How many magazines do you keep for your pistols?

[Jim PHL]

I am getting ready to photo a bunch of unused accessories to auction online. (Mostly grips, holsters, etc. that I've tried and not warmed-up to.) My "gun money" always stays "gun money" so I'll use the proceeds toward another gun or gun-related accessories. I recently acquired a S+W 6906 from a private seller that he had 10 magazines for. I am deciding whether to sell-off a few of these along with the other stuff. I have 5 mags for my 1911 and 5 for my S+W 3913. I didn't plan on having 5 mags for each for any specific reason, it just kind of happened that I have five for each. Anyway, it seems like a reasonable number. I don't usually keep a lot of ammo around other than a brick or so of .22's and what I keep in my carry guns.

Anyway, just looking for a little insight and opinion. How many magazines do you keep on hand and are there specific reasons for how you decided on that number?

Thanks in advance-

 

[007BondJamesBond007]

I feel more mags the better. I rotate my mags to keep the springs from losing the tensions.

 

[PPGMD]

I keep 10 or more for most guns. Magazines are a wear item, that will need to be replaced. But if you rotate magazines it will be longer before you have to replace one.

 

[sohcgt2]

I keep a minimum of 5 magazines for each of my handguns because it makes range time more efficient if I load before I go. Like you I purchased a used auto from a private seller and recieved about 10 mags with the gun. because they are wear items I kept them all and have since marked some of them as "range only" due to poor performance and failure to feed issues.

 

[sagebrushjim]

At least 6 and 8 for most pistols... Have them Numbered so Rotation is Easy ...

 

[sohcgt2]

I rotate my mags to keep the springs from losing the tensions.

Springs loose tension based on cycles not how they are stored. they wear out from being loaded and unloaded. Most should last for thousands of cycles before they fail.

 

[rcmodel]

+1
Springs don't "rest".
You only take one more cycle off their life by unloading & loading them to let them "rest".

To the question?
If your S+W 6906 mags are 12-round, I would keep them for a rainy day.

If a high-cap mag ban comes along again, they will be worth their weight in gold when you can't get them anymore.

rc

 

[GRIZ22]

Depends what I use the gun for. I have a P1 I don't carry and have 3. For guns I have more than one of and carry (1911, Glock 9mm) I may have 10-15 or more.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I like to keep at least four.

 

[strambo]

3 minimum, 6 preferred

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

1. Obscure or obsolete(discontinued) gun

2. Hi-caps (10+ rounds)

As many as you can find or afford!!!



Low-caps eh--shouldn't be a big deal

 

[Fat Boy]

None....oh, wait, I'm a revolver guy....sorry, couldn't resist

 

[06]

1911-four, Warthog-three w/one a 14, others-at least two. wc

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Have just two, planning on two more. Those things are pricey. But There will be 4 before long and that should be enough.

 

[TheVirginian]

Generally just two but sometimes three. I actually have five magazines for three guns that I don't even own... Sometimes they just seem to reproduce by themselves.
-Bill

 

[weisse52]

Well the guns I own that require mags are 1911's and Ruger MKII's. I own LOTS of each and will buy more as I get time and money.
Better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[sohcgt2]

None....oh, wait, I'm a revolver guy....sorry, couldn't resist

For you "magazine" can be translated "speed loader".

I couldn't resist either.

 

[CapnMac]

Well, two is too few.
I wind up with 5 pretty typically. Except for 1911 mags, on those I have no count at all. There's pairs in the historical web gear; there's 4-5 in the pistol range bag; the rugs for the weapons typically have more.

But, I'd be unlikely to get $5 each for the 1911 mags I'd be willing to flog off--so they are more valueable in web gear than anywhere else.

 

[Magichelmt]

I have 4 for each of my pistols, 15 for the AK's and 7 for my 10/22's

 

[me26245]

A bunch

I enjoy shooting not loading magazines, so I load as many magazines as I have and don't have to reload untill they are all empty.

Generally I like to have at least 10 magazines per firearm. On higher use firearms I have as many as 100+ magazines.

 

[Dan Crocker]

I've got 9 for one and 8 for the other. I like to keep several extras around for a rainy day...

 

[bigfatdave]

Keep them all.
I have more magazines for the guns I enjoy shooting, and less for the ones I don't enjoy as much.
I do need more for my CC gun, the factory 2 certainly isn't enough.

 

[searcher451]

Depends on the gun, depends on the use I have for the gun, depends on a lot of things. My range guns? I generally have three to five magazines for each. My safe queens? Sometimes one, usually two. My concealed carry gun? I've got half-a-dozen for that one, with two mags loaded at all times besides the one that's snapped inside.

 

[ScareyH22A]

My carry holds 6+1 and my spare holds 8. I figured, if 15rds of 9mm hallow points haven't done their job, I might as well run.

 

[evan price]

Magazines do wear out. They get dropped and dented. They get stepped on or run over and crunched. They get lost (I find mags at the range pretty regularly and give them to the RO).

IMHO the more mags the better.

They don't take up much more room than the equivalent amount of ammo, and if you really need them, you can't just call "Time out, I need to load some magazines!"

Plus it could be someday that you can't get them for any price.

I leave a loaded mag for my primary CCW in every vehicle I drive plus a couple more stashed in strategic locations in my home and shop.

When you need a loaded mag, you really need it...