itw fast mag gen iii - review

FOG HORN Gear Review 04 May 2010

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.

ITW Military Products FASTmag® Gen III By: Sal Palma

The FASTmag, developed and patented by Down East Inc. of Bridgton, Main – land of corn beef and cabbage by Jesus! - is now in its 3rd generation. Since its inception, FASTmag has garnered a number of accolades from the media and professionals around the world.

It is sold and distributed by ITW1 through its Military Products Division.

Down East describes FASTmag as a “Rapid Change Magazine Pocket,” which in my view is entirely too modest. I’ll elevate its name to “Rapid Change Magazine System,” herein after the system.

I call it a system, because in its Gen III transformation, a progression made with input

1 ITW has been providing innovative products to the

US Military since 1853. Divisions such as Nexus,

Fastex, and Waterbury Buckle are known the world

over for their history of Quality and Innovation.

from ITW’s Military Products Team, provides superb magazine retention, enormous flexibility in mounting options that include stacking, integration with other loads and superb materials and construction.

The FASTmag uses a clamshell design. The two halves function as hinged pressure plates that capture an M4 / M16 30 round magazine with adjustable tension. It performs this function so well that magazines can be inverted without anxiety of having them fall out.

Its designer’s did not intended to replace the traditional magazine pouch; rather, their objective was to provide a magazine system that could be used for rapid magazine changes in CQC/CQB; for that reason you’ll generally see two FASTmag(s) integrated with traditional, nylon magazine pouches on a vest or duty belt.

I am going to stray from the actual review to talk about ammunition management and magazine changes because it will help us gain a better understanding of how valuable the FASTmag is.

The problem of ammunition management dates back to the Korean War but was accentuated during the Vietnam conflict when the M16 became the standard issue weapon system.

Initially, the M16 was fed from a 20 round magazine, which rapidly grew to 30 rounds. Moving to a 30 round magazine really did nothing more than aggravate the situation, and



was probably responsible for magazine related weapon failures.

Operators, engaged in CQC/CQB need to approach a tactical situation methodically. Dumping a magazine on a target is counterproductive and it endangers you and your team mates. No matter how fast your magazine changes are, when you’re out you’re out so pace your fire and manage your ammo; having said that, there are two magazine changes that require a smooth and efficient process.

The first is an emergency magazine change, which is a response to a weapon failure. Here you need to drop your magazine and clear your breech as quickly as possible; then reload.

The second is a tactical magazine change. Here, you are engaged but take advantage of a lull in the exchange to load a fresh magazine before your other goes empty.

The risks associated with both of these scenarios are mitigated by the FASTmag.

Because the FASTmag is a strapless and flapless system, magazine changes are quick and easily controlled. A simple twist and pull will release the new magazine to get you back in the game.

Having a FASTmag system does not relieve you from proper planning and execution; nor does it relieve you from good ammo management practices. Instead, it provides you with a robust, well-engineered, rapid deployment system; in a setting where fumbling around with a nylon

pouch and dropping your magazine could mean a casualty2.

Earlier in the review, I mentioned that magazine tension is adjustable. This is accomplished by using a tensioning band around both sides of the clam shell.

The tensioning band can be removed altogether or, as shown in the previous picture, its position can be changed to alter the tension on the captive magazine.

By moving the tensioning band towards the bottom of the FASTmag, the operator can reduce tension; moving the tensioning band up, as shown on the FASTmag to the right, increases tension on the captive magazine.

In either the lower or upper positions, the tensioning band provides sufficient resistance to securely hold the magazine in the inverted position. However, the difference in tension is noticeable, and I would recommend that if you choose to carry the magazine inverted, use the highest tension available.

2 There is excellent video available on You Tube as

well as on sites like militarymorons.com and

milspecmonkey.com that show the FASTmag in use.



Next, I tested functionality with the Magpul Industries’ P-Mag; once again the system worked flawlessly.

Although the FASTmag is designed for the 30 round M16 magazine, I wanted to experiment with the Mil-Spec 20 round magazines. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were no issues. Nonetheless, due to the difference in magazine lengths, I would suggest the use of Ranger plates on the 20 round magazines; they make extracting and handling the magazines stress-free.

The Generation III FASTmag is also stackable. You can easily stack two FASTmag systems using one MOLLE compatible unit, i.e. with tabs, and one belt version – without the tabs.

Simply attach the second unit, using the straps provided, passing them through the slots in the housing of the first unit, and now you have a two magazine system.

The picture below exposes the mounting slots.

The slots provided for stacking, can also be used to attach other MOLLE compatible accessory pouches by using, Tactical Tailor’s, MALICE clips- as shown in my next slide.



The configuration that I finally decided on is a single stack FASTmag with my Kestrel wind meter mounted to the surface of the system, as show below.

The wind meter is extremely light and does not interfere with magazine extraction.

It’s this level of integration possibilities that brands the FASTmag as exceptionally functional.

My second FASTmag served as a mounting platform for a baton pouch that I use for Light Sticks.

As you can see the possibilities are virtually endless.

ITW’s polymers are infrared reduced making for lower IR signatures.

The FASTmag also uses a special polymer that is formulated to be anti-fragmentation. In other words, the polymer does not become a secondary fragmentation source; instead it



absorbs the primary detonation and corresponding shrapnel impacts.

My review would not be complete without a high level discussion of the generational improvements, and I want to thank Militarymorons.com for allowing me to use some outstanding photos.

Probably the most significant change in the transition from Gen I to Gen II is the reduction of the footprint or size.

Apparent, from the picture, is the transition to a polymer tensioning band and cosmetic changes to the housing and the shock cord loop.

The tabs, designed to fit under MOLLE loops, have a slight cant in the Gen II model that keep the FASTmag from tucking into the body. This alignment keeps the magazine away from the body; making it easier to manipulate.

Gen II also introduced the belt mounted version of the product.

The attachment mechanism went from three straps, in the large Gen I model, to two straps in the Gen II release.

Gen II product became available in 2008.

The picture above illustrates the Gen II product.

The form with the tabs is for MOLLE attachment, and the model without the tabs is the belt mount iteration. They are not a stackable system.

The Gen III FASTmag –the subject of this review- made its appearance mid-2009.

The newest version of the FASTmag did away with the nylon MOLLE straps of the Gen II design; replacing them with polymer straps.

Gen III also saw the introduction of the stackable system.



Conclusion

The more I use the FASTmag, the more I appreciate its utility; I can’t think of a single negative.

I prefer using the FASTmag in a single stack configuration because I like gear as close to my body as possible. It makes movement and going prone much easier- things don’t get in the way. It’s also nice to be able to attach a small accessory pouch to the surface for things like a folding knife or handheld tactical light, to name just a couple.

The FASTmag is a valuable accessory that will prove its worth under the most difficult conditions. Simply stated, it could save your life.

-SP

itw fast mag gen iii - review

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