MK Unit is enriching the accessories market for the Steyr AUG with two new products: The new 10-round magazines from Steyr Arms can now also be connected to each other with new couplers. For the older 9+1 magazines, on the other hand, there is now a robust magazine extension in the form of the Dummy. The Ranger magazine endurance test provides an interim conclusion after 700 rounds and a lot of dry practice.
The MK Unit team has set itself a challenging task: To put the “30-round feeling” in the hands of all those users of the short magazines from Steyr Arms. With the first couplers for AUG magazines, this has been achieved, as stated in the very first test reportworked very well. However, new Steyr AUGs are delivered with a new 10-round magazine, which has an extension, but does not appear visually appealing to many, nor does it give the desired “30-round handling”. MK Unit have therefore designed a new coupler.
The second new product will please all those with the – previously much more common – 9+1 magazines: The already presented coupler is now fitted with a dummy that offers more protection for the magazine. We have put both new developments through their paces and can already report on our initial impressions.
Mounting the new coupler
The installation of both the new couplers and the dummies for the older 9+1 magazines is extremely simple. With the new magazines, the locking mechanism must first be released. All you need is a pencil to release the pins from below. Once the black extension piece has been pushed off, the coupler is pushed on. This again has the usual grip of the coupler for the Gen. 1 magazines. Once the second magazine has also been pushed on, the cover is fixed in place with an extra-strong screw – that’s it.
To remove it, take the supplied opener and insert it into the coupler to release the pins. This is also child’s play.
The new dummy is fitted in the same way as the older coupler, as described described here here. You attach a 9+1 magazine to one side of the coupler, the dummy to the other and screw the cover on. There is nothing more to do.
The original magazines are manufactured with some play, we learn from MK Unit. The designers of the coupler had to take this into account, which may or may not result in a small gap between the magazine and the coupler. In practice, however, i.e. in live fire and dry firing, this does not play a noticeable role.
The design of the original magazines sets the limits. The couplers are designed for both generations of 10-round and 9+1 magazines from Steyr Arms. They are definitely not made for the classic 30 or 40-round magazines with the thick magazine base. Such extra-long magazines would not only be more than just impractical, they would also miss the target that MK Unit set out to achieve with the coupler.
In addition, due to the design, it is not possible to mix and match, for example, a new 10-round magazine with a 9+1 magazine or with a dummy. After removing the black handle, the new magazines no longer have a magazine base and are therefore designed completely differently to the older models. We simply had to come up with our own solution with the new couplers.
In use
For the long-term test, the MK Unit team provides the Ranger magazine with a sufficient number of magazines, dummies and couplers for the demanding semi-automatic courses with Martin Thaler and training courses at Shootingpark Leobersdorf.
It is very pleasing that the two generations of couplers have the same external dimensions. This means you don’t have to learn any new grips: all models, regardless of generation, have the same full and solid grip as the original 30-round magazines. In addition, the couplers fit both in pouches for single magazines (Templar’s Gear Fast Rifle Pouch) and in the double pouches (Tasmanian Tiger Double Mag Pouch). Rubbing against each other doesn’t bother the couplers at all, even if you can’t avoid traces of use on them.
The new dummies have turned out to be the editors’ favorite. In terms of handling, they are no different to using two magazines coupled together. Subjectively, however, it is a reassuring feeling to know that the magazine is protected “underneath”. What’s more, the dummies simply look good.
Three magazine change drills were successfully tested with the couplers, including the rather rough “AK-style” change, in which the release button is pressed with the fresh magazine and the old magazine is pushed away at the same time. It is always advisable to choose a soft surface for this, as so far only the 30-round magazines from Steyr Arms and the P-Mags from Magpul have such a stable construction that the magazine is more likely to survive the impact even on harder surfaces. However, there are also limits to the large magazines.
Due to the design, it is therefore not advisable to hit the combination of coupler and dummy too often with momentum from the AUG onto the floor. Although the dummy appears indestructible (and probably is), the relatively thin side wall of the coupler could give way depending on the angle of impact. However, if you train on gravel or in the meadow, you will have little to worry about, says the MK Unit team when asked.
Conclusion
Almost 1,000 rounds have been fired through the Steyr AUG using the MK Unit couplers, 700 of them in combination with the new dummies as well as with the couplers for the 10-round magazines – the digital shooting book of the High Ready App reliably documented all of this for us. Time for an interim conclusion.
The aim of the couplers and dummies is to get the “30-round feeling” back in your hands, for which a coupler with two short magazines or one in combination with a dummy is sufficient. This goal is definitely achieved. Whether you use a 10-round magazine with dummy or a 30-round magazine – the handling is identical.
Anyone who observes the above-mentioned restriction and does not use the couplers on the hard floor for magazine change drills will probably no longer want to remove the couplers. The “30mm feeling” is now available to everyone, who would want to do without it?
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The tests are continuing. A few more course visits and lots of training sessions are planned. We will keep you up to date with further developments.
Military current price bonus
In cooperation with MK Unit, all readers of Militär Aktuell and Ranger Magazin receive a 10 percent discount on orders in the MK Unit store when they quote the discount code RANGER10. Valid until further notice.
