July 6th, 2008
Cpl. Kevin Wilcox, a native of Clarksville, Tenn., pulls security while patrolling through the western Baghdad neighborhood of Hurriyah June 29. Soldiers continue to make a positive impact in Hurriyah, ensuring constant security for the Iraqi citizens with daily patrols throughout the muhallahs. Wilcox serves as a team leader with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division - Baghdad.
Note the straight 20 round mag, something I’m not sure I’ve seen in a photo of US troops in Iraq.
Does anyone out there use the straight 20 rounders? Some claim that they’re more reliable than the curved 30 or 20 rounders, but others say that good curved mags with good springs and followers are just as reliable.
Opinions?
July 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I have heard about the reliability thing with 20 rounders as well, but another reason he might use them is for more clearance in the prone position. Still, that’s not a whole lot of advantage. I’m reading Patrick Sweeney’s The Book of the AR-15, Volume 2 right now, and he is a big fan of 20 rounders.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Not only did I use them in VietNam, I have a few now. I also have 30 rd. mags also. I have never had any trouble with them. I give 20 rounders a tumbs up!
July 8th, 2008 at 12:35 am
The springs in the dot.mil issued 30’s are junk by the time they get to the field. This is caused by both junk steel used by the contractor (aka: the lowest bidder) and the fact that they are kept loaded more often then not. Word has it from those I send my bi-weekly care packages to that only a 20-24 round load can be put into a field 30rnd mag. Two of the top five requests in those packages are mag springs for both the M4 and the M9 pistol. I use 20rounders almost exclusively, mostly because of their usability prone and from the bench. Also because I don’t have to learn a new count when I swtich from my PTR-91 to my M4 clone.