This post is about the MTH 5.56 Horizontal Magazine Carrier. The MTH 5.56 is a magazine accessory for M16, M4, and AR-15 rifles and carbines. It should also work with most weapons that use M16 magazines.

The MTH 5.56 attaches to an M16 magazine, and then the top of the MTH is inserted into the magazine well. The magazine is held horizontally below the magazine well so that it can be inserted by simply pressing the magazine release, rotating 90 degrees, and inserting the magazine.

The MTH 5.56 keeps a loaded magazine mounted to the weapon in a safe manner. It is an advantage in the following situations:

Patrol rifles often spend a lot of time bouncing around in the trunks of patrol cars - sometimes in a case, sometimes not. There is usually a lot of other gear, and things tend to move around. When an officer needs his carbine, he often needs it now. This is not the time to be digging around for magazines. The MTH ensures that at least one loaded magazine stays with the carbine at all times.

There are law enforcement situations that require officers to present a non-lethal show of force, while being ready to use lethal force if necessary. The MTH 5.56 keeps a magazine ready for instant use, while clearly showing that the weapon is not loaded.

An AR-15 carbine is one of the most effective self-defense tools that is easily available to most people today. Some may be in a position to keep a carbine ready with a round chambered at all times. Others, because of children, or because they don't want to leave a loaded weapon in their home, business, or vehicle when they are not present, or because local laws prohibit it, don't keep their carbine loaded. The MTH 5.56 will keep ammo close and loading quick.