Buying spare mags

[seikdel]

Hey Folks. I have a question about buying magazines. My primary pistol is a Walther P99 chambered in 9mm.
I have the 2 15rd factory mags that came with it. I want more, but I am a poor medical student. Looking around, I have noticed that the 15rd mags average $40 (gunbroker) to $60 (S&W). The 10rd mags can be had for ~$20 on gunbroker.
My thought is this: If I pick up 2 of these, I can load up an entire 50rd box at once.
The counter-argument would be, "train with what you carry," and I only carry 15rd magazines. However, when I'm shooting, I rarely do a full 15rd dump at once. I usually do 5-10rd drills.
So this seems like a financially-viable option for me. Any feedback or suggestions?

 

[Byrd666]

I have at least five (5) mags per pistol. Bersa Thunder 9 UC Pro, Sringfield EMP .40 and Ruger SR9. While it is true you only use one mag at a time, it's so much easier to load a lot at once when practicing rather than reload one or two constantly. And another benefit is, if the fecal matter does hit the rotary oscillating device,I should be better prepared.

 

[rcmodel]

Sometimes your training can produce much better results if you have to stop and reload mags once and a while.

You can also take the time to rest your brain and muscles and calm down before starting all over again.

It is very difficult to keep 100% concentration on proper technique and sight picture during a 50 round burst!

Were it me?
I would buy the 10 round mags and use them for training.

Then, other then function testing the 15-round mags from time to time, reserve them for carry instead of wearing out the springs blasting away with them all the time.

rc

 

[Byrd666]

Good point rc now that you mentioned it.

 

[ny32182]

Magazine springs are a wear item and should be replaced periodically anyway.

I'd buy the regular size mags. They are the standard design, available for cheap now (as slight a chance as there is apparent now, a future AWB is always a possibility), have parts available, and on all the designs I have seen, this is the real kicker: the normal mags are a whole lot easier to take apart to clean.

Wanting to enter an AWB state to shoot is the only reason today I can see for considering the purchase of the Klinton mags.

 

[Winkman822]

I run a Wilson Combat CQB Compact with a 7 round Wilson 47OXC plus one in the chamber and two spare 8 round Wilson 47DOX mags loaded to capacity. The over and under, I have eight rounds in the gun as it sits on my hip and I have eight rounds on the reloads if needed. It makes it easier to keep track of how many rounds are available either when doing fire and reload drills or in the unfortunate instance where a carry gun is used for its intended purpose. Similarly with my full size Springfield TRP, I carry a 7 Round Wilson 47 in the gun with one in the chamber (eight rounds) and two spare 8 round 47Ds loaded to capacity on my opposite hip. Same idea, 8 rounds at any time.

Long and short of it, get mags that are essentially the same capacity. One of the many things I love about the 1911 is that it is so easy to get mags set up so that you always have the same number of rounds available to squeeze off. In the case of the OP, just go ahead with the 15 round mags.

You may also want to try Brownells or the like for mags that may be a little less expensive than they are straight from Walther/Smith and Wesson.

 

[beatledog7]

If you pay for range time by the hour, having spare mags loaded up before you go is very efficient. But rc is right, sometimes slowing down to reload is exactly what a shooter needs. That's why I collect brass between mags.

 

[9mmepiphany]

At a price differential of 2 or 3 to 1 between the full cap and the 10 rounders, I think the obvious thing to do is buy 2 or 3 10 rounders. I usually have 10 magazines for a gun I'd carry...but I do remember when money was much tighter.

Besides taking more frequent breaks between strings (I usually shoot in strings of 3-5) of fire to allow better focus, practicing magazine changes is another good skill to keep fresh