New addition FN: FAL50 short mag

[hicky1300]

Had heard of these existing but never seen one let alone the chance to get one! (picked it up today at Waterloo Flea Mkt).
Short 5 round magazine for the FN FAL 50 rifle.
I am used to the 20 round as used on British SLR`s but does anyone know of the point of goin for a 5 round capacity mag?
I understand FN also did a 30 round & a drum mag - we used to use the LMG mags on our SLR`s.
Would like to see pics of the drum version!!?

 

[Falcon]

In some countries, I believe semi-auto rifles for civilian use are restricted to five round magazines. Sorry I can't give you any more detail of where these could be.

 

[batonroundcollector]

web search seems to show civilian FALs are chambered for .308 and that 5-round mags are for rounds in this cal so guess these are commercial items. Falcon could be right about short mags due to legal restrictions.

Yes L4 LMG (re-chambered Bren) and FAL mags could be used with SLR, which was an advantage to British troops in the Falklands facing FAL-armed Argentinian forces.

 

[highlandotter]

5 round mags were made to legally sell/or posses rifles in US states that have laws against "assault rifles". I believe California has a 10 shot limit at this time. This also hits many modern pistols which come with "high capacity" magazines.

 

[hicky1300]

As ever - excellent feedback/replies.
As far as I`m aware US .308 & NATO 7.62 x 51 are the same/interchangeable (bet TonyE will let me know if I am wrong!).
As to the LMG Mag/SLR use thing I was told you had to invert the rifle to get the full feed due to the spring not being up to the job as it was an upside down mag - never needed to do this myself & as a No1 on the LMG I had a choice of mags?
I remember assisting in relieving the Argies of their assorted selection of FALS being envious of the fully auto choice & the folding stock was novel but impractical with regards to marksmanship (my opinion). A few were kept (some are in several AAC & RAF crew rooms) but most dumped in the sea! Of all things I have an M3 Grease (7 Squadron have the rest) gun mag - the argies had a few of these as well as 1911 .45 Colts!!

 

[Slick]

To expand on highlandotter's post, a few states had 5 rd limits for hunting purposes. I converted some for that purpose but have since converted them back as the restriction has been lifted.

 

[kahu1]

The 30rd mag was used with the heavy barrel FN FAL.