Standard Mag Issue

[Michael Dorosh]

Nope.   Prohibited - mags pinned to five rounds is the law, AFAIK.

Yes, this is correct.  Any idiots thinking they can walk across the border with a 30 round mag, feel free.  Prohibited means the magazine is the same as crossing the border with an Uzi.  Can't have it, don't even dream about owning them legally.

Is it really worth getting caught just so you can play Rambo on a Militia exercise for 2 days?  Put a mag charger in the yoke of your webbing like everyone else...

 

[Kendrick]

Amen.

 

[1feral1]

Sometimes there is some stupid questions on here. In short, just use issued eqpt, as its standard, and there are many varieties of M16 30rd mags ranging from plastic to steel, and many Chi-Com ones which are inferior products.

Steel ones will defeat the alloy housings of the M16s/M4s over time. Murhpy's law always prevails, and I would not want to see inferior mags trickle into the system, and somehow end up on operations. With many countries now using M16 mag design, now known as 5.56 x 45mm STANAG 30rd mags, I have seen Malaysian, US, French, British, Israeli, and even mags from Singapore floating around here.

Simply maintain what you have, and don't purchase foreign made stuff, as it might look the same, but it may be crap instead. Never transport prohibited stuff accross borders either, as you could end up in dirty great pile of shyte over it.

Canada uses stock standard alloy US mags for their C7/C8 families, and the mags are okay as the design has been on general issue since the early 70's in the USA. Prior to that, 20rd mags were standard, and there are thousands and thousands of them still here within Australia. US alloy 30rd mags are standard for the M4s here.

We can all ***** and complain about mags, but I am sure they are much more plentyfull it the SHTF in theatre.

Here 30rd 5.56 x 45mm plastic F88 mags are common, and its no big deal if one is lost or damaged. F88 mags are only common to the F88 and no other design. In my M83 AUSCAM LBV, there is 10 mag pouches, but here in Australia its 7 mags general issue, but rarely do we get 7 mags, usually 2 or 4 for exercises here.

As for chargers, we have them in bandoleers of a cotton OD bag with 10 pre-loaded charger/strippers all in one. The chargers fit both F88 and M16 mags and each charger holds 15 rds.

When in the CF I never heard of pre-loaded 30rd mags in bandoleers, but in the old US cloth bandoleers, one could fit a loaded 20rd mag into each pouch of the bandloeer, which may have gave the impression that there were such things.

When in the VN the US only 18rds of ball was loaded into each mag, and this was the same SOPs in Viet Nam for the 20rd 7.62mm mags for the L1A1 SL rifle.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[chrisf]

When in the CF I never heard of pre-loaded 30rd mags in bandoleers, but in the old US cloth bandoleers, one could fit a loaded 20rd mag into each pouch of the bandloeer, which may have gave the impression that there were such things.

Weren't the old plastic magazines supposed to be disposable, or at least semi-disposable?

 

[Jungle]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe the cbt load is 300 rds 5.56 for a rifleman/soldier carrying a C7.
Does ammo bandoliers come in preloaded magazines?

Combat load is 250 rds: 5 x 30-rd mags and 1 x 100-rd bandolier.
The bandolier comes with a mag-charger and 10 x 10-rd clips.

 

[pappy]

I think others have mentioned it but your combat load depends a lot on the type of unit your in...  the larger the unit the more the individuals SHOULD be trained to maintain some sort of fire discipline, with some shooting, some reloading.  Granted more mags is nice in a fire fight in a target rich enviroment.  But for some of the peacekeeping missions the CAF does humping 10-20 mags does seem excessive especially if in a regular infantry company.  Granted as with everything, circumstances rule, if your making an assualt then more is better to a point you can still move.  Larger units have greater access to resupply.

Smaller units, IE, the no name groups, bodyguards, RECCE, scouts, your typical very small group of folks... well they are likely to be needing the fire power to survive with all members shooting sustained WELL AIMED FIRE.  A small handful of men don't have the comfort to reload thier empties during the battle. Smaller units like these are more likely to spend more time between resupplies, they gotta hump more of thier needs.

I tend to think we've ALL gotten spoiled with full auto and tend to use that slector switch setting rather then then then marksmanship abilities of the man and woman behind the rifle.  Don't impact your ability to move quickly!  Remember to keep mobility.

And I agree with those that said don't worry, when the turd is in the fan, your get pretty much as many mags as you care to carry.  It's just in garrison and peace time training, they more you carry the more your likely to lose.

Oh yeah, my vest will hold up to 18 30-rds mags without taking up other pouches.  10 plus pistol mags if needed. plus what's in the weapon.
More typical load would be 4 pistol mags, 10 rifle mags, or less.  But that's me...

If you guys are looking for add-ons, not everyone likes them there, but many manufactures are making butt-stock mag pouches.  One additional one.

But in the end, if your in a target rich enviroment, loaded mags are one of your best friends.

 

[foerestedwarrior]

My only problem is that you are trainign differently than you are expected to fight, 5-8 extra mags may not sound like much, but it changes your whole kit layout, plus the extra bit of weight. Train as you fight, fight as you train.

 

[KevinB]

Is it really worth getting caught just so you can play Rambo on a Militia exercise for 2 days?   Put a mag charger in the yoke of your webbing like everyone else...

I took extra personal mags to Afghan with me.  I consider it train as you fight...  Mag pieces are not restricted in nay way or form (by law) so I simply re-assembled my mags once in Afghan - and disassembled them prior to flying home.  


Jungle - some old RCR BSL stuff I have (from when I was once briefly trusted as a leader...) Dictates 300rds as the CF "BattleLoad"  - 3 bandoliers issued and 1 1/2 remaining after you bomb up.

Realisitcally it really does depend upon the mission as to ones "combat" load - We got 20rds in Cyprus (to carry in a mag in our breast POCKET!) - while I had 16 30rd mags and a 20rd mag or tracer when I was in Afghan... plus pistol mags and 12ga ammo...

 

[1feral1]

Weren't the old plastic magazines supposed to be disposable, or at least semi-disposable?

Nope, the plastic ones were designed to never loose their colour, and absorb shock. There were other problems involving durability, and even a spring issue, and they were adventually dropped for 'off the shelf' ones. There was mega bucks spent on the plastic mag research, and it was truly a waste of money. DND should have went with the generic ones in the first place.

Regards,

Wes

 

[westie47]

I believe in train how you will fight. I think keeping the issue at 5 mags per is a logistical decision more than a tactical one. I don't know about other units, but mine does not train troops to fire auto. It takes too much time and training to teach troops how to do it properly so we keep it on rep. Even when we are 'clearing
the trench', the troops throw a grenade and enetr firing rapid fire on repitition. You can learn to fire very fast and keep your rounds on target. I do some good drills on my own with my M4 at the local range and I pass it on to the troops. I don't think 10 mags is excessive at all. Yeah if we were going to the big show, I would cram as many as would fit. They issue you 300 rounds, then let's give the boys 10 mags to carry it!

 

[foerestedwarrior]

My big thing is that at my unit, atleast my garrison, is we have atleast 3 milk crates of mags. On a normal ex, we only have to dish out like 1 or 2 of these, so how hard would it be to divide the rest of them out to the troops??