STANAG magazine
A STANAG magazine[1][2] or NATO magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980.[3] Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56×45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4179 was proposed in order to allow NATO members to easily share rifle ammunition and magazines down to the individual soldier level. The U.S. M16 rifle magazine was proposed for standardization. Many NATO members, but not all, subsequently developed or purchased rifles with the ability to accept this type of magazine. However the standard was never ratified and remains a "Draft".[4]
Contents
Magazines
The STANAG magazine concept is only an interface, dimensional and controls (magazine latch, bolt stop, etc.) requirement.[2][5] Therefore, it not only allows one type of magazine to interface with various weapon systems,[2][5] but also allows STANAG magazines to be made in various configurations and capacities.[2][5] The standard capacity of a STANAG-compatible magazine is 30 rounds of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. There are also 20-, 40- and 50-round box magazines,[5] as well as 60- and 100-round casket magazines,[6][7] 90-round snail-drum magazines,[8] and 100-round saddle-drum magazines.[9] There has also been a 150-round saddle drum magazine produced.
Issues and improvements
The STANAG magazine, while relatively compact compared to other types of 5.56×45mm NATO box magazines, has often been criticized for a perceived lack of durability and a tendency to malfunction unless treated with a level of care that often cannot be afforded under combat conditions. Because STANAG 4179 is only a dimensional standard, production quality from manufacturer to manufacturer is not uniform. Magazines have been manufactured with lightweight aluminum or plastic bodies and other inexpensive materials in order to keep costs down, or to meet requirements that treat the magazine more as a disposable piece of equipment than one that is supposed to stand up to repeated combat use.
As a result, in March 2009, the U.S. military began to accept delivery of improved STANAG magazines.[10] To increase reliability, these magazines incorporate heavier, more corrosion resistant springs and new tan-colored anti-tilt followers.[11] In addition, many commercial magazine manufacturers now offer improved STANAG-compatible magazines. These magazines are made from high-grade stainless steel bodies, rust- and set-resistant chrome-silicon springs, and anti-tilt followers. There are also highly reliable polymer magazines, some with view windows, others are translucent.
Gallery
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T91-3 (111).JPG
T91 30-round STANAG-compliant magazine with ammo capacity indicator.
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Magpul PMAG.jpg
STANAG-compliant 30-round PMAG with Ranger Plate. Note: clear viewing window.
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US Navy 050201-N-2420K-001 Machinist's Mate 1st Class Jonah Brixey loads a M-16 clip with live rounds in anticipation of an upcoming live-fire training exercise aboard the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39).jpg
Loading a STANAG magazine using stripper clip and loading tool
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Magpul Magazine Patent No20100212653A1.pdf
Patent for 60-round STANAG-compatible casket magazine.
Firearms compatible with STANAG magazines
AR-15/M16 type rifles
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- AAC Honey Badger PDW
- ArmaLite AR-15
- Barrett REC7
- Colt M16
- Colt M4
- Diemaco C7 and C8
- G5 carbine
- Heckler & Koch HK416
- LWRC M6
- Marine Scout Sniper Rifle
- Norinco CQ
- PVAR
- R5 RGP
- Remington GPC
- Remington R-15
- Ruger SR-556
- Safir T-15, T-16 and T-17
- SIG 516
- Smith & Wesson M&P15
- SOAR
- Type 86
- Type 91
- Unified Weapon Systems, Unified Patrol Rifle
- Z-M Weapons LR 300
- Rock River Arms LAR-15
Non-AR-15/M16 type rifles
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- Ares SCR
- Armalite AR-180B
- Beretta AR70/90
- Beretta ARX-160
- Beretta Rx4 Storm
- Bernardelli VB-SR
- Bofors Carl Gustaf Ak 5
- Bushmaster ACR
- Bushmaster M17S
- CETME Model L
- CZ BREN 2
- Daewoo K1
- Daewoo K2
- Daewoo K3
- Daewoo K11
- Diseños Casanave SC-2005
- EMERK
- FAD assault rifle
- FAMAS G2
- Fateh assault rifle
- FN F2000
- FN FNC
- FN Minimi/M249 SAW
- FN SCAR-L
- FaB 556
- Heckler & Koch G41
- Howa Type 89
- IMBEL IA2
- IMBEL MD2
- IMI Negev
- IMI Tavor TAR-21
- IWI Galil ACE N
- Kel-Tec PLR-16
- Kel-Tec SU-16
- KH-2002
- LAPA FA-03
- Magpul PDR
- MKEK MPT
- MSAR STG 556 "E4 Model"
- MSBS Radon
- Mossberg MVP
- Nabi assalt rifle
- Norinco QBZ-97
- Norinco Type 03 assault rifle (export models)
- Pindad SS1
- Pindad SS2
- Pindad SS3
- Remington Model 7615P "Police Patrol Rifle"
- Robinson Armaments M-96 "Expeditionary Rifle"
- Robinson Armaments XCR
- Rung Paisarn RPS-001
- SA80
- SAR-21 (export models)[12]
- SAR-80
- SR-88
- SIG 556
- Sterling SAR-87
- Leader T2 MK5 rifle
- Type 65
- VB Berapi LP06
- VHS
- Vulcan V18
- Type XT-97
- XM29 OICW
- Zastava M85
STANAG magazine convertible rifles
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- CZ-805 BREN (through housing conversion)
- Heckler & Koch G36 (modular magazine well)[1]
- IMI Galil (through adaptor)[2]
- Steyr AUG (through right hand only STANAG magazine stock assembly)[3][13]
- Wz. 1996 Beryl (through adaptor)[4]
Magnolia States Armory offers an adapter that allows the use of STANAG magazines in 5.56mm Galil rifles as well as one that works in a variety of 5.56mm AK-47 type rifles such as the Saiga, WASR3 and Norinco rifles.
Additional information
The "RAM-LINE 30-round COMBO MAG" is a uniquely notable STANAG magazine. These commercial translucent plastic magazines can be used in both AR-15 type rifles and Ruger Mini-14 type rifles.[14][15]
References
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- ↑ The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15. Patrick Sweeney. Gun Digest Books, September 9, 2005. page 106
- ↑ Brownells shipping M16 magazines with anti-tilt follower to military - The Firearm Blog, June 13, 2009
- ↑ New US Army M16 “Tan” Magazine - The Firearm Blog, December 16, 2009
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ http://www.modernsurvivalonline.com/Files/weapons/Articles/AR-15_vs_Mini-14.pdf SWAT magazine, March 2002, article titled: “Ruger Mini-14 vs. the AR-15" page 42-45 "Incidentally, Ramline magazines work in both Mini-14’s and AR-type guns with no modifications necessary—a bonus for those who own both type of rifles."
- ↑ http://3gn.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=7&f=24&t=1091361 For images of "RAM-LINE 30-round COMBO MAG fits Colt AR-15 and Ruger Mini 14" and packaging