#Magazines

AK accessory and gear maker US Palm recently debuted their new AK30R magazines for AK variant rifles and pistols. The R stands for Range and their new AK30R mags are a more budget friendly alternative to their current AK30 mags that they’ve had on the market for the past eight years. Their new AK30R mags have the exact same look and feel as the AK30 mags but to reduce cost and the MSRP US Palm left out the metal reinforcements at the front and rear of the locking lugs (see the image below).

While there is a plethora of companies offering to do modifications to the base firearm, manufacture accessories, or do various custom machining work, few focus on the magazine of a given firearms. Outside of the option to develop and produce a new magazine, few spend the time to modify existing designs.

I really don’t mind loading mags – that is when I’m blessed with plenty of advance warning to do so at my leisure. For those more ‘immediate’ needs, I currently prefer to use a Mag-LULA that travels in my ammo bag. However, after stumbling upon the speed loader products from Plate Design, l may have a new option to try out.

With all the coverage here on TFB as well as on other sites concerning the recent NRA Annual Meeting (NRAAM) this particular announcement  seems timely. You may have heard that Shooting Illustrated was recently named as the third in what will become a trifecta of Official Journal of the National Rifle Association magazines. American Hunter and American Rifleman have long since taken up the roles of publications available only to NRA members, in fact you could chart the progression of my life as a hunter by when I switched from American Rifleman to American Hunter. Those two magazines basically handle two aspects of the gun world: politics and hunting. (Yes it is true they each consider various issues, but those are accurate descriptions of their overall content.) Now, with Shooting Illustrated added in, members will be able to sign up for a magazine specifically dedicated to the shooting sports, training, and related gear. So why am I telling you this now?

Even though I’m not a competitive shooter, I can appreciate quality competition gear. Especially when it can be repurposed into daily carry use. The Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) magazine baseplates are a good example of how competitions like 3-Gun matches continue to influence defensive gun technology.

ETS Magazines has come along way. From their original release of translucent AR magazines, to being sued by MagPul (now resolved), to now quickly becoming a go-to source for 9mm Glock magazines, has expanded yet again with a full-size .40 Glock magazine suitable for G22 and G35 models.

Okay, I admit it, I’ve been known to poke fun at various press releases and products, but rarely do I feel compelled to flat out tell someone not to buy something (with the recent exception of the Champagne Tommy Gun). The latest product release from APEX Tactical Specialists fits the bill and a product that I would call completely useless.

For 2016, ProMag Industries announced a number of new firearms magazines. The vast majority of the new models are designed for pistols, but there is also a single new rifle magazine. Here is a quick look of what will be available.

TheShredBox has a detailed video explaining the chronicling the 17 different variations of Glock 17 magazines that have been made and released so far. For Glock fans and fans of variants I think you will enjoy this. I did.

Mythbusters has been on the air since 2003 and is a favorite of many viewers not only because they prove or disprove myths and experiment with special effects but because they get to play with guns and explosives on a semi-regular basis. Among their various gun-related episodes was one dealing with the reality – or lack thereof – of what they termed the “modern version of the quick draw.” According to hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman viewers had repeatedly asked whether the rapid magazine changes done in movies are actually possible. Although we can all accurately predict the outcome of this one, it’s still an interesting video (and it includes competitive shooter Travis Tomasie, which is pretty cool).

Its incredible to see the differences between the construction of the AR-15 and the AK-47. The AR relies on extensive use of forgings, extrusions, and machining (like those seen in 2A’s video). On the other hand, the AK uses as little of that as possible, using stamping wherever possible.

Not long ago I reviewed the classic CZ75b and in that review I kind of balked at the $43 dollar price tag attached to the factory replacement magazines. The Italian magazine manufacture Mec-Gar had a solution to my plight. They reached out to Phil and sent some of their Mec-Gar CZ75 and 92FS magazines along with a couple of their plus 2 magazine extensions.

The Atlas-46 AIMS 3″ Magnetic Pocket Clip is a belt-mountable (also looks to be MOLLE-compatible when adapters are used) magnetic tool “pouch” designed for ease of access and speed. As appropriately named, the panel is 3″ wide and complete with six magnets arrayed in three vertical rows of two magnets.

If you don’t have a reliable magazine for a 1911, you don’t have a reliable 1911 (the same can be said for all firearms, but it is especially critical for the venerable platform). Wilson Combat’s 1911 .45 magazines are arguably the best out there and they have taken the same expertise and applied it to 9mm handguns.

C Products Defense has released two new 7.62×39 magazines to the market. The new 28 and 20 round magazines are designed to fit in the standard STANAG magazine pouch without issue, unlike previous in-house and competitor designs that were so large they earned the “banana mag” reputation.