Keltec RFB design question regarding magazines

[leadcounsel]

I'm very interested in the Keltec RFB. I've already emailed Keltec with this question and am waiting for a response. But I'll pose it here too, and hopefully be able to answer the question with an official KT answer soon.

I like the forward thinking of KT with the design. I also like the fact they choose to use surplus FAL metric magazines. However, I wonder why KT didn't use even more affordable and available HK91/G3/PTR91 mags???

FAL mags are admittedly hard-ish to come by and about $15-20 each whereas the HK/PTR91 mags are $1-2 each in bulk surplus, and very reliable mags... Does anyone have any speculation or ideas as to why KT would chose the more rare and expensive of the two presumably equally good magazines?

 

[Z-Michigan]

At the time they started the design process, FAL magazines were much cheaper and more abundant, with VG condition FAL mags in the $5 range. G3 mags might still have been cheaper, but were not as commonly sold. Also, the G3 mag design is not compatible with a last-shot bolt hold-open, while the FAL mag is. Finally, they might have guessed that there would be more FAL owners interested in the RFB than HK91 or PTR-91 owners - just a guess.

Lead time makes a big difference and not all trends are predictable. Back in 2003, no one would have believed you if you said that in 8 years, quality 20 round AR-10 mags (original design, aka SR-25 and LR-308 mags) would have been cheaper than FAL mags. Armalite, Inc. (Eagle Arms) designed their .308 around the M14 mag for reason of the scarcity of original AR-10 mags.

 

[Girodin]

At the time they started the design process, FAL magazines were much cheaper and more abundant, with VG condition FAL mags in the $5 range.

This was my thought as well. I remember being very excited at the prospect of very inexpensive FAL magazines the first time I saw the RFB. It has been what, four years, since they first unveiled, the RFB at shot show. It was designed who knows how long before that. Back then FAL mags were very very cheap. Even now they are not priced too high although if they could redo it other choices might be more attractive today.

 

[Maverick223]

Like Z-Michigan, I imagine that the LRBHO and lesser cost during the design phase were the primary reasons for their choice. Also, if I remember correctly, the G3 magazine is a bit bigger and is a little less stoutly constructed (but not weak by any means). Personally i'd like to see them use an AR-10 mag instead. Allowing you can use the new PMags which, if the AR ones are any indication, promise to be pretty darn good (and reasonably priced).

 

[Z-Michigan]

Maverick - I had a PTR91 before I got into (ahem) quality .308 options, and I still have some G3 mags kicking around. G3 aluminum mags are plenty stout, and G3 steel mags are regulated as deadly blunt weapons (j/k). The bodies are fractionally bigger than FAL or AR-10 mags, but not by much. I doubt that many people knew 8 years ago just how many unused cheap surplus G3 mags would be flooding the market, and even if they did, I think the lack of a "LRBHO" is a deal killer for many designers.

 

[Maverick223]

I was referring to the Al. versions (that have inundated the market), but either is stronger than many other mags out there (see most AR mags), and for the price stronger than it needs to be (who can't afford a couple spares?).

 

[TIMC]

I bought one of the Bushmaster BAR-10's when they first came out. I bought it because of the cheap FAL mags it used and bought a bunch for it, back then brand new mags with loaders included were $6 each. When the RFB came out I already had a pile of mags for it so there was no extra cost.
I would imagine when the RFB was designed it was with the cheap (at the time) FAL mags.

 

[evan price]

I saw this coming. I stocked up on FAL mags when they were cheap because I figured the RFB folks would snap them up. Little did I know that the Obama craze would finish them off first. Glad I got what I got when I did. Nice having mags in stock and ready to rock.