30 Round Mags-When?

[eagle359]

When were 30 round mags first issued? I got out of the Corps in 1974 and all I remember seeing were 20s.

Thanks,

John

[jhs1969]

I can't give exact timelines with out going to the trouble to look the info up but as a quick overview I'll take a stab;

Seals began using some 30 experimental/trial mags in the mid 60's while deployed in Viet Nam.

The current type of 30 rnd mags began to make a small showing as the war in Viet Nam began to wind down.

The 30 rounders did not become common place until the post Viet Nam era.

I know this may be a little vague and some of it is based on "era's" or blocks of time. If you have a terrible need/desire to know let me know, I'll dig up some of my books for more precise time lines.

[Sam]

As someone who grew up in the middle of the Southeast Asian war and having a father who was in the military, I saw him bringing home 30 round mags around the early 70s.

[citizensoldier16]

Did some digging on Google and found only one instance where a specific year was mentioned. According to "PrimerMG" (3rd post) the 30 round magazines were introduced in 1968. No idea if this is accurate, but it's all I could find.

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2741923366/m/7870027931001

[KevinB]

At the inlaws for TG, so I dont have my copy of The Black Rifle, but IIRC it was '68

[jhs1969]

This info comes from Kevin Dockery's book 'Weapons of the Navy Seals',

Colt had a thirty round mag available since at least 1964, it was a fully curvred designed and would not fit all AR lower receivers. In 1968 Colt signed a contract with the Army to supply 1000 new 30 round mags. By 1969 the 30 round mags were begining to become available with the Seals being amoung the first to receive them.

If you can find this book it is a wealth of info on Seal small arms, I highly recommend it.

[eagle359]

Thanks for the the information.

John