# Why aren't transparent ammo magazines

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 18, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252 "2016-07-18T21:04:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252/21 "2016-07-22T22:45:16Z")

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Yes. It’s actually an interestingly relevant picture, because he is using a G36C which uses fully clear magazines. The German-made factory magazines look like [this:](http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifle-magazines/magazines/magazine-g36-30-rd-sku760000016-75836-147992.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopzilla-_-G36%20Magazine,%20G36,%2030-Rd&gdffi=08de76408978434b83b40ee6631fc110&gdfms=ED595F0C2C8447F1BA2BF5309AAA5446)

Fully clear plastic.

But he is using American-made PMAGs which only have small window to see the round count. [These:](http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifle-magazines/magazines/magazine-g36-30-rd-sku760000016-75836-147992.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopzilla-_-G36%20Magazine,%20G36,%2030-Rd&gdffi=08de76408978434b83b40ee6631fc110&gdfms=ED595F0C2C8447F1BA2BF5309AAA5446)

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252/22 "2016-07-22T22:46:43Z")

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NETA: When you mentioned “German SWAT” and clear magazine, I had no doubt that I would find a picture of a G36 at the link. But I did _not_ expect to see PMAGs.

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252/23 "2016-07-23T01:26:43Z")

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Any guess why?

I’m sure political and budgetary infighting is tremendous, of course, so you’ll never really know…

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**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252/24 "2016-07-23T02:38:22Z")

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The magazines on the [F88 Austeyr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG#Australian_variants) (the standard-issue Australian military rifle) are semi-transparent.

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**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-transparent-ammo-magazines/760252/25 "2016-07-23T11:42:51Z")

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> [@moldmonkey](#):
>
> Transparent plastics aren’t as strong as sheet metal.

AND: Plastics are orders of magnitude softer that most metals and could leave debris in the gun mechanism and get damaged upon insertion. Deburring all the parts to prevent abrasion could be difficult. Glass, carbon, or carbon fiber filled plastics could CAUSE metal abrasion from their filler particles. Finally, clear plastics are generally more UV sensitive and break down in sunlight. Fillers, coloring, or black carbon powder are added to most plastic to reduce UV damage and give strength.

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