Ram-Line Combo Mag

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In the 1980's, the aftermarket firearms parts company, Ram-Line, sold a translucent polymer magazine with the marketed ability to function in a variety of firearm platforms:
  • AR-15 pattern firearms
  • ArmaLite AR-18 and AR-180 rifles
  • Ruger Mini-14 and AC-556 rifles
The magazine's unique ability to successfully load and chamber ammunition in the top competing rifle designs of their time (and still to this day, to an extent) was a highly desirable feature. Reviews of actual functionality were mixed, however - some report that the magazines function flawlessly, while others stated functionality in only some of the advertised firearm designs, and others claimed they simply didn't work at all. Without having all the guns to test them myself (yet...), I am inclined to believe the latter two statements, based on Ram-Line's reputation for quality control (or lack thereof), poor polymer construction, and limited production. While somewhat rare, however, these magazine can typically be found in the $30 range on the used market.

In constructing the magazine, it seems Ram-Lite started with a completely different outer shell altogether, which they then modified to work in all the different platforms. It is essentially an AR-15 magazine, with 1 alteration and 3 modifications:
  • Alteration to narrow the top front end of the magazine, in order to fit between the forward part of a Mini-14's magwell.
  • Modification of a slot in the right side of the magazine, to engage with the magazine catch/release lever of an ArmaLite AR-18 / AR-180.
  • Modification of a hole drilled in the front of the magazine to engage with a Mini-14's forward locking "nub".
  • Modification of a ramp, cut out of the back of the magazine, on the spine, to engage with a Mini-14's magazine catch/release lever.

Publications:

US Patent 4,586,281
"Cartridge magazine for use with a plurality of firearms"
Filed by Chesnut M. Gaines, March 8th, 1985

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