Magpul Industries

Magpul Industries Corporation
Private
Industry Firearms
Founded 1999 (1999)
Founder Richard M. Fitzpatrick
Headquarters Headquarters in Austin, Texas
Key people
Richard Fitzpatrick, Mike Mayberry, Doug Smith
Products Accessories
Services Consulting, training
Owner Richard M. Fitzpatrick
Divisions Magpul Industries Corp., Magpul Core,
Website www.magpul.com
Modified AR-15 with Magpul accessories

Magpul Industries Corporation is an American designer and manufacturer of polymer and composite high-tech firearms accessories. The corporate headquarters is based in Austin, Texas in the United States. Magpul Industries takes its name from its first product, an accessory for US and NATO armed forces STANAG magazines that aided users in pulling the magazine out of its pouch, hence "Magpul".

The company manufactures a variety of products from firearms accessories and slings to electronics cases based largely on in-house design as well as providing design consultation and firearms training services. The company has also engaged in political advocacy in recent years on behalf of the firearm industry in its former home state of Colorado. Magpul announced its intention to leave Colorado in 2013 when new gun control laws caused many of its products to become illegal in the state in which they were manufactured; it has relocated its factories to Wyoming and its offices to Texas.

Background

Magpul Industries Corp was founded in 1999 by Richard M. Fitzpatrick, a Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance.[1] The company currently has two divisions: Magpul Industries, which manufactures firearms accessories etc.; and Magpul Core (formerly Magpul Dynamics), founded in 2008, which delivers firearms training, including instructional videos.[2]

Magpul primarily designs, manufactures, and distributes accessories for the AR-15/M16 rifles, AK-47 rifles, Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590 12ga. shotguns, and it has also expanded into the area of rifle chassis for the Remington 700 and Ruger 10/22.

Chronology

1999: Richard Fitzpatrick develops the original Magpul 5.56 and introduces it at NDIA.

2000: The Magpul 7.62 and Magpul 9mm are introduced.

2001: First Magpul patent, U.S. Patent 6,212,815, is awarded.

2002: First official military order (100 M93 stocks for the USMC.)

2003: Magpul moves out of Fitzpatrick's home to official offices. First employee, (now Chief operating officer) Doug Smith, is hired.

2004: The Magpul Ranger Plate, Self Leveling Follower, and MIAD (MIssion ADaptable Grip) are introduced.

2005: Additional magazine accessories are introduced, as well as the company's second stock; the PRS.

2006: Magpul receives its first official NATO Stock Number, and their products are featured in the movie Mission Impossible 3.

2007: The PMAG 30 (a synthetic magazine for the AR-15/M16 platform), UBR stock, and Masada Adaptive Combat Rifle are introduced at SHOT Show.

2008: The MOE (Magpul Original Equipment) line, Magpul PDR Concept, FMG9, and Magpul Massoud are introduced. Magpul Dynamics is formed.

2009: The EMAG ("Export Magazine"), designed to fit other STANAG 4179-compliant weapons such as the HK416 and SA80 aside from just the AR-15/M16, is introduced, as well as several other products such as the MBUS (Magpul Back-Up Sights).

2010: Magpul wins a bid with the UK Ministry of Defence for 1,000,000 EMAGs to be delivered over a four-year period.[3] Several new products are introduced; including the iPhone Field Case.

2011: The MBUS2 is introduced, and is also featured in promos for the game Battlefield 3.[4] First 100,000 EMAGs of the UK MOD contract are delivered to troops in Afghanistan.[5] Magpul sponsors a truck called "Bam-Bam" in the Breslau Adventure Rallye.[6]

2012: The PMAG 30 Gen 3 is released in fall as a synthetic magazine compatible for all STANAG 4179-type rifles, from AR-15 rifles to weapons that previously would need EMAGs.[7]

2015: The Hunter 700 ("Adjustable rifle stock"), designed to fit the Remington 700, short action, rifle, is introduced at SHOT Show in January 2015.

Firearms accessories

Magpul magazine sleeves.
Magpul PMAG M16 STANAG magazine
Magpul CTR stock, PMAG and rail protectors in use on a M4 Carbine in Iraq

Rifle stocks

Slings & Sling Mounts

Standards

Complete firearms

Magpul Masada

Main article: Adaptive Combat Rifle

First introduced to the public at the 2007 SHOT Show, the Magpul Masada began as an evolutionary upgrade to the AR-15/M16 rifle, but the only parts that retain commonality with the standard AR-15 and M16 rifle are the barrel, fire control group (trigger pack), and front sight post.[10][11]

In January 2008, the design of the Magpul Masada was licensed to Bushmaster Firearms International and the civilian version of the Masada is known as the Bushmaster ACR.[12]

Magpul Massoud

A canceled prototype, the Magpul Massoud was a 7.62mm caliber semi-automatic rifle with the possibility of other calibers (.300WM, .338 Calibers). A prototype was test fired, and strongly resembles the Magpul Masada.[13] It may use of some of the same parts as the ACR, including stocks and possibly forearms. Details of the operating system are closely guarded, however it is believed to be a short stroke gas piston operation, and use 7.62×51mm NATO 20-round variants of the Magpul PMag. It uses a Mil-std 1913 rail system with monolithic receiver. The name was chosen in honor of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the famous resistance leader of the Afghani Northern Alliance who was killed two days prior to the 9/11 attacks.[14] A new prototype rifle based on the Massoud, the FOX-42 from Kinetic Research Group is in development.[15]

Magpul PDR

Main article: Magpul PDR

The Magpul PDR is a conceptual 5.56mm caliber personal defense weapon which utilizes a bullpup design principle. The weapon uses STANAG magazines and fire the same type of ammunition as the M16. The purpose of the Magpul PDR is to better arm support personnel who would normally carry M9 pistols without adding any strain to current armed forces logistics with proprietary ammunition.

Magpul FMG-9

Main article: Magpul FMG-9

Magpul designed a folding 9mm submachine gun similar to the ARES FMG which was first publicly unveiled at the 2008 SHOT Show. The prototype unveiled by Magpul utilized a Glock pistol as the core of the weapon.[16]

Firearms design consultation

Magpul aided significantly in the evolution of the KRISS Vector from a prototype to its finalized production design.[17]

Political advocacy

Boulder Airlift

In response to Colorado House Bill 1224, Magpul started giving Colorado residents priority in ordering 20- and 30-round PMAGs. They stated: “In the battle for Colorado Freedoms, support for second amendment rights is being delivered by Magpul Industries Corporation. Fielded in the millions by US and its allies since 2007, the PMAG is the magazine of choice for those defending freedom and democracy around the world…Now, with the ability of Coloradans to purchase new standard capacity magazines in jeopardy, Magpul Industries is working to supply as many as possible to the good people of Colorado. Similar to the Berlin Airlift, the Boulder Airlift will bring much-needed gun supplies to freedom-loving residents trapped inside occupied territory.”

Farewell to Arms Freedom Festival

In response to Colorado's magazine ban, the group Free Colorado organized the "Farewell to Arms Freedom Festival" to raise funds for recall efforts against several Colorado politicians involved with its passage.[18] Magpul donated 20,000 magazines to Free Colorado for the event.[19] Of those, 1,500 were given away for free to the first 1,500 individuals over the age of 18 to arrive at the event.[20] The event drew thousands of supporters.[21]

Relocation

On 2 January 2014, Magpul announced that it was moving its production, distribution and shipping operations to Cheyenne, Wyoming and its head office to an undetermined location in Texas.[22]

References

  1. Urie, Heath. "Erie company takes aim at weapons market", "Daily Camera", January 1, 2010, accessed August 21, 2011.
  2. Magpul Industries Corp. "Magpul Brand Family", accessed August 21, 2011.
  3. Level Peaks Associates. "Level Peaks Associates Deliver Lightweight EMAG 30-Round 5.56 NATO Polymer Magazines For Use By The British Army In Current SA80 Weapons", October 27, 2010, accessed August 21, 2010.
  4. Magpul Industries Corp. "MBUS Pops up on Battlefield 3 Promos", accessed August 21, 2011.
  5. Ministry of Defence. "Troops in Afghanistan get new lightweight rifle magazines", "Defence news", January 19, 2011, accessed August 21, 2011.
  6. Magpul Industries Corp. "Magpul sponsors truck in Breslau Rallye June 26th - July 2, 2011 Wroclaw, Poland to Dresden, Germany", accessed August 21, 2011.
  7. 1 2 New Magpul PMAG 30 GEN M3 - Thefirearmblog.com, September 26, 2012
  8. ar15com. YouTube - "AR15.Com 2010 SHOT Show - Magpul Dynamics Theory Based Products", January 20, 2010, accessed August 21, 2011.
  9. Graves, Eric. "Magpul Products Sneak Peek", "Soldier Systems Daily", August 6, 2012, accessed October 10, 2012.
  10. Johnston, Gary Paul. "Magpul Masada ACWS 5.56mm", "Special Weapons for Military & Police", April, 2008, accessed August 21, 2011.
  11. Crane, David. "MagPul Masada Adaptive Combat Weapon System (ACWS) Makes Its Debut", "Defense Review", January 24, 2007, accessed August 21, 2011.
  12. Crane, David. "MagPul Masada Rifle/Carbine Becomes the Bushmaster Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR)", "Defense Review", February 22, 2008, accessed August 21, 2011.
  13. Magpul. YouTube - "Magpul Massoud Test Fire", February 13, 2008, accessed August 21, 2011.
  14. Magpul. YouTube - Magpul commenting their video as to the origin of the Massoud name, accessed June 11, 2012.
  15. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/01/20/krg-fox-42-precision-rifle-magpul-massoud-revenant/
  16. Crane, David. "MagPul FMG9: Prototype 9mm Folding Submachine Gun", "Defense Review", February 22, 2008, accessed August 21, 2011.
  17. Magpul PTS. "KRISS Vector Project", accessed August 21, 2011.
  18. Free Colorado. Accessed July 5, 2013.
  19. Patane, Matthew. "Free Magpul Magazines Draw Thousands Ahead of Colorado Ban." 29 June 2013. Accessed 5 July 2013
  20. Patane, Matthew. "Free Magpul Magazines Draw Thousands Ahead of Colorado Ban." 29 June 2013. Accessed 5 July 2013
  21. Urbanski, Dave. "'Farewell to Arms Freedom:' 1,500 High-Capacity Gun Magazines Given Away at Colo. Fest Before Ban Takes Effect." The Blaze. 30 June 2013. Accessed 05 July 2013.
  22. "US gun magazine producer to leave Colo. over gun laws". Fox News. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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