ROTFLMAO at more PR Bumwad
Yes, the magazine was a problem area. However it is one on of many problem areas. E.G., The weapons must be kept spotlessly clean to function reliably, the direct-gas impingement cycling mechanism is, and always has been a cause of fouling and stoppages in heavy continuing fire operations, say 5 magazines or more. The M-16 and M-4 variants are always reliable in only 1 category: i.e.,, coming in dead last in trials against other weapons, which invariably use a piston to recycle the action. Reliable? Yes. In many reported incidents, dead realiable.
One more question: Can the new magazine actually take 30 rounds, or is it wiser to load 25? The system/series is much better than it was in the early days, but still not good enough.
Time for a CHANGE.
I've always wondered about this... I mean, Eugene Stoner is a genius weapons designer, but this just seems like such a bad idea from the very begining! Yes, the direct-gas impingement design will have lower reciprocating mass, with lighter weight, but it shouldn't be enough to really matter. The design allows combustion gasses to travel all the way back to the locking lugs, which are also needlessly (IMHO) complex! And bad things will happen to the shooter if he or she is left handed and have a case blowout! Plus, the idea of such a long, thin gas tube that can foul just seems dumb. And then there's the need for a "forward assist," which I've read that Stoner opposed.
It just seems that so many problems could have been avoided with the use of an operating rod (and maybe an operating rod handle too). Ruger decided to use it on their new rifle.
Mark
C.W.