The history of the M16 magazine is almost as tortured as the history of the rifle itself. Originally issued with a straight magazine holding 20 rounds, the current magazine is a half straight, half curved magazine holding 30.

The follower was updated somewhere along the way to the current green version, which has a design that attempts to cure abnormal feeding on short barreled automatic rifles. As the last few rounds made their way to the top of the magazine they would begin to bounce, allowing the follower to tip and causing a malfunction. The newer green follower attempts to keep itself from tipping; it was a poor design, although an improvement upon a worse design.

USGI magazines are typically only loaded to 28 rounds because loading the full 30 makes it nearly impossible to insert the magazine into the rifle when the bolt carrier is forward.

The aluminum construction of the magazine means that it is easily bent. The tabs that hold the follower on can easily break, and often do so on new magazines, or when the floorplate is removed for cleaning.

These magazines are disposable. I've thrown away quite a few of them; it used to be quite painful when they were 30 dollars a piece, and is much easier now that I have easy access to to them at less than one third of that price.

This brings me to the Magpul PMAG. The magazine was developed by Magpul as a product improved M16 magazine, combining some of the best features of the follower that the company had already introduced some years earlier with a more robust material and a better floorplate. The anti-tilt follower brings the improvement of the green follower to its full conclusion. The follower literally cannot tilt.

The floorplate is designed to be easily removed for cleaning. The body is longer to hold 30 rounds without issue.

Another change is the constant curve that the rounds follow. This is possible because of the polymer construction. Previous polymer magazines were weak; some even melted under heavy use. I've been trying to break mine, but it is holding up well. I haven't shot it yet, but others have; some several hundred have already made their way to the Middle East for use by contractors.

Why am I posting this? I was reviewing the infamous dust test when I was reminded that around 30% of the malfunctions that the M4 experienced were magazine related. The SCAR, HK416 and XM8 all use improved magazines. The PMAG is superior in design, and in some cases construction, to all three, particularly the steel magazines.

The last SCAR-L I handled (SHOT Show 2008) used a Magpul follower, despite using the body of an FNC magazine. And the PRI 6.8 mag uses a Magpul follower as well. 6.8 SPC magazines cannot be made from polymer because they will bulge if not made from steel.

Military Feedback.

Contractor Feedback.

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I wouldn't be posting this if I didn't think it would benefit the community. I'll be trying out the PMAG for my own use, although to say that I have less occasion to use it than others here would be a colossal understatement. Further, I don't have the resources to get a true test going, I'll put the 1500 rounds I have on hand through it and decide whether or not I like it. That said, I think this magazine is going to be a big improvement.

This forum has been used in the recent past to highlight ways to improve the reliability of soldiers weapons. I think that this magazine has the potential to eliminate many of the problems that are blamed on the M4. If nothing else, it is cheap to manufacture. Although I'm not privy to such details, I wouldn't be surprised if it is cheaper than a USGI magazine, and they are readily available for 12 dollars from Brownells, compared to 35 dollars for the HK magazine.