Posted: 1/25/2007 7:18:32 PM EDT
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probably a repost (DUPE), but Armalite has a good guide for function testing your M16 mags. Check it out: Armalite's tech bulletins |
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Good info. Another question that always comes up is downloading to 28. Downloading Magazines, 10-8 Forums Nothing new to most. _ |
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Yeah my Magpul ranger plates require downloading to 1-2 rounds. As far as downloading mags goes in general I hear that it's good practice but can be avoided if you rotate your loaded mags every so often. Good practice either way. And don't forget to inspect your feed lips and for cracks on the back of the mags. Before I had swapped mags for fresh ones after I got in country I had found that one of them had spread and allowed the top 6 or so rounds to actually sit side by side. I found it at the clearing barrels as I was leaving the wire and the mag wouldn't insert into the magwell  Would have really pissed me off had I been reloading in a firefight and had to deal with it then.
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| One of the reasons I had heard in the past for downloading mags, was that some of the mags were found to be able to hold 31 rds and if that happened it would allow the mag to seat properly in the magwell(on a closed bolt I assume). So to eliminate the possibility of that some units started having the troops strip a round or two out. Urban legend I'm sure but I've seen 31 go in a mag before. |
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The only mags I own that screw up like that are the Ruger mags. You can squeeze 21 in a 20 round mag, then it won't load into a closed bolt. I have 2 AR mags that will hold 31. Some funky off brand, so I don't use them anyways, but the worked fine with a closed bolt load. |
Many of these instructors see a huge assortment of mags and rifles. Sooner or later you will run into a combination where a full mag can't be loaded into a rifle with the bolt closed (or looks like it was then falls out) or doesn't have enough oomph to reliably strip the top round from a fully loaded mag. If you know your gear and have tested with all your mags, that's great, but it's a good practice when you draw fresh equipment and don't have time for BS outside the wire. |
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had a little time test a few 'homebuilt' mags today--12/04 mag bodies, SAW springs, magpul gen I followers, and ranger plates. I only got through 4 mags, but it was a good way to check my sights. I was glad to see (but not really surprised) that the 4 mags made it just fine. Interestingly, a buddy of mine had several issues with the steel C Products mags, with failures to extract rounds out of the mag, and a magpul gen 2 follower seizing up in the mag body. I would assume it was a thick coating of finish inside the mag, but you'd never think of those problems with the Magpul follower. Just goes to show you that just because you have a 2006 production mag with all the upgrades (chrome silicon spring, magpul follower) you shouldn't assume it's going to work. |
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I have a box of 10 red S.A.W. springs coming. They recommend only 28 rounds also. I'll follow their recommendation. _ |