This might be a retarded question but why aren't there any windowed aluminum/steel mags? By which I mean not just a hole in the side but an actual window or something else so you can tell how many you've got left. I've only ever seen this in plastic mags. Am I blind? I'd buy em if they existed. I LIKE being able to just look and SEE how many rounds are loaded but I'm racist against plastic. Pic unrelated.

>>63953644 (OP)
Like this?
These are gigaretarded though.

We have am entire thread for questions like this, this belongs there. But since I'm taking the time to respond, have you ever seen any clear metal? Have you seen any magazines with large holes in the side that extend outside the well? Have you ever asked yourself "why do people that are making magazines out of something that can be transparent OR opaque AND be the exact same material with all the benefits at industrial scale manufacturing use that material pretty much exclusively?" Because you should ask yourself those questions, think about the answers, and then apply it to your primary question.

>>63953644 (OP)
You're looking for magpul tmags. They work and don't break the bank, though they're relatively recent.

As for why, the fact is that magazines are a surprisingly complex and challenging bit of kit while also being ultra important. A really good magazine that is light, reliable, and cheap isn't trivial which is why pmags were such a big deal in the first place. Making it with translucent materials makes that all even harder. Most people just don't care that much and if you actually shoot much you learn to count rounds naturally when it matters.

That said no reason not to get some tmags if you want. $25 for a 20 or 30rnd is double the price of an equivalent pmag but on an absolute level not radically expensive either.

>>63953674
also
>noooooo it has to be metallll
Just stop being gay for once in your life OP.

>>63953644 (OP)
Loominum and steel are harder than window materials, have different thermal expansion and conductivity coefficients? Bonding similar materials is easier and more effective. You don't need rubberized glues/sealers.

Also with polymer mags the window cavity is (presumably) in the injection mold, so there's no extra step to cut it out.

That's my best guess as an engineer though, I've not thought about it until this moment.

>>63953674
>>63953677
Tangentially related but some autist made a translucent AR-15 and got it to fire without exploding. Pic rel.

>>63953698
based

>>63953698
Making a translucent or transparent mag is simple. The problem is that it wouldn't be very durable. The reason why so many plastic parts are black is not just a cosmetic choice: 'carbon black' powder increases the toughness (impact resistance) of the plastic, and also makes it resistant to UV light.

>>63953723
Translucent plastic is fragile so feed lips cracking is a common issue. I'm looking at you, Circle 10 5.56 waffle mags.

>>63953723
>Making a translucent or transparent mag is simple
>wouldn't be very durable
>it's simple to make a mag that isn't actually functional guys!
ok so it's not simple then is it ffs anon

>>63953723
>>63953747
>>63953768
>>63953698
Making a translucent plastic mag that is tough, durable and cheap is child's play and was solved in 1977 for the AUG. Doing it for a STANAG mag is impossible though, because the AR is a horribly flawed design, including its magazines. ARgays will have no defence for this so they'll deflect onto something unrelated.

>>63953644 (OP)