STANAG magazine

A STANAG magazine or NATO magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October of 1980. Not long after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56×45 NATO cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4179 was proposed in order to allow NATO members to easily share rifle ammo and magazines down to individual soldiers. The United States' M16 rifle's magazine proportions were the ones proposed for standardization. Many (but not all) NATO countries subsequently developed or purchased rifles that would accept this type of magazine. The standard was never officially ratified, and remains a "Draft STANAG".

Likewise, another Standardization Agreement (STANAG 4181) was proposed, which would have standardized the stripper clips for loading the aforementioned STANAG 4179 spec magazines, however this agreement also remained a draft and was never officially ratified by NATO.

Magazine Specs and Scope of STANAG 4179

The STANAG magazine concept is only an interface, dimensional and controls requirement (e.g. magazine latch, bolt stop, and so on). Therefore, it not only allows one type of magazine to interface with various weapon systems, but also allows STANAG magazines to be made in various configurations and capacities, so long as it meets those basic specifications. The standard capacities of STANAG-compatible magazines are 20 or 30 rounds of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. There are also 5 round, 10 round, 40 and 50 round box magazines, as well as 60 and 100-round "casket" magazines. There are also 90-round "snail-drum" magazines, and even 100-round drum magazines. There has also been a 150-round drum magazine produced (e.g. Armatac Industries' "SAW-MAG").