Here are a couple of shots from a recent trip to the range. The prototype MagPod is fantastic and allows you to do something unattainable with standard magazines. It is very lightweight and adds a great deal of stability to the weapon when the magazine is used as a monopod; hence the name. This isn’t something I would see you running on every magazine but it’s a definite must have add-on for your patrol mag.
Tags: MagPod
I’ve had bad luck years ago trying to run an M16 letting the magazine sit on the ground. The magazine would rock back and forth during recoil and cause malfunctions. I haven’t tried it in years. Has anyone been using the magazine as a monopod for a long time without problems? Have magazines evolved to the point they no longer move back and forth in the mag well?
That was my question as well. I’ve had the same problem with USGI mags. Haven’t tried it with pmags and the improved follower though.
It is 100% OK to deck your Pmags provided you’ve got a decently built lower.
At basic training (1985) they told us not to do it, so I didn’t. For years and years. I’ve done a few times since I retired with the guns and mags I personally own and no problems.
Newer mags have no problem with this method. I’ve shot magpul and lancer mags and used them as monopods with no issues.
Definitely a nogo for me.
GripPods all the way. This is just:
1. Asking for malfunctions
2. Asking for “not having it mounted on the right magazine when you need it”
Nothing more than a novelty for range queers.
Ya know, you don’t have to have a MagPod in place to use your magazine as a monopod. It just gives you a better surface.
I’ll say this once for everyone that has reservations about using the mag as a monopod. IF you have a Mil-Spec gun and a Mil-Spec magazine (stanag, USGI, PMag, ARC, etc.) you will NOT have any problems with malfunctions because of pressure being applied to the magazine. This has been debunked 1,000 times over. If your having malfunctions, then something is out of spec. They are teaching the “monopod” method in BCT right now.
The Combat Marksmanship Training Course at JBLM has even began teaching the magazine as the way to shoot from the prone. I have never experienced a malfunction after using the magazine as a support for almost a decade. USGI magazines and .mil M4s will be just fine if both are in spec.
And the grip pod aka “chow pod” is a hunk of crap. Especially on issue m4s w/ non free float rail systems. We take our carbines out to 600m successfully, not possible with the chow pod.
Rick
I’ve consistently used the magazine on the deck method in the prone with USGI mags and HK mags and have had 0 malfunctions of any kind. This has been with .mil M4A1’s and M16A4’s.
Just chiming in to say that I’ve had zero problems with malfunctions with using the mag as a monopod. I’ve used P-mags (first runs from years ago), USGI mags from the 90’s with no change to them (black followers – Original Gangsta), and cool-kid USGI mags with rangerplates and aftermarket springs and followers. My experience with magopod(TM) malfunctions is due to the mag release on the weapon. If it has extremely excessive vertical play, then it may malfunction. Of course, this may malfunction without upward force from the magazine regardless due to improper because this would be symptomatic of a shitty weapon.
Grip pods on non-floated rails is probably the worst solution for stability (as mentioned by Mr. Rick). In the interest of keeping a uniform manual of arms where the shooter may be using a floated or free-floated weapon with a grip pod, he/she shouldn’t have to switch skill set to adapt to the gun (“Oh no, I’m so used to shooting prone with this giant collapsible donkey dick, what am I to do without it?”). Use the magazine, it won’t affect accuracy. But ymmv, opinions and elbows and such.
Ranger plates do the same thing.
Not really, the Ranger Plate is designed as integral magpul on the bottom of a magazine in order to help extract it from a pouch.
Ft. Benning teaches to put the magazine on the ground in order to increase stability. The idea that it causes malfunctions has been disproved.
Been shoot off my issue mags for years. Unintentionally at first but then later I learned that it doesn’t cause malfunctons. In a combat/tactical enviroment the ground is rarely ever flat and/or firm at the place you’ll be shooting from. Various weapon attached supports are a tool to be used in the right situation. This tool, I feel, will solve a very limited number of problems.