[Rescue190]

I picked up three of these 20 round mags in a Vietnam Era collection and have not been able to find much info on them other than made prior to 1969 (Could be bad info). They are marked as .223. Other Colt mags in this collection are marked 5.56. I do not believe the .223 to be a military contract so I am looking for some information to figure out when they are from. Any and all help is appreciated.
John

 

[Rick N.]

I have a bunch of them. What does follower look like ??

May be early Air Force contract 20 round. Circa 1963-1968. Earliest had bright alloy
followers, later manufacture had dull followers. Scarce. Marked "Colt Pt. Mfg.
Co. Inc." w/prancing pony and "CAL. .223" on floorplate. Some have cartridge counter holes in the side.

 

[mriddick]

I'm far from a magazine expert but I do know due to people switching floorplates just looking at the floorplates does not really help much for ID'ing the magazine. You really have to look at all the markings and even construction features in conjunction to the floorplate as the only sure way to ID your magazine.

 

[Rescue190]

My apologies for thinking this would have been a simple answer. I should have know if if seems easy it is not. My apologies for not taking pics of the entire mag. I took pics of the rest of the mag.
John

 

[Rick N.]

That's why I asked about the follower. It looks like as I described above.

 

[milprileb]

Follower looks correct as Ashcroft510 stated. I am unaware followers for this era
mags ever said 223 caliber. Frankly, I don't recall one way or the other so please
confirm if you do know.

 

[AGG]

Appears to be late 1965-1966 (correct base plate/follower), since the "1" in a circle is missing on the magazine body!!!

Tony

 

[Ronbo6]

The 20 round magazines that came with the early commercial-made AR 15's (the ones with the capacity block inserts) were very likely marked .223 as well.

The rifles were marked .223, and why would they want to confuse anybody with a differently marked magazine?

Since the first thing most anyone who bought one did was to throw away those inserts, it would be hard to identify today one that came with a commercial rifle.

 

[milprileb]

Follower looks correct as Ashcroft510 stated. I am unaware magazine bottom plates for this era
mags ever said 223 caliber. Frankly, I don't recall one way or the other so please
confirm if you do know.

Correction: I meant the bottom mag plate for M16 military issued 20 rd mags. Were they not marked 5.56 instead of 223 ?

 

[BWilhelm]

Appears to be late 1965-1966 (correct base plate/follower), since the "1" in a circle is missing on the magazine body!!!

Tony

Yep. Sandard issue magazine from this time period.

 

[rsmithsr]

missed one side/edge of the mag body.
front..makers mark
maybe UI typical of a so called colt mag.
just a colt floorplate

 

[SfcRet]

missed one side/edge of the mag body.
front..makers mark
maybe UI typical of a so called colt mag.
just a colt floorplate

UNIVERAL INDUSTRIES were sub-contracted by COLT to make the 20 round mag. on the front it will have a "U" with 'I" inside of the U. only thing COLT about them is they got the prime contract and had their name stamped on the floorplate, which was done BY UI.

 

[RS]

early Colt SP1 magazines

I have an early three digit Colt SP1 semi auto, rifle has not been fired since purchased. The magazine has the small CAL..223 on the floor plate. Later the larger size CAL..223 was available. also shown is the five round magazine block that came with the early Colt SP1

 

[AGG]

I have an early three digit Colt SP1 semi auto, rifle has not been fired since purchased. The magazine has the small CAL..223 on the floor plate. Later the larger size CAL..223 was available. also shown is the five round magazine block that came with the early Colt SP1 View attachment 3529089 View attachment 3529091 View attachment 3529093 View attachment 3529095 View attachment 3529097

Excellent comparison!!!
Based on what I have seen:

- early (20-round magazines blocked to 5 rounds (1963, 1964/white circular sticker over “1” in acircle) with metal follower (COLT AR-15/CAL..223/COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. INC./HARTFORD,CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate); later- A) 20-round unblocked magazine (1965 with“1” in a circle with metal follower or late 1965*/1966 with no white circularsticker and no “1” in a circle) with metal follower (COLT AR-15/CAL..223/COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. INC./HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate); 1) later20-round (COLT AR-15/CAL..223/COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. CO. INC./HARTFORD,CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate)(1967, 1968+); 2) later 20-round (COLT AR-15/CAL. 5.56MM/COLT’S FIREARMS DIVISION/COLT INDUSTRIES/HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate; 3)later 20-round (CAL. 5.56MM/COLT’S FIREARMS DIVISION/COLT INDUSTRIES/HARTFORD,CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate); 4) later 20-round (CAL. 5.56 MM/COLT’S MFG. CO. INC./HARTFORD,CONN./U.S.A. on baseplate)

Tony

 

[rsmithsr]

colt actually owns the patent on the straight 20 mag. came in the deal when they bought the rifle design. they own the tools ui or others under contract use to make the 20's. there is a reason everyone else uses a cut off 30..or a different design.

 

[SfcRet]

that patent ran out long ago, BROWNELLS, ROCK RIVER and a few other manufacturer make the same excat
straight 20 round magazine that colt made

 

[Rescue190]

Still shows how much I have to learn. Thank you for all the replies. I did not ever think it was going to get complicated.
John

 

[BWilhelm]

It always does. lol.

 

[RS]

waffle magazines

the waffle magazine used in the early rifles in Viet Nam, not common to find now as most were dumped
per instructions

 

[SfcRet]

^

that right there is the "holy grail" of mag collectors

the Soviets did the same thing to their AK mag, made them out of aluminum with a waffle pattern. needless to say both had issues with feeding reliable due to the waffle pattern rounds or follower got caught in the cross "hatching".