Magazines

[3154tm]

Were USGI mags ever produced in anything other than 15 and 30 round capacity?
thanks.

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[browningautorifle]

The originals were different...20. They also had a 5 rd for the tests. That was test originals only though. RCS probably has one around...

[3154tm]

thanks jim.
so anything offered today in 5 or 10 round is almost certainly a commercial magazine?

[browningautorifle]

Yes, I've not seen a 10. Wonder if they're built from a 15 rd body for California? Internal block to 10 rds? The 5s were just cut down or some of them were one piece plastic. You don't see many of the plastic ones though.

[Bruce McAskill]

The production for issue to troops has only been the 15 and 30 round magazines. All others would be commercial ones. If I remember right the plastic ones were made by Universal for their carbines.

[browningautorifle]

That's right. I wonder if commercial mags are avail for the States that have mag restrictions though? The 5 and 20 were only for the initial test platform.

[Wineman]

I had a 5 round that I believe was a cut down 30 (bolt would hold back). The rifle was one of the DCM-American Rifleman buys that my dad got. I do not think the magazine came with it so he got it post purchase. For years we had that one and a NVS Japanese 30. Still have the 30 but the five rounder has vanished. I bought a couple of Pro Mag 10's (CA legal) and recently got two USGI 15's and two 70's era USGI split back 30 rounders from a friend out of state.

Dave

[browningautorifle]

Pro Mag 10's (CA legal)

That's what I thought...

[USGI]

I've got a commercial 5rd (for hunting) and a new 10rd mag that came with a "Century Arms" IBM carbine that I bought a couple years ago. Both are made similar to GI magazines but have absolutely no markings. My "shooting buddy" has a couple of "commercial" 10rd mags that appear to be made from 30 rounders, because they have the support lug on the side and the hold open follower. Also, the mags have the exact same appearance on the sides as the 30's when you hold them next to each other for comparison. I think I've read somewhere in the past about who made some of the 5rd mags, but can't find it right now. Just found a couple pics in my files. - Bob

[ChipS]

Out of curiosity, a few years ago I bought a 5-round mag for about the same price as a used GI 15-rounder. It appears to be a cut-down GI mag and a nice job at that. I have used it very, very little. Honestly, unless you are restricted by law (hunting?) I don't see much benefit in a 5-round magazine. I guess you could argue that it slips in/out of a case or scabbard with less chance of hanging up, but I think it is unwieldy to insert into the well and all you seem to do is constantly reload your mag. The 10-round mag seems to me like a good compromise if you object to how far the 15-rounder protrudes (which I don't) and the 30-round mag is another story entirely. I may buy a 10-round mag if the spirit moves me but I really have no complaints with the GI 15-rounder - it holds 10 rounds very well. JMHO, ChipS