Restrictions on bolt action magazine capacity?

[Roddy]

Why do bolt guns need special magazines? Why can't they use FAL or M14 magazines? And why are double stack ten round mags so rare? The Lee Enfield had a very reliable magazine like that well over one hundred years ago.

 

[tiriaq]

Bolt action rifles do not need special magazines. But if the magazines were designed and manufactured for use in automatic rifles, like the FAL and M14, they would need to be blocked to five rounds.

 

[Roddy]

Oh I know that would be the case in Canada but even in the US Tikka T3 and AICS magazines are almost $100 including the five round ones. And those are limited not by law but because they are single stack.

A surplus battle rifle mag is about $20 so I wondered why more bolt action rifles don't use them even thought they would be limited in Canada. Plus they might have more appeal to militaries that have those magazines on hand, like the US with the M14.

 

[Roddy]

Sorry to hijack the thread but since the original question has been answered what I don't get is why this wasn't made standard:

http://2.bp.########.com/-wB5Px2sMvOI/UpS8bdR2q6I/AAAAAAAAApE/du-mLJ-2uCA/s1600/IMAG0142_1.jpg

I mean if I had to run across no man's land and jump into an enemy trench and there was a way to increase my rifle's magazine capacity by 400% that's something I would be interested in.

And in staying on topic for the sub forum I do know they were issued to snipers, I assume becase they couldn't use stripper clips with a scope mounted. I don't really get the need as many modern sniper rifles have fixed five round magazines and snipers don't tend to shoot too fast.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Why do bolt guns need special magazines? Why can't they use FAL or M14 magazines? And why are double stack ten round mags so rare? The Lee Enfield had a very reliable magazine like that well over one hundred years ago.

The advancement of mag fed LR precision rifles has been held up in large part to the det mag.

Look at the internal OAL that will fit FAL or M1A mags? Pretty darn short.

Same goes for the AR 15 mag.

The bulk of the military needs are taken care of on the short side of 500yds so there has been no need for mags with longer internal capacity. So we go to the "aftermarket" and products like the AICS family. But these too are limited in internal length.

There has been a very slow advancement in 3" to 3 1/4" internal OAL mags.... no military purpose and any manf making for you or I will charge the moon due to reduced volume. Hence, goofy prices for TIKKA and similar mags.... although you would think polymer mags just aren't that expensive to make.

So, you don't just need to make a mag.. you need to make the DBM and Action to run it, and stocks to fit. A new rifle action system would need to be generated... and that is a big endeavor especially, if the rest of the shooting industry doesn't see a need.

As we have seen over the last few years, it is far easier to make a new cartridge to fit a mag then better mags to suit new ideas in cartridge set ups.
Jerry

 

[Mystic Precision]

Sorry to hijack the thread but since the original question has been answered what I don't get is why this wasn't made standard:

http://2.bp.########.com/-wB5Px2sMvOI/UpS8bdR2q6I/AAAAAAAAApE/du-mLJ-2uCA/s1600/IMAG0142_1.jpg

I mean if I had to run across no man's land and jump into an enemy trench and there was a way to increase my rifle's magazine capacity by 400% that's something I would be interested in.

And in staying on topic for the sub forum I do know they were issued to snipers, I assume becase they couldn't use stripper clips with a scope mounted. I don't really get the need as many modern sniper rifles have fixed five round magazines and snipers don't tend to shoot too fast.

The US army has already considered this issue.

[youtube]3MEnEPDUA1o[/youtube]

This is one solution... and the robotic suit that help carry the load is already well under way in testing.

Seems video games DO inspire engineers..... as do 90's Arnie movies

Jerry