Daniel O. was a member of the Las Vegas Athletic Club and went to the gym regularly.
But a few months ago, the 34-year-old man went to the gym to kill people.
Police are unsure of the motive, but Daniel had a history of drugs which may have led to irrational thoughts.
Daniel walked into the gym armed with an Olympic Arms PCR-223 rifle.
After entering the gym Daniel talked to the employee working at the front desk.
He paced around with his rifle then spoke with another gym employee.
Daniel again went to the front and fired his rifle at the employee working the front desk.
The shot missed the employee, and she ran out of the gym.
So, the shooter turned his attention to another employee and opened fire.
The employee ran to the back of the gym and Daniel followed, continuing to shoot at the employee as he tried to get away.
By this point, multiple gym users were calling 911.
One caller said, “I think I saw someone coming in with an AR… I think there are shots.”
Police soon arrived at the gym, but when they got there, they didn’t hear any shooting.
According to police officials, “Had he been shooting, they would have pushed through those doors and engaged him.”
During the incident, Daniel fired his rifle 24 times.
Daniel fatally shot and killed one gym employee and injured three others.
He had extra ammo and a magazine with him, but his rifle jammed.
“Fortunately, this gentleman had a malfunction in his weapon, which actually saved this from being a mass casualty event,” a police official said.
Police encountered him as he exited the gym and shot him six times, killing the gunman.
The lone victim of the shooting had worked at the gym for more than 15 years.
Police are unsure why Daniel targeted the gym employee.
Who knows why Daniel’s rifle jammed. In this instance it was a good thing – a miraculous life saver
But if you have an AR-15 for home defense the last thing you want is for your rifle to malfunction.
And one thing that can prevent malfunction is using a quality magazine.
Two popular options for aftermarket AR magazines are the Magpul PMAG and the HEXMAG.
Of course, like anything else in the gun market, there is a debate on whether the PMAG or HEXMAG is better.
So here are a few things to keep in mind when buying aftermarket AR-15 magazines.
Material:
The PMAG and HEXMAG are both made from polymer.
They are durable and resistant to cracks, dents, and outdoor elements.
Metal magazines can rust and corrode, but polymer doesn’t have these issues.
Also, both the PMAG and HEXMAG are crush resistant. They will hold their shape.
This will prevent feeding issues or malfunctions from dented magazines.
When it comes to durability both magazines are good quality, and you can’t go wrong with either one when it comes to surviving harsh environments.
Springs:
The PMAG has a stiffer spring compared to the HEXMAG.
The PMAG spring has a compressed tension at 6.88 lbs., while the HEXMAG spring has a compressed tension of 6.28 lbs.
Since the PMAG has a stiffer spring it could need a little more of a break-in period for the magazine.
But this can also be a good thing. The PMAG may have a longer lifespan since it has a stiffer spring.
This doesn’t mean the HEXMAG spring is bad.
It’s ready to go right out of the box and is easy to assemble if you need to take the magazine apart.
Feed lips:
Both the PMAG and HEXMAG faced scrutiny for having feeding issues in the past.
Some shooters claimed the magazine feed lip would warp or bend after use.
Whether these issues were accurate or not, both companies made design changes to the magazine’s feed lips.
So, whether you buy a PMAG or HEXMAG, make sure you buy new ones so you’ll have no issues.
Look/feel:
The PMAG’s exterior has rigid horizontal lines for gripping, which makes it easy to handle in wet conditions.
In addition, the PMAG comes in black or coyote tan color options, and they also have windowed magazine variations.
As for the HEXMAG, the magazine is named for its grip texture with a hexagon pattern.
Also, the HEXMAG is available in many different colors such as orange, blue, green, and pink, so the HEXMAG has more choices for unique colors.
Both magazines are good options, and you really can’t go wrong with either one.
They both sell for around $15 to $20.
I use the PMAG because it has earned a good reputation, has been through a lot of real-world testing, and the U.S. military uses Magpul magazines.
Regardless of your choice, a magazine is a critical component that many shooters don’t put enough thought into but could be crucial in a gunfight.
