Army bans high performance rifle mags

[photogpat]

So wait a second -- wanting to have an identical tool with identical replacement parts that fits all weapons and equipment issued across all members of the Army rather than a hodgepodge of individually purchased components is a bad thing?

I'm confused...

They banned all polymer mags, not just PMAG's:

Despite the success of the PMAG, Army officials from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command issued a “safety of use message” in April that placed it, and all other polymer magazines, on an unauthorized list.

The message did not single out PMAGs, but instead authorizes only the use of Army-issued aluminum magazines.

Underlining mine. Quality levels in everything except PMAG's is all over the board...the Army's just trying to get a handle back on troops buying their own equipment. I would hope that someone in the upper brass would look to the field and make an exception to this rule for PMAG's, while leaving all the other polymer crap out.

[farmerj]

typical military....

Solution looking for a problem.

[Spike]

I don't recall exactly, the SCAR was one, but I'll check them all tomorrow and post the details. Sometimes they'll go in fine, but won't drop free, and other times they won't go in at all without an unacceptable amount of effort. The G.I. ones work in every 5.56 NATO rifle I have, from any manufacturer, so why bother having different types that can only fit in some of them? The whole point of a rifle taking AR mags is so that you don't have to have a bunch of different mags!

Thanks. I was genuinely curious not trying to give you crap.

I'm just getting started with the AR platform and only have 3 mags so far but I'm sure I'll be buying more. Then again, I doubt I'll ever own a IAR but you never know...

- Spike

[Pinnacle]

There is no issue with P-Mags in the Military Issue (Army) Standard M4 Cardine that I have seen. I was just at Ft. Benning Shooting an Issue M4 with P-Mags.. The guys there use them - they dont have any problems

I would like to see the ORIGINAL copy of the SOUM...... I have sent a message to the Small Arms Goys at MCOE for confirmation and a reason. There is an Awful lot of Magpul Stuff out there with the guys.

[Pinnacle]

It's called a DUNN's certified supplier squawked loudly and was listened to in order to protect their market share that they worked hard cultivating a contract with the military.

What is a DUNNS Certified Supplier?

Just so you know - the military has purcahsed THOUSANDS of P-Mags... Perhaps there was an incident. Like I said in my previous post - I am checking wiht the Small Arms Guys at Benning.

[rukwikenuf]

I recall something about the difference is how the follower engages the bolt hold open device? Magpul make the Emag specifically for this reason on SCAR 16's, HK416's, SA-80, etc... There are videos on the web showing how to modify the magazine to function properly in these systems.

yeah, funny thing about that, the Marines took the HK416 and renamed it to the IAR! the only differences i know about is the length of handguard and bbl. USMC says 11" rail, and 16.5" bbl

[bulletproof]

typical military....
Solution looking for a problem.

Don't you have to identify the problem before finding a solution?

[Pinnacle]

USMC Adopetd the HK416 as a replacement for the M249 as far as I know and they are testing the BETA Mags and the Surefire 60-rounders with it.

[Pinnacle]

Units are only allowed to use Mags on the approved items list as per TACOM LCMC for the M16 F.O.R.

No further information given - NO SAFETY OF USE MESSAGE ISSUED

[Squib Joe]

With all the "operators" out there falling all over themselves to get PMags, the G.I. ones have gotten agreeably inexpensive. They are almost disposable now!

In a few armies such as the IDF, they enforce using the aluminum magazines as a disposable piece of equipment... even instructing soldiers to destroy them with their boot heel after one use.

[SleepingJake]

I really think this is stupid. In my experience with the new tan/yellow followers we were getting 3-4 jams out of 20 shooters at every range I was at in Kuwait. It wasn't because of sand but because of ******* followers and uneven spring pressure. This is only going to screw over the joes. If they were so dickhard about the IAR then they should authorize emags that work in the gun. The military is turning into politics and paperwork.

[Hanns]

Turning in to? ****, it's been that way since Gen. Washington was sitting on a horse. We, the citizens of the United States need to start lighting some fires under our Senator's asses and have them do the same to some 4 star Generals. It's sad that in the wealthiest country on Earth our troops receive the lowest bid cost weapons with parts sourced from gerrymandered political districts by companies that make large enough donations to the crooks in charge. We need to demand that our soldiers have the best equipment that the free market can provide. I'm happy enough doing field testing here to allow companies to make better equipment for the boys (and girls) in the fight.

Hanns "Infantry UP!"

[Pinnacle]

With all the "operators" out there falling all over themselves to get PMags, the G.I. ones have gotten agreeably inexpensive. They are almost disposable now!

In a few armies such as the IDF, they enforce using the aluminum magazines as a disposable piece of equipment... even instructing soldiers to destroy them with their boot heel after one use.

There are a couploe of things that I got back from the IDF this morning - head of small arms:

1. There is a huge demand for mags as they are replacing a lot of the M4's with TAVOR rifles and they share the same mag - replacement with issue of new rifles.

2. They use the existing mags for a period of time and then MELT THEM if there is a whif of an issue with one - it is crushed and melted (they kill it with fire)

3. The Mags are used until the end of life then they are destroyed - not one and done.

[David]

Thanks. I was genuinely curious not trying to give you crap.

I didn't think you were. People around here actually do ask a serious question once in a while.

I tested all my rifles with an early PMag and a more recent one, and it appears as though my comments are more accurate when discussing the old ones, and NOT the new ones. I have no idea what changes they made, but my older PMags work in very few of my non-AR rifles, but the new ones seem to function just fine in most of them, including the SCAR. I was surprised at that one. The new ones still don't work in a few older rifles, like the AR180 and FNC, and the newer FS2000, but everything else was A-OK. I didn't fire them, mind you, just inserted, pulled back the bolt to see if it held open (if applicable), closed the bolt, and hit the button to see if they dropped free.