That is the question.
Ordered a Redi-Mod lastnight. I like the idea that I can just grab my rifle and have 60 rounds on me.
One quicker mag change at the expense of increased weight, bulkyness, and harder to use controls.
How are the controls any harder to use?
much like most accessories for the m4, you cant know till you do it. it adds a pound and half of weight to the weapon, which makes a big difference.
what’s the weapon’s purpose? is having an extra mag attached to the weapon worth all that extra weight? do you carry the weapon for long periods of time? if it’s just a truck gun or home defense weapon, then you’ll probably love it.
if you don’t like it, you can always sell it
What is the purpose of the gun? Thats the real question.
I think it’s worth trying for most people. The danger is that you need to keep sight of your real-world end-use when using it in training. I have seen people sacrifice the RM due to a claimed weight concern generated in long training evolutions when their real-world use would be over before they ever noticed the weight.
(I know, rob_s arguing in favor of extra weight. must be a full moon. :p)
not needed.
Harder to get to, and operate the bolt catch. Thats why they’ve had to come out with several extra bolt on parts to make it easier but its still not as simple as not having anything there.
I love my redi-mag. Super fast mag changes. I don’t mind the extra weight. If you’re on patrol or something all day it might suck…maybe not. I can carry mine for quite a while without being uncomfortable.
Throw a BAD lever on there and you’re all set. Even without the redi-mag reloads are a bit quicker with the BAD…and malfunctions are a bit easier as well.
In short, I can operate my carbine more efficiently with the RM/BAD combo. Which isn’t to say there’s something wrong with the rifle without those…
I guess but then I just run mine with a B.A.D.
As far as the weight… This is my personal weapon which I’m not humping so not really overly worried about the added weight. I would much rather have the rounds with me instead of worried about weight.
Two questions.
[ol]
[li]How do you define “need”?
[/li][li]How do you know what the OP needs?
[/li][/ol]
One thing about adding accessories that change the way the gun works, and the way you work the gun is that you really need to setup all your weapons the same way that you train with. Ive seen first hand people go to do mag changes or some other operation who were used to some part being on their gun, and fumble around for quite a few seconds before they released that part was not there. In a stressful or potentially life threatening situation you obviously don’t want to be fumbling around looking for a button thats not there or works differently than you trained with. That is why I rarely ever use the ambi controls on my SR15 because I don’t want to pick up a gun that doesn’t have those controls, and go to close the bolt only to find there isn’t a button there.
Weight is not only an issue if you have to carry the gun but it slows your weapon movement down.
Thats certainly up to you.
I agree…
Build your rifle on how you are intending to use it and not what others think are needed or not.
I personally do not care for the Redi-Mag; I much prefer to emergency reload from a belt pouch.
That said, I installed a Redi-Mod on my 11.5" because I am convinced that I will only have whatever is on my gun when I grab it.
I put one on my patrol carbine because I figured that if I have to bail out quickly, I won’t forget a spare mag. I opt to not carry a spare on my belt full time because 99.9% of the time its just unnecessary weight, and is only handy when you’re carrying the carbine. With the Redi-Mod, I can grab my gun and the reload all at once, without going right to the AS bag.
If you want more firepower why not try a magazine coupler.
Rounds walk forward in the magazine that is outside the weapon
these usually cause other problems… the main one being that generally by the time you’ve gotten to the second mag, the top round has walked out enough that it cant be loaded without correction