Opinion
“Serious” rifles: Manufacturers of serious rifles in 5.56×45 (223 Rem) caliber, who are counting on significant non-military sales, know and understand that their rifle needs to accept, and run with standard, STANAG (M4) magazines.
An otherwise wonderful rifle, but one that only functions with proprietary magazines, will not sell well, at least in the USA, as SIG unhappily discovered with its (now discontinued) 550 series of Sig rifles from the 80s/90s.
Thus, the M4 (by several dozen different domestic manufacturers), also the VHS2, CETME, RA/XCR, are all designed to accept and function with STANAG magazines, 20-round and 30-round
Magpul, Lancer, Thril, Okay, Duramag, et al all manufacture very acceptable STANAG magazines.
For “serious purposes,” I recommend the 30-round variety for these reasons:
- 1) Owing to the 30-round magazine’s inherent curvature, instantly telling front from back (by feel), in the dark is a simple task. The task is much more daunting with straight 20-round magazines.
- 2) 30-round magazines are long enough so that I can securely grab the bottom third, while there is still plenty of magazine length at the top to easily inert and lock into the rifle. Shorter, 20-round magazines must be grasped in a cup-and-saucer manner (much like a pistol magazine), which is much more precarious.
- 3) In the prone firing position, the 30-round magazine is just the light length, so it can be effectively used as a monopod for stability. For this same purpose, 20-round magazines are too short, and 40-round magazines too long.
- 4) Extra 30-round magazines are flat, light, fit within most trouser pockets, and can thus be easily carried without specially designed “load-bearing equipment.”
Several manufacturers have made drum-style magazines for the M4, with a capacity of fifty, even one hundred rounds. They are heavy, maladroit, and really silly!
Plenty of 20-round STANAG magazines are floating around, and they run fine. And many actually prefer them, mostly for the sake of compactness.
Yet, for the foregoing reasons, I prefer 30-rounders when I have the luxury of choice!
/John
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Ar-15 30-Round Magazine Springs - Ar-15 30-Round Magazine Spring, Flat Wire | Brownells.com | $ 9.59 |
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KCI M1 .30 Carbine 30-Round Magazine | GunMag Warehouse | $ 15.99 |
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ETS Sig Sauer P320 9mm 30 Round Magazine, Clear - SG9-320-30 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 28.99 $ 20.39 |
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Magpul PMAG GEN 2 MOE AR-15 30 Round Magazine (5 Pack) & 100 Rounds of PMC Bronze .223 Remington FMJ 55gr Ammo | The Mag Shack | $ 126.25 $ 89.99 |
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I keep a healthy stash of 10 rounders available .
Range work for me goes alot better . Especially if you are sighting in on a bench.
If you aren’t sure what to get… get alot of all.
Not to change the subject but proprietary magazines for the 22 LR & 22 wmr look like they are going to the Ruger Rotary magazines instead of stick magazines.
Tell that to the Subjects in Illinois. The Courts have deemed otherwise.
Federal judge decides not to block Illinois assault weapons registry
https://www.wgem.com/2023/12/22/federal-judge-decides-not-block-illinois-assault-weapons-registry/
A 30 rnd mag being too long for a proper prone position is a common complaint. Ditto for not wanting the weight of the rifle to be resting on the mag. But having more than 20 rounds close to hand seems like a good idea.
Might be time to invent a clip that holds two 20 rd mags together for a quick swap.
Oh, wait!
While I concur with most of the points above, I tend to prefer 20 round mags over the 30s, in AR 15 style firearms. In a long barreled, long range version, I find the 30s to be too long in prone. Likely my arms are simply built differently than Mr. Farnam’s. In a short barreled, lightweight, CQB version, I prefer the lighter weight and bulk of the 20 rounders. I do keep 30 rounders for reloads, on the theory that if the first 20 weren’t enough, then their greater capacity becomes the overriding factor. At least.. IMO. No attempts at… Read more »
Regarding #1. I am sure it is a lot easier to load in the rifle in the dark than an AK.