FEED DEVICE – 10, 15, and 34 round box magazines and twin-stacked magazines, double column, double feed, with roller bearing follower
FEED DEVICE WEIGHTS (EMPTY)
SINGLE MAGAZINES – 10 round – 0.13 kg (4.6 oz), 15 round – 0.19 kg (6.7 oz), 34 round – 0.31 kg (11 oz)
TWIN-STACKED MAGAZINES – 2×10 round – 0.22 kg (7.8 oz), 2×15 round – 0.39 kg (13.8 oz), 2×34 round – 0.64 kg (1 lb 6.6 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHTS (LOADED)
SINGLE MAGAZINES – 10 round – 0.25 kg (8.8 oz), 15 round – 0.37 kg (13.1 oz), 34 round – 0.72 kg (1 lb 9.2 oz)
TWIN-STACKED MAGAZINES – 2×10 rounds – 0.45 kg (15.9 oz), 2×15 rounds – 0.75 kg (1 lb 10.5 oz), 2×24 rounds – 1.44 kg (3 lbs 2.8 oz)
In 1983, with the introduction of a number of compact pistols designs based on the L2A3, The Sterling company produced a number of new magazines. In addition to the normal 34-round magazine the new sizes were a 10-round and a 15-round magazine. All three sizes of magazine were also made in a twin-stack version where two magazines of the same size were welded one atop the other with small spacer bars between them. The twin-stacked magazines were attached in opposition to one another, much in the way that soldiers commonly had taped two magazines together for a quick reload. By pulling the empty magazine out of the weapon and simply flipping the assembly over, a fresh loaded magazine could be quickly inserted. Since the magazines of the Sterling weapons stick out to the side, there is much less chance of one of them being clogged with dirt or debris as can happen with normal vertical-feed rifle magazines when they are attached side-by-side.
