The Beta C-Mag is a 100-round capacity drum magazine manufactured by the Beta Company. It was designed by Jim Sullivan and first patented in 1987 and has been adapted for use in numerous firearms firing the 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×51mm NATO, and 9×19mm Parabellum cartridges.[1]C-Mag is short for century magazine, referring to its hundred-round capacity. It has two drum units, each of which hold half of the cartridges inserted into the magazine. The latest version of the magazine is available with a transparent backing to allow the user to see the number of rounds remaining in the magazine.[2] A C-Mag loaded with 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition typically weighs about 2.1 kg (4.63 lb); a C-Mag loaded with 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition weighs 4.77 kg (10.5 lb).
A Beta C-Mag undergoes field testing on an M4 carbine
A version adapted for the M16 rifle is used by the U.S. military. The magazine design, including drawings, is covered in detail in U.S. Patent 4,658,700.
Schematic illustration between a full and empty Beta C-magazine
The C-Mag is a compact twin-drum magazine design that accepts up to 100 rounds of ammunition. It consists of two main components: the twin-drum storage housing and an interchangeable feed clip assembly. The storage housing is standard and fits any like-caliber weapon. The feed clip assembly serves as an adapter for the specific weapon.
Before loading and after firing, the feed clip is filled with spacer rounds that are an integral part of the magazine. The upper half of the top spacer round is tapered to allow the weapon bolt to close after the last round is fired. The length of the string-set depends on the customized feed clip for the individual weapon.
During loading, cartridges are inserted on top of the spacer rounds, through the feed clip and into the drums. The cartridge column splits at the juncture of the feed clip and the housing to distribute the ammunition evenly into the drums in two concentric rows.
During firing, spring-driven rotors advance the cartridges in both drums until they meet at a cam blade that merges the cartridges into a single column that feeds up through the feed clip and into the weapon.[3]
A test in 2003 by U.S. Army soldiers in Afghanistan found the C-Mag unreliable in simulated combat conditions and reported frequent failures to feed among the issues;[5] likewise, British Armed Forces trials found that the C-Mag did not give reliable performance when loaded with British-issue ammunition.[6] The Beta C-Mag is not in widespread use by U.S. military forces, and has not been type-classified.
In November 2008, the U.S. Army Experimental Task Force (AETF) at Fort Bliss, Texas, evaluated six Beta C-Mag magazines. Four magazines—two with black covers and two with clear covers—were used with M4 carbines in three firing scenarios: controlled pair, controlled burst, and rapid fire. According to the memorandum summarizing the evaluation, the four magazines "performed flawlessly in all three scenarios without jams or stoppages". Additionally, two magazines with black covers were evaluated with M249 light machine guns in controlled burst and rapid-fire scenarios. These also performed without "issues", according to the memo, which also notes that soldiers "had only positive comments" about the C-Mag magazines during the After Action Review (AAR).[7]
Test-fired with a Heckler & Koch HK91, Heckler & Koch G3 and two other Heckler & Koch-based weapons, the 7.62mm C-Mag was found to operate without problems in either loading or firing at rates up to 1,000 rounds per minute.[8]
^. betaco.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
^Crane, David (2006-03-17). "Ultimax 100 MK4: Best Choice for USMC Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR)? Video Clip". defensereview.com. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
^"MEMORANDUM FOR BETA COMPANY" (PDF). Department of the Army Future Force Integration Directorate. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
^Choat, Chris. A (May 2012). . smallarmsoftheworld.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
External links
Media related to Beta C-Mag at Wikimedia Commons
April 19, 2023
beta, round, capacity, drum, magazine, manufactured, beta, company, designed, sullivan, first, patented, 1987, been, adapted, numerous, firearms, firing, 45mm, nato, 51mm, nato, 19mm, parabellum, cartridges, short, century, magazine, referring, hundred, round,. The Beta C Mag is a 100 round capacity drum magazine manufactured by the Beta Company It was designed by Jim Sullivan and first patented in 1987 and has been adapted for use in numerous firearms firing the 5 56 45mm NATO 7 62 51mm NATO and 9 19mm Parabellum cartridges 1 C Mag is short for century magazine referring to its hundred round capacity It has two drum units each of which hold half of the cartridges inserted into the magazine The latest version of the magazine is available with a transparent backing to allow the user to see the number of rounds remaining in the magazine 2 A C Mag loaded with 5 56 45mm NATO ammunition typically weighs about 2 1 kg 4 63 lb a C Mag loaded with 7 62 51mm NATO ammunition weighs 4 77 kg 10 5 lb A Beta C Mag undergoes field testing on an M4 carbine A version adapted for the M16 rifle is used by the U S military The magazine design including drawings is covered in detail in U S Patent 4 658 700 Contents 1 Design 2 Firearms compatible with C Mag cartridges 3 Performance evaluations 3 1 Reliability 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign Edit Fully loaded Empty Schematic illustration between a full and empty Beta C magazine The C Mag is a compact twin drum magazine design that accepts up to 100 rounds of ammunition It consists of two main components the twin drum storage housing and an interchangeable feed clip assembly The storage housing is standard and fits any like caliber weapon The feed clip assembly serves as an adapter for the specific weapon Before loading and after firing the feed clip is filled with spacer rounds that are an integral part of the magazine The upper half of the top spacer round is tapered to allow the weapon bolt to close after the last round is fired The length of the string set depends on the customized feed clip for the individual weapon During loading cartridges are inserted on top of the spacer rounds through the feed clip and into the drums The cartridge column splits at the juncture of the feed clip and the housing to distribute the ammunition evenly into the drums in two concentric rows During firing spring driven rotors advance the cartridges in both drums until they meet at a cam blade that merges the cartridges into a single column that feeds up through the feed clip and into the weapon 3 Firearms compatible with C Mag cartridges Edit9 19mm Parabellum Colt 9mm SMG Heckler amp Koch MP5 Uzi Glock plus these firearms using a Glock magazine KRISS Vector Gen II Kel Tec SUB 2000 CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A Heckler amp Koch G36 of the German Army equipped with a Beta C Mag and bipod stand a configuration often referred to as an MG36 A Mini 14 carbine equipped with a Beta C variant 5 56 45mm NATO STANAG magazine with Mini 14 compatibility FN Minimi M249 light machine gun Ultimax 100 4 AR 15 Beretta ARX 160 FN SCAR Heckler amp Koch G36 Heckler amp Koch HK33 Heckler amp Koch HK416 Heckler amp Koch HK 93 Heckler amp Koch XM8 M4 carbine M16 rifle PVAR rifle Ruger Mini 14 SA80 SIG SG550 551 552 553 556 Steyr AUG CZ 805 BREN7 62 51mm NATO AR 10A and various firearms using SR 25 pattern magazines FN FAL no longer available FN SCAR modified FAL pattern Heckler amp Koch HK91 and Heckler amp Koch G3 M14 rifle AR 10B modified M14 pattern Performance evaluations EditReliability Edit A test in 2003 by U S Army soldiers in Afghanistan found the C Mag unreliable in simulated combat conditions and reported frequent failures to feed among the issues 5 likewise British Armed Forces trials found that the C Mag did not give reliable performance when loaded with British issue ammunition 6 The Beta C Mag is not in widespread use by U S military forces and has not been type classified In November 2008 the U S Army Experimental Task Force AETF at Fort Bliss Texas evaluated six Beta C Mag magazines Four magazines two with black covers and two with clear covers were used with M4 carbines in three firing scenarios controlled pair controlled burst and rapid fire According to the memorandum summarizing the evaluation the four magazines performed flawlessly in all three scenarios without jams or stoppages Additionally two magazines with black covers were evaluated with M249 light machine guns in controlled burst and rapid fire scenarios These also performed without issues according to the memo which also notes that soldiers had only positive comments about the C Mag magazines during the After Action Review AAR 7 Test fired with a Heckler amp Koch HK91 Heckler amp Koch G3 and two other Heckler amp Koch based weapons the 7 62mm C Mag was found to operate without problems in either loading or firing at rates up to 1 000 rounds per minute 8 See also EditDrum magazine Magazine North Hollywood shootoutReferences Edit The Beta Company BETA MAG C MAG 100 Round Magazine C MAG Products betaco com Archived from the original on 2016 09 21 Retrieved 2015 04 14 Crane David 2006 03 17 Ultimax 100 MK4 Best Choice for USMC Infantry Automatic Rifle IAR Video Clip defensereview com Retrieved 2015 04 14 U S Patent 4 658 700 Jones Richard White Andrew 2008 Jane s Guns Recognition Guide HarperCollins p 399 ISBN 978 0 00 726645 6 C MAG Results I ll Stick with 30 Rounds defendamerica mil Archived from the original on 2013 04 02 Retrieved 2015 04 14 Grant Neil 2016 SA80 Assault Rifles Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 4728 1104 2 MEMORANDUM FOR BETA COMPANY PDF Department of the Army Future Force Integration Directorate 2008 11 28 Retrieved 2010 11 05 Choat Chris A May 2012 Massive Firepower The Beta C Mag in 7 62mm smallarmsoftheworld com Archived from the original on 2015 04 14 Retrieved 2015 04 15 External links Edit Media related to Beta C Mag at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beta C Mag amp oldid 1137946849, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
