Clipping Magazines together:

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OK, I dont know how common this practice is, but in movies(heh, i know...), and at online stores, I see that they clip the magazines together, but one is upside down! Assuming that no rounds will fall out, etc, this doesnt seem like a natural action to reload.

My Idea was this: clip 2 magazines together, side by side, BUT, put a spacer between them, so that one of the magazines always fits over the side of the gun. This way, to reload, all you need to do is to release the mag into your hand, and put the other side in, without having to flip it around!

I dont have an AR or anythign to try this out (just getting my first rifle tomorrow, an M1), but I was wondering what you guys thought of doing it that way?
 
Seen it done both ways

If you poke around someof the gun accessories vendor sites you'll find some similar to what you mention. You'll also find "covers" to put over the magazine that's not in the gun, to protect the rounds.

Personally I never quite figured out why you'd wanna do this...Just makes gun heavier, and I can't see how a reload would be any quicker than from a magazine I have in my pocket!
 
I have thought about them, but they are not cheap. I figure I would be better off investing in a good magazine pocket rig or bag. I like those vests I see, but they are not cheap either.

I have 40 round mags for my AR so running out shouldn't be a big problem right away.
 
Check about half way down this page its they have the MagCinch.
magcinch1.jpg

http://www.ustacticalsupply.com/ar15.shtml
 
RedDevil: that is what I was wondering about. Every time you see somethign in a movie, the 2nd mag is upside down, which I always thought was a waste of time.
 
Seems to me with the second mag upside down you're more likely to bang/dent the feed lips rendering the mag un-usable too.
 
"I guess the mag-cinch users don't feel any particular need to operate the bolt release.... "

Why would you need to?
When you first load up, you just use the latch to slingshot the bolt closed.
When the first mag is empty and the bolt is locked open, you need to move the mags before you want to hit the release anyway. After moving the mags, the release is no longer obstructed.
 
I'm not sure I see the point in adding weight to a light rifle, but at least it is at the balance point.

SIG rifle mags are built to interlock, rounds up. For the heck of it when playing with a 552 we locked 6 of them together, for a total of 180 rounds. Not really recommended, but good for a giggle
 
When i was in the Army a buddy of mine had something similar, but it held the mags more side by side.I on the other hand just improvised something out of MRE cardboard and 100 mile an hour tape. :evil:
 
Perhaps, taped right side up, the two magazines won't fit. Not enough clearance between the two, so they are taped together upside down. That's the only practical reason I can think of. More likely this is done so the movie character looks cooler. ;)
 
It's pretty common, even for uncommon mags. You just put a block of wood between the two mags and start wrapping with tape like so. Here's 100 rounds on the gun between the two mags.
DSC03179.jpg

I find that, for competition at least, I am faster on the reload when coming from a mag pouch. Those shown here are made specifically for competition. They are secure enough, but kind of stick out a bit for daily wear/carry. I actually found someone who had made a custom mag cinch for a Thompson/Riesing/Grease Gun. It was a bit heavy with 60 rounds hanging off of the gun, but that's not a big deal. It did make it difficult to get at the mag release though.
DSC03044cropped.jpg

Here's another view of the mag holders. Don't bend over fast! :eek:
DSC02986.jpg
 
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My brother is on his department's SWAT team, and has a G36 courtesy of the local taxpayers. Its stock mags snap together without the need for duck tape or any kind of accessory clip or strap.
 
Perhaps, taped right side up, the two magazines won't fit. Not enough clearance between the two, so they are taped together upside down.
Click to expand...
Some subguns especially won't work with the side-by-side mags. Guns like the Uzi & MAC10, where the mag goes into the pistol grip. The second mag would get in the way of the grip. So the upside-down thing is a better option here.

But I have also seen a clip that is made to hold Uzi mags in an "L" shape.
 
I've seen someone cut a bit kindergarden pencil (the big fat ones) and stick it between the mags then tape them togethere.
 
RedDevil: that is what I was wondering about. Every time you see somethign in a movie, the 2nd mag is upside down, which I always thought was a waste of time.
Click to expand...
In the movies, the flip is more dramatic. Also, as noted, sometimes its unavoidable depeding on the gun.

For me, its a more consistant reload. Being left-handed, I hit the mag release on my AR with my right thumb while holding onto the mags, the magazines are spun 135 degrees to my right and the rifle rotated 45 degrees to my left. I was pretty quick at it before I un-cinched my magazines.

I couldnt clip them together with the feed lips up because the second magazine got in the way of the mag release, and the two mags were harder to get ahold of.
 
my dad and alot of other guys used to do this in vietnam. while the rounds won't fall out of any halfway decent mag, dirt wil get in when you're prone. i have to wonder if this might've had a little to do with the bad reliability reports on the '16. i have a first samco mag clamp on one of my ar's at home, partly for tacticool, but i figure if i ever need a rifle in a hurry, it's good to have lots of ammo on the weapon because my boxer shorts don't have any pockets. with the buttstock pouch that brings the total on board to 90 rounds. if that's not enough, i need to call for fire 'cause i'm screwed. on my '16 i just have a buttstock pouch and i think this is alot more practical. it lets me carry a little more ammo even in pt uniform, but doesn't get snagged on stuff near as much as two mags clamped together would. i've seen some soldiers using mag-cinch or first samco products, i've seen some using cardboard and 100mph tape, i've even seen some who've been issued the beta c-mags, but i've heard from others that they're not particularly reliable. soldiers do all kinds of crazy stuff they've seen in the movies and it doesn't always work. i'm particularly peeved about the surprising number of troops using the mexican carry, but that's beside the point.
 
Wow, this has really turned into an interesting read! chopinbloc: that is an excellent point, very insightful!
 
"...when you're prone..." The mag shouldn't be on the ground when you're shooting prone. However, dirt and assorted crap will still get into the mag. Along with bent mag lips.
"...if this might've had a little to do with the bad reliability reports on the '16..." Nope. The M-16 was issued sans cleaning kits to troopies in a very humid climate and the original ammo was poor. The adoption of the rifle was strictly a political decision made by Robert McNamara. It was not the rifle Stoner designed either. Mind you, the current version has had nearly 40 years of development and refinement that has turned it into a very reliable rifle. It should still be made in a 6mm calibre though.
"...my boxer shorts don't have any pockets..." What, no "tactical" PJ's?
 
i have read somewhere the german army of ww2 clamped mags together on their subs to counter ppshs drums
 
I don't remember what rifle it was, but in the book Patriot Games, the BG amushing the British Royal taped a magazine upsidedown to his first one, but banged the feed lips when he got out of his car. The second mag wouldn't go in, so the hero killed the BGwhile he was futzing around with the rifle.
 
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