Troops in Afghanistan Get New Lightweight Rifle Magazines

UK Ministry of Defence ^ | 1/20/2011 | ASDN news

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

More than 100,000 new state-of-the-art lightweight SA80 rifle magazines have arrived in Afghanistan to be used by troops fighting on the front line.

The 30-round Magpul EMAG magazine is around half the weight of a standard metal magazine and helps reduce the weight that soldiers have to carry in their kit.

Made from a polymer, the EMAG weighs 130g compared to its metal equivalent of 249g. Troops carry up to 12 magazines, so this change means each carries around one kilogramme less weight in total than before.

Although it is lighter than others, the EMAG is robust; it's durability is enhanced by an easily detachable cover to help protect against dust and sand while being carried - meaning fewer need replacing.

A clear window in the magazine allows troops to easily monitor how much ammunition they have left, helping them ensure they have sufficient levels at critical points in battle.

Corporal Stevie Japp of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

"The new magazines are a great bit of kit. The little window lets me see how many rounds I have left at a glance and it's a lighter and more robust design. The dust cap is a useful addition in the dusty Afghan conditions as it helps keep ammo clean."

[gleeaikin]

Good news for our troops.

[gleeaikin]

Good news for our troops.

[kbennkc]

In total over a million EMAGs will be sent to Afghanistan under the four-year, GBP13m contract with Hereford-based distributors Level Peaks Associates.

I guess a plastic magazine that takes four years to get into the field might be worth 13 BPS a copy.

I don't know about Hereford, England, but if a guy from Hereford, Texas tries to sell you limeys a plastic mag for $20.68 watch where you step.

[null and void]

so this change means each carries around one kilogramme less weight in total than before.

Nooooooooooo, it means they'll carry an additional brick of C-4, or more ammo.

[sinanju]

The infamous SA80 saga continues.

[jospehm20]

Yep.

[garjog]

When do they get the new hand-held Stealth weapons?

[OneWingedShark]

The problem with “lightweight equipment” is that if they cut your carried weight by a third they’ll give you twice as many to carry.
[/sarc]

[OneWingedShark]

There's one plastic mag that I really like, and $20 would probably be a fair price:

The 50 round PS-90 magazine.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Is this magazine half the weight empty, or filled?

[Ben Hecks]

I thought those were called “clips”.

[mylife]

These are fine magazines.
They are stiffer than metal mags and impervious to warping/denting which leads to misfeeds/jams.

The com bloc folks have been using Bakelite mags for ages for this reason.

[SJSAMPLE]

I don’t know how the EMag differs from the PMag, but you’d think they’d get a better bulk discount.

[deoetdoctrinae]

"The 30-round Magpul EMAG magazine..."

Wait. What? 30 rounds? Oh the huge manatee. We've got to get these outlawed. Somebody might get hurt.

Is the sarcasm tag really needed?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The infamous SA80 saga continues.****

It’s hard to believe the SA80 would have such a failure rate sinceit is based on the Armalite 18 rifle.

Reports from backin the 1970s showed the AR-18 to be extremely reliable. It has been said the AR-18 (full auto) was a standby during the Viet Nam war due to the failures of the early M-16.

HOWEVER...Gun Tests magazine (Remember them?)tested one of the English made Sterling AR-180s back in the 1980s and found it to be unreliable as the extractor broke during tests.

[sinanju]

I don’t know how closely the SA80 could be based on the AR-18 when the SA80 is a bullpup design. I gather that it shared nothing in common with Britain’s experimental EM1 - EM2 7mm design they tested in the late 1940’s (beyond being a bullpup).

The AR-18 will forever remain a question mark. The official legend as I read it was that a Japanese company was contracted to manufacture it in the 60’s but that was scotched because their constitution forbade them from supplying arms to belligerents at war.

The original AR-15 was supposed to have been phenomenally reliable when originally used by the Special Forces and SAS but when the Army adopted it as the M-16 the ordnance corps forced a change in propellant, which fouled Eugene Stoner’s direct-gas-impingement system and cause all the jamming problems. I believe it was the late Dr. Edward C. Ezell who insinuated that the ordnance corps did this deliberately to sabotage the design, as the M-16 had been forced on them by SecDef McNamara. Casualties be damned.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The official legend as I read it was that a Japanese company was contracted to manufacture it in the 60’s but that was scotched because their constitution forbade them from supplying arms to belligerents at war.****

This is true. I used to have a HOWA made AR-180 but let it go. Two weeks later the price skyrocketed!

I later bought a Sterling AR-180 but it was no where near the quality the HOWA was.

[B4Ranch]

[ArrogantBustard]

I thought those were called “clips”.

I don't believe you.

I think you're just trying to start a flame-fest.

"Live to Flame, Flame to Live".

;'}