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Legacy Member
Franken M16 magazines
I came across some photos showing the so called "franken" magazines supposedly used in Viet Nam before the 30 round M16 magazine was issued. The story: the upper part of the M16 magazine has an AK-47 magazine attached, which would provide about 30 rounds of 5,56mm.
Can anyone provide additional information or photos of examples ?Attachment 102497Attachment 102498Attachment 102499
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08-28-2019 09:34 AM
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Legacy Member
They were around when I was there. You needed an AK mag, some files and sandpaper, and the sense to never tell your platoon sergeant you have nothing to do. All the ones I saw were simply filed and shaped to friction fit the M16 mag well, no notch cut for the mag catch. Mag lips were sanded and filed until things worked. No one I knew actually used them except goofing around on a firebase.
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Legacy Member
I have heard and some of the photos are evident that some of these franken magazines used the M16 magazine as the top section
and a ground down AK-47 as the bottom part. Now as to what kind of follower is unknown but possibly a modified AK-47 ? It
would be quite a collectors item if someone brought one back and it was an original modification.
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Legacy Member
A good metalworker would be able to weld/solder/etc the M16 mag to the AK mag, cut off at the top. Adapt the M16 follower to the AK mag spring or the other way aorund. Should need fine tuning but it should work. The platoon sergeant isn't watching is he?
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Advisory Panel
Aluminum m16 mag to steel AK mag ??
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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
Lee Enfield
Aluminum m16 mag to steel AK mag ?
Yes, that's always been my question, welding the two together and staying. Seems everyone believes it can happen though... Filing the original to fit? Wouldn't even bother.
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Contributing Member
Originally Posted by
Lee Enfield
Aluminum m16 mag to steel AK mag ??
Weren't the original waffle mags scrapped due to rust issues? I.e., weren't they steel?
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Legacy Member
... Filing the original to fit? Wouldn't even bother.
I suspect that is why the few I saw were in the hands of REMFs. But I am certain that the ones I did examine were filed, sanded or ground to a friction fit. The lips were hammered or tweaked in some way to more or less work with the existing AK follower. I can't remember if I ever saw one successfully fired. The best welder in our battalion maintenance section, who could just about weld the wings on mosquito would have had tough time welding aluminum to steel with the equipment available. No MIG, TIG, wirefeed or any of that stuff, basic oxyacetylene or a honking big arc welder was it.
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Contributing Member
I do not believe that it is possible to weld aluminium to steel because aluminium has a melting point of around half that of steel. There are other ways to join aluminium to steel such as using screws, rivets or glue, for example and these methods can be successful if sufficient thought is given and the correct/suitable materials are selected.
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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
old tanker
in the hands of REMFs.
That would make sense, line guys would be in and out. No real time.
Originally Posted by
old tanker
basic oxyacetylene or a honking big arc welder was it.
But he could weld your parts back onto the tank...if you broke it.
Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
aluminium has a melting point of around half that of steel.
Yes, you can melt it with a hot enough burner and cast iron pot. Not so steel...
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