How many magazines to keep on hand?

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pistols c rifles

for the pistols I usually have three loaded mags and 50 rds in a box

rifle has 5 loaded mags and 330rds on stripper clips

both are from US Army order of fire for the relevant weapons

I figure if the US Army came up with that there had to be some good reason.

I'm thinking portability,

but that's just a guess esp w/ regards to the rifle

r
 
It depends on the gun and the frequency with which I shoot it. If it's one of my range favorites, and I have a handful of those, I generally rotate through four magazines for each gun. If it's my carry piece, I keep six magazines on hand, stashed in various spots around the house -- fully loaded, of course. The children are grown and have moved on, so that's no longer a safety issue for me.
 
I have 6 for each handgun. 2 mags for the house gun always stay loaded. I have around 10 for the SOCOM 16. I also have a couple speedloaders for the revolver.
 
Are these mags for guns I have, guns I don't have but plan to get, or guns I don't plan to ever have? :p

I have 40 or 50 mags for the KelTec RFB that I don't own, 60 or so for my AK, 15 for the VZ58 I haven't quite gotten yet, and 50 more for the HK91 I have no interest in getting (hey, they were cheap). Plus a few hundred M1 clips, a hundred Enfield clips, and a handful of Suomi mags, AR mags, etc, etc.

I like mags. :)
 
i keep about 10 ar mags, all were free from my uncle so i took em, 20 rd surplus mags. and i have 3 mags for my colt m1911, i want to get 2 more for that because i hate the 8 rounder i have. there is a local shop with 2 7rd mags for 20 bucks each, im guna get those in a week or so.
 
Buy'em cheap, stack'em deep.
Without mags, your guns are just expensive, awkward single-shots.

The only guns I have less than 5 mags apiece for are toys for range use rather than serious guns (CZ-52, etc).

Kharn
 
No magazine ban?

Hell, a few.

With the magazine ban?

However many I think I will need to last until I die, then a few dozen more for my children and grandkids.
 
Monkey, depends in what regard I hold a firearm.

If the firearm is a "fun gun" or range toy, I may have 3 or 4. One of my favorite range toys is a .22 Stoeger Luger. I have a few mags for it.

If the weapon is a firearm that I may fight with, I own a box car full of them.

I have have a "hedge fund" of magazines. E.g., I own Glock pistols and shoot them on occasion but I have two plastic tubs full of Glock magazines just in case some moronic thing happens in Congress, at least I will be prepared.
 
Taurus PT-140 Pro, my CCW gun = 3 magazines, at $40 a peice, thats plenty.
XD-40 = 9 magazines, soon to be 10, these are only 20 bucks a pop.:)
M-1 Carbine = (4) 15 rd magazines
Marlin 22 mag = 3 magazines
Ruger 22/45 = (5) 10 rd magazines

The rest of my guns don't take magazines, SKS, fixed 10 rds, and my Shotgun.
 
As others have already said ... it depends.

I prefer to have at least a minimum of 4-5 magazines. That makes for 2-3 for actual service use and 1-2 for range training/practice.

I generally slowly add to the collection as the pistol sees more off-duty usage and receives more range time.

Magazines are at the heart of a semiauto pistol's successful functioning. Good ones are important. I learned long ago that quality magazines are always worth the price. Quality over quantity.

Once I function test my carry magazines I generally use range magazines for all training & practice.

If a range magazine wears or experiences damage which can't be corrected with new parts, then it gets tossed and replaced with a carry magazine ... which in turn gets replaced with a new magazine, which is then also function tested on the range before being placed into service.

I have a few pistols for which I have upwards of a dozen to 20-odd magazines.

I've learned to replace magazine springs at various time-in-service/usage intervals, which can vary depending on the platform. After helping maintain many hundreds of various pistols over the years I've seen more than my fair share of weakened magazine springs cause functioning problems on the firing line.

FWIW, I'm still waiting to hear from someone at another agency regarding the cause of a failure-to-feed which occurred to one of their folks during a gunfight. (The cop was okay. Fortunately another cop was present and able to take the proper action while the first cop resolved the feeding problem.) I heard the failure-to-feed was reproduced during examination of that pistol after the incident ... and interestingly enough, the cop had been carrying a 'loaner' at the time because his issued gun had reportedly been turned in for repair for a similar feeding problem.

I also know a fellow at another agency who was unable to get his agency to spend money on replacement magazine springs until their pistols finally started to exhibit repeated failures-to-feed which were caused by weakened magazines. :banghead:

Some folks seem to forget that magazines are really 'assemblies' ... assembled from parts ... and reasonably require normal inspection and maintenance for optimal functioning and reliability.

Just my thoughts.
 
For my 'fun to shoot' guns that have removable magazines, at least 10 each. Not so much for a SHTF situation as a 'load up at home, shoot off at the range, I'm done when the magazines are empty'.

Most of my guns at this point have fixed magazines. I load the SKS from stripper clips, etc...

I like shooting my CZ-75, so I got extra magazines, and I have a bunch for my AR. 150 rounds of 9mm & 300 rounds of .223 is plenty for a range trip.
 
I have, at minimum, five magazines for each pistol. Pistols are accessories to their magazines.

I have, at minimum, ten magazines for each self-loading rifle. During The Bad Old Days, my basic load included eight mags on the LBE harness plus one in the rifle. It's an old habit, sort of like programming I can't delete. I like another spare, just to be sure of things.:evil:

Replacement springs and followers are another old habit. They occupy their own drawer in the workbench.
 
Well, I guess its my turn.

I have two Glock mags. One for the gun and one for the glove compartment. Its my carry pistol. I plan to purchase six more soon. I want one in the pistol. Two on my belt. Two in the glove compartment and one for loading up cheap ammo at the range. The two on my belt will be by my bedside at night.

For my other handguns I just have what came with them. CZ 75BD has two, a factory 26 rounder and a 16 rounder. Sig 232 has three mags. CZ 40B has two. P22 has two.

Shotguns don't take mags.

My new CZ 527 Carbine won't be getting any extra mags, even though its just about the coolest rifle in the world to me. I wish it didn't take mags, then it would be perfect. Its just a fun gun and at $40 a pop, I'll get them when the old ones break.

My Saigas in .308/.223/7.62x39 all have one mag each. I plan to make an offer for peoples five rounders on the Saiga 12 forum. I figure once they have converted their rifles they will let them go for cheap.

My 10/22 has one mag. I only need one. I don't pay by the hour at my range. Besides I use my Marlin 60 so much more often I will be surprised if I ever wear it out.

And finally my PTR 91 that I am going to purchase as soon as I get my tax return, I have 20. I also have 124 on the way. At $2-3 a pop I figured why the hell not. Surplus is surplus and they won't be $2-3 a pop forever. Besides one day I may have to defend myself from the zombies with this sucker.
 
Too much $ on Mags

I can't think of any lengthy siege that will take mega multiple mags. Maybe New Orleans. (just kidding). If I was going on a combat mission in Afganistan, then yes. Maybe three mags at most for my Glack or XD while around town and only if shopping at the Mall with my wife.

Do Mags wear out that fast? Really.
 
My basic rule of thumb is to maintain AT LEAST 5 serviceable (read reliable) mags for semi-auto pistols and 10 for semi-auto rifles. These are then generally segregated from my range mags that may be old, used or abused.
 
I purchase mags when money allows. bins full of AR 20/30 rounders. need more mags for my saiga-12, Colt 6450, SigP226 , AK...
 
I think 23 Glock 17 mags. I remember the first AWB. In fact, I paid about $75 apiece for two of those.

About 15 AR mags. I probably should get a few more.

For everything else, usually 3 to 5.
 
I have a bunch. Got 2 AK mags (and a somewhat broken one), no AK, 3 AR mags, with three more on the way with the AR I just ordered, prolly ten for my USP, more for my Glock, four for my Sigma, three for my CZ, one for my .22.

Need more. also need more bullets.
 
At least 8 for each pistol and 20 for each AR and AK...that way when they get confiscated, you have more to give.

fred
 
I saw J&G Sales was offering Colt AR mags for $9.99 apiece when you order 100 or more. :what:

Kinda made me wonder who's gonna be dropping $1000 at a time on mags?
 
I have at least 10 for each weapon I own. I probably have another 40 various for weapons I don't own; not sure how that happened. I'm sure it was a good deal though--must be time to buy more guns:)
 
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