Magazine & ammo pouches Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 16 of 16 Total. 13923 Visits.
M16 ammo/mag pouches The next group of pics will show the "official" military ammo/mag pouches used w/the M16 series. Shown in this pic is the earliest pouch for the Model 601, these were reportedly delivered w/the early rifles by Colt in a complete "package", rifle, bayonet/scabbard, sling, pouches, afterwards the accs were purchased on their own by the military. These early 601 pouches are a rubberized canvas pouch for 2 20rd mags, there is a large belt loop in back & have no markings (at least as far as I know).
Pouches 601-M56-M67 General issue US military ammo/mag pouches for the M16 thru the end of the VN war. Top, left to right: 1) Model 601 (1960-64) 2) M56 (1st patt., 1956-61) universal ammo pouch 3) M56 (2nd patt., 1961 on) 4) M56 M16 (1966-?)for 4 20rd mags. Bottom, left to right: 1) M67 M16 (1967-1974?), 4 20rd mags 2) M67 M16 30rd (1969-1974), 3 30rd mags w/individual flaps for each mag 3) M67 M16 30rd (1972-?), basically the same as #2 except there are no individual flaps for the mags.
Pouches M56-M67 rear view Pouches are in same order as previous pic. Note, all pouches use the standard military metal clips for attachment to the belt except for the earlier Model 601 pouch. The M56 series gear is made from canvas web fabric, the M67 series was changed to a nylon due to experiences in VN.
Pouches M56 series M56 pattern gear was made of a canvas/web, it was found not to hold up well in VietNam & was superceded in 1967 by the M67 nylon equipment. Shown in this pic are the M56 ammo/mag pouches, left: 1st pattern (1956-1961) M56 "universal" ammo pouch, this & the following 2nd pattern are commonly referred to as M14 pouches but they were not designed specifically for that, they were to be used w/all small arms in Army inventory. The first pattern has a metal plate in the front body & is stiff, there is also a grommet in the flap strap. Center: 2nd pattern M56 universal pouch, the metal plate in the front & the grommet in the strap were deleted (1961-?) Bottom: M16 20rd pouch, designed specifically for 4 20rd M16 mags this pouch is shorter than the first 2 pattern M56 pouches.
1st pattern M56 pouch marking All 3 of the M56 pattern (1st, 2nd & M16), are mfg of the same material, have grenade "pockets" on the sides & a permanently attached web suspender support strap on the back 9although it's not uncommon to find these straps removed). All have their markings stamped inside the flap, the first pattern M56 is NSN 8465-647-0852
2nd pattern M56 pouch markings As described the 2nd pattern is the same as the 1st pattern w/the deletion of the front metal plate & no grommet in the flap strap, interestingly the NSN for the 1st & 2nd patterns are the same, 8465-647-0852.
M56 M16 20rd pouch The M56 pouch for the M16 was designed specifically for the M16's 20rd mags, it held 4 & had a small strap that could be pulled up to help in mag removal from the pouch, other than this strap & the size it followed the 1st & 2nd patterns in it's construction/design, the NSN for the M56 M16 pouch is 8465-935-4871
Pouches M67 Left to right: 1) M67 20rd M16 pouch, 4 mags, this is basically a nylon version of the M56 web 20rd M16 pouch & has the suspender support strap affixed to the rear as in the M56 gear, the later 30rd pouches did away w/the permanent strap & had a metal rimmed tab for seperate support strap attachment. 2) M67 30rd pouch, This is probably the 3rd 30rd pouch, 1st major production variant, the 1st 2 were experimental & pre-production variants, then this pouch which had a seperate flap covering the top of each mag. 3) Later variant of #2, the flaps over the mags were done away with as they added to effort required to remove mags in combat.
Pouches M67 open Here's a view of the M67 "family" w/flaps open. Note the center pouch, w/the individual flaps.
Pouches M67 open Another view: Left: later M67 30rd pouch Center: early M67 30rd pouch Right: M67 20rd pouch
Pouches M67 20rd mkg The 20rd M67 pouch is: NSN 8465-935-6780
Pouches M67 30rd early markings The early 30rd pouch (w/individual mag flaps) is NSN 8465-464-2084 There are actually 2 earlier 30rd pouches, 1 is an experimental or pre-production pouch w/no known NSN & another before the one shown here NSN 8465-926-6610 which does not have individual flaps foor the mags & no grenade pockets (from what I have been able to find), I'm still looking for examples of these 2 for my collection.
Pouches M67 30rd later marking This is (most probably) a post VN war developement which did away w/the individual mag flaps (which were found to slow removal of the mags) but kept the grenade pockets (compared to the unshown 2nd pattern 30rd pouch which had no flaps & no grenade pockets). These pouches are the most common for the 30rd mags & I believe ae still in current issue, probably in use since around 73-74, I can't make out the NSN on mine & haven't found the number yet!
Other ammo specific pouches Left: General Purpose ammo pouch Right: M60 linked ammo belt pouch The GP pouch was a pouch which could be used to carry any small arms ammunition in use by the Army, cartridges, mags, belts etc, it was not general issue but was very practical in the field, it was a web case w/snap flap, a belt loop on rear & a shoulder strap. The M60 link bag was used for a lot of purposes, one was additional ammo loads in the field.
General purpose ammunition pouch mkg Most military items can be id'd thru the NSN (National stock number) assigned for ordering/maintenance purposes etc. On most all the pouches discussed here the NSN & other info is stamped inside the flap, the GP ammo pouch is NSN 8465-261-4998
Pouches GP-M60 rear Rear view of the General purpose ammo pouch & the M60 belt carrier, note both have no metal (ALICE) clips.
