Page 160 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

SINGLE, DOUBLE, AND comfortably grip the pistol. The single stack de-
QUADRUPLE STACK sign is also very popular with firearms that em-

ploy “rimmed” or semi-rimmed cartridges. By
The second classifying feature of a magazine is stacking rimmed cartridges in a single column,
based on the way the cartridges are aligned or you lessen the chances of a condition known as
“stacked” inside the body of the magazine. The “rim lock,” where the rim of the top cartridge
rounds may be arranged in stacks or columns jumps behind the rim of the bottom cartridge.
from 1 to 4. When multiple columns of car- When the round is being fed, it will seize be-
tridges are staged side-by-side, the rounds will cause the rim is pulling the bottom cartridge
often form staggered columns. A single column forward into the magazine’s body. Another ben-
arrangement is known as a single stack, while efit to the single stack design is that its body can
two staggered columns is a double stack and still be configured to work with double stack
four columns is a quadruple stack or “casket.” applications where capacities are limited. The
A single stack magazine will feature a single biggest downside to the single stack design is its
row of vertically stacked cartridges. The single limited capacity with larger capacity units being
stack design is most commonly employed with ridiculously long without much added benefit.
fixed and detachable box magazines used with The double stack magazine will feature two
pistols, rifles, and magazine-fed shotguns. The rows of staggered, vertically stacked cartridges.
single stack magazine often has a very low ca- Like the single stack design, the double stack
pacity (depending on caliber) with magazines design is employed with fixed and detachable
that feature from 3 to 10+ for larger calibers and box magazines, as well as drum, helical, and hor-
up to 30+ with smaller .22 caliber cartridges. izontal magazines. The double stack magazine
The single stack design really shines with semi- design features very high capacities with maga-
automatic pistols, where its thin profile allows zines that feature from 10 to 40+ rounds in a
for a grip that is also fairly thin. This allows package that is slightly wider than a single stack
for many more different hand sizes that can magazine. The single stack design is employed

Figure 11: Various single stack box magazines.

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