Army bans commercial M-4 magazines

[OldCannon]

Much ado about nothing. I can tell you for a fact that there was a long list of stuff we couldn't use when I was in, and we used it anyway.

[Heartland Patriot]

1: They have never been authorized for use, none, never, not allowed.
2: Nothing will change overall come Tuesday.
3: Those that are using a quality mag while deployed, will continue to do so.

. my opinion is this is a tempest in a tea pot, which will be universally ignored.

I trust you for matters as relates to A. The US Army and B. The "Sandbox". But if the Rangers have been using them, how have they not been authorized? I can see individual soldiers buying and using what they want despite what they are issued, but a whole large unit like the Rangers? Just trying to reconcile what that article said and always looking to expand my knowledge. In regards to numbers 2 and 3, I'm 100% certain you are correct.

My point was, there were never certified, authorized, not in the TM.

We have been using them for years now, and the last two deployments many units bought them for there Soldiers during the train up period prior to deployment.

We have done the same for weapon lubes for many years, tried, selected what has worked better then issued CLP, and though it's never been an Authorized lube, it's used, because it works.

Now I understand. Aircraft parts are listed in a manual for whatever airframe/engine. They have a part number assigned to them, and in the supply computer there will be NSNs linked to that part number. If I order a bolt and washer combination from the manual, I will only get what is linked directly to the part number listed in the book. However, I COULD find some other washer and bolt in shop stock that WORKS and install it. It might work fine, it might last forever in that application, but its not the ones the book called out.

[Chief]

Much ado about nothing. I can tell you for a fact that there was a long list of stuff we couldn't use when I was in, and we used it anyway.

I probably carried more stuff that I acquired on my own than was 'standard issue'...

[E.Marquez]

bronco78, what concerns me is if soldiers will be disciplined for ignoring the order and continuing to use these magazines. I would not like to see that happen. If this order is just noise, then it's not a big deal. But if soldiers in the field are being disciplined for using a superior magazine, then I'd rather see the person who issued the order fry instead of the boots on the ground shooter.

I'd be ignorant to say it wont happen. Just as a Commander who drinks and drives hands out ART15 punishment for the same thing. 1SG's who are late to everything chastise and berate, task "extra" duties to there soldiers who do the same, LEO's speed when not on official business and hand out tickets when citizens do the same...ect ect.

Likewise, a few commanders and other ignorant fools, will read that TACOM message, post it on the company bulletin board and then go about LOOKING for offenders.... tis the way of the world....

The vast majority will go about the business of training young men and women to be the very best they can be at the job assigned, using the best equipment available to them..

[maverick2076]

bronco78, what concerns me is if soldiers will be disciplined for ignoring the order and continuing to use these magazines. I would not like to see that happen. If this order is just noise, then it's not a big deal. But if soldiers in the field are being disciplined for using a superior magazine, then I'd rather see the person who issued the order fry instead of the boots on the ground shooter.

I'd be ignorant to say it wont happen. Just as a Commander who drinks and drives hands out ART15 punishment for the same thing. 1SG's who are late to everything chastise and berate, task "extra" duties to there soldiers who do the same, LEO's speed when not on official business and hand out tickets when citizens do the same...ect ect.

Likewise, a few commanders and other ignorant fools, will read that TACOM message, post it on the company bulletin board and then go about LOOKING for offenders.... tis the way of the world....

The vast majority will go about the business of training young men and women to be the very best they can be at the job assigned, using the best equipment available to them..

Hopefully this will get published and posted, if only to keep younger soldiers from buying crappy knockoff Pmags and deploying with them. Personally, I have no problems with Pmags. I think that the new, tan-follower mags are perfectly reliable mags and have no problems using them in the sandbox. With regards to reliability, they are easily the equal of the Pmags. Unfortunately, there are so many plastic mags out there that aren't that good. We need to keep soldiers from buying those inferior mags and using them in the field.

[E.Marquez]

bronco78, what concerns me is if soldiers will be disciplined for ignoring the order and continuing to use these magazines. I would not like to see that happen. If this order is just noise, then it's not a big deal. But if soldiers in the field are being disciplined for using a superior magazine, then I'd rather see the person who issued the order fry instead of the boots on the ground shooter.

I'd be ignorant to say it wont happen. Just as a Commander who drinks and drives hands out ART15 punishment for the same thing. 1SG's who are late to everything chastise and berate, task "extra" duties to there soldiers who do the same, LEO's speed when not on official business and hand out tickets when citizens do the same...ect ect.

Likewise, a few commanders and other ignorant fools, will read that TACOM message, post it on the company bulletin board and then go about LOOKING for offenders.... tis the way of the world....

The vast majority will go about the business of training young men and women to be the very best they can be at the job assigned, using the best equipment available to them..

Hopefully this will get published and posted, if only to keep younger soldiers from buying crappy knockoff Pmags and deploying with them. Personally, I have no problems with Pmags. I think that the new, tan-follower mags are perfectly reliable mags and have no problems using them in the sandbox. With regards to reliability, they are easily the equal of the Pmags. Unfortunately, there are so many plastic mags out there that aren't that good. We need to keep soldiers from buying those inferior mags and using them in the field.

What unit has these " inferior mags " Ive not seen any one with them? Were they purchased by individual soldiers or though unit supply? As for "so many plastic mags out there that aren't that good." must be a unit deal, as I've not noticed the same deal.

Last time we ordered the new MAG

NSN 1005-01-561-7200
Redesigned follower and a stronger spring provides greater reliability and fewer malfunctions
5.56mm 30-round improved magazine
Aluminum construction
Teflon Coated Gray Finish

The order was canceled several times, and once only a dozen of so were shipped and received, that from an order to support a DIV HQ company.

So we purchased a known quality, better, and AVAILABLE MAG.

This will continue to happen until the Army supply system gets itself straightened out.

The old supplied aluminum mags are junk. the Army knows this.. what should have happened is bulk shipments to each unit UIC based on each units number of property book assigned M16/M4 rifles, prioritized by current status in the AFORGEN cycle or current deployment status.

[Heartland Patriot]

Does anyone know off the top of their head (not asking anyone to go look) whether there are "upgrade kits" with the new follower and spring combo that can be purchased commercially? What I mean by that is that some site may ADVERTISE it, but are there any that are "the real deal", minus the actual DOD-issued numbers on them? Like I said, I have some Okay Industries GI 30 mags but if there are parts to make them better, then I would purchase said parts for those particular magazines. Thanks.

[maverick2076]

What unit has these " inferior mags " Ive not seen any one with them? Were they purchased by individual soldiers or though unit supply? As for "so many plastic mags out there that aren't that good." must be a unit deal, as I've not noticed the same deal.

Last time we ordered the new MAG

NSN 1005-01-561-7200
Redesigned follower and a stronger spring provides greater reliability and fewer malfunctions
5.56mm 30-round improved magazine
Aluminum construction
Teflon Coated Gray Finish

The order was canceled several times, and once only a dozen of so were shipped and received, that from an order to support a DIV HQ company.

So we purchased a known quality, better, and AVAILABLE MAG.

This will continue to happen until the Army supply system gets itself straightened out.

The old supplied aluminum mags are junk. the Army knows this.. what should have happened is bulk shipments to each unit UIC based on each units number of property book assigned M16/M4 rifles, prioritized by current status in the AFORGEN cycle or current deployment status.

The problems I've seen have mostly been with individual soldiers, but I have seen instances of suppy SGT's buying crap mags in bulk on the GPC right before the deployment.

As for ordering mags, I received a shipment of 900 brand new, tan follower mags less than a year ago...two weeks after I ordered them through the system. I also ordered about 1000 tan-follower mags before my last deployment in 2009...and got those in 2-3 weeks as well. The Army supply system isn't having any problems delivering them.

Finally, the old aluminum mags weren't junk. Like a lot of things, those mags (and the current ones, and PMags) are expendable. Units should be disposing of them when they become unserviceable. Most units don't, which leads to crappy mags staying in circulation.

[E.Marquez]

As for ordering mags, I received a shipment of 900 brand new, tan follower mags less than a year ago...two weeks after I ordered them through the system. I also ordered about 1000 tan-follower mags before my last deployment in 2009...and got those in 2-3 weeks as well. The Army supply system isn't having any problems delivering them.

The system has had several periods of un availability for the new mags.. no, Im not guessing.

Finally, the old aluminum mags weren't junk. Like a lot of things, those mags (and the current ones, and PMags) are expendable. Units should be disposing of them when they become unserviceable. Most units don't, which leads to crappy mags staying in circulation.

Thanks for the lesson
I've been doing this for a day or two...so lets just agree that my experience may be a bit different then yours

Yes they are crap, dropped ONCE, banged against a door way,. the ground, a car, or any other barricade, cover, or hard surface, the body dents, and eh feed lips will bend in a sing drop.

Yes when new, and very clean, they do great.. used them for many years in places a bit busier then a supply room.

And when used in real life, they fail quickly.

Replacing them during AFORGEN is a great idea, and not a problem. Replacing them when you work from remote patrol bases, COPs and Firm bases is a bit more involved.. Im sure life on a FOB makes getting replacement mags easier,, not sure, 4 deployments, never been on one.

[OldCannon]

Thanks for the lesson
I've been doing this for a day or two...so lets just agree that my experience may be a bit different then yours

You tell 'em, Bronc. I'm thinkin your middle name should be "Sandbox."

[maverick2076]

As for ordering mags, I received a shipment of 900 brand new, tan follower mags less than a year ago...two weeks after I ordered them through the system. I also ordered about 1000 tan-follower mags before my last deployment in 2009...and got those in 2-3 weeks as well. The Army supply system isn't having any problems delivering them.

The system has had several periods of un availability for the new mags.. no, Im not guessing.

Finally, the old aluminum mags weren't junk. Like a lot of things, those mags (and the current ones, and PMags) are expendable. Units should be disposing of them when they become unserviceable. Most units don't, which leads to crappy mags staying in circulation.

Thanks for the lesson
I've been doing this for a day or two...so lets just agree that my experience may be a bit different then yours

Yes they are crap, dropped ONCE, banged against a door way,. the ground, a car, or any other barricade, cover, or hard surface, the body dents, and eh feed lips will bend in a sing drop.

Yes when new, and very clean, they do great.. used them for many years in places a bit busier then a supply room.

And when used in real life, they fail quickly.

Replacing them during AFORGEN is a great idea, and not a problem. Replacing them when you work from remote patrol bases, COPs and Firm bases is a bit more involved.. Im sure life on a FOB makes getting replacement mags easier,, not sure, 4 deployments, never been on one.

Nice of you to try to make some implications about where and when I served in the sandbox. Let me enlighten you. First tour was running convoys driving HETs. On the road for 8-12 days at a time in '04. Never had a mag malfunction on a convoy. Of course, I carried twice my basic load in the truck in case of malfunctions, went through my mags after every convoy, and disposed of the crap ones.

My second deployment was as a supply SGT for a unit attached to the CJSOTF. With guys at 12 outsites across the country, getting them supplies was a challenge...expecially when sites are so remote and small that there is no regular mail or convoy service. Oftentimes, getting supplies to our outsites required a nighttime helicopter ride, hopping from camp to camp, dropping off equipment and picking up broken equipment. I did what was necessary to take care of my guys and make sure they had everything...including mags to replace unserviceable ones.

Mags break. It happens. That's why they are expendable. However, they don't spontaneously break, the stress of firing from them doesn't break them, and they don't fall apart because rounds are loaded in them. They break and malfunction because they aren't cleaned, they are dropped, slammed around, bashed into doorframes, used as makeshift hammers, had IBA's dropped on top of them, etc. PMCS your mags so you find the bad ones before you need them. And then replace them. The problem is most guys don't bother to check their mags, leave them in their kit, drop them in the truck or on the floor, drop their IBA on top of them, and only pull the mag out when they load it in their weapon. You wouldn't treat your M4 that way. Why treat your mag that way?

[MadMonkey]

Don't forget the Army also decided that UCP is the best camo

[maverick2076]

Don't forget the Army also decided that UCP is the best camo

Even they have recognized what a bad decision that one was...thank God.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Army says nevermind.

[speedsix]

...heat from home!!!