Stoneycase: guns

Surefire just released new ultra high capacity magazines for the AR15/M16 weapon - 60 and 100 rounds!

Little different topic than my usual tech/software/space/science - but this definitely qualifies as current events, educational, and/or unique. I actually think it's tech as well, since it represents a technological development for rifle magazines. Then there is the fact that they look like a whole lotta fun!

Unfortunately high capacity magazines have gotten a lot of press lately. I don't really want to get into a lot of that discussion. Let's just say nobody wins when you argue you those points. Suffice to say, crime is crime. Whether you fire one bullet or one thousand...consequences will never be the same.

Surefire, the ever popular company mostly known for it's flashlights, also makes weapon accessories. Their latest release of ultra high capacity magazines for the AR-15/M-16 rifle have catapulted them into the firearms market in a major way.

Until now, the options for magazines on the AR15/M16 weapon platform basically broke down like this:

1. 10 round magazines - Low capacity. During a few years this was all you could buy due to regulations. I believe some states and localties still forbid magazines that hold any more than this for even semi-automatic rifles. (such as the AR15)

2. 30 round magazines - Normal capacity. You can buy these today, with some exceptions. Check your local laws. IANAL. These are typical/normal, especially in the military or law enforcement. There are cheap ones, clear ones, with counters, etc. Consider this standard issue.

3. 40 round magazines - Higher capacity, but totally unreliable. In general, everybody steered clear of these pieces of shit. They were basically just longer than 30 round mags, but somehow managed to totally fuck up. Suffered from feed problems, spring problems, etc. You rarely see them for sale, or in use...but they do exist.

4. 100 round magazine drums - Ultra high capacity. In use in the military, and I believe, available to civilians. It's basically a big circle drum. It's huge, weighs a crap ton, and throws off the balance of the rifle. Plus you have to use crazy lubricant on it to make it reliable.

There is some variation, of course. For example, instead of a 100 round drum, there are 90 round drums. But they are all drums at that size. Or you would see 2x30 round magazines, joined together - sometimes even duct taped. But for the most part, this list was the playing field.

Surefire has stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences by releasing a 60 round and a 100 round magazine that basically seem to solve all of the major issues with high capacity magazines.

They maintain the relative size and shape of the traditional 30 round magazine. Amazing. They also are more reliable and require no special lubricant applications. Awesome. The 60 rounder also weighs less than joining two 30 round magazines together. Even better.

The uber-cool website Cheaper than Dirt! should be selling these babies very soon. God bless CTD. Surefire has the retail currently at $129 and $179 for the 60 and 100 round respectively.

Make sure you check out the pictures and video! Congratulations to Surefire for a significant advancement in magazine technology and weapons accessories. Way to go guys. More rounds down range, and on target, is always good thing.