According to Maintenance Information (MI) Message 17-045, although the Enhanced Performance Magazine (NSN 1005-01-630-9508) is still the primary magazine for the M4/M16 series rifles and carbines, units are now authorized to requisition the following polymer magazines NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (BLACK) and NSN 1005-01-659-7086 (COYOTE TAN) as Additional Authorization List (AAL) items.
Below is the message minus addressees:
BT UNCLAS SUBJ/TACOM LCMC 17-045, M16/M4 NEW MAGAZINES
Subject: Maintenance Information (MI) Message, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, (TACOM LCMC) Control No. MI 17-045, (Informational), M16/M4 New Magazines.
Models Affected:
Rifle, 5.56mm, M16A2 (NSN 1005-01-128-9936); Rifle, 5.56mm, M16A4 (NSN 1005-01-383-2872); Carbine, 5.56mm, M4 (NSN 1005-01-231-0973); Carbine, 5.56 mm, M4A1 (NSN 1005-01-382-0953)
Total Density of Equipment Affected is 900000, and Density of Equipment affected in SWA is 50000.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X “ATTENTION” X
X THIS MESSAGE CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT IS VITAL X
X TO THE SAFETY OF ARMY PERSONNEL AND THE OPERATION X
X OR MAINTENANCE OF ARMY EQUIPMENT X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
REFERENCES: TM 9-1005-319-10
TM 9-1005-319-23&P
MAINTENANCE INFORMATION (MI) MESSAGE, #12-039 dated May 2012
1. Distribution:
This is a Maintenance Information (MI) Message. Commanders/Directors of Army Commands (ACOM)/Army Service Component Commands (ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Army National Guard (ARNG), US Army Reserve (USAR) Command, US Navy (USN), US Air Force (USAF), US Marine Corps (USMC) and other Service Commanders and Responsible Offices will retransmit this message to all subordinate Commanders/Activities.
2. Message Library:
This message will be available on the Maintenance Messages Web Site located on the TACOM Unique Logistics Support Applications (TULSA) portal within twenty-four hours of transmission. Access to the Maintenance Messages Web site requires CAC authentication. You must first request access to the Maintenance Messages Web site. To request access go to [CAUTION] https://tulsa.tacom.army.mil [CAUTION]. For assistance, email the TULSA Helpdesk at usarmy.detroit.tacom.mbx.ilsc-tulsa@mail.mil. The Maintenance Messages Web site also has the capability to email maintenance messages directly to your inbox. To subscribe to the mailing list, click on, -E-Mail Subscriptions-, on the Navigation bar.
3. Issue:
Units are now authorized to requisition the following polymer magazines NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (BLACK) and NSN 1005-01-659-7086 (COYOTE TAN) as Additional Authorization List (AAL) items.
4. User Actions:
a. The Enhanced Performance Magazine (NSN 1005-01-630-9508) is still the primary magazine for the M4/M16 series rifles and carbines, and will still be included as a Component of End Item.
Units are now also authorized to requisition, at the commander’s discretion, polymer magazines NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (BLACK) and NSN
1005-01-659-7086 (COYOTE TAN) as AAL items.
b. Field Level, Operator
c. This message supersedes TACOM LCMC, MAINTENANCE INFORMATION (MI) MESSAGE, #12-039 dated May 2012.
d. NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (Black), P/N MAG556-BLK, 1LX50
NSN 1005-01-659-7086 (Coyote Tan), P/N MAG556-MCT, 1LX50
e. Units and Soldiers are authorized to procure and use polymer magazines in M16 and M4 rifles & carbines at the Commander’s discretion. Ongoing testing, due to be complete in 1QFY18, demonstrate Magpul PMAG Gen 3 Black magazines are currently providing adequate performance and reliability in the M4A1 Carbine under virtually all conditions and are appropriate for use. Tests demonstrate PMAG magazines crack/break in cold (below 0 degrees
Fahrenheit) environments when dropped and units should use Army-standard aluminum magazines in basic to severe cold environments.
Caution should be exercised when using the magazine in basic cold to severe cold environments (-0F to -60F). Cracking and/or shattering was observed during drop testing at and below -0 Fahrenheit and lighter damage at higher temperatures. Visually inspect for cracks, breaks, chips, or other damage to magazine assembly if dropped. Replace if defective or unserviceable.
5. Unit Commanders:
a. Commanders are authorized to requisition polymer magazines NSN
1005-01-615-5169 and NSN 1005-01-659-7086, at their discretion.
b. Contact your local TACOM LCMC Logistics Assistance Representative
(LAR) or your State Surface Maintenance Manager upon receipt of this message for assistance. For assistance in locating your TACOM LCMC LAR, see paragraph 8c.
6. TACOM LCMC/PM actions:
a. Publications: TM 9-1005-319-23&P Estimated completion date 2nd Qtr CY 2018
TM 9-1005-319-10 Estimated completion date 1st Qtr CY 2018
b. Follow-up action(s): N/A
c. Assistance to the field: N/A
7. Supply Status:
a. Parts required: NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (Black), P/N MAG556-BLK,
1LX50 NSN 1005-01-659-7086 (Coyote Tan), P/N MAG556-MCT, 1LX50
b. Requisitioning instructions: Units are required to requisition the magazines through the DoD supply system
c. Disposition/Availability: N/A
d. Cost Impact: NSN 1005-01-615-5169 $14.00
NSN 1005-01-659-7086 $10.00
e. Who pays: Units requisitioning AAL items
8. POCs:
a. The originator of this message is Kenneth Hiltunen, XXX.
b. There are no appropriate POCs
Tags: Magpul
Of course they try to dig on the cold weather as a caveat when they didn’t test alongside the USGI for those tests. There are units in AK that have been using them at -30 actual, and -102 at exit altitude in jump ops that are quite pleased with the M3 and have seen zero issues–in fact citing advantages to the M3 polymer construction not flash freezing to gloves and springs not freezing to mag bodies.
This message is Exhibit A to indict humans for the crime of unnecessary complexity – what should be a Class-B Felony. When bureaucracy becomes the religion rather than efficiency, humans will make shit as complex as possible so only they and their “team” can possibly understand it. Well done, US Army, well done.
So, now the guys on the lines have to worry about having working mags in the cold? We all know the rule of supply and demand, supplies go 180 ‘ from needed routes, and then the rest get picked by supply and REMFs. I don’t know what the ratio of breaks are in the cold, but are we setting ourselves up for failure with polymer mags. I know they are highly praised and do overcome other limitations as stated by others and other articles here.
IF the polymer magazines have actual issues in the cold, then we can make the metal magazines part of a suite of cold-weather equipment along with snow shoes and overwhites. Aside from that, let’s get the best magazine in the hands of our shooters in temperatures above 0.
just another uninformed Internet SME…
I try.
No, just asking the extent of the supposed cold problems.
The cold weather performance is a lie.
The PMAG is good to -60 and does better in cold wx than the GI mag.
That bit is a Picatinny Arsenal fabrication to discredit the PMAG. Either of those NSNs are good in temps that people and weapons both stop working.
Good to know.
The lengths the govt. will go through to keep a magazine factory open. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the employment of the disabled, but this is pretty clearly a fiasco when the services have come to the same (correct) conclusion about PMAGs.
The Army tried this ten years ago with the CW, too. The M3 passed all the USMC cold WX drops to -25 with absolute flying colors. The difference? Likely that the USMC cared about function above anything else.
The USGI often bends at the rear corner in the CWx FWD, binding the spring/follower, or caves in at the mag catch, binding the stack. No cracks or chips, but doesn’t work.
The M3 may indeed see a small chip out of the overinsertion stop, or maybe the extra reinforcing material at the mag catch, or a scuff or small crack in the edge of the floorpate–but the mag is still 100% completely functional with unchanged reliability.
Previous tests by Picatinny have used a crack or chip as the criteria for their pass/fail…because that’s the only way the USGI looks good.
Might be worth asking the question of what they used as pass/fail. I’d rather have a mag that works. Would seem that most others would care about the same thing.
I’ve used pmags at 0deg without issues, but never “-0deg”.
Also worth noting, the USGI is Picatinny’s baby by way of ARDEC. Who likes their baby being called ugly? ARDEC, is in a way competing against COTS even if a solution exists. 855A1 issues have been known for a few years and the solution with the M3 as well. Yet, ARDEC developed another solution that has finally been called ugly. Glad to see this happen.