Under development for three years, the ARC Magazine was designed specifically for USSOCOMs SCAR program. However, it will also fit M16-style weapons including receivers with out of spec magwells. Unfortunately, magwell tolerances has been an issue for many magazines for years going back to the Israeli Orlite mags that hit the US market over 20 years ago and an ongoing problem ever since. Manufactured from a high strength polymer, the ARC magazine will be available initially in 5.5645mm and 7.62
51mm for both FN SCAR light and heavy weapons.
Notice how the lower half of the magazine has a somewhat more pronounced curve than a standard 30 round M16 magazine. The allows the magazine to have the optimal ammunition stack. Additionally, the joint is secured with an adhesive with a higher strength than the actual magazine body.
This is a no maintenance magazine other than to brush it down and spray it out with compressed air or water. Also, note that there is no floor plate. This means that it is a five sided box construction and extremely strong. Additionally, the chromium spring resists corrosion. Tangodown has also developed a maritime version with a one way drain valve for OTB operations.
The ‘gasket’ between magwell and magazine is actually a soft durometer silicone seal that is bonded to the magazine and will only be found on the government issue variants and serves as a sand or dust seal.
The ARC Magazine will be available in Black, Flat Dark Earth, and Foliage Green. Due to the different geometry of the ARC magazine new pouches are under development for the GI model but the commercial variant will fit most standard ammo pouches.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Why don’t they make mags with an increased ammo capacity?
Any answers would be appreciated.
Quite frankly there isn’t any call for it. Please remember that the Soldier’s basic load remains 210 rounds. Increased magazine capacity means a decrease in the shooters ability to properly wield the weapon. Additionally, previous attempts at ultra high capacity magazines (C-mag) has shown poor results.
Frankyly, I’m not impressed. Magpul Pmags? THOSE are impressive.
Pmag vs a truck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCFXcOOb4jc
Pmag vs a bullet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAUFHEJFf-E
I love these mags. Not only are they tough and reliable, but they’re also customizable. Some have windows that allow the shooter to gauge how much ammunition they’ve got left (though to most, this is more of a “gee-whiz” feature).
All Pmags also have the option to slide in a “Ranger plate” to the bottom in order to facilitate pulling the mag out of a pouch.
You can read about them more here: http://www.oa2.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5581
Good Evening Folks,
Magazines have been a problem for the AR’s since the beginning in 1965 and remains so today. Test these puppies harshly and if in fact a 20 rounder will hold 20 rounds and a 30 rounder will hold 30 rounds and not occur a stoppage or jam, buy ‘em and in large quantities.
This is a no fu**in’ brainer.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
Hmmm, how are you supposed to get crap out of the mag if the floor plate doesn’t come off? Sure, you can spray it out, but what happens if a spring breaks, or a follower, or something gets jammed in there?
A dust seal? Thats their answer to the dirt fouling problem? What happens during a mag swap when you have to break the seal?
If they are so worried, about that, why not just take a P-mag (or any other mag) and retrofit it with a silicon seal…cheap fix. How much to the wunder-mags cost? (not to be confused with the $60 HK “Uber-mag).
AND you have to get new mag pouches?
riiiight.
nice idea, poor execution.
And I’m sorry but “GI issue only” ALWAYS rubs me the wrong way. Thats just another form of “elitism”. I guess Tangodown belives that us grubby civilians arn’t worthy of the neat bells and wistles the military gets…guess they arn’t worthy of my dollars either.
The ARC Magazine is irrelevant.
The Magpul P-mag is the ultimate AR magazine, period.
Coolhand,
The pre-order prices I saw for the mag were in the $28 dollar range. If I’m not mistaken, Pmags are about half that.
Yah, the non window version was running around 15.95 and the windowed version 17 or 18.95 pre election
Since Obama got elected the prices have gone up at the dealers due to increased demand for full capacity magazines and lack of magazines in stock.
28? Yah, not worth it. I’ll stick with P-mags, thanks
Amazing how quickly folks are throwing this magazine under the bus without ever having even seen one in person yet let alone used one.
The deal with the different versions (GI and commercial) has to do with out of spec mag wells. Even Pmags are having problems with this issue.
I have a couple of these on the shelf at my shop. I’ll give them a try during my next tactical rifle class and let you know.
I still say the Magpul P-mag is better
Soldier Systems,
You’re correct in that we may not be fair in assuming that the ARC magazine is not as good as the Pmag. Truthfully, none of us have used the magazine on the range and it could turn out that the magazine is every bit as reliable as a Pmag.
What we ARE criticizing, is the fact that the magazine, has the capabilities of a Pmag (save that gasket) at nearly TWICE the price AND requires new magazine pouches.
It just seems to boggle the mind, that anyone would pay for an ARC mag which require a new carrying system, when a cheaper design is readily available which require no changes, save the magazine itself.
I believe that we should purchase what is all around more practical for our military, I see we are heading for a time where spending will be cut and budgets will be closely scrutinized. Not fully being able to evaluate this magazine myself leaves me at a disadvantage to fairly comment. Practical experience in the field is where it counts and testing in the field is difficult. Although I do enjoy a good day at the range, nothing can beat how something will perform like having real live situations.
Also I see the lower part of the body of this mag appears plastic or maybe some sort of polymer. I am sure they have looked at cold weather performance and durability as well.
Plastic magazines are a joke. They cannot take the cold. I see people drive over the magazine and act like that’s a test. Plastic magazines split at the back and the front gets chewed up. It’s the pressures from within and not without that cracks the backs. I haven’t see any of them go past 5,000 rounds.
Stick with steel M-16 magazines and quit the buying the fashion designer crap.
xgjkrthghfjghfghtjb v f nv fbvc fbcjf dv c cub fvdv