Has Colt chosen the MWG 90 round magazine for the IAR?
For a while I have been waiting for Colt to a announce a ultra-reliable ultra-high capacity magazine that will accompany the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle. One of the requirements for the Marine IAR is a ultra-high capacity magazine.
At the Pakistan IDEAS-2008 expo an M16/M203 was on display with a MWG 90 Rounder High Capacity Magazine, sitting directly above a Colt IAR poster (Photo by skybolt @ Defence.pk).
The tan colored weapon on the poster is the Colt IAR. Click to expand.
I think it would be safe to assume that Colt is going with the MWG 90.
MWG 90 Rounder High Capacity Magazine
If you look closely at the first image it appears that the MWG 90 magazine is attached to the M16 upper receiver. Something is attached to the receiver which extends towards the magazine. Anyone know what this is? It does not appear visible on MWG promotional photos, such as this one:
Colt may have customized the MWG 90 to increase reliability/durability.
I suspect that the object on the upper receiver is the quadrant sight for the M203.
Daniel, I think you could be right!
How’s the weight balance with that type of design?
Are you kidding? I thought the Beta-C mag was the rage?
Actually, the MWG mag and the Beta C-mag share one critical flaw (I have both and have used both in training, but although I have been in combat I used a Redi-mag instead of either of these options!): they stick out to the left. When using a single-point attachment, if you’re right-handed, the left side of the rifle should lay flat against the right front of your body. These drums prevent this and impede crossdraw in an emergency transition (I learned to carry crossdraw on my chest because you can’t get at a thigh holster squeezed into a HMMWV or any other vehicle). They also prevent a good grip on the front handguard (or forward grip) because the left arm is pushed out of place. If I could find a drum that went to the right I’d buy it! Ideally, it would be slightly larger than one of the halves of the C-mag and hold 75 rounds.
Chris, thanks for your insight. I believe someone will be coming out with a 48 round polymer magazine shortly. Would the extra 50% capacity been much benefit? Considering that it would be bulkier.
Like everything else, it depends. The Redi-mag with 60 rounds was pretty handy. If I could get two polymer 48-round mags next to each other using it, that would be great. If they’re triple-stacked, they’d probably be too wide for that. If not, then they might be too long. The cheap Chinese 40’s are already too long (and unreliable anyway). As with the drums, the extra firepower is only for the front-end of the firefight; I wouldn’t put 48-round mags in my pouches unless they were about the same size as regular mags (I use HSGI Weesatch for carrying my ammo, 12 mags +2 in the M4, plus 14 spare mags in the assault pack and sometimes 4 in a left-side thigh drop rig if I’m feeling frisky). I’d like to get my hands on a couple of those 48-rounders to try out if you know where to get them.
Chris, thanks for the info, that is a lot of ammo! I am not sure who will be making them, but I think they were at SHOT Show. When I find out I will blog it and do my best to remember to email you (I am very forgetful, so please don’t be offended if I forget).
Yeah, 2x the basic load on me, and 2x the basic load in the pack. Enough for a good little firefight if the gunships don’t show up and shorten it for ya!
Don’t worry, I’ll be watching your blog for updates!
The 48 round magazine is made by Lancer. It is two (closer to 1.5) of their polymer magazines grafted together with a coupler. The coupler looks kind of bulky.
I also understand that Virgil Tripp has introduced a >40rd metal magazine.
Update: Tripp has 42 and 52rd magazines. I didn’t realize that he was using extensions. They appear to be nearly as bulky as Lancer’s coupler.
http://www.trippresearch.com/CVS/products/ar15/ar15.html
Magpul is making extensions too:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG061-7.html
Hideous! Maybe Beta will read this and make a right-side feed 75-round drum (heck, maybe make one you can put on either side so lefties can use it too!).
heck,
in the old days we felt good taping 2 30’s together!
you young guys got all the cool toys.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!
Hey since the military is so hot on upgrading or replacing the AR platform, where does the new Remington 15/30ar ammo fit into the mix???
Could they use this in a close combat platform for extra energy and less weight??
Brian:
The .30 AR ammunition is heavier per round than the 5.56mm NATO and undoubtedly more than the 7.62×39mm. A dedicated double stack magazine for the .30 AR would be slightly taller and fatter than an equivalent capacity 7.62mm NATO magazine. The only magazine dimension where you’d be smaller than the 7.62mm NATO is in length, front-to-back.