AR15 magazines made by HK in germany
- Thread starter bizz
- Start date
found this post on another fourm...this guys advice should help you out
Let me explain. HK created a new steel magazine in 2001 for use in the new HK-refurbished British Army "A2" L85 (SA80) and L86 (LSW). The new magazine was one of @ 20 parts changed during this "Mid-Life Improvement Program" and was an improvement in the steel magazine they first produced in the 1908’s for use in the G41 assault rifle. It IS NOT marked SA80 OR HK416 and instead has standard HK and 5.56mm markings, and Crime Bill markings depending on age. It should not be confused with the SA80 magazines that are being sold under that title - these are the very mags that the new HK mag replaced and should be avoided.
What HK now sometimes calls the "High Reliability", "SA80" or "HK416" magazines are one and the same. They are a slightly longer (than USGI mags) steel magazine with steel anti-tilt follower. There are two versions. The "standard" version (HK PN 209472) has a bright stainless follower. The later version called the "Maritime" version (HK PN 251770) has a dark black follower as all surfaces are Maritime coated for use in or @ salt/surf environments and provides up to 96 hour corrosion resistance where needed. HK stopped importing the standard version two + years ago and now brings in only the Maritime version though standard ones are still in circulation. The very latest version have a small round rubber "buffer” between the floor plate and the magazine housing to hold the floor and locking plates in place when firing grenades. The Maritime magazine with this rubber buffer would be the very latest. 20-rd Maritime magazines were also imported for specific customers but I am unaware that any were sold commercially, but they may have been.
These are some of the finest AR magazines available anywhere. One should be aware to fill them carefully when using USGI stripper clips and guides so as to not force live rounds into the channel for the follower along the back edge of the magazine housing which if done can block the free movement of the follower and cartridge column. Just check the magazine for free movement of the cartridge column after loading. Almost an impossible thing to do but not fully impossible. If it happens it happens because of careless/forceful filling or using old worn out guides and stripper flips. This is all covered in the user instructions for the magazine provided to military/LE agency customers but rarely commercially. I attempted to have HK narrow that channel (like on USGI mags) to avoid this on new production magazines but to my knowledge this has not yet been done.
To be sure you are getting the genuine HK magazine, confirm the HK PN with the seller and or check the 2-letter HK date code to make sure it is “CB” (2001) or newer.
G3Kurz
Let me explain. HK created a new steel magazine in 2001 for use in the new HK-refurbished British Army "A2" L85 (SA80) and L86 (LSW). The new magazine was one of @ 20 parts changed during this "Mid-Life Improvement Program" and was an improvement in the steel magazine they first produced in the 1908’s for use in the G41 assault rifle. It IS NOT marked SA80 OR HK416 and instead has standard HK and 5.56mm markings, and Crime Bill markings depending on age. It should not be confused with the SA80 magazines that are being sold under that title - these are the very mags that the new HK mag replaced and should be avoided.
What HK now sometimes calls the "High Reliability", "SA80" or "HK416" magazines are one and the same. They are a slightly longer (than USGI mags) steel magazine with steel anti-tilt follower. There are two versions. The "standard" version (HK PN 209472) has a bright stainless follower. The later version called the "Maritime" version (HK PN 251770) has a dark black follower as all surfaces are Maritime coated for use in or @ salt/surf environments and provides up to 96 hour corrosion resistance where needed. HK stopped importing the standard version two + years ago and now brings in only the Maritime version though standard ones are still in circulation. The very latest version have a small round rubber "buffer” between the floor plate and the magazine housing to hold the floor and locking plates in place when firing grenades. The Maritime magazine with this rubber buffer would be the very latest. 20-rd Maritime magazines were also imported for specific customers but I am unaware that any were sold commercially, but they may have been.
These are some of the finest AR magazines available anywhere. One should be aware to fill them carefully when using USGI stripper clips and guides so as to not force live rounds into the channel for the follower along the back edge of the magazine housing which if done can block the free movement of the follower and cartridge column. Just check the magazine for free movement of the cartridge column after loading. Almost an impossible thing to do but not fully impossible. If it happens it happens because of careless/forceful filling or using old worn out guides and stripper flips. This is all covered in the user instructions for the magazine provided to military/LE agency customers but rarely commercially. I attempted to have HK narrow that channel (like on USGI mags) to avoid this on new production magazines but to my knowledge this has not yet been done.
To be sure you are getting the genuine HK magazine, confirm the HK PN with the seller and or check the 2-letter HK date code to make sure it is “CB” (2001) or newer.
G3Kurz
- Location
- South of your border
I think I'll buy a few of those soon.
I've used them in full auto with a HK416 and they performed flawlessly. One of the best mags I've ever used.
The issue they have is that they are heavy. When they are loaded up they are really heavy. When the heavy mags are trained with and dropped onto hard surfaces they tend to bend their lips.
This is their disadvantage (and they are expensive). Some DI guns don't always feed perfectly from them due to the HK mags having a very strong spring.
I love my HK mags but have to admit in some ways the Magpul E mag is better and cheaper.
Rich
The issue they have is that they are heavy. When they are loaded up they are really heavy. When the heavy mags are trained with and dropped onto hard surfaces they tend to bend their lips.
This is their disadvantage (and they are expensive). Some DI guns don't always feed perfectly from them due to the HK mags having a very strong spring.
I love my HK mags but have to admit in some ways the Magpul E mag is better and cheaper.
Rich
+1
If I have to run steel mags, they are my top choice, if there is an option then the E-mag/P-mag takes priority. Metal mags i guess are the past, usually i carry 4 of each & 1 on the gun, and a few in my backpack. I really don't find them that heavy. Also you should only really be dropping your magazine in training or a gun fight, and usually when they are either empty or very close too it, if the mag is near empty it should really just end up in your drop pouch..
Gen 3 are the way too go, but compared to so many other steel mags out there they really raised the bar.
Maybe I've just been out of the game for too long but could someone explain why anyone would "have to" use steel mags as opposed to any other?
Every army has it's standard and some times they are very anal about it..and don't like change...civilians use whatever they want, I don't know what game you were apart off or playing but in LEO/MIL you use what you are given and for good reason depending where you serve..This fr many reason one being liability and function.
Modern armies need standardization which is critical, but if only based on appearance and for the parade square that is self defeating..
Well by "game" I mean shooting in general. I figured you might have been referring to LE/MIL but find it odd that you'd be issued different mags depending on where you're at or what you're doing. As you say, militaries especially need standardization strictly from a logistical point of view.
Unless you're one of the "special" types that get special gear, in which case I'll stop asking questions you're probably not allowed to answer...
No I'm referring to my own personal load out in the civi world, but you are correct in the CF sometimes you can have different kit depending who in the chain of command allows it. As for SF they will use whatever they want, but that depends on the mission, we have seen a lot of change in the CF for example when going over seas on what kit they can have. I have been out for years so I'm not sure as to what is aloud but out west they were more on the ball with this stuff, especially the PPCLI.
Well then my original question still stands - why would you "need" to use steel mags in any civilian application? Are some courses of fire really that strict that they dictate the material your mag is made of?
Frankly I'm surprised people use anything but the LAR 10-round mags anyhow.
If you can't think of the obvious reasons why people do use Hk AR mags or Emag pinned to 5 rd then know one can help you! Your response reads like you are looking for an argument. The feed pattern and reliability of an HK mag is top notch and out lasted the Emag after firing a very high rd count more than good enough for any civi shooting. HK mag is heavier well the Emag is lighter and very tough and in many ways better than HK AR mag. There are pros & cons too both, use whatever you want.
