Mag Loading Question

[revolverman357]

I was recently reading a gun article and the author happened to mention that he stagger loads his magazines. Hollow point in the chamber then the magazine is loaded with rounball, HP, ball, HP, ball..etc.

Does anyone here do this, and what is the reason or what advantage that would cause you to do it?

 

[rcmodel]

I think it is a terrible idea.

1. FMJ is a proven over-penetrator with very little stopping power in most calibers.

2. JHP is proven to be the most effective SD ammo there is, in almost any caliber.

3. Every other shot is going to give different recoil & blast, which is sure to mess with quick follow-up shots & timing.

rcmodel

 

[revolverman357]

rcmodel, I agree with all three points you have made. Those were my thoughts also. Just trying to figure out this guys reasoning for doing it. He did not say in the article, just mentioned it in passing. ??

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I also fail to see the point of it.

1. FMJ is a proven over-penetrator with very little stopping power in most calibers.

2. JHP is proven to be the most effective SD ammo there is, in almost any caliber.

3. Every other shot is going to give different recoil & blast, which is sure to mess with quick follow-up shots & timing.

Agreed. Also, there is a 50-50 chance that the round in the chamber is not going to be of the type you needed at that moment.

 

[dmazur]

I agree that it sounds questionable at best. I wouldn't do it.

I've heard of wheelgun afficionados loading shot for the first round, for snakes. They figured it wouldn't take long to get past the useless shot round to "real ammo" for a larger problem.

I've also heard of law-enforcement loading non-lethal rounds, followed by #2 buckshot, in a 12 gauge. That was some time ago, and I believe current practice is to have a specially-marked non-lethal weapon available in the trunk, in addition to something with serious ammo.

This is the first time I've heard of this! I hesitate to say "nuttier than a fruitcake", as sometimes I am just too ignorant to understand something that has merit. This one appears to be pretty close to the fruitcake, however....

 

[DiN_BLiX]

As stated above, no real merit to this practice.

 

[Steve C]

I wouldn't carry FMJ for self defense, not because it won't work, but because it doesn't work as well as HP ammo against critters both human and animal. There's enough times when HP ammo doesn't open up for one reason or another, in which case you may be shooting solids, like it or not.

I sometimes carry mixed ammo in my magazines (usually as spares) but they're all HP ammo. The round count in the boxes (20,25,50) just don't divide evenly with most magazine capacities so there is always 5, or 2 or more bullets left over. Eventually they accumulate and get stuffed in one magazine. Since I buy my "premium defense ammo" when I can find it on sale and I'm not overly picky about brand, I'll have mixture of "left overs" from Winchester SXT's, Remington Golden Sabers, CCI Gold Dots, Federal Hydra shocks, etc. They all function fine in my pistols and shoot to the same point of aim so that's not an issue.

I guess if you're really on the fence about which ammo is "best" to your mind then a mix may be one way of to compensate and avoid having to make a decision.