How many magazines are enough?

[Benelli Shooter]

I have several rifles. AR15s, Garands, AK47s, Remington 700s, and Mini-14s.

I am pretty good on magazines for the AR15s and AK47s. I have 10 mags for each one own. I have hundreds of EnBloc clips for the Garand.

I only have 5 factory 20 round mags for each Mini-14. For some reason, that does not seem like enough. They are not exactly cheap. And, I won't use anything but factory mags in the Mini.

What would be your minimum number of magazines for each Mini-14 if you were in my shoes?

(Mini-14 haters do not need to respond. I know the AR15 is better. I get it. I still like my Mini-14s.)

 

[elmerfudd]

You only need a lot of mags if you intend to use the rifle for SHTF. Since you already have several AR's, AK's, etc... it sounds like you are already pretty well equipped in that regard.

I have more than one rifle that I only have a single magazine for. It doesn't bother me because I'm not planning on fighting off hordes of wrongdoers with my R55 or my K31.

If you plan on using the rifle for SHTF however, I think I'd ideally want 10 or more mags for it.

 

[benEzra]

I'd say it depends on how great you think the risk of a ban is, how much you shoot the rifle, and how hard you are on mags when you shoot it. If your attrition rate is high, you'd want more.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Even for a SHTF scenario, I'd think you're not likely to blow through 100 rounds in a firefight. Any fight that gets that hot should probably involve disengaging and going elsewhere, or if its conducted to save your stash of food, ammo, instant coffee and toilet paper you're likely looking more at a seige sort of scenario where you'll have time to jam mags back up.

There's definitely nothing wrong with getting more mags, obviously, but if you've only got finite resources I might consider additional mags to be less important than other things (depending on how well you're set for whatever other requirements you have).

 

[elmerfudd]

I'd agree that you probably wouldn't need anywhere near 10 mags for an individual firefight, but since they very likely won't be available or replaceable in the future, it seems to me that you ought to at least have a few spares.

 

[taliv]

You only need a lot of mags if you intend to use the rifle for SHTF.

i can't agree with this.

if you train (i know, right? what a concept!) you will wear out mags. (at least, the neigh disposable AR15 mags. i can't speak for mini or AK mags)

 

[Dimis]

just think a standard Army combat load is 7 magazines 3 in the left pouch 3 in the right pouch and one in the gun
as for only being good in a SHTF scenerio i have 12 mags for my 10/22 because reloading mags at the range sucks and i can shoot longer without reloading
as for SHTF id want to go bruce willis in last man standing with the 26 magazines just for my 1911 (imagine what hed have for his rifles?)

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I have 2 for my AR and 1 for my pistol. I only shoot at the range so it's enough. If the mag wears out, I'll get new ones. If the SHTF, I'll grab my shotgun and run like hell.

For me, I don't need a lot of mags. I shoot through a mag, reload it, and shoot through it again. No big deal.

 

[Retro]

When Zombies attack, the more the better!

 

[shootistpd27]

What you have to do is use the equation of how many magazines you can carry, and how many guns you can carry. You can easily carry one rifle, two pistols and a backup. In Iraq a soldier carries atleast 9 30 round mags. I would have atleast three mags for each pistol. Now consider how many fighting aged people you have in your family and make sure you have enough for all of them. Make sure you have your arsenal beefed up for this formula and you should be fine however it never hurts to have more magazines. Also make sure that you have holsters and tactical slings for your weapons. In a case of shtf you need to be able to carry the weapons on you and not in a foot locker.

 

[shaggy430]

Problem with hi-cap rifle magazines:
1. Hard to use prone position.
2. Extra weight.
3. Price.
4. You must keep up with empty magazines in order to reload.

Solution:
Stripper clips.
1. Just as fast.
2. Less weight.
3. Cheap.
4. Once you've used them, you can fit 50 in your pocket with no trouble.

Just my $.02.

 

[ComradeBurg]

How many magazines are enough? As many as you can comfortably afford.

Magazines do wear out after a while and if you do a lot of shooting you'll want a lot of magazines.

 

[RP88]

I have 20 AR mags, 11 AK mags, and could always use a few more

 

[armoredman]

Might invest in some replacement springs, too.

 

[Hostile Amish]

"Hundreds of en bloc clips"

PLEASE tell me where you got them *wink*

Anyway, I suggest a minimum of 5 magazines. If you use more than one gun that uses the same type of magazine (Glock, 1911, AR-15, AK) then get at least 20.

 

[erict]

I have about 30 AR mags and over 40 mags in 9mm Glock. I don't have that many for shtf or anything like that.

I have them for shooting at the range and practicing. I really hate to waste my time at the range reloading mags 1/2 of the time I'm there.

If I ever had to bug out or use them for shtf I would take about 10-12 of each around with me and throw the others in a bag. "Need" is the tricky word here, I'd say buy as many as you can comfortale afford and you can't go wrong.

 

[Heck]

I have 8 30 round pmags and 2 20 round. 6 hi caps for my XD9 and couple for the CZ 75. Have more than what i think I need but better to be safe than sorry.

 

[12131]

"enough" is not in my vocabulary.

 

[jeff-10]

I own a slot of semi-autos, mostly pistols but I also have a couple of rifles. I cannot imagine owning, and keeping track of, 10 mags for each gun.

 

[W.E.G.]

just a few more

 

[Gunfighter123]

Semi-auto rifles ---- 10
Handguns --- at least 5

 

[JShirley]

If some is good

and more is better



too much should be just right.

John




(about 20 is what I figure to be a good amount, with 8 training mags, and a couple to keep loaded for house emergencies, and the rest in reserve for really bad months/years)

 

[polekitty]

How many mags?

I would never be so arrogant as to put some limit on how many. The more the better. But, I would hope I'd never need more than one, or even all of what that one would hold. But---you just never know! The more the better! How many can you put in your safe?

 

[gazpacho]

Enough to load up all your TEOTWAWKI ammo stash

Except for 22lr. You would need a quonset hut to store that many mags.

 

[Girodin]

Enough? you never have enough! I try to get at least ten for everything I own though. Ten is a pain for the PS90 thats like $400! but having 10 fifty rounders on tap just makes me smile so I guess it is worth it.