20 or 30 rounders for AR

Mosin77 said:

IMO for “practical civilian self defense” a couple of 20 rounders are more than adequate.

If you shoot about like most people, a half dozen are nice so you don’t have to reload at the range. Reloading mags isn’t fun, for me anyway.

For either tactical games or prep for some kind of invasion/civil war/end-of-the-world/extended period of lawlessness and violence scenario? I’d like a couple of dozen of each (20 and 30) on hand with very ample ammo. Seems like any more than that would be overkill though... in the realm of “sure it would be nice, but so would reinforcements, an attack helicopter, an M1A1 Abrams tank, and maybe an aircraft carrier.”

Mags are cheap even now, so it’s an easy way to hedge against future uncertainties.

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There are so many gadgets for reloading AR magazine it is almost silly. From cheap to very expensive there are tons of options. Load from stripper clips, from boxes, from loose rounds. So many options.



The Maglula above, for the money, is one of the better ones and can be used to rapidly load or unload a magazine with minimal effort. There are plate loaders now that are only a few dollars more than the Maglula. Loading AR magazines is one of the simplest of magazine to load if you find a loader you like.

357smallbore said:

What do you prefer. 20 or 30 round mags for the AR-15? I am one who leans to the 30's
I mix mine with Magpul Gen 2 and aluminum ones. And do you think 12 mags are enough?

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12 mags is plenty. I went another direction, I have about 24 USGI and about 40 assorted magpuls. More than I could ever use in a lifetime I just wanted to be able to give some to friends and relatives here and there and some of the deals i got i couldnt pass up.

I’m another with some 5’s for bench, 10’s for my “hi cap ban” guns that here in Ca legally can’t carry more, 20’s for everyday fun and 30’s for “just-in-case” in my “pre ban” guns.

Im also another with “lotsa magazines” because you just never know what tomorrow may bring.

Stay safe.

I've gone back and forth on this. Used to be strictly 20's. Now I'm really seeing the benefit of 30's but still use a healthy mix of both, depending on the specific rifle and its purpose. 5's for hunting.

Surprising to see how strong the 20rd mags are running in this thread. Maybe this will translate into more 20rd mag pouches coming onto the market!

Aluminum twenties are what I favor myself - Brownells or OK Industries. I'm going to pick up some 30s for "just because", but for the reasons stated above about being able to get lower to the ground and not hanging up on stuff I prefer the twenties.

I prefer 20 rounders, easier to shoot off the bench/prone/with a bipod. I have several 30 round P-Mags, one of which is loaded in the safe in case of social situations, but use 20 rounders alot more by a wide margin. I have 20 round P-Mags as well as Brownells 20 rounders. I probably slightly favor the P-Mags but don't mind using the Brownells mags at all.

I like 30's in the rifle for blasting but in a pistol 20's seem to balance better. Additionally, at the bench, the length of the 20s work better without getting the support too high. As to count of magazines, a lot depends on what you're trying to defend and how many are defenders and how many attackers you expect to attend the party. for me, a couple dozen seems like a nice count, but given the proper sale, it could change. Until at least the first of the year, I'm not holding out hope for any sales.

Most of my mags are 30 rounders with a few 10 round mags mixed in. The 30s are just more common than the 20s where I am.

I started out with 20s while being trained to use the M16, so that has kind of stuck with me.
I had some 10s during 1994-2004, most just had a stirrup of steel to be "compliant."

I've used purpose-made 5s & 10s, but, they never seemed to "gel" with me.
I've used both 40s and 60s and was underwhelmed by both.

So, now, I have a mix of 20s & 30s, in metal and polymer, to no real pattern other than finding the on sale (other than some Colt and Okay that were and are collectable).

How many? Enough that I have no idea. I think I only have five sets of various historical era LBE with appropriate era mags in them. But, I'd have to dig through all those to be sure.

Do I have enough? Probably. But, if I see 3gen PMag for less than $13 each, I'll be tempted.

CZguy75 said:

Most of my mags are 30 rounders with a few 10 round mags mixed in. The 30s are just more common than the 20s where I am.

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Reading this thread has me thinking the same thing, every gun shop around me has piles of 30rd Pmags and they are cheaper than the 10 or 20s. I couldn't even find 10rds locally I had to order them from Aim Surplus. One local shop has some custom screened Pmags with logos or graphics on it for $20 for 30rders.

And I have 1 metal style mag that I rerget buying after trying to load it by hand. I know a maglula would help but I can load Pmags by hand ok. The metal one the rounds catch on the stamping ribs when inserting and also come close to gouging holes in my finger nails from the lips

Here in Colorado you are not suppose to be able to buy 20 or 30 rounders. Although most people seem to be able to find them anyway. I agree that from the bench or prone the 30s can be awkward. So I often go with less capacity. But for all other situations the 30s rock.

Put me in the 20 rd camp. And quite frankly, though I have many mags, I find I really only ever use 1. Most just gather dust.

Just checked and I have more 20's than 30's. Overall I do prefer the 20's to shoot with.

At an estate auction I bought a banana box of 20s for about 1/5 what a smaller box of 30s went for, mine was boyh plastic and metal, mostly metal. I just smiled since 20s is what I prefer but in my bedside AR there is a 20 in it and reloads are 3 30s in a pouch. I can't use a 30 when shooting off a bench with my bag or vise.

Just get all three as you find them- 20, 30 & 40 round mags. The 20 rounders I've had the best luck with are made by Colt. Magpul Gen III for the 30 & 40 round mags

30s of course.

Not to be obdurate here but the people who say they have a difficult time shooting prone with a 30 round mag don't know how to shoot prone.

All 30s for me. When prone, the magazine rests on the ground, acting as a monopod if I don't have a bipod attached.

Have bunches of 20 and 30 round mags. All of them work fine but I do have a preference for the Colt 20 rounders. Have 30 round mags in my Bugout bag.

Tortuga said:

30s of course.

Not to be obdurate here but the people who say they have a difficult time shooting prone with a 30 round mag don't know how to shoot prone.

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Well, there is “proper” prone, and then what one may have to do, on uneven ground, and/or when cover is scant, and the other side is not cardboard or steel, and has loaded firearms.

Tortuga said:

30s of course.

Not to be obdurate here but the people who say they have a difficult time shooting prone with a 30 round mag don't know how to shoot prone.

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Incorrect. Not all prone shooting is high power style leather jacket stuff. Trying to cover a big prairie dog town prone off a bipod on top of a hill, for instance, I much prefer 20s to 30s.

I'm fact, I prefer the general handling and clearance of 20s to 30s for most shooting. Although I have several times the number of 30s as I do 20s, the 20s get most of the use.

I like 20's and use 20's more at the range. less interference with a bench, lighter, and I think they look better, but most of my stock is 30rd, my HD rifle has a 20rd mag in it and several loaded 30rd's nearby if things get very ugly.

A dozen is plenty to go to the range with. or plenty to defend your home, but if things get bad and you can't buy them anymore is it enough to have for the rest of your life? your kids lives? unfortunately this leads to answer that no one has enough guns mags or ammo. I buy mags 10 at a time off season (ie not an election year) when they go on sale.

I have a few 10rd mags that came with a ban era rifle never use them.

For my current purposes- I prefer the 20s. I’m glad I have the freedom to have my 30s in case circumstances change my purposes.

I have a couple 20 rounders but I really only buy 30s. It's what Ive used professionally for the last 18 years. I find them very useful for monopoding in the prone.