U.S. Army bans high-performance M4 carbine mags, must use government issue.

[imschur]

U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Crutchfield grabs an M16A2 rifle magazine during a sighting exercise at the Navy individual augmentee combat training course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Chandler/Released The Army has ordered that soldiers may use only government-issued magazines with their M4 carbines, a move that effectively bans one of the most dependable and widely used commercial-made magazines on today’s battlefield.

Despite the success of the PMAG, Army officials from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command issued a “safety of use message” in April that placed it, and all other polymer magazines, on an unauthorized list.

Read the rest of Matthew Cox’s report at Military.com.

[Robocop1051]

So you're saying there is going to be a HUGE surplus of used PMAG's hitting the market? <munch>

[Jgun]

I wonder if this will have any detrimental effect on the developement of polymer mags. I'm thinking that if the military don't use them, that has to be a big financial hit for companies like Magpul and Surefire, and Troy. I'm just wondering if they will continue to work on developing new ones, if they can focus their resources on other products that are sold to both military and civilian markets?

[survivalshop]

There is more behind this than we will ever read .

If your one of those who like conspiracy theory, here's one , a Democrat ( or just a supporter )sells/makes the mil spec ones & doesn't like the competition of the Pmag & calls his bro "BO" & asks him to "Fix ' it.

There are more I can think of , one being as usual , the military procurement specialists are idiots.

[telluwhat]

When I read this my first thought was that someone "in the loop" was not making the $, so they had the ruling made to keep the $ in their cow so they can continue to milk it. Sad.

[Robocop1051]

If your one of those who like conspiracy theory, here's one , a Democrat ( or just a supporter )sells/makes the mil spec ones & doesn't like the competition of the Pmag & calls his bro "BO" & asks him to "Fix ' it.

This seems to be a common belief... Have you been infecting other sites with your paranoia? Borat Obama wouldn't do that to his soldiers...

[imschur]

It's always about the money in these cases. Greed beyond party lines.

[Robocop1051]

It's still all politics... Although it give a whole new meaning to the GREEN PARTY

[jeffreyC]

Democrats, liberals, aren't they the ones who went to the airport to spit on returning soldiers ?

As was said, follow the money.

[imschur]

When you study any of these issues with weapons you see that greased palms often  prevail over what's best for the guys with their boots on the ground.

This reminds me, you guys ever see the movie "Pentagon Wars" ? While a lot is made up I dont think it's a stretch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon_Wars

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pentagon-Wars-Kelsey-Grammer/dp/B0007TKND8 

[moagm316]

I for one can tell you that procurement does not make decisions like this. We only order to the specs of the customer a.k.a. the guys in uniform. Contracting buys what the soldiers want. We may assist in writing a PWS for a service contract, but for supplies we buy what the customer wants. So please don't blame it on procurement. Yes there have been some bad apples, but those guys are found out and should be punished for what they do.

[survivalshop]

Maybe ,procurement was the wrong field or word I meant . I should have said who ever makes the decisions to procure equipment , what ever title they put to it .

It just seems odd , that they would ban for use a piece of equipment that the people in the field want & is superior to what they are getting.

It just stinks ,very badly . Does any one know who makes this decision ? Is it a panel or just one bone head? If just one bone head opr panel of them , what's there name(s) & rank ?

[MikedaddyH]

Heard there is over a million Pmags sitting in a warehouse waiting for a military contract.

I'll be picking up a case of them when they go on sale.

[mrraley]

it's not who you know... it's who you blow...  <lmao>

[imschur]

Last night I read the problem was the PMAGS arent compatable with the M27 IAR which is an issue in the field

[survivalshop]

OK , so they dump the Pmag because the Marine corps is going to buy a little over 4K of this new SAW & how many M16/M4's are in use .

Ya lets purchase a weapon that is not compatible with any of the mags we have in use , made by a foreign co. , If I'm wrong about this , do tell.

Its what I read , because I didn't know what the M27 was.

[Robocop1051]

M27 IAR

[survivalshop]

That's the same thing I read . Still , it is no excuse to ban a mag (Magpul ) that won't work in 4500 rifles , out of all the M4's in /M16's in service .

Unless this is going to be the new service rifle for all our armed forces , its just not adding up , there's more to this decision , probably never know the real reason (s).

[Robocop1051]

agreed...

[planeflyer21]

Unless this is going to be the new service rifle for all our armed forces , its just not adding up , there's more to this decision , probably never know the real reason (s).

My guess is H&K already has a polymer magazine that will fit everything in inventory...and they just pulled some strings.

Jon

[unforgiven]

Do the guys in the field get to chose the ar manufacturer for a personal work rifle?

[survivalshop]

My guess is H&K already has a polymer magazine that will fit everything in inventory...and they just pulled some strings.

Jon

Or made the rifle in such a way as to let it work with mil spec mags ( & there plastic mags ) & not Pmags.

I know this can be done ,because I have a CMMG lower that will not work with the Pmag , but any manufacturer's steel mags work fine.

CMMG did make the receiver before the 308 Pmag was made, so can't really blame them .

[mrraley]

UPDATE

http://308ar.com/forum/firearm-industry-news-and-gossip/army-now-says-no-ban-on-rifle-magazines/