Mini-Review: Gray Ops CNC GT AW Magazine

I built up an Aero Precision SOLUS action into a 22 GT rifle and shortly after I put it together, I received an email from Gray Ops CNC announcing their new GT AW magazine.

The GT AW magazine from Gray Ops CNC is a double-stack magazine just like an Accuracy International AW magazine. The premise behind this magazine is that it’s optimized for shorter cases. Gray Ops released an AW magazine for 6 BR / 6 Dasher, and those are the cartridges that have the most AICS and AW magazine feeding issues. The 6 GT was designed with this in mind and are actually known to be relatively reliable with native AICS and AW magazines.

So the when Gray Ops CNC announced a GT AW magazine, I was curious as to what it might offer and decided to acquire one.

It is marked as 6 GT AW Magazine on the box, but obviously works with 22 GT, which is the cartridge I bought it for. Gray Ops CNC makes the magazine in both 10-round and 12-round capacities, and I ordered the former since I am in California.

The Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine is a billet aluminum magazine. The body is very stout and not thin aluminum.

The magazine can be disassembled for cleaning and also has an adjustable magazine catch so it can be tuned to the specific chassis or stock bottom metal.

The internal magazine length is 2.630″ which should be more than long enough for 22 GT and 6 GT cartridges.

The one thing I noticed about the Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine versus a native Accuracy International AW magazine is that the cartridge is further forward in the Gray Ops CNC magazine.

There is more ‘meat’ in the walls of the Gray Ops CNC magazine and the head of the cartridge is set forward compared to an AI AW magazine where the head is almost flush to the rear of the magazine. Furthermore, this places the cartridge so the main body is held by the feed lips. The rim of the case is not behind the feed lips. I feel like this is going to be optimal for feeding.

The Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine definitely feels a lot nicer in the hands compared to a first-party AI AW magazine. The billet aluminum construction feels more stout and the texture of the magazine gives a nice aesthetic.

In my use of the Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine with my 22 GT Aero Precision SOLUS build, I found that it feeds reliably with no issues.

However, the Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine comes in at $165 USD, for either the 10-round or 12-round versions. 10-round Accuracy International AW magazines are around $95 give or take depending on the vendor, so people may balk at the price. Granted, if you want an extra two rounds in the magazine, perhaps you will invest in the Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine.

I think the Gray Ops CNC GT AW magazine is worth the investment even if it is nearly twice the cost of a a native AW AI magazine. It’s a well constructed magazine (billet) that can be tuned to the rifle for feeding (adjustable magazine catch), is specifically designed for GT cartridges, and if you are in a free stage, has two extra rounds of capacity.

Note: If you are a GT cartridge user and are interested in this magazine, keep in mind that your action needs to be AW compatible. The bottom cut in the receiver will have a specific allowance on the front ramp as well as the side cuts near the rear to match up with AW feed lips. Trying to use an AW magazine in an action that is milled for AICS (or BDL) will likely result in failures to feed.