Lancer University

Have a technical question about a Lancer Systems product? You’ve come to the right place. This knowledge base contains a wide array of frequently asked questions and technical specifications about Lancer’s full line up of rifles, magazines, handguards, and accessories.

We encourage you to browse these topics prior to emailing our customer service department. If you still require additional assistance, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help!

How long will my order take to ship?

Orders containing in stock products typically ship with 2-3 business days. If your order contains a rifle, a carbon fiber handguard, or a custom configured product, it make take up to 2-3 weeks to ship depending on whether your specific configuration is in stock or if it requires additional production and assembly time.

What do I do if my card is being declined?

Due to the nature of our products, we place an extremely high priority on the security of our customers and we do everything we can to prevent fraud. In order to maximize your security, our payment processor will only accept a billing address which matches the exact formatting of what is listed on the credit card statement. That means if your statement lists your billing address as “123 Sample St.”, you must type it exactly the same when you place your order. It may be declined, for example, if you spelled out the word “Street”, as in “123 Sample Street” when ordering.

If you believe the site is rejecting your order in error, please confirm the formatting of your billing as it appears on your statement and try again. Please note that attempting to place an order multiple times may result in additional temporary holds being placed on your account in the amount of your order. These holds typically disappear after 2-3 days. Rest assured, the funds are not being captured from your account unless the order has been successfully received and sent to shipping for processing.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your order or are having trouble with your card being declined, please contact us.

Why am I not able to check out for the magazines I am trying to order?

If you are being prevented from checking out with standard capacity magazines in your cart, it is likely that the state you are trying to ship your order to has legislation in place which prohibits the sale or possession of those magazines. We don’t like these restrictions any more than you do, which is why we recommend actively participating in the political process to have those laws changed in your state or municipality.

In the meantime, you can try updating your order to either 5 or 10 round magazines, or check out our selection of Limited Capacity magazines which give you the benefit of a full-size mag body with an internally limited capacity.

If you believe that the shipping restriction is an error, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is your warranty and return policy?

You can learn more about our Warranty & Return Policy here.

Can you ship to an APO address?

Unfortunately, due to ITAR regulations we are unable to ship any orders outside of the domestic United States or directly to any APO addresses.

Why can't I ship to an international address?

We are unable to ship orders outside of the United States due to ITAR regulations which govern the import and export of firearms-related products.

What is the process for ordering a rifle or a lower receiver?

Complete Lancer rifles, lower receivers, and receiver sets & builder kits must be shipped to an authorized FFL. A signed copy of the current FFL must be provided before Lancer will release a shipment for any of the aforementioned items. If we have not received your FFL information, your order will be placed on hold until it is received.

Signed FFL copies may be mailed to 2800 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, PA 18951 or emailed to ls_sales@lancer-systems.com. Please be sure to include your order number, first and last name, and contact information.

What calibers are the L5AWM® Advanced Warfighter Magazine compatible with?

The following calibers have been tested and have proven to feed reliably from our L5AWM® magazines:

  • .223 / 5.56
  • .300 Blackout
    For 150gr or lighter, we recommend standard L5AWM® magazines. For heavier subsonic rounds, we recommend our dedicated L5AWM® 300BLK magazines.
  • .458 SOCOM*
    Some customers have reported successful use of our standard L5AWM mags with .458 SOCOM, however, Wilson Combat sells a modified version of our L5AWM® that provides more consistent and reliable performance. We DO NOT recommend the L5 AWM for this  caliber. 

If you do not see your desired caliber in the list above, then we do not recommend the use of L5AWM® magazines for your application.

What rifle models will accept an L5AWM® mag?

The L5AWM® has been designed to function and perform reliably in most standard and/or mil-spec AR-15 and M4 pattern weapon systems in both select fire and semi-automatic configurations. Additionally, most weapon platforms designed to accept a standard AR-15/M4 magazine should perform as expected with an L5AWM®. This includes the FN SCAR 16, IWI Tavor & X95, M249 SAW, and more.

Can I store my Lancer magazines fully loaded?

Absolutely. In fact, one of the primary advantage of Lancer’s hybrid magazine design is the hardened steel feed lip which eliminates the risk of stress cracking and failure from prolonged pressure. Additionally, it’s important to note that magazine spring rates are not affected by being stored in a state of compression, so you can keep your Lancer mags loaded and ready to go without any concerns.

Why am I having trouble loading my standard L5AWM® on a closed bolt?

In some cases, people who are accustomed to traditional polymer magazines may experience some initial difficulty in seating a new fully-loaded L5AWM® on a closed bolt.

If you experience trouble, first check to confirm that you have 30 rounds in the magazine and not 31. A quick way to visually confirm this is to make sure the top round is on the right side of the stack.

If you have the proper number of rounds in the magazine and you’re still having trouble getting it to seat and lock into your rifle, then it may require you to slightly adapt your loading method. Traditional polymer magazines have soft plastic feed lips which can temporarily deform when being pressed against the bottom of a closed bolt. The downside of this design is that the feed lips can develop stress cracks and fail over time, especially if they are stored loaded for extended periods of time. The hardened steel feed lips on the Lancer L5AWM® are designed to eliminate any cracking or failures, but as a result, they do not depress and deform the same way during insertion against a closed bolt.

To ensure a proper lock-up every time, we recommend using a deliberate “push-pull” loading method as taught by many of the world’s leading tactical firearms instructors including Gunsite Academy, Larry Vickers, Travis Haley, and many others. This method ensures that the magazine seats properly, positively engages the magazine catch, and does not spit rounds into the chamber as is common when slapping the bottom of the magazine.

You can learn more about this recommended loading technique by watching the following videos:   Larry Vickers   |   Gunsite Academy   |   Milspec Mojo

Why am I having trouble inserting my fully-loaded Limited Capacity L5AWM® on a closed bolt?

When you insert a standard capacity magazine on a closed bolt, the ammunition stack depresses down into the magazine by about a quarter of an inch. This extra room is why you can typically stuff one additional round into most standard magazines (eg: getting 31 rounds into a 30-rd mag).

In order to comply with the various state-level magazine capacity restrictions, we had to remove this extra room from our Limited Capacity magazines. Without the ability for the stack to depress fully, you may experience difficulty inserting a fully-loaded Limited Capacity magazine against a closed bolt on some rifles.

If you run into this issue with your particular rifle, we recommend either loading on an open bolt or downloading your magazines by one round to load on a closed bolt.

Can I use an L5AWM® 300BLK magazine with standard .223 or 5.56?

We do not recommend this. The internal geometry of the dedicated 300BLK mags has been revised to provide more reliable stacking and feeding for longer and heavier subsonic .300 Blackout cartridges. This geometry does not work as well for shorter lighter bullets such as supersonic .300 Blackout and standard .223/5.56. We recommend using the standard L5AWM® for both .223/5.56 as well as supersonic .300 Blackout.

Why am I experiencing issues when hand-cycling my rifle or trying to chamber the first round?

What you are most likely experiencing is the increased pressure of our hardened steel feed lips against the top couple of rounds. In most cases, this only causes a problem when short-stroking the charging handle or “riding it forward” and not allowing it to properly release with the full power of the buffer spring. One way to test this is to lock the bolt to the rear and use the bolt release to chamber the first round. If this is successful, then it is likely that you were short stroking or riding the charging handle.

Lancer magazines have been carefully engineered and designed to function with 100% reliability under standard operating conditions with a standard mil-spec buffer spring. Testing has shown that they will also function with the majority of “lightened”, “enhanced”, and “competition” buffer systems on the market, but their performance can not be guaranteed as their is no set standard for these parts.

What calibers are the L7AWM® Advanced Warfighter Magazine compatible with?

The following calibers have been tested and have proven to feed reliably from our L7AWM® magazines:

  • .308 Win / 7.62×51 NATO
  • 6.5 Creedmoor

If you do not see your desired caliber in the list above, then we do not recommend the use of L5AWM® magazines for your application.

What rifle models will accept an L7AWM® mag?

The L7AWM® has been designed to function and perform reliably in DPMS/SR-25 pattern weapon systems in both select fire and semi-automatic configurations. This includes Handl Defense, Sig Sauer 716, Armalite AR-10 A style (not compatible with AR-10 B style), LMT, LaRue Tactical, Wilson Combat, and Robinson XCR-M.

It will not fit lowers designed to use M14, M1A1, or FAL pattern magazines.

My rifle is having a hard time chambering the first round from my L7AWM®. What should I do?

The L7AWM® was originally designed to be used in fully automatic weapon systems. As a result, the primary magazine spring was spec’ed to be strong enough to withstand the rigors of full-auto fire while maintaining a steady feed rate. This heavier mag spring places additional pressure on the ammunition stack, requiring the buffer spring in the rifle to be strong enough to overcome the tension when sending the first round into the chamber. If your rifle has a lightweight buffer system, you may find that the bolt can be a bit sluggish or get hung up when trying to chamber that first round.

To overcome this, you can reduce the mag spring pressure with a quick DIY adjustment. Simply remove the floorplate from your L7 mag and pull out the spring, removing the locking plate from the bottom of the spring. With a pair of snips, remove one full coil from the bottom of the spring and use a pair of pliers to bend the leg of the new bottom coil into flat alignment with the locking plate. Re-install the locking plate on the bottom of the spring and re-assemble your magazine. Your buffer spring should now have enough power to push the top round out of the magazine while still maintaining full performance and reliability in your rifle. You can watch a short instructional video on this spring trimming process here.

Where can I find a dust cover for my Lancer magazine?

Due to the unique hybrid design of Lancer’s Advanced Warfighter Magazines®, there is no need for a snap-on dust cover. One of the primary purposes for the dust cover found on traditional polymer magazines is to depress the round stack and relieve pressure on the feed lips during prolonged storage of loaded magazines. Thanks to the hardened steel feed lips incorporated into the L5AWM® and L7AWM®, this is not a concern. All Lancer magazines can be loaded and stored for extended periods of time without any risk of damage to the magazine or the springs.

What is causing my magazine to squeak when I manually depress the follower?

When magazine bodies are manufactured, they bow in slightly at the sides which can allow the follower to rub lightly when empty. This polymer-on-polymer contact can occasionally cause a squeaking sound. Once you load the magazine, however, the walls bow out to their proper shape and eliminate any follower squeak.

Why can't I find SIG MPX® magazines on your website?

Lancer Systems manufactures magazines for the SIG MPX® under exclusive contract for Sig Sauer, Inc. To purchase magazines for your MPX®, please contact your preferred Sig Sauer authorized dealer.

Why can't I find red or purple magazines on your website?

At present, Lancer produces red L5AWM magazines under exclusive contract for GunMag Warehouse. Purple magazines are currently being sold to dealers and distributors through RSR Group, Inc. We recommend checking with your local dealer as they may be in-stock or available as a special order.

What rifles is the LCH5 compatible with?

The LCH5 carbon fiber handguard is designed to install on any standard direct impingement AR-15 pattern rifle which utilizes a standard A2 or A3 upper receiver.

Are Lancer carbon fiber handguards compatible with adjustable gas blocks?

We have had great results using adjustable gas blocks from SLR Rifleworks and JP Enterprises, but there are many other brands that will work as well. Please note, however, that there are no standard dimensions for adjustable gas blocks, so we cannot guarantee fitment or compatibility.

What are the actual dimensions of Lancer handguards?

To view a chart of detailed dimensions, please visit the product page for the handguard in question. In most cases, you will see a link at the bottom of the description to a PDF containing physical dimensions. (See example below.)

If you do not see a link for the particular handguard you’re interested in, please contact us.

Should I use Loc-Tite on the handguard mounting screws?

Lancer does not recommend the use of Loc-Tite or any other thread locker on the screws used to secure the carbon tube to the receiver extension. We do, however, recommend the use of anti-seize on these screws in order to make future maintenance easier.

What rifles or lowers is the Adaptive Magwell compatible with?

The Lancer Adaptive Magwell (LAM) was designed to fit standard mil-spec AR-15 and M16/M4 lower receivers with a detachable trigger guard. The LAM will not fit: S&W M&P-15, HK416, Sig 516, or Wyndham Weaponry lowers, among others.

If you are unable to confirm that your lower receiver is a standard mil-spec configuration, then you can measure your magwell to check for compatibility. If the lip around your magwell is thinner than 0.13″ in depth and the overall width of the magwell is less then 1.5″, then the LAM should work with your lower receiver assuming that it also has a detachable trigger guard.

Will the Adaptive Magwell work with my aftermarket trigger guard?

Depending on the brand or model of trigger guard you have, and what type of lower it’s installed on, there may be a need to modify it slightly to fit the Lancer Adaptive Magwell (LAM). If you find that it does not fit well, you can typically purchase an original mil-spec trigger guard for around $4-5 at most retail outlets and online parts suppliers.

What is included with the LCS Carbon Fiber Stock and what else will I need for proper installation?

The LCS A1 and A2 were designed as direct replacements for fixed AR-15 stocks. If you have a collapsible stock on a carbine buffer tube, you will need to get a rifle-length buffer tube, a rifle buffer, and a spring. These can be found at most online retailers like Brownells, MidwayUSA, Tactical Gear Distributors, etc.

The LCS kit includes the carbon fiber stock body, a composite butt pad, a composite front mount that locks into the lower receiver, and an internal spacer (A2 model only).

What is the difference between the LCS A1 and LCS A2 butt stocks?

The LCS A1 has an overall length of 10.25″ while the A2 is slightly longer at 10.80″. We find that most users prefer the A1 length for most applications, but if you are over 6′ tall, you may want to consider the A2 for the nominal increase in length-of-pull.

You can see the difference side-by-side in the comparison image below.

(Click to enlarge)