Loading a Magazine all the way vs -1 round to ensure reliability?

They do, but that doesn't make them right. It's use that wears out the metal in a mag spring, not remaining static in compression.

It depends. What's it for? There are many types of magazines.

I load my Metalforms for my 1911's all the way and have never had a problem. Never had a problem with any AR or AK mag either.

Although, my Tapco 20 round SKS mags do tend to be a little tight for the last few rounds, but I've never had a problem functioning.

I would think if it's a 20 round mag, it should reliably function with 20 rounds in it. If it's a 10 round mag, it should do so with 10. Otherwise, they'd be labled 19 and 9 round mags.

My opinion: load em' up. But, advice here is worth exactly what you pay for it.

i always go one shy, it aids in reliability- if you need more than three shots you are dead anyway

I load all that will fit and have never had a problem with quality mags.

I download AR mags 2 rounds not for reliability but easier to do a tacical reload and swap mags with the bolt forward.

I agree a mag should hold what it's supposed to but some mags (Glock 9mm for one) make it hard to load that last round.

AK magazines have long wings on the follower to protect the spring from being overcompressed. If it's a 30-rounder, it will work with 30 rounds. Most quality domestic magazines will work at the full rated capacity as well.

The way to find out is simply to use your defensive magazines enough at the range to make sure they're fully functional, IMO.

The only mags I've experienced problems with are Para P14 mags. Mine wore out pretty quick when I loaded 14 rounds (don't ask me how long though, I've had that pistol almost 7 years). I replaced the springs, have been loading them to 13 rounds, and haven't had a problem since. Maybe I got four fluke mags, because I haven't heard about anyone else having the same experience.

All mags are kept loaded to capacity (even the 33 rounders for the glock), except for the AR. I have a Randall mag that I leave loaded at all times, and I "lose" it for years at a time. When I find it, I run a box or two of ammo though it, reload it it, and lose it again. Never had a problem. Its about time to find it again though...

I download AR mags 2 rounds not for reliability but easier to do a tacical reload and swap mags with the bolt forward.

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Same here. Shotgun is loaded -1 in case I should need a slug (its full of buck).

i always go one shy, it aids in reliability- if you need more than three shots you are dead anyway

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That's why I load my 15rd mag 12 short and carry with an empty chamber and no spare mag. If I can't draw, rack the slide, and take care of business with three rounds, I'll just bend way over and kiss my ass goodbye.:banghead:

i load one in the chamber, then a full mag. I do this when just target shooting just to check for function. I've not had trouble yet with my carry gun.

It only holds six so this way I get seven rounds for carry. I've never had to use it so maybe its just a moot point.

Mark

I too follow the philosophy that a magazine should be able to reliably be loaded with it's stated capacity; by the same token if I buy a '15 round' magazine but can shoehorn a 16th round inside, I don't expect the magazine to function correctly - or even last.

By the same token, a sign of a good quality magazine has the last round load about the same as the last -1, not significantly increased. That's a sign of overloading the mag.

I load until the last round loaded is very hard to depress, then take that round out. Some firearms that is rated capacity, some it is not.

I don't want to have a problem seating the mag on a closed bolt/slide.

Steve

I load all that will fit and have never
had a problem with quality mags
in my Browning HP 9mm.

I do have a problem getting 30 rounds into
my one and only 30 round mag for my SKS though.
(came with the gun)...
The mag is so crappy and lose fitting
the manufacture didn't even
put thier logo on it.
Some aftermarket POS is my bet...
So we just use it for show and go with
reliable Tapco 20 round mags.
So far all is good to go.

I put 7 rounds in 7 round mags, 30 rounds in 30 round mags, 10 rounds in 10 round mags, 3 rounds in 3 round mags.

I figure the manufactures know their own products better than I do, but, I'm just crazy like that.

I usually load 'em up too. If it says 20 it ought to fit 20 rounds. The exception to that is sometimes I want to shoot short strings, say 5 at a time and I load the mag for one string at a time.

I also use one of these for pistol rounds. Saves wear and tear on the thumb and allows you to get that last one in with minimal effort.

http://maglula.tripod.com/uplula.htm

I load them to capacity.

cleetus03 said:

That's exactly what I have been assuming my whole life until my friend & the internet gave me conflicting doubt which is driving me nuts!

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. . .and everything on the internet is true.

There are two schools of thought...both valid.

One is that the magazine is designed to function, no matter how many rounds are in it. Like the gun...it's a machine. It was designed to function. If it's correctly built, it will function. It doesn't have a choice.

The counterpoint:

The two most likely places to have a misfeed: On the top round, due to maximum spring tension...and on the last round due to minumum spring tension. This is mainly a function of operating at the two extremes of the design. The law of averages also comes into play.

To address the first extreme, many people load the magazine to capacity...chamber the top round...engage the safety if applicable, and go about their business. The time to have that first misfeed is before the fight starts...not after. I'm one of those.

To address the second, we install extra-power magazine springs, and hope that we can solve the problem before we get to the last round...which the law of averages says that we likely will.
Statistics have shown that the average deadly encounter inolving firearms on both sides are settled within 3-5 seconds, with a total of 3-5 rounds expended. Total...for both combatants.

This applies, no matter how reliable the gun/magazine/ammunition combination has been on the range.

I always go one shy, it aids in reliability- if you need more than three shots you are dead anyway

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Hands down, the dumbest post in this thread. Quite possibly the dumbest post ever posted on this board

If he's having feeding issues with a full mag, it needs to be repaired or tweaked at the factory.

WC145
Senior Member



Join Date: 10-28-06
Posts: 493 Quote:

That's why I load my 15rd mag 12 short and carry with an empty chamber and no spare mag. If I can't draw, rack the slide, and take care of business with three rounds, I'll just bend way over and kiss my ass goodbye.


why would you give up? you still got 9 rounds left

My Glock magazines are made for 17 rounds, so i load 17 rounds and never had a problem. If they won´t work that way i would send them to Glock for replacement.

If you're dead after three rounds, why carry any more than that? Why train with failure drills, reload drills or any other redundancy for that matter? I'll let you in on something. Your fight can go a lot longer than three rounds. You could get wounded. You could only have your left hand to work with. YOU STILL HAVE TO STAY IN THE FIGHT. You know what? Never mind. You quit. Those of us who keep fighting are just being stupid.

The only stories I have heard that I REALLY take seriously are those of the first gen 20 rd M-16 magazines in Vietnam being loaded down two rounds. I find it VERY easy to believe that in that timeframe DOD contractors were both cutting corners on weapon specs and buying the absolute cheapest springs they could find.

If you are having problems with a magazine, get a new spring and follower for it. Otherwise I would leave it alone.

-1? I always load +1!