How Brownell’s Tests Magazines
Fun video from Brownells about their magazine testing. The closed captioning is funny. But I have to wonder how many M16/M4 barrels and gas tubes they end up melting:
These are the civilians magazines they sell being tested. I’m told the actual military magazines are very tightly controlled from factory through deployment. But rumor has it a few of the tan follower military mags have appeared in the wild, which were absconded from military bases. I wouldn’t suggest buying one, because I’m pretty sure it’s some kind of felony or another to buy stolen federal property.
I don’t think that having a tan follower in your possession would be a felony, although I am in no way shape or form a lawyer, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night. I’m currently active military and all of our magazines (excluding my personally owned PMAG’s) are considered expendable while deployed. Not as much in the rear/garrison, but still considered right there next to a chem-light.
Pvt Joe Snuffy “Sarge, I lost a magazine.”
Sarge “Dammit, Private! I told you to keep track of those! Low crawl to supply and get another one!”
Although, I have yet to see a tan follower in any of the new magazines issued out here in the sandbox, so I can’t speak from personal experience directly on those. During the AWB of ’94, it was frowned upon, specifically because the 30 round M16 magazines were labeled “Law Enforcement/Federal Government use only” or some such, but there is not that stigma at the current time in my unit.
Your mileage may vary, but I don’t think it would be a big issue. Most of the guys who mean business out here either buy their own PMAGs, or get their unit to buy them.
-SGT John V.
2nd ID, US Army
Magazines are expendable items and therefore not controlled.