round PMAG magazines.
Once you attach the magazines in place they will stay secure and wonโt wiggle at all. Even when youโre firing off your AR-15 they will stay in place and wonโt come loose. If youโre looking for a coupler you can count on no matter what condition youโre in or what application you best use your AR-15 rifle for, then the Magpul might be something that youโre looking for.
Bottom Line
The Magpul magazine coupler is more than deserving of the title of โbest overallโ. This will provide you with an unmatched ability to reload quickly and efficiently.
It fastens your magazines in place and will stay put even when youโre firing off multiple rounds per second. This is as close as youโll get to becoming the best of the best. If thatโs what youโre aiming for, then the Magpul magazine coupler might be something youโll enjoy.
Runner-up:
Fab Defense - AR-15/M16 Magazine Coupler
Pros
Cons
Finally, weโll be taking a look at the Fab Defense AR-15/M16 Magazine Coupler. This will end up being your best friend either out in the field, at the range, or in a high-stress situation like a home defense application. No matter what, youโll have something that youโll rely on.
Especially when it comes to finding a magazine that will give you quick and speedy loading. This is a universal style magazine coupler. Meaning this can fit magazines that will contain either .223 rounds, .300 AAC Blackout rounds, 5.56 NATO rounds, etc.
Name the caliber, it will handle the magazine. This has a smooth surface and is designed to not snag on any clothing while youโre quickly moving about and reloading your rifle. The coupler is made from polymer and is designed to handle all kinds of damage and extreme temperatures.
No matter the climate, it will still do its job. This will take seconds to install with the right kind of tools. Once complete, youโll be armed with the advantage of having speedy reloads each time you need them the most.
If youโre looking for a coupler that will secure your magazines in place without any issues, then the Fab Defense may be a good coupler to look at. This is designed to give you a super secure hold for both of your magazines and will be ready to go when you need them the most.
Bottom Line
The Fab Defense magazine coupler might be a direct rival of the Magpul in this category. We wonโt be surprised if we see a battle for the top spot in the not so distant future. This holds all kinds of magazines without getting loose during a session at the range.
Once youโve fastened the magazines together, they stay put until you need them. If you hate the idea of losing magazines at the range, then the Fab Defense magazine coupler will prevent that from ever happening again. Itโs built to last and will be great to use for years to come.
Best for the Money:
Lancer Systems - AR-15/M16 L5 Magazine Coupler
Pros
Cons
Next, weโll be taking a look at the Lancer Systems AR-15/M16 L5 Magazine Coupler. If youโre looking for something that is lightweight but insanely strong, then this magazine coupler might be the kind youโre looking for. This is made from reinforced polymer with a clamping system made from steel.
The clamping system is designed to hold the magazines in place so they are perfectly aligned and donโt move around while youโre moving quickly from target to target and firing off multiple rounds. Especially when youโre in a setting like in an intense shooting competition. When youโre ready to reload, the magazine will be popped out and ready to go with one push of a thumb.
Simple enough, right? If youโre looking for something that will give you fast reloading and a sturdy secure hold for your magazines when you donโt need them, this magazine coupler by Lancer Systems will probably be something that youโll consider a little further.
Bottom Line
The Lancer Systems magazine coupler in our view is deserving of being a part of this list. Thatโs because the overall design is what makes this great. It keeps the overcrowding of magazines at bay and will allow for quick access just by the push of a thumb.
Itโs the way a magazine coupler should be. Other than that, the construction is solid and does a good job holding magazines in place. Plus, the coupler is not easy to break (despite some complaining that it does).
4. Fab Defense Pentagon Magazine Coupler for Five fx-pmck
Pros
Cons
Now weโll be taking a look at the Fab Defense Pentagon Magazine Coupler. This will be the one youโll want to consider buying if youโre one of the handfuls of AR-15 rifle owners that are looking for a coupler at an affordable price. The design looks quite unique.
Thatโs because it is a five-sided design that can hold up to not two, not three, but five different AR-15 magazines. Either this design will fascinate you or intimidate you. If youโre looking for something that will allow for more than two magazines, then this coupler might be exactly what youโre looking for.
This is designed from high-quality polymer that is durable from the inside out. This is a good sign if youโre looking for something thatโs affordable but is also high in quality. So this cancels out the assumption that itโs just an average budget magazine coupler.
The rotation is quick and will allow for speedy loading no matter what application you use it for. If youโre looking for a magazine coupler that gets the job done and doesnโt break the bank, get the Fab Defense Pentagon Magazine Coupler.
Bottom Line
The Fab Defense exceeds all expectations. Especially for something that is considered affordable for most AR-15 users. Aside from that, the unique design is what impresses us the most. Especially when itโs able to handle five AR-15 magazines.
This definitely ups your reloading game quite a bit. If youโre looking for something that will get you through something like an extended range session, this magazine coupler from Fab Defense might just do the trick.
5. Command Arms Accessories AR15/M16 Mag Coupler for .223 Magazine
Pros
Cons
For our next product, weโll be taking a look at the Command Arms Accessories AR-15/M16 Mag Coupler. This is exclusively for .223 caliber AR-15 rounds. If thatโs all youโre firing these days, then youโll need a magazine coupler that will allow you to keep some extra magazines handy in case you need them.
What better coupler than this one? This is made from high-quality polymer and allows for spring loading insertion of magazines. The springs make it easy for magazines to slide on and stay in place. The design itself is robust and wonโt easily break.
Despite this, it wonโt add on any additional weight to your rifle. These are designed at the exact specified height so they wonโt get in the way of the rifleโs ejection port. If youโre looking for something that is reliable and functions the way a magazine coupler should, then the Command Arms coupler is without a doubt the only one you can count on. Especially for .223 caliber rounds.
Bottom Line
The Command Arms mag coupler is the only one that will exclusively work with .223 magazines. If youโre unsure of whether or not the other couplers might work with your magazines or not, then this might be your fail-safe option. Regardless of which caliber your rifle is chambered in, there will always be a magazine coupler that will accommodate it.
The design is solid, dang near unbreakable, and is probably one of the most reliable couplers on the market. If these check off a few boxes on your wish list, youโll know that its the right one for you.
Pros and Cons of Magazine Couplers
Yes, you will get to experience the advantages of having a magazine coupler. However, there will be some downsides. This is what you might expect from a magazine coupler should you choose to get one for yourself:
PROS
Below are the main pros:
Faster Loading/Reloading
As mentioned before, these couplers are designed to keep your extra magazines handy until you need them. Since theyโre closer to you, the unloading and reloading will be almost instant. This will definitely serve you well in the long run in pretty much any application. Especially if youโre in a target shooting or home defense situation.
Great In Case Of An Emergency
What if one of your magazines jam on you? Yes, it does happen to the best of us. Itโs even more of a relief when you have two extra magazines handy just in case one fails. Not only are couplers great for faster reloading, but theyโre also your โbreak glass in case of emergencyโ kind of accessories for your AR-15 rifle.
Hands-Free Magazine Compartments
Sometimes, holding an extra magazine in your hand will prove to be difficult. Especially when youโre trying to use your AR-15 with both hands. Your pockets wonโt do you any good since the magazines themselves may snag inside them or on any parts of your clothing. You can consider this one of the many hands-free godsends that you can add onto your rifle at a moments notice.
CONS
Below are the main cons:
May Add On Extra Weight
Sometimes, if youโre carrying multiple rounds this will happen. Especially if youโre carrying more than two magazines at a time. The rifle may become slightly heavier than normal, and it might make it a little more uncomfortable to carry around. If youโre a first-time user, it is important to carry no more than two additional magazines at a time.
May Not Always Be Universal
Some magazine couplers will handle any caliber magazines. Some will not. This is where youโll need to know what your AR-15 rifle is chambered in. If you fire 5.56 NATO rounds, then find a coupler that is compatible with those magazines. If youโre firing .300 Blackouts, find one that might be close enough to handle those kinds of mags. Universal mag couplers are out there, but theyโre usually hard to find.
Conclusion
If youโre looking for the best AR-15 magazine coupler, youโll know exactly what to look for. If not, think about what you might look for in an accessory that has the ability to hold extra magazines and allows you to reload your rifle in the shortest amount of time possible.
Once youโve got a good idea, look through the list above again to see if they fit your criteria. There is nothing more convenient or reliable like a magazine coupler that will have all your extra shots handy when you need them the most.
