FAL - Imbel & Israeli Surplus 20 round Steel box magazine

About this product

This is a FAL metric-pattern 20-round steel box magazine in 7.62x51mm, from IMBEL manufacture with some Israeli surplus mixed into current stock. It's the standard-capacity magazine for metric-pattern FAL rifles, built from stamped steel with the rich black finish associated with IMBEL production and some Israeli-marked mags of the same era. These are used surplus magazines pulled from military stocks, not new production, so expect the wear that comes with a magazine that's had a service life already.

What is it used for?

It's a factory-spec spare or replacement magazine for metric-pattern FAL rifles chambered in 7.62x51mm — the caliber and feed lips are built to FN's original metric FAL geometry, which is what most IMBEL, Israeli, and other metric-pattern FALs use. If your FAL runs metric mags rather than inch-pattern (British/Commonwealth-spec), this is a direct fit. FAL owners typically want several spares on hand for range days and storage, since a single magazine leaves you stuck reloading by hand the moment it's empty, and steel FAL magazines are durable enough to rotate through years of use without the feed lips losing their spring tension.

What condition are these in?

These are graded as used surplus, not new. The listing notes the rich black finish typical of IMBEL and some Israeli mags, and is upfront that remaining stock shows signs of prior use — expect finish wear, some external marking, and normal function from a magazine that's already seen service, rather than a pristine unissued mag.

How does it compare to inch-pattern FAL magazines?

Metric and inch-pattern FAL magazines aren't interchangeable — the feed lip geometry and magazine well dimensions differ between the two patterns. IMBEL and Israeli-made FALs run metric pattern, which is what this magazine is built for; if your rifle is a Commonwealth-pattern (inch) FAL, this magazine will not function correctly and you'll need an inch-pattern mag instead. Mixing the two patterns is one of the most common mistakes new FAL owners make, since both magazines look similar at a glance but won't seat or feed correctly in the wrong receiver.

Does it work in California?

No. California caps magazine capacity at 10 rounds for both rifles and handguns, and this 20-round FAL magazine is well over that limit, so it cannot be sold or shipped to a California address. The same 10-round cap applies in several other states — Colorado allows up to 15, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York cap at 10, and Vermont caps rifle magazines at 10 and handgun magazines at 15. Check California gun laws and your own state's limit before ordering.

Who is this for?

This is for FAL owners outside capacity-restricted states who need a working spare or replacement magazine for a metric-pattern rifle and don't need collector-grade cosmetics. It's a functional-use purchase, not a display piece. If you're building out a range bag for an IMBEL or Israeli-pattern FAL and want reliable steel magazines at a fair price rather than paying a premium for unissued cosmetics, this is exactly the kind of surplus purchase that makes sense.

Is it worth $17.99?

For a genuine steel FAL magazine at this price, yes — surplus magazines with honest wear are usually the most economical way to build up a stock of spares for a battle rifle, and the price reflects the used condition rather than new-in-wrap cosmetics. Buy a few at once if you're stocking up, since surplus supply on these fluctuates.