STANAG magazine

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File:Stanag mags.jpg
Two STANAG-compliant magazines: A 20-round Colt-manufactured magazine, and a 30-round Heckler & Koch "High Reliability" magazine.

A STANAG magazine[1][2] or NATO magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980.[3] Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56×45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4179 was proposed in order to allow NATO members to easily share rifle ammunition and magazines down to the individual soldier level. The U.S. M16 rifle's magazine proportions were proposed for standardization. Many NATO members, but not all, subsequently developed or purchased rifles with the ability to accept this type of magazine. However, the standard was never ratified and remains a "Draft STANAG".[4]

Magazines

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The STANAG magazine concept is only an interface, dimensional and controls (magazine latch, bolt stop, etc.) requirement.[2][5] Therefore, it not only allows one type of magazine to interface with various weapon systems,[2][5] but also allows STANAG magazines to be made in various configurations and capacities.[2][5] The standard capacities of STANAG-compatible magazines are 20 or 30 rounds of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. There are also 5-, 10-, 40- and 50-round box magazines,[5] as well as 60- and 100-round casket magazines,[6][7] 90-round snail-drum magazines,[8] and 100-round drum magazines.[9]

Issues and improvements

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File:Lightweight Polymer Magazine Fitted to SA80 Rifle in Afghanistan MOD 45152325.jpg
Close-up of L85A2 with Magpul Industries EMAG polymer magazine with clear viewing window

The STANAG magazine, while relatively compact compared to other types of 5.56×45mm NATO box magazines, has often been criticized for a perceived lack of durability and a tendency to malfunction unless treated with a level of care that may not be practical under combat conditions. Because STANAG 4179 is only a dimensional standard, production quality from manufacturer to manufacturer is not uniform.

As a result, in March 2009, the U.S. military began to accept delivery of improved STANAG magazines.[10][11]

ARDEC began development of a new magazine design in July 2013 to address feeding issues of older designs with the new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round. It was first made public in 2014 and completed development in mid-2016 as the Enhanced Performance Magazine. The magazine uses a blue follower and a tan body which presents the rounds with a better angle to the weapon's feedway, preventing the hardened steel tip of the EPR from contacting the aluminum feed ramp of the M4 carbine, increasing mean rounds between stoppage by 300%.[12][13]

Firearms compatible with STANAG magazines

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AR-15/M16 type rifles

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Non-AR-15/M16 type rifles

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Manually operated rifles

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STANAG magazine convertible rifles

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Other cartridges

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File:223+450 magazine top.jpg
STANAG magazines loaded with .223 Rem (left) and .450 Bushmaster (right)

Over the years different cartridges that fit into the STANAG magazine emerged, some rounds like .300 AAC Blackout have the same rim diameter as .223 Remington and only require a barrel change to be used in a firearms that was previously using in .223 Remington. Some large caliber cartridges require replacing the magazine follower for single-stack loading, while very large cartridges such as the 50 Beowulf also requires minor modifications to the front of the magazine to ensure proper feeding.[23]

Cartridge Requires modification to the magazine Capacity in 30 round magazine Rim diameter
.223 Remington no 30 9.6 mm (0.38 in)
.300 AAC Blackout no 30 9.6 mm (0.38 in)
6×45mm no 9.6 mm (0.38 in)
.450 Bushmaster Single stack follower 9 12 mm (0.47 in)
.458 SOCOM Single stack follower 10 12 mm (0.47 in)
.50 Beowulf Yes 11.3 mm (0.44 in)

Loading tools

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Loading a STANAG magazine, particularly one with a large capacity and a corresponding high spring pressure pushing the rounds to the top of the magazine, can be quite difficult. A number of devices are available to make this task simpler. These are sometimes called speedloaders but are more commonly known as magazine loaders, stripper clips, spoons, or stripper clip guides. There are a wide range of both commercial and military type loading tools available for STANAG magazines. For example; draft STANAG 4181 is a type of stripper clip and guide tool proposed for standardization based on the USGI M16 rifle stripper clips and guide tools.[24]

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See also

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References

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  9. ^ The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15. Patrick Sweeney. Gun Digest Books, September 9, 2005. page 106
  10. ^ Brownells shipping M16 magazines with anti-tilt follower to military - The Firearm Blog, June 13, 2009
  11. ^ New US Army M16 “Tan” Magazine - The Firearm Blog, December 16, 2009
  12. ^ BREAKING: US Army Introduces New Enhanced Performance Magazine For M4/M16 Series Rifles - Thefirearmblog.com, 26 July 2016
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  17. ^ Leitner-Wise Rifle Co "The LW-S1 is a bolt action 5.56 caliber (.223 Remington), magazine fed rifle utilizing the popular AR15/M16 magazine"
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  21. ^ Security Arms | Firearm Photo Archive :: The Armalon PR precision rifle "It consists of an extensive re-working of a Remington 700 series rifle, and has achieved a high degree of success in competition [..], [and] the 5.56/.223 versions use similarly re-modelled AR15/M16 magazines.
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  24. ^ "NATO Infantry Weapons Standardization Archived December 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine", NDIA Conference 2008
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