Mag Extensions- Help me understand

[giggitygiggity]

A number of companies offer magazine extensions. It appears that these are most common for Glock magazines. For instance, Taran Tactical and other produce them. What I have difficulty understanding is how one justifies spending just as much, if not more, than a second mag to extend an existing mag by a few rounds.

What am I missing? I’m not faulting anyone who owns/buys mag extensions. I’m simply trying to determine if there is a benefit that is not apparent to me. Thanks.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think some of it is due to certain competitions which allow X# of rounds and so people want to have that many to save a mag change.

I got some of the +2 over the years for some mags but am a bit like you. Haven't seen the use case (in my life) where I want to spend that much for an extension.

 

[Hartkopf]

I’ve found too many magazine extensions that were not reliable and cause malfunctions. I like more rounds if the manufacturer has limited magazine capacities but I don’t trust most extensions so I avoid them.

 

[shoobe01]

Remember reloads. My compacts have always all have factory-longer or (when that's not available) short and reliable extensions. Gun carries small, but I can go to even more rounds on the reload. Because if I have to reload a compact carry piece, I have Problems and can use 2-3 extra rounds.

Of course, LOTS are just because of competition. Stay inside the box or weight limit, get more without reloads.

Extensions generally let you tweak the size available. While there may be factory over-sized mags, they are at a few sizes. Glocks go straight from 17 or 19 rounds to 33. 33 is a big stick to haul around or shoot with.

 

[mcb]

I have always used extension on my USPSA guns. Some division like Single Stack and Production limit magazines to a specific number of rounds. But in Limited and and Open divisions magazine length is specified and you can put as many rounds as you can into that length. So a lot of tuning goes into creating magazine that just meet the length requirement, hold as much ammo as possible, and run 100%. Magazine that don't run kill you score.

For my XD-40 I ran a combination of homemade and Arrendondo extensions and my Remington R1 double stack 40 has Taylor Freelance extensions. In both cases the extensions added +4 rounds. The most important part of running extensions especially if they increase capacity by more than 1 or 2 rounds it to replace the factory magazine springs with longer springs appropriate to the new length. A good extension, with the proper spring, and tuned right will run every bit at good as a factory magazine.

 

[jmr40]

It depends on the gun. For example, a G26 comes with a 10 round magazine, but I find the grip just a bit too short. Adding a +2 mag extension, gives just enough more grip while still being a lot smaller than a G19 with 15 round magazines. I find the same with my G29. But other than that, I wouldn't do it either. Magpul makes a factory 12 round mag for the G26 that costs less than a +2 extension and is I think an even better option.

PMAG® 12 GL9® – GLOCK® G26 (magpul.com)

 

[armoredman]

Sometimes the extended mags, like in the case of the CZ 2075 RAMI, are simply the next size up with a sleeve over the portion hanging out of the grip. Extended mags for CCW pistols have the bonus of potentially REALLY needed rounds with the drawback of loss of concealment. I compromise when I feel like it, for instance, of carrying my CZ P-10C with the standard mag in it and a F full size mag in the spare mag pouch, Will I need it? I REALLY hope not...