Magpul are now shipping what they are calling “TACTILE LOCK-PLATES”.

According to Magpul they “have some professional customers that work nights who need a way to identify and differentiate magazines in the dark.”

The Tactile Lock-Plates helps those night owls to quickly identify three separate loadouts by tactile feel.

As some, and I might as well include myself in this statement just because of my fear of doing it wrong, have a problem in distinguishing 5,56 vs 300 BLK even in full daylight I’m surprised there aren’t more products to help with this issue.

I have to say I was VERY surprised that Magpul didn’t make the 300BLK magazines different by look and feel, they certainly had the opportunity. Here’s a reference picture.

On the other hand, the magazine doesn’t mind which ever ammunition you load it with, as long as it fits.

And no marking, color code or tactile plate is ever going to help if you load the wrong magazine into your rifle and press play.

And for professionals sending tracers downrange at the wrong time might be devastating, although they fit just fine caliber wise.

The plates are available in Type 1 and Type 2 in Black and Grey and come in 5-pack for a few Pennies shot of 10 US Dollars.

The two different types are available below. The third one you ask? Well it comes “free” with the PMAG magazine.

Magpul® Tactile Lock-Plate – Type 1, 5 Pack

Magpul Tactile Lock-Plate – Type 2, 5 Pack

The Magpul Tactile Lock-Plate is a magazine enhancement that provides the user with the ability to rapidly and easily identify/ differentiate magazines with mixed loadouts such as ball, tracer, supersonic and subsonic types via raised tactile features. These features are 1/8” raised ridges that protrude through the magazine floor-plate opening and are purposely pronounced at an optimum height to ensure functionality with gloved hands. The Magpul Tactile Lock-Plate comes in two fully distinct configurations of 1/8” raised ridges: Type 1 – single ridge and Type 2 – double ridge. These designs provide the user with the ability to quickly and confidently identify three separate loadouts by tactile feel when utilized in conjunction with standard floor plate/lock plate combinations. Full functionality remains with the magazine inserted in a weapon or in a magazine pouch while retaining the proven PMAG Gen M3 strength and performance characteristics for total end user confidence.

• Immediate tactile identification of magazine loadout
• Ridge heights are optimized for gloved hand usage
• 1/8” feature heights minimize snag hazards and optimize tactile identification
• Two fully distinct tactile design features provide three separate options for mixed loadouts
• Retains PMAG® GEN M3™ strength and performance characteristics
• Fits standard PMAG® 10/20/30 AR/M4 GEN M3™ and PMAG® AR 300 B GEN M3™ floor-plates

This option is NOT compatible with PMAG 40 AR/M4 GEN M3 or PMAG LR/SR GEN M3.

Last but not least, this product is made in the U.S.A.

As usual Magpul did a short video about the new products.

Magpul – Tactile Lock-Plates

What do you say? Is this a product you would find use of, or are you not “professional” enough?

What’s your solution on keeping magazines with different calibers or performance recognizable?