actually... the lips of the UZI magazines were very strong and made for an "admirable" cap lifter. Those of the M-16, OTOH being made of very thin aluminum sheet, were not up to the job.

<<Those of the M-16, OTOH being made of very thin aluminum sheet, were not up to the job.>>

Never seen an aluminum M-16 Magazine and I've seen at least thousands. In fact, the issue magazines are quite sturdy. Kind of apples-oranges comparison, as the submachine gun is not a rifle... both have applications in warfare and neither does tho other's job very well. (I do not care at all for the cut-down M16 variants; YMMV)

The Uzi feeds a short straight case directly forward and the magazines remind me of Sten magazines - they only need to hold a cartridge in the general vicinity of the path of the bolt (barrel breeches are actually coned or funneled to aid sloppy feeding). I agree that they are made of thicker metal, but that's not the whole story. The Uzi and Sten magazines are usually intentionally made from non-tempered (probably low carbon) steel that forms into the simple shape very readily - in fact, that lends itself to production in unsophisticated shops.

I believe the M-16 magazines are made from a different grade of steel. Feeding a bottle-necked case at a slight upwards angle out of the magazine into the chamber is a bit more finicky at the magazine end - bent feed lips are not good. I'd bet that it actually takes more force to permanently deform the feed lips on an issue M-16 magazine; it's just that Uzi-Sten requirements for feeding are less involved because of the path of the cartridges from magazine to chamber.

Pistol magazines (my beloved M1911A1 comes to mind) are another story - the geometry involved means that feed lips should be "perfect" or else. Eveyone with more than a couple of pistol magazines has at least one that won't reliably feed. Ironically, the ones I've run across with the best reliability have been WWII era magazines... perhaps only the "good" ones were kept? I function test ALL magazines...

None of them should be used as a bottle cap lifter, eh? I'll keep my SAK (with corkscrew, LoL!) on me...

Regards,

Tom

Tom,
Take it easy . It´s not really an apples-oranges comparison (the job in question is NOT feeding cartridges). It´s about the question if a magazine could be (ab)used as a bottle cap lifter at all. As a magazine is a single purpose precision instrument, it´s not really relevant which one is more resistant to that kind of abuse. As you correctly pointed out neither should be used for it anyway. That doesn´t keep inconsiderate people from doing it though. That´s especially true when they are thirsty and don´t see a suitable alternative.

I only use USGI magazines with my AR-15 (M-16), because of their unparalled quality. If you bend the lip on these magazines...they become useless, they will not stay in.

What kind of 1911A1 do you have Tom? I recently picked up a Kimber Custom at the local gun show. Truly a reliable and fun to shoot pistol. Now I can't put the thing down! I just wish I were allowed to carry it on duty! LOL

John McIntire

We just returned from a week's camping in the desert, so I'm a little slow in adding to this thread.

Anyway a SAK rescued us & made me a hero.

Early in our marriage, my wife & I took a impromptu camping trip at a small, remote fishing resort. My new wife packed little food, planning instead to buy our food at a local store. Naturally the lake's store had available only the rudiments: macaroni, cheese, Spam, canned asparagus, & a bottle of wine. Much to my astonishment, she showed her culinary genius & prepared a delectable casarole. But she had forgotten to pack a corkscrew. Fortunately, I had my first SAK, a Spartan with its corkscrew. I debonairly (or at least I felt that way) extracted the cork, and we feasted. <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'll never forget that save. Thereafter, I've always remember to pack a SAK with a corkscrew, now usually a Swiss Champ or a Rucksack since I ordinarily carry a Fieldmaster which has a phillips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew; I'm not sure that a Huntsman with its corkscrew wouldn't be wiser.

I admit it. I am a SAK chauvinist!

John

SAKs forever! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I agree. SAKs rock.
I now carry a swisschamp in addition to the wave and a small gerber LTR.

However, my gerber LTR seems to have its holding screw coming loose ever so often. And i have to keep retightening it. Is this a manufacturing defect ? Anyone with experience with this ?