Long live the PMAG! Earlier this month, Army officials acknowledged the TACOM message “banning” all non-government, aluminum magazines was misleading and not intended to be a directive.

Soon after the April TACOM message was released, the troops began to question the decision. The Magpul polymer magazines have demonstrated extreme reliability and performance in combat situations. In fact, a number of special ops units go so far as to issue them prior to deployments into battle zones.

As reported by Military.com, Matthew Bourke, an Army spokesperson, said the message was incomplete and failed to mention that the final decision rests with the commanders in the field.

“Maintenance Information Messages [from TACOM] are permissive,” said Bourke. “They are not an order. They are not a directive. All content and direction in those messages are optional for the recipient.”

So why was the message released at this time? Sources told Military.com that it might have something to do with the $10.7 million contract TACOM Rock Island awarded to Brownells, in which they must manufacture 1.4 million improved magazines by January 2010.

Since a 2007 reliability test, PEO Soldier has been on a mission to develop an improved magazine for the M4. The test revealed that nearly 30 percent of the M4′s stoppages were mag related. Changes to the improved magazine include a redesigned follower, modified bullet protrusion and extended rear leg. It has been reported to reduce the risk of magazine-related stoppages by more than 50 percent when tested against older models.

For the time being, it looks like soldiers will still be able to stick with that trusty poly mag.

Do you trust in aluminum or polymer? 

Information via http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/06/07/army-now-says-no-ban-on-rifle-magazines.html