Courtesy of Merriam-Webster.com, a magazine is defined as:
noun – mag·a·zine ma-ge-zenˌ
5: a supply chamber: such as
a : a holder in or on a gun for cartridges (see cartridge sense 1) to be fed into the gun chamber
Finally, with the fifth definition, we get to the usage we will be talking about today.
History
The concept and essential design of the magazines used to feed the AR-15/M16 et al. family of carbines and rifles have stayed basically the same for over 60 years now. At times, I have to consciously remember that the primary rifle used by many citizens, the US military, and many police officers is older than me, albeit not by much.
These started with a straight-line design holding twenty rounds. Shortly after the M16A1 entered active service with the DOD, the curved thirty-round magazine was developed to feed it, as well as the XM-177 and CAR-15 variants.
When I went through basic training (Reagan era), these magazines had a black-colored follower atop the spring. Over time, the follower colors changed from black to green, then tan. At one time, there was a pneumonic of “Black is whack, Green starts to lean, and Tan is then plan.” However, that one is several years old. Currently, the US Army uses the Enhanced Performance Magazine (EPM), which has a blue follower.
For the record, it’s odd that the EPM uses a blue follower. That color historically meant Inert or for Training use rather than “live” ammunition.
Evolution
When the SCAR platform was being developed, one of the accessories requested was a new magazine. Tango Down, Jeff Cahill’s company, responded to those queries and developed a magazine.
It featured a two-piece magazine that was joined together. There was a rubber-like gasket around the magazine where the two halves had created a lip. While those features were unique, they were not the most unusual ones. That went to the follower. Not because it was white but rather because its design put the even-numbered round on the left-hand side of the magazine. This was completely opposite from what everyone was familiar with from the most common magazine design. I used those magazines without issue previously.
As I have mentioned before, I am not just a fan of Tango Down; I am a longtime customer.
Next Gen
Earlier this year, Tango Down released their Mk3 Rifle Magazine. You can have them in any color you want – as long as they are black or flat dark earth (FDE). FDE may be somewhat less widely known as Baby Poop Brown. There are versions, each of which comes in the same colors. One version has a flat bottom; the other has a rounded base.
The crew at TD sent me several of these, and I have been shooting them on various platforms over the summer and into the fall. These platforms include Noveske, Colt, and LMT. As TD notes, there can be seating issues with the polymer AR lower receivers. You saw one being used in a previous article on a loading process. I’m going to keep them in my teaching and training rotation.
Like the earlier magazines, these also consist of two pieces—one curved and one straight—inserted into the magazine well. They are permanently bonded together, so they do not come apart.
Per TD, the Mk 3 was redesigned to be optimized for use with DOD’s current M855A1 load. Additionally, the exterior was updated to work with the Marines’ M27 IAR.
Followers
These have a white plastic follower as well. However, with the Mk3, this follower puts the even-numbered round on the right-hand side of the magazine. Which, conveniently, is where most of us are used to finding it. As a left-hander, the location of the top round did not matter from the standpoint of feeling for it. Having it back on the right-hand side, however, is more familiar.
Feeding was consistently reliable, though I must confess that all of those rifles have a history of working. They were also lubricated. While I only load to 28 rounds rather than 30, I do so for commonality reasons. There were no issues with loading any of the four to capacity.
Windows
The lower part of the body features witness windows on both sides. They allow you to see how full (or not) your magazine is. When loaded to capacity, the follower is visible above the bottom of the window. The follower disappears when the magazine’s capacity has been reduced by a third.
The cleaning can be done with either just compressed air or by dunking them in hot, soapy water before using a magazine brush – if shot suppressed. After that, let them air dry.
As with every other magazine, they should be disposed of when they stop working.
Final Thoughts
The US Border Patrol recently ordered “a lot.” And the Marine Corp has been testing them as well. Like everything else I have gotten from Tango Down, I am very comfortable recommending the Mk3 magazine based on those I have been using.