Beta C-Mag

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The Beta C-Mag is a 100-round capacity magazine designed for assault rifles and submachine guns firing the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO, 7.62 NATO, and 9 x 19 mm Parabellum cartridges. C-Mag is short for century magazine, referring to its hundred-round capacity. It has two drum units, each of which hold half of the cartridges inserted into the magazine. The latest version of the magazine features a clear back to allow the user to see the number of rounds remaining in the magazine.

A Beta C-Mag undergoes field testing on an M16-derived M4 Carbine.‎

One such magazine has been designed for the M16 rifle, in use by the US Military. This is of particular interest, as it was developed at a time when the United States was embroiled in a conflict in a region employing similar drum magazines on the AK-47 rifle. Some have postulated that the US was "outgunned" by the larger magazines available to the opposing side's rifles. This is vociferously debated mostly by proponents of the M16 as well as proponents of the possible successors to it, including the XM8 rifle. The National Stock Number for the M16 version is 1005-01-363-6670. The magazine design, including drawings, is covered in detail in U.S. patent 4,658,700.

Though previously a somewhat obscure firearm accessory, the C-Mag has become more popular after being used in video games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six or Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, movies like Team America: World Police, and in the field during Operation Desert Storm.

1 Problems
- 1.1 Reliability
- 1.2 Tolerances
2 Civilian ownership
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Problems

[edit] Reliability

The C-Mag is arguably unreliable in combat conditions, with frequent failures to feed. Problems are exacerbated in dusty and sandy environments. The C-Mag also stresses the magazine release, since a fully loaded C-Mag weighs more than three fully loaded 30-round magazines. U.S. Army TACOM has issued a Ground Precautionary message, GPM-02-0217, warning about its use in operations, since several deaths in the Global War On Terror have been blamed on faulty C-Mags. The GPM predates the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Beta C-Mag is not in wide-spread use by US military forces, and has not been type-classified.

[edit] Tolerances

The feed clip (or "tower") on older Beta C-Mag editions have some problems in later AR-type weapons with closer tolerances for the magazine well. The old feed clip which inserts into the rifle's magazine well is encircled by "ribs" molded into the exterior of the upright tower. As a result, the magazine cannot be inserted into the magazine well far enough to fully seat.

[edit] Civilian ownership

In 1994, the United States Federal Assault Weapons Ban passed, prohibiting manufacture of magazines with capacity of more than 10 rounds. Civilian purchase and ownership of previously manufactured magazines was legal, though as a result of a limited supply, the C-Mags became rare and expensive. The ban has since expired and Beta Company has resumed production of the C-Mag for the civilian market.