A STANAG magazine or NATO magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980. Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56×45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4179 was proposed in order to allow NATO members to easily share rifle ammunition and magazines down to the individual soldier level. The U.S. M16 rifle's magazine proportions were proposed for standardization. Many NATO members, but not all, subsequently developed or purchased rifles with the ability to accept this type of magazine. However, the standard was never ratified and remains a "Draft STANAG".
Two STANAG-compliant magazines: A 20-round Colt-manufactured magazine, and a 30-round Heckler & Koch "High Reliability" magazine.
Close-up of L85A2 with Magpul Industries EMAG polymer magazine with clear viewing window
Loaded STANAG magazines
Close-up of loaded STANAG magazine
A magazine, often simply called a mag, is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun or externally attached. The magazine functions by holding several cartridges within itself and sequentially pushing each one into a position where it may be readily loaded into the barrel chamber by the firearm's moving action. The detachable magazine is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "clip", although this is technically inaccurate since a clip is actually an accessory device used to help load ammunition into a magazine or cylinder.
A staggered-column 9×19mm Browning Hi-Power pistol box magazine. The top image shows the magazine loaded and ready for use, while the lower image shows it unloaded and disassembled
Loading sleeve open, three Henry Flat cartridges, compare with .44 WCF round
1905 Military Rifles magazines. 1 & 2: Mosin–Nagant M1891 3 & 4: Lebel M1886 5 & 6: Gewehr M1888 7 & 8: Mannlicher M1888 9 & 10: Lee–Metford M1888 11 & 12: Dutch-Mannlicher M1895 13 & 14: Mauser M1893 15: Krag–Jørgensen M1886 16: Schmidt–Rubin M1889
En bloc clip and 8mm ammo for the Gewehr 88