Gun questions

[kcdusk]

So whats the reason for a 20 round mag option? Seems a silly idea.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

So whats the reason for a 20 round mag option? Seems a silly idea.

Once upon a time, when the US was using the M-14 and just introducing the M-16, they figured, "well, the M-14 uses 20-round magazines, so I guess that's big enough for the M-16." They also figured it would cut down on the weight an infantryman would have to carry, and also didn't anticipate the "spray and pray" firing that the troops in Vietnam would be using on a regular basis. So the first magazines made for the M-16 were 20-rounders -- oops, make that the first nearly 100,000. And more for foreign countries. And they still made more. And then they became popular with civilians and police departments using the AR-15.

The upshot of all that is that there are a LOT of 20-round magazines floating around in the world, and they would likely get issued out later in the Twilight War or be taken off dead enemy troops, civilians, police officers, etc. It's good to know that it will fit in your weapon.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

The upshot of all that is that there are a LOT of 20-round magazines floating around in the world, and they would likely get issued out later in the Twilight War or be taken off dead enemy troops, civilians, police officers, etc. It's good to know that it will fit in your weapon.

IIRC, the 30-round mags were initially issued to grenadiers using the M203 GL, as the 20-round mags didn't provide a good grip for the hand firing the GL.

[jester]

And the old M14 magazine pouches held 4 20 round magazines where as the ALICE pouches held 3 30 round magazines. And throughout the 80s and 90s you often would get bandoliers that were originaly designed to reload the 20 round magazines, they would have pockets each holding a carboard box of 2 ten round stripper clips with a total of 180 rounds, then the later ones were designed to recharge the 30 round magazines, these were boxes of 3 10 round stripper clips, each badolier holding 210 rounds. In my games, I made this fairly common when my players get new issue ammo.

And yes the 20 rounders are out there. I have had several since the 70s, a freind on a working party in supply ones had access to a embark box full of them. He didn't know that they fit the standard M16A2's we had, otherwise he would have grabbed a few. <He was timid when it came to liberating things from supply, or even asking if they wanted stuff that was never going to be used again>

I recently saw a youtuve clip where a kid in army looking digital uniform and gear was firing a SAW and it was loaded with a 20 round magazine, so even there it will work.

I think its kinda cool to have options, to show different stages of equipment, kinda like breaking out ancient stores or really scrapping the bottom of the barrel. An example, have the local militia or police who are armed with the M16EZ to also be issued with the 20 round magazines, to show that they are on a less than equil status than those in primary combat units.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by jester

I think its kinda cool to have options, to show different stages of equipment, kinda like breaking out ancient stores or really scrapping the bottom of the barrel. An example, have the local militia or police who are armed with the M16EZ to also be issued with the 20 round magazines, to show that they are on a less than equil status than those in primary combat units.

I've had exactly this situation in my campaign. I try to fit in an amazing plethora of crappy, barely working weapons in the hands of civilians in my campaign. As I mentioned once in a thread at the old forum the USN SEAL XO of Major Po's unit once had a very near miss from a 17yo kid with a zip gun firing a thoroughly well worn, reloaded-multiple-times 12 gauge shotgun shell packed with bits of iron nails and broken glass.

[TiggerCCW UK]

Any time I've seen or used the SA-80/L85 or the L98A1 (cadet version) or the LSW its always been fitted with a 30 round magazine. It uses standard M16 mags, so I would imageine the old 20 round ones would also fit it.

[jester]

Here is one to toss out,

Since they would be scrapping the bottom of the barrel, have some 10 round magazines floating around from the 1994 Brady Bill. Hey, they could be used for training purposes, or loading them with tracer or blank rounds for firing rifle grenades, whatever reason you can come up with to have your character have a couple 10 round magazines.