U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nekolas Portella, a member of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, inspects construction at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8, 2010. The inspection is being conducting to ensure the school's maintenance following the completion of its construction a year ago. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

Staff Sgt. Portella apparently likes Magpul PMAGs. I’ve been seeing more and more of them in US military photos lately.

Embarrassingly, Murdoc’s AR has been non-functional for some time. Last night I finally got things put back together. Here it is in its current configuration:

Murdoc's Black Gun

It started out as a DPMS Panther AP4 Carbine and I’ve made the following changes:

• Modular Gas Block by Brownells
• Two-Piece Forearm by Midwest Industries
• XTM Rail Panels by Magpul
• Flip-Up Front Sight by Midwest Industries
• Same Plane Low Profile Flip-Up Rear Sight by Midwest Industries
• MIAD Grip by Magpul
• Enhanced Trigger Guard by Magpul
• AR-Restor Buffer by Enidine/Brownells (not visible)
• The pictured mag is a 30-Round SOCOM Tan Magazine by Brownells with a Ranger Floor Plate by Magpul

I’ve still got these to install:

• Mil-Spec Buffer Tube by Stag Arms
• CTR Stock by Magpul
• Bayonet Lug for the Brownells Gas Block

I also sometimes use a generic forward vertical grip, a Versa-Pod bipod, and an MD2 LED Light/Laser from Pentagon Light. When I want to take longer shots, I slap an inexpensive Barska 40mm scope (not sure what model) on the rail.

I’ve still got to go function fire this thing and re-zero yet, so it’s not 100% ready to go. It’s certainly not the only gun in the cabinet, but I’ve been itching a bit since it went out of action this summer.

Does anyone else get to feeling a little antsy when guns are out of commission?

Press release:

SIG SAUER® Standard Commercial Pistols To Resume Shipping with Two Magazines

EXETER, NH (June 5, 2009) – SIG SAUER, the leading manufacturer of military, law enforcement, government agency and commercial firearms, will resume shipping all standard commercial pistols with two magazines. SIG SAUER suppliers increased production to meet the heightened consumer demand, thus allowing SIG SAUER to resume shipping two magazines with every commercial handgun.

Previously, SIG SAUER had announced effective March 20, 2009, that all standard commercial pistols would ship with a single magazine. Models that included more than two magazines were not affected. Shipments to distributors and dealers with the two magazines in each pistol will commence immediately.

TangoDown's ARC magazine with mag pouch

The TangoDown ARC magazine with the mag well gasket seal will not fit in most standard mag pouches. A special mag pouch is available wide enough to accept the rimmed mags and seal them in. The intent is to keep dirt and moisture out.

Again, I wish we’d see them shoot it at the end. And I doubt anyone recommends using a mag after it’s been driven over. But it is an effective demonstration of that fact that polymer mags deserve more respect than they often get.

They should have shot it at the end.

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?

So-called “high capacity” magazines actually promote safety: They allow you to fire a warning shot or two before firing for effect.

If I’m limited to 10 rounds, I’m not going to be overly generous with warning shots.

Has anyone tried one of these?

Gotta admit that I’m a bit skeptical, but I’d like to hear from anyone who has experience with one.

Via Footpounds.

UPDATE: These are actually by Cammenga, not Centerfire Systems as I had first written. Centerfire sells them here, and Defense Reveiw has a write-up here.