TYR Tactical

TF Checks Out the SureFire MAG5-100 HCM

Our very own Tactical Fanboy gave the SureFire 100 round MAG 5-100 high-capacity magazine a go during a training course conducted by 914 Consulting at C2 Shooting Center on his birthday. While not a comprehensive test, he shared it with several other students who used it in a variety of rifles by various manufactured with no problems noted.

The SureFire 100-round High-Capacity Magazine is constructed from Mil-Spec hard-anodized aluminum. It weights 3.3 lbs. (!) fully loaded, and has a length of 12.2 inches, so have fun trying to go prone. It features reliable functioning thanks to mechanical simplicity and high-quality, non-binding springs coated with cadmium for low friction and corrosion resistance. Any weapon that can accept STANAG 4179 compliant magazines can accept one of these. Specifications aside, can a magazine with this high a capacity actually work reliably?


The rifle is a Blackheart International BHI-15 with a Lucid LLC HD7 Red Dot Sight.

My initial analysis: yeah, it can. See, I was at a training class yesterday (more on that later) and I happened to bring a hi-cap mag along. Not for the class, mind you, but because I was at the range and I finally had a chance to test it out. It took a long time to load, and it was heavy [said Captain Obvious], but it seated just fine and I had no feeding failures. I had a few of the other students try it out as well, so it went through multiple AR-15s from many different manufacturers, and still had no issues. I’d have to use it a few more times, and in different weapons, to be completely sure, but as it stands it’s my full belief that SureFire made a great product in this magazine.

http://www.surefire.com/MAG5-100

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13 Responses to “TF Checks Out the SureFire MAG5-100 HCM”

  1. .308 says:

    A question to tactical fan boy… I can see you are “a fan of things tactical” can I ask why? Are you in the industry? Former or active tier 1 SF operator? Law Enforcement?

    Or are you just a fan of things that are tactical.. and if that’s the simple truth, may I ask why?

  2. FormerSFMedic says:

    I’ve seen a few reviews out there, and it seems like these mags work very well. But, I would like to see someone push one to its limits. I would love to beat the crap out of one of these! 😉

  3. cqbg36 says:

    My 100 rounder jammed the at about the 60 round mark….so bad that I had to take it apart to fix it. Not a good first run. 60 rounder works great.

  4. MARSOCMarine says:

    I’d still love to be explained what’s this supposed to be used for, because from a military standpoint this is worthless.

  5. mike says:

    .308, I’m not seeing what the confusion is. The guy likes stuff that he likes. It’s kinda like when people ask why you like guns, or my favorite “why do you need that?” If you have to ask, no answer will suffice. Beyond that, who cares? Let the man have his fun.

    MARSOCMarine, well I think the same applies. If we stopped at reasonable we’d be really boring as a species. Besides, plenty of people will buy this regardless of whether or not it’s practical. At the end of the day Surefire is a business and selling things is what they do.

  6. Buckaroomedic says:

    A large capacity magazine, like this SF one, might be useful for a good ol’ fashioned ambush. Everyone on line has 100 rounds to put into the kill zone initially . . .

  7. Dan0280 says:

    It is made for non mil/le applications. Just look at that thing, try going prone, kneeling or even walking…
    Even the best piece of gear can fail, when a 30rd mag goes down you lost 30 rounds or less of your loadout. If you your 100rnd mags fail you have a more significant loss.
    Also the potential for wasted ammo and melted gas tubes is very high.

    The best use may be for criminal applications like active shooters and LA style bank robberies.

  8. FormerSFMedic says:

    Seriously? People are wondering about the usefulness of a 100 round mag? What’s not useful about having 100 rounds in the gun? I would say the 60 rounder is a little more practical for mil/le, but both could still benefit from the 100 rounder. As far as positions go, the 100 rounder would be better standing or kneeling, while the 60 rounder would be good to go in prone.

    I wish I could T&E one of these and see if I could develop some uses for it. I’m thinking it would handle just fine.

  9. MarkM says:

    Asking why be a tactical fanboy is like asking why be part of the Raider Nation? After all, they can’t even beat the Chiefs.

    There may very well be good reasons the heart goes where the body can’t.

    More to the point, the mag worked. Stating that it’s worthless for the military remains to be seen, the Marines have specifically gone to a mag fed MG in the squad. Where better to have half a dozen 100 rounders in a defensive position doing final protective fire? It’s NOT all a POV shooter game out there.

    What I would like to hear is feedback on the Lucid. It’s not like everybody is an Aimpoint fan, and the Patrol Pro is an obvious move to protect their market from exactly this level of quality and price point. Write that up and let us know – there’s a user consensus building that the Lucid is worth it and performs well. Milspec? No, but not everyone needs that – they just want it.

  10. Keith Fender says:

    Beware. 100rds of full auto is the point where cook-offs happen on a closed bolt gun. (depending on variables.) I just don’t want somebody to get hurt. There is a reason machine guns are open bolt.

  11. Ken says:

    Pffft.. you guys are fooling yourselves. Defensive position on the FOB or while on guard duty, sure. I’m not humping around the mountains with an extra 3.5lb and awkward as shit magazine that’s certain to cause an injury to myself or get banged on a rock and screw up the magazine catch when I’m already loaded down with 75lbs of gear, water, extra ammo for the guy with the mk48 and a few 60’s in my assault pack for the mortar guys.

    Use your damn heads and get real.

  12. I see what you mean but... says:

    I think it was designed for competition shooters.

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