Coupling magazines

Ganderite

Ganderite

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I shoot CQB. We have a lot of mag changes against the clock. I have found that a coupled mag (side by side) saves me a few seconds each mag change. The mag change is a quick down & up motion.

I started off with metal mag couplers on Pmags. They proved the theory that this was the fast way to change mags, but I found the metal bracket would slip, and sometimes enough that the mag would not insert far enough to latch.

I tried gluing a piece of wood between the two mags, using Dollar Store contact glue ($1 a tube. Handy stuff.) The thickness of the wood determines the clearance between the two mags. In a AR15, you want the mags far enough apart that the right mag will clear the open ejection port cover as the left mag is inserted.

I let the glue dry overnight, with a box of ammo on the mags, to keep them clamped together. After the glue dries I wrap the bottom of the mag with black tape for added security.

After several years of use, no mags have come apart. The metal CZ858 mags are much heavier, so for added security I added cross bolts. (8x32 3") This seemed to work well, so I went back and added a single cross bolt to the AR15 mags.

When I did the coupled mags for the M1 Carbine, I found I had to stagger the heights quite a bit (lower on the right). I forget why, but maybe to allow ejection clearance.

AR15
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858 7.62
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858 5.56 Plastic mags
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M1 Carbine
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I used a piece of plywood for a spacer and gorilla tape on pmags for the AR. Unfortunately the bolt won't lock back on the last shot with the double magazines.
 
If it works, why not. Love the cross bolt, very 'Orky'. Agreed that otehr versions tend to slip & move, my favourite AR coupler is from Brownells I think. It has a solid base that covers the bottom of AR mags to act as a monopod & also prevents the mags from slipping. It's not too expensive ($20?)
 
I bet it takes more time to pull, flip and insert than just pull and insert. oh and the mags too LOL
 
Greenhorse six said:
Forget the spacer just tape one upside down to the other like they use to do with the m1 carbine 30 round mag.
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No. We shoot against the clock. Have 20 seconds to advance and fire off 4 mags.

The down - up motion is faster than any other manipulation.

Because we are under stress there is the issue of brain farts. With a bottom coupler, you can turn the mag over only to discover that the bottom one is already empty.

With a side by side, I load the right mag first, so I can see the full one on the left, waiting to be loaded.

After three years of using the AR, 858 mags I can say the system is durable. It allows me to couple mags for any rifle. I have also coupled mags for my M14 this way.

If the object of to look pretty posing in front of the mirror, a store bought coupler is best. I enjoy competing with a variety of rifles and all except the SKS and Lee Enfield use coupled mags. At my age it is better I don't have to remember to many different mag manipulations.

Compared to the guys that draw a fresh mag from their vest for each re-load, I am estimating I save a second or two. That allows me to aim a bit better.

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BTW. The 30 round mag is for the M2 (not the M1). The M2 has a stronger spring in the mag release button to take the extra weight.
 
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^^^ That looks real good for Service Rifle.

For CQB we are required to load 4 mags with 5 rounds each. So with that set up I could load all 4 mags with 5 each. The first mag change would be real quick - just a down and up. Then I would have to turn them over, without dropping them. (We are not allowed to pick up a dropped mag.) So 2 of the three mag changes would be very fast.
 
My apologies in advance for the side tracking this thread , but the development and upgrading of the M1 carbine is just so cool , any upgrades made had to be able to be retro fitted to older carbine with no modification.

Ganderite said:
BTW. The 30 round mag is for the M2 (not the M1). The M2 has a stronger spring in the mag release button to take the extra weight.
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This is from WAR BABY! by Larry L. Ruth
"The development of selective-fire conversions for the M1 carbine included a requirement for replacing the standard 15-round magazine with one having a 30-round capacity, or at least one "with the greatest practicable capacity between 15 and 30 rounds".
It was soon found that doubling the stack of cartridges put extra strain on the two nib magazine retention system and would , with minimal useage , batter and shear off the two nibs. A curved , 30 round magazine was developed with the standard two nibs on the rear of the magazine plus a an additional nib on the left side to act as a auxiliary support. This third nib was mated with an auxiliary magazine catch on the left end of a modified ,'L-shaped magazine catch ,Which permitted the use of ether the standard 15 round magazine or the new curved 30-round design. As with other Ordnance -sponsored modifications , the new magazine catch was interchangeable with existing magazine catches."

And I was just joking about Banana clips [magazine, lol] taped together upside down , you have some very valid reasons keeping the mouth of both mag up.
 
Greenhorse six said:
My apologies in advance for the side tracking this thread , but the development and upgrading of the M1 carbine is just so cool , any upgrades made had to be able to be retro fitted to older carbine with no modification.



This is from WAR BABY! by Larry L. Ruth
"The development of selective-fire conversions for the M1 carbine included a requirement for replacing the standard 15-round magazine with one having a 30-round capacity, or at least one "with the greatest practicable capacity between 15 and 30 rounds".
It was soon found that doubling the stack of cartridges put extra strain on the two nib magazine retention system and would , with minimal useage , batter and shear off the two nibs. A curved , 30 round magazine was developed with the standard two nibs on the rear of the magazine plus a an additional nib on the left side to act as a auxiliary support. This third nib was mated with an auxiliary magazine catch on the left end of a modified ,'L-shaped magazine catch ,Which permitted the use of ether the standard 15 round magazine or the new curved 30-round design. As with other Ordnance -sponsored modifications , the new magazine catch was interchangeable with existing magazine catches."

And I was just joking about Banana clips [magazine, lol] taped together upside down , you have some very valid reasons keeping the mouth of both mag up.
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Very interesting what you can learn in a book.

I learned it the hard way. Doubled mags did not stay in my M1, but they worked just fine in my M2. I did a little research and found the M2 had a different latch with a stronger spring.
 
TDC said:
Uh, no. Tape/bolt/screw all the mags together you want. As long as only one is feeding the firearm, its still just several mags attached together.

TDC
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I have a gun with two mags on one base plate, they feed the gun simultaneously.
 
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