Best AR-15 Magazine Couplers 2022: Top 4 Expert Picks

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By Dennis Howard •  9 min read

There is no doubt that high-capacity magazines are expensive. In many places, magazines above 30 rounds are also illegal or banned. The answer to carrying extra magazines in a ready position is a magazine coupler. In this article, we look at several magazine couplers and give you our take on the best.

Many of us are familiar with the old standby methods of connecting two magazines for convenience and quick magazine swaps. Electricians tape, duct tape, and heavy rubber bands have sufficed in some situations. However, these makeshift solutions always fail and usually at the most inopportune time. Manufacturers heard shooters and introduced several solutions to the problem. Now let’s find out which ones are worth having.

MAGAZINE COUPLERS DETAILS
  • Low Cost.
  • Well, made with quality materials.
  • Holds magazine side by side or in a staggered configuration.
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Brownells.com
  • High-quality polymer construction .
  • Strong, durable, and lightweight .
  • Compatible with magazine capacities of up to thirty rounds.
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Brownells.com
  • The reinforced nylon construction is rugged .
  • The design is almost bulletproof and keeps your magazines in place .
  • CIncludes a protective cap for your spare magazine.
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Brownells.com

Magpul AR-15/M16 PMAG Mag-Link Coupler

Anyone who shoots an AR-15 style rifle should be familiar with Magpul Industries. The Magpul PMAG has become a de facto standard for polymer magazines. It stands to reason that Magpul would see the need for a magazine coupler and respond to the market.

The Mag-link coupler is made of the same polymer material used for PMAGS and other Magpul accessories. When used with two Magpul PMAG 300 round magazines, you can ensure that the magazines will stay in place securely.

Superior Strength and Design

The design of the Magpul Mag-link coupler is awesome. When properly installed, the two mages perform like a single mag. There is no movement, vibration, or annoying wobble. Magazine changes are quick and intuitive. When coupled with a Magpul Mag-link coupler, the magazines are the perfect distance apart for quick magazine changes and maintaining as low a profile as possible on your rifle.

The Pros

The Cons

If you run PMAGS with your AR-15 style rifle, the only coupler you should be considering is the Magpul Mag-link coupler.

  • Low Cost.
  • Well, made with quality materials.
  • Holds magazine side by side or in a staggered configuration.
Check Price on
Brownells.com

Lancer Systems AR-15/M16 Magazine Coupler

Lancer is probably the number two manufacture of polymer AR-15 magazines today. Many AR-15 shooters have switched to Lancer magazine for a variety of reasons. To complement their AR-15 magazines, Lancer offers a magazine coupler as well.

One of the major selling points of the Lancer magazines is the translucent body. Being able to see the exact number of rounds left in your magazine can be a huge advantage in some situations. One weak point on many polymer magazines is the feed lips. Lancer addresses this with a steel insert to reinforce and strengthen this part of the magazine.

Customizable Installation with a Two-Part Coupler

Each Lancer magazine coupler has two separate coupling devices. A split design of this sort allows you to customize the placement of your coupler and how you carry your spare magazine. You can separate the couplers for larger magazines or place them close together. If you prefer a staggered carry, you can place the couplers where you feel they give the best support.

The Pros

The Cons

If you like the convenience of a translucent magazine body and want to connect your Lancer mags. In that case, the Lancer Magazine Coupler is a wise choice.

  • High-quality polymer construction .
  • Strong, durable, and lightweight .
  • Compatible with magazine capacities of up to thirty rounds.
Check Price on
Brownells.com

Brownells AR-15/M16 Magazine Coupler

Brownells is one of the largest gun and gun-related parts retailers in the world. No one should be surprised that Brownells has an entry into the magazine coupler market. The Brownell design takes a slightly different design path than other magazine couplers.

Brownell chose a fixed staggered design for their magazine coupler. The coupler is made of tough molded nylon and features three compression adjustment screws to keep your spare magazine secure. Brownells also includes a top-round cap to protect the top of your spare mag. The design of this magazine coupler is rock solid.

The Difference Is Often a Matter of Millimeters

The Brownell magazine coupler functions well at several levels.

Brownells has done a good job designing a magazine coupler that delivers high quality, durability, and performance at a competitive price.

The Pros

The Cons

The Brownell’s magazine coupler is probably the best coupler I have used for standard mil-spec metal magazines. A staggered configuration seems to be the most popular with shooters, and Brownells got this design right.

  • The reinforced nylon construction is rugged .
  • The design is almost bulletproof and keeps your magazines in place .
  • CIncludes a protective cap for your spare magazine.
Check Price on
Brownells.com

Mercob Security Group AR-15/M16 PMAG Magazine Coupler

Mercob is not a well-known name among shooters. However, they are rapidly building a reputation for high-quality accessories for many different firearms. Among those products is the Mercob PMAG magazine couplers.

The Mercob design is simple and elegant. Each package contains a single magazine clamp and a connecting screw.  Using a single Mercob clamp is an option. For more security, adding a second clamp to the pair of magazines doubles the strength and rigidity of the system.

The Caveat You Must Attend To

It must be noted that the Mercob PMAG magazine coupler only works with Magpul PMAGS. Trying to use this coupler on other magazines, both polymer and metal, yielded very poor results.

The Pros

The Cons

  • Extremely small and lightweight .
  • Well-constructed to very tight tolerances .
  • All edges are radiused to prevent snagging .
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Brownells.com

The Other Option for The Technically Inclined

Technology is affecting the gun industry as rapidly as it affects every other part of our lives. New materials, new processes, and new technology are driving changes in the shooting industry faster than ever before.

For those of you who embrace this technological race, you may already have in your shop or shack the necessary tools to build your own high-quality magazine couplers. All it takes is a computer and a 3D printer with the right resins, and you can produce your magazine couplers in a few hours.

What It Takes to Join the 3D Printing Revolution

Most of us have a computer capable of driving a 3D printer. The cost of a good 3D printer has fallen over the past few years. Now almost anyone can fit the price into their budget. The internet is full of free magazine coupler designs that you can download and be printing your own magazine couplers in a matter of minutes.

We spent a few minutes searching the internet and returned hundreds of sites offering 3D printable magazine couplers. We have provided a few examples that we found interesting enough to want to try ourselves.

File Drop: 3D Printable AR15 PMAG Accessories

This design is a baseplate coupler. This is a unique design, unlike any option in the retail market or as a 3D printed model.

AR-15 PMAG Magazine Coupler by anuckolls

This coupler is a standard single screw body coupler. This couple uses a single three-inch #10-24 screw and nut to make the connection. The designer gives instructions for printing and further enhancing his magazine coupler.

Yeggi “Magazine Coupler” Search

Yeggi is a website catalog of 3D printer designs. Most of these designs are created by individuals who share them at no cost. A search on Yeggi for “magazine couplers” yielded more couplers than we could ever list here.

3D printing your magazine couplers may be just the beginning. Almost any other firearms accessory can be printed using a 3D printer. Designs and ideas are abundant and, if you become creative, you can design your own.


Why Should I Consider a Magazine Coupler?

There are several good reasons for using a magazine coupler to carry a spare magazine for your AR-15. The most compelling of these reasons include:


Are There Downsides to Magazine Couplers?

There are downsides to almost everything, and magazine couplers are no exception. If you are considering adding magazine couplers to your load-out, you should consider these possible problems.


Too Couple or Not to Couple

The decision to couple magazines or run your AR-15 with single mags is very personal. In any event, the key to success is getting the right magazine coupler for your needs and expectations. The second part of the equation is practicing with the coupled magazines until you are comfortable and proficient at magazine changes and shooting with the additional weight and different balance.

I hope that this article gives you some insight into magazine couplers. We understand that your priorities and needs are different than ours. Make your selections carefully with any accessory you add to your AR-15 rifle.

Dennis Howard

A life long hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, after surviving a devastating tornado in his home town, he saw the effects on people's lives as they struggled to cope. He built his first bugout bag a few weeks later and has been a dedicated prepper/survivalist since that time. After a career as a fireman, Dennis opened a retail store (FFL approved) catering to the military, law enforcement, and like-minded individuals. The store built their own AR platforms. Furthermore, Dennis was also an NRA instructor in both long gun and handgun as well as a certified range safety officer. Read his full interview here.