When will we see non roatry magazines for airguns?

[Adam L.]

We are seeing more Semi-Auto and Full-Auto airguns coming out, one of the main flaws i see that is keeping me from buying one is the odd rotary magazines. I would love to see a more conventional magazine type for airguns.

[Hobbyman2007]

The problem with bottom or top fed magazines is that the pellets would be damaged upon loading. There was a gravity fed mag recently that I’m sure was discontinued because of this . I think the more elegant solution is like the HW100/110 or the newly released EDgun semi auto where the magazine doesn’t protrude above the action. The Sig mpx with its belt type feeding would be another alternative that maybe should be explored , but with a complex setup and lots of moving parts I don’t think it’s the solution. I’m with you with thinking there’s got to be a better solution to spring actuated rotary magazines. Some out of the box thinking will be needed to overcome this one .

[Chris USA]

Good points. There is wheels that are just that. They hold the pellets. A cog and indexing system does the indexing. Good lead ins (breech) are another issue. A good lead in can make up for a lot of feeding issues. I do not see a magazine/clip fed system like a firearm working for pellets. Maybe?,... for slugs or longer slugs,............ ? 

[CraigH]

The projectiles mostly do not lend themselves to "box" magazines.

If the owner is all about how many magazines can be emptied which often seems the case,
there is this belt-feed:

http://air-ordnance.com/guns/

[Toddspeed]

Out of curiosity, what is the ‘problem’ with the current magazines? They serve the same purpose of firearm box mags, a spring feeds the ammo to the gun. If mags that protrude high out of the action is the problem look at the Walther line of PCPs and the Hammerli 850, also the Urban and BSA Buccaneer family of guns.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Most PCPs have airtubes, valves in front of the trigger, it would be impossible to have a bottom loader stick mag with that configuration.

[null]

The projectiles mostly do not lend themselves to "box" magazines.

If the owner is all about how many magazines can be emptied which often seems the case,
there is this belt-feed:

http://air-ordnance.com/guns/

I wanted one of these a few years ago... but the problem is... I'd need to keep a pellet plant (ie: Crosman) in my backyard... LOL

[CraigH]

The projectiles mostly do not lend themselves to "box" magazines.

If the owner is all about how many magazines can be emptied which often seems the case,
there is this belt-feed:

http://air-ordnance.com/guns/

I wanted one of these a few years ago... but the problem is... I'd need to keep a pellet plant (ie: Crosman) in my backyard... LOL

So did I, but resisted.   A short time later, facilitated the urge with an M712.   Cheap fun for a short while - have not had it out of the box in three or more years.

[sb327]

Ruger has had great success with the 10/22 rotary mag. It’s greatest attribute to me is that it leaves the bottom of the rifle smooth albeit while making the stock a bit wide.

As mentioned, the design of most air rifles doesn’t allow ‘from bottom’ feeding. As such, a box mag would end up sticking out the side more than a rotary.

It does seem like one could come up with a box style (sort of) that utilized a flexible elevator that ran around a top roller (think bull dozer track). It could be spring wound at the bottom of mag. The ‘track’ could have it’s grooves shaped like the rotary mag grooves.

The high capacity 10/22 mags use something remotely similar but the spring is in the top. It is a flat wound clock type spring like a tape measure.

Dave

[crazyhorse1]

The S16 has a double mag that feeds from the bottom...round double mag...I have one.

[Rallyshark]

Other than belt fed, the answer is we won't see them.  Yes, it could be done for slugs, but I'm not sure that any manufacturer is going to go through the effort of developing a magazine strictly for slug use.  That is, short of small or niche makers.  Air gun makers all use the rotary type magazines, because they are what works for pellets.  The slug trend won't necessitate a slug only magazine, until the manufacturers completely catch up with barrels/power levels that can truly capitalize on slugs imo.  I could be wrong, but there really isn't a solid reason to re-invent the wheel when it comes to pellet magazines. 

[Dan H]

The trouble with the round mags the more shot's the bigger in diameter , but they work ,...  A side loading rectangular box shape with round ends with a spring loaded wheel at each end  with a belt with spacers internally for pellets would work , lets call it ,and oval track mag ...     20 to 40 shots would be cool 

[mrbulk]

Our Career 707s in the early 1990's had linear feed mags. Somehow the mechanism at the front of the stack grabbed the lead pellet and pulled it sideways into the breech...kinda like a Crosman 600? I don't recall, but they cycled smooth and everything, but the cocking lever effort was disproportionately humongous.

[CraigH]

Our Career 707s in the early 1990's had linear feed mags. Somehow the mechanism at the front of the stack grabbed the lead pellet and pulled it sideways into the breech...kinda like a Crosman 600? I don't recall, but they cycled smooth and everything, but the cocking lever effort was disproportionately humongous.

Also the Crosman 400 rifle with removable inline magazine.

[Ascot500]

Does anyone remember the Daisy 2003 semi auto air pistol?
It had a 35 round helical mag that worked fairly well in semi auto.
Not so much as a full auto

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

The projectiles mostly do not lend themselves to "box" magazines.

If the owner is all about how many magazines can be emptied which often seems the case,
there is this belt-feed:

It doesn't have to be a belt, the "Real Action Marker" type paintball guns for example use the same system of putting the projectile in a tube and eject it:



There was also a conversion kit that allowed it to fire pellets or BBs

Also worth mentioning is the "Gas Machine Gun" that also used ejectable casings, it does not seem to have made it to production but it seems the prototypes are still for sale.



While this can be made to work, the down side of course is that the system becomes more complex, and while ejectable shells add a "cool" factor, they are also an added consumable which also increases loading time.

[Warburrito]

Awesome info in here guys!  Learning about things that I never knew existed.

I actually like the idea of a chain/belt fed magazine, but wonder how wonky it would make a rifle that wasn't specifically designed for it.  Seems you'd need either a double wide chamber hanging off of one side or a single width loop hanging off both sides.  Without some serious modicification of a standard rifle this would be worse than the rotary mags.

However, with the additional space that "could" be made available in the butt of a bullpup that could be a promising concept if the other internals back there were made as narrow as possible.

[Nvreloader]

Guys
Here is a stick type mag for the Crosman type air guns, have been thinking of one for my QB SS air guns,

https://www.airgun-parts-shop.co.uk/collections/magazine-collection/products/10-shot-magazine-for-crosman-2240-2250-steel-breech

Don

[MagnumPI45]

A traditional magazine will not work in air guns because you will damage pellets loading them and pellets are just to small.

Steyr Hunter 5 has a interesting magazine where it is a bar with holes cut out for pellets, it looks like you put some spring tension on it because you insert and that is how the gun cycles through, the spring tension is built into the gun instead of the magazine but you only get 5 rounds with each mag in the Steyr. 

I think the only way mags will work in airguns other then rotary mags is by the gun having some kind of system to cycle each round like a spring system you have to set before you insert the mag over relying full on the magazine. 

I remember one of my Daisy 1911 replicas from the early 90's had a mag system where you pulled the spring back on this mag you stuck on top of the gun and then loaded the pullets and the spring would push the pellets into a chamber each time the trigger got pulled.  It worked pretty well.

[tejon]

Does anyone remember the Daisy 2003 semi auto air pistol?
It had a 35 round helical mag that worked fairly well in semi auto.
Not so much as a full auto

I had one of those... very little issues with its magazine...a good concept. Loved that gun