20 or 30 round magazines for defense?

[Dr.Rob]

PS M193 is pretty darn good at short range. I have some Winchester softpoints I keep handy but Prvi M193 is my back up magazine.

 

[tactikel]

Let's see, the mag is the same price, or under $1. The ammo which is rotated out, so the "cost" is zero. Why not have 30 rounds. The only time you can defend yourself is if you or a loved one is in mortal danger, is $1 gonna break the Bank? Better too much, than too little.

 

[mdauben]

after reading this thread I feel as helpless as a babe in the woods with my 5 shot pump 12 ga HD shotgun.

You obviously need to upgrade before its too late!

 

[hatt]

Let's see, the mag is the same price, or under $1. The ammo which is rotated out, so the "cost" is zero. Why not have 30 rounds. The only time you can defend yourself is if you or a loved one is in mortal danger, is $1 gonna break the Bank? Better too much, than too little.

Cost isn't the issue. 20s are more than 30s.

Do you have extended mags in your handguns? And why not have 40 rounds in your AR? Maybe 60s or 100s?

 

[benEzra]

Cost isn't the issue. 20s are more than 30s.

Do you have extended mags in your handguns? And why not have 40 rounds in your AR? Maybe 60s or 100s?

With any gun of a particular size in a particular caliber, there is a "sweet spot" where adding more capacity starts hindering usability, but reducing capacity doesn't gain you a whole lot more usability. For full-sized 9mm pistols, that number appears to be between 15 and 20; for the AR platform, most people consider that number to be about 30. 40's and 60's (never mind 100-round C-mags) start to impair usability without adding a lot of utility in most situations, but going down to 20 doesn't gain you much in terms of weight savings or ability to get low.

For a 7.62x39mm AK, though, I really like 20's, which are about the same size as an AR 30-rounder.

 

[moxie]

I think going down to 20 greatly improves your ability to get low. That 2" makes a huge difference when you're being shot at. Some say the 30 makes a good monopod. I don't like it at all for that. As I noted above, my first mag is a 20 and all the reloads are 30s.

 

[fragout]

Not using an AR15 here, but I prefer 20rd M14 mags for the purpose described by the OP....... even though CMI makes quality 25rd mags for this type of rifle.

Recently picked up a Ruger SR762, and the rifle sold with 3 20rd mags, but I understand that there is a 25rd P-mag out there now.

As with the M14, I don't plan to pick any up.

If anything, I like to have a few 10rd mags handy, but more for hunting vs any type of defensive use.

 

[Robbins290]

30 rounder of frangiable ammo inside my house, daughters room is next to ours.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I think going down to 20 greatly improves your ability to get low.

Putting aside the wisdom of going prone in a home defense situation (every time I go prone I always remember the video of the Tyler courthouse shooting), rollover or SBR prone will get you lower than conventional service rifle prone and works regardless of magazine length.