How many mags do you guys have?
 

I know alot of you have multiple firearms. I just have one (for now) and it came with two 14-round mags. Of the two mags I have now, one is loaded with Federal Personal Defense hollowpoint 135 grain, the other is standard FMJ 180 Grain Winchester target/range ammo but I do not keep the gun loaded at home. The mags are right next to the gun in the nightstand.

I will be getting two more 14-round mags this month sometime and will probably load another one with hollowpoint and one with the FMJ.

I am curious for those with only a single handgun how many magazines you have and what kind of rounds you have.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I have 3 handguns that use clips. No make that 4.

1911 .45 - 3 10 round, 3 more 7 and 8 round
.40 - 4
9mm - 5
.380 - 2

I'll be buying a few more.
The issue is what happens when you can't buy anymore mags? What if you lose or damage one or two of yours?

Remember your gun is nothing but an expensive hammer without a functional magazine.

Regarding ammo, I keep a limited supply of hollow points. Maybe a couple hundred in each caliber. I keep 500-1,000 of FMJ in each caliber. This is in addition to .22, 12ga and 7.62x39

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

If I were to own but one semi-auto handgun, I would have a minimum of four mags. That's MINIMUM.

It depends on the handgun and what it's overall use is in my armory. If it's my concealed carry piece, I would probably double that number.

What do I load into a concealed carry piece? Pretty much the same ammo the LEO's in my area use. That way, IF I end up having to use it for self defense, there should be no issues with lawyers and 'cop killing' bullet statements being thrown out to sway a jury.

In SHTF scenario? Whatever I consider best for the situation at hand. As that can change on a moments notice, you would understand my 'need' for a minimum of eight to ten hi-cap mags, loaded with several different types of ammo.

FMJ, SP, HP, etc. I also have some specialty ammo suggested to me by some friends of mine in the military. Plus I roll my own for specific uses.

It does depend on the usage of the firearm in question.

Com'on Elroy, your gun is NOT a hammer if you don't have a functioning magazine. IT IS a one shot pistol that could be used to relieve a bad guy of HIS firearm though.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Wow, that must be a neat pistol, using clips and all :tongue_ma:


OP:
My newest piece came with two mags. Its a .45 so unfortunatley each mag only holds 7 rounds each. At least one is always loaded, the other I sometimes load or have snap caps in for doing dry fire and mag drills.

I plan on getting two more fort his particular gun, but at 40-50$'s a pop, that get expensive. Im thinking of getting the 9mm version of my carry piece(Bersa .45 UC) since it holds 13+1 and also comes with two mags.

My suggestion is get at least 4 for each gun you have. Like Elroy said, you never know when one may break, get lost, go bad etc. One is none and two is one. Anything worth being prepared for is worth being over prepared for ;)

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

+1 to everything said, that was a very wise post!

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Some of mine are S&W stainless autos. I really like the stainless, however without a clip/mag [whatever you want to call it] the gun will not fire. Not even 1 single shot.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Each XD Handgun, i have 3 4 mags each

For my m4 I have 10-20rd gi clips and 11-30round clips, just got the CETME and a FAL so I have the ones that come with it.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Minimum of 10 standard capacity for each Rifle and 6 for each Handgun

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

elroy,
I've owned several S&W autos. Sold all my S&W stuff when Thompson bought the company several years ago.

Your statement is NOT exactly accurate. But as a gunsmith, I will concur from a 'factual' basis that what you said is how S&W designed the fireram. IE, you need to have a magazine in place for it to function properly. But if you have lost or broken your last mag, there are ways to make it function as a single shot.

But those would indeed be desperate times, yes?

And let me help you out. A magazine is generally a steel or poly box that holds rounds and must then be inserted into the firearm, generally from the bottom, though not always. It has the main body of the magazine, a follower (the thing you load bullets on), a spring and a floorplate. This is a generalization and some mags may not have the floorplate, but most do, as it makes disassembly and maintenance much easier than those that do not.

A clip is one that again holds rounds. Some clips are indeed inserted into a firearm, the Garand comes to mind with it's eight round 'en bloc' clip that is inserted into the firearm and is ejected by the firearm when it has fired the last shot in that clip. It gives a distinctive 'pinging' sound when it's ejected. This would be both a problem and a boone for WWII troops, but I digress.

Other clips are those that are used to refill (or top off) a magazine that is built into the firearm itself. The Russian designed SKS or the German Mauser pistol come to mind, but there are others.

Some of us are real sticklers for proper nomenclature. But I have long since passed that point, realizing that not everyone KNOWS the difference. One needs to marshall his forces for the truly important battles and whether someone calls it a clip or a magazine is no longer a 'battle' I'm willing to fight.

I hope that info helped.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

elroy

Maybe your new to firearms or an old pro but clips are used to feed cartridges into magazines and used in a few rifles to hold cartridges IE the Mannlicher Carcano, M1 Garand etc.

Magazine on far left, Clip with Cartridges in middle left and clip center right, Clip spoon on far right.(attaches clip to magazine to assist in loading)
http://www.geocities.com/johnbloodgood/magclip2.JPG

A clip on left and magazine on right. This kind of "en bloc" clip is inserted into the rifle
http://olegvolk.net/gallery/d/15649-...gazine0491.jpg


I honestly am not meaning to get any attitude but words mean things different words mean different things.



OH and back to the topic.

About 30-50 Magazines for each rifle and 25 or so Magazines for each pistol.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

You're forgetting about the single bullet in the chamber of that "hammer".



.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I'm a little concerned with weakening the springs on the magazines by keeping them loaded for no need. I'd consider keeping only one or two of the magazines loaded, rotate them occasioanlly, maybe then each loaded with just 10 rounds instead of the maximum of 14, just to save the springs. If the threat condition rises, fill them all full as needed at home or travel.

Also I've always liked alternating a FMJ and HP all the way down the magazine, figuring I'm trading expansion for penetration back and forth, and if one fails the next will succeed, throughout the successive shots. Adequate penetration is essential, especially behind cover, and I like atleast 1 in 3 to be a FMJ to punch through.

I'd try and keep the grain weight the same, for instance I had a .40 caliber and came to feel the optimum bullet weight was 155-165grains, and so kept all my ammunition selection there, for uniform ballistics. You go from 135-180 grains and those extremes are likely to hit a different point of impact I suspect. The .40's short case is really packed with a 180 grain, high pressures on that one. The 135 has poor sectional density. Just my opinion.

Like Wallew said, I'd try and avoid ammunition that is more destructive than the police in your area, something that may be used in court against you. Try and match them as closely as possible regarding brand and weight, etc.

I think 3 QUALITY hi-cap magazines (14x3 = 42 shots total) is enough and the minimum for a primary handgun. One may fail. Myself I'd likely carry only 2 unless I'm in going into a bad spot, occasionally just the one in the pistol. I have only 2 magazines for my .22 mousegun, but it's not made to stand and fight, only to shoot and run like hell.

Of course, this is all just my considered OPINION and I may be wrong. I grew up with REVOLVERS and this seems like a lot of bullets to me... I'm just a civilian. I learn from everyone here.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

If the single bullet in the chamber is attached to a pistol that has a magazine disconnect it is worthless without a magazine, as it will not fire when the trigger is pulled if the magazine is removed.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Four to six spare magazines for most - a few a whole lot more. One magazine always in service and the remainder are spares. I also believe it's prudent to function test each spare with a reasonable amount of ammunition before stowing them away. I don't even keep problematic magazines as "range only" mags as others do - just not worth it to me.
Take care,
Mod1

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Thanks strawman, I was going to post the same thing about "clips" vs. magazines.

I would also agree with the minium of four magazines per handgun. When I pick up a new gun I'll usually buy a few spare magazines at the sam time. After that I start to rotate buying a new magazine for each hangun I own. For the most part I buy most of my ammo in bulk, but after I have "x" ammount of ammo, I just buy a 100 rounds or so at a time. Say when I pick up 100 rounds of 7.62x39mm, I'll buy another magazine for my XD9. Next time I go ammo shopping I'll pick up one for my XD40, next time I'll buy a magzine for my 1911 and so on. But if you are only planning on having one handgun, I would still do the same thing just keep buying one at a time. You can never have too many magazines around.

Guns, ammo and magazines will always go up in price, it's best to buy what you can afford at the time. What seems expensive today will always be tomorrows deal.

GN

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

A couple of very nice lessons posted herein. Good job guys!

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

5 for the semi. 2 loaded and rotated weekly.

Speed loader always ready for the wheelys.

I don't need a lot but, I need enough so if one or two get lost or dropped or damaged I still have a couple.

E-A

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Glock + 4 mags (hi-capacity)..........wish I had bought more before prices went crazy.

:thumb.aspx:

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

This is what I recommend as mags may eventually get broken, dropped, and shot.

Have a MINIMUM of 10 mags per battle rifle.

When you get 10 mags, your next number to shoot for will be 20

When you get 20 mags, your next number to shoot for will be 30 mags.

When you get 30 mags. Buy a drum MAG.

Also buy proper LBE to carry six fully loaded mags on your web gear.

DO IT.

NOW.

Also get 2 other guys on your team and you now have one LIBERTY UNIT

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Yeah, those Garand pistols are neat-o.:ok:

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

?????????????????????

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT.

for more info youtube "libertytreeradio" for instructional videos.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Revolvers require no magazines.

Tough to beat a good .357 revolver.

I'm swimming in guns---could use them like toilet paper...so I only have 2 mags per handgun.....a few more for rifles.

The core of my rifle pile are M1 Garands...they use the 8 shot Enbloc clip....I have hundreds of these. This is the best quality, lowest cost rifle for which to stock the equivalent of a hundred "mags".....and nothing loads faster than an M1....you can carry a crap load of M1 ammo ready to go as compared to an AK47/AR15/M1A/FAL that demands additional box magazines.

Any other high power battle rifle is inferior in my opinion.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Quality springs do not take a set from load time, only from compression cycles and overloading capacity of springs. So many examples of loaded mags from WWII functioning just fine, while loading and unloading or cycling springs will lessen useful life.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

The Garand even helps you focus your attention during reloads! If in doubt, Google "Garand thumb". Of course, the Hakim & Ljungman are even more enthusiastic in their "attention getting" than the Garand, but they're scarcer.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

For rifles, I did this FIRST and somehow keep buying Drums after every 5-mags I load up on..........hehehe, I made a pun - 'load-up' ! :clap2:

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Dam!!!

How the hell do you get that???


T

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Sorry, that's NOT a Garand Thumb. That thumb was mangled by high pressure gases escaping from the cylinder-barrel gap of a big frickin' revolver.

See:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=292569

Garand/Hakim/Ljungman thumbs usually just give you a nice big blood blister under your thumb nail (like you whacked it with a hammer), and might break the skin a little.

The thumb in the picture would certainly hurt, though!

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Yep, like this.......(see thumb in photo below)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/3...ec8f9f.jpg?v=0

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

You can never have too many mags, especially if they are for common weapons like AK's, AR's, Glocks, 1911's, etc. If you end up with way more than you will ever need they will still be a good investment.

My rule of thumb is to have at LEAST 5 mags per service size handgun and 10 per battle rifle. I consider my AR and 1911 to be my primary go to guns for shtf. I currently have 25 AR mags and 13 1911 mags. I have a few small CCW pistols that I only have 2-3 mags for though. If I only owned one semi auto firearm, I would own at least 10 mags for it. I would also stock at least 10 spare mag springs for it as well. Those mags may have to last you the rest of your life.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

:thumb.aspx:
I did my own online research that tends to support exactly what you say here, that storing mags loaded does no harm. I'm not sure how I'd come to 'know' my facts, perhaps from my WW2 father's well-meaning advice, but my old reasoning now seems wrong.
So I suppose the advantage of the Chinese wind-up AK-drums not weakening the spring is just not there ... the East European drum is just as good, it's only slower to reload.
Meanwhile, I did my own research on dental fluoride and I now believe it is only industrial poison. We live and we learn! THANKS!

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I recommend enough mags to hold AT LEAST 50 rounds loaded per pistol and 100 rounds per semi-auto rifle...

But personally, I prefer DOUBLE that amount.

I am not worried about fully-loaded mag springs taking a "set" or weakening. USE wears them out. If you need to replace them, check out Wolff replacement springs:

http://www.gunsprings.com/resources/welcomeNOF.html

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Well, as a precaution, I keep several of my mags half loaded.......such as 15-rounds in a 30-round mag, etc........that way I'm never caught with my pants down so to speak.

I have one of both and keep the Chinese / Bulgarian fully loaded........as for the E.European (Romanian) ~ it is turtle slow to load.

:bear_cry:

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I have often thought of doing this but then my mind conjures some classic shootout scenario where I have run through my 15 rounds and have successfully gained advantage where a few more rounds would insure victory and click... I then fill the magazine up and my mind is at ease.

In short, eff the springs, they can be replaced.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I have wondered about this myself. Does anyone have thoughts?

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I found this related forum online. I quickly realized that my 'old-wives-tail' (pre-loading) was likely not approprite, as challenged by exporter above, especially with quality post-WW2 springs... over-loading a spring can be a problem however ...

vito October 4th, 2006, 11:56 PM
Springs don't wear out from being compressed, only from sitting uncompressed. I know of someone who found his father's WWII 1911 loaded, with a full mag, that had sat untouched from 1946 until the late 1980's. He took it to the range, just as it was, and fired five rounds before he had a FTE. The spring in the magazine appeared to be as good as new.
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i.../t-225856.html

this link better still:

Magazine spring madness: 'creep' to your 'elastic limit' to un-earth the urban legend of 'spring-set'
American Handgunner, May-June, 2003 by John S. Layman

Trust Us -- When a magazine manufacturer designs a spring, they plan for a preload. The spring is already compressed some in the magazine. On the curve below, this would be Point A. The spring compression would be designed to be below the Elastic Limit. When fully compressed, the spring would be at Point B. If the spring is ever compressed past the elastic limit, say to Point C, it won't ever behave the same.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...27/ai_99130369

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Get Norinko drums for your AKs and you don't have to worry about spring tension.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Six 30rd mags and one 100rd drum mag for the AR.

Three 16rd mags and one 10rd mag for the CZ 9mm.

The rest don't have mags. I should get more AR mags for when my Beowulf upper arrives. But, $ is tighter than a nun right now.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I've seen this several times at the range - from people not knowing about powerful revolvers......they want to support the gun with their weak hand and cup their hand under and around the front of the cylinder. The 357 and 44 Mag have pressures right up there in the 40,000 - 50,000 PSI range.

I've seen it strip off finger nails...and make deep gas cuts - that i sure must get infected....take off finger tips...nasty injuries.

You have to know what you are doing with magnum revolvers.....keep fingers away from front of cylinder.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

That photo has inspired me big time. I will no longer eat while at my computer! :puke:

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Ouch !!!!

I recently purchased my first pistol. Gun came with 2 mags and i got 2 more as part of a rebate deall.....so I'm starting with 4.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

What model?

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Although it's nowhere near as impressive, I also see people transitioning from revolvers to semiautos, still trying to use the "thumbs crossed behind the hammer" hold. Nice scrape/cuts on their thumbs after the first round is fired.

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

i keep 10 clips of 15 ...150rnds...for my 9mm walther...primary gun

other pistols...such as my Ar-15 pistol....includeing beta mags etc i could easyly load up 500rnds or so of 223

my largest would be my calico pistol which i can load up and take to the range over a thousand rnds of 9mm

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

I got me a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Compact

Re: How many mags do you guys have?
 

Let's see:

1) 1911 .45 magazines: about 30, all with seven round spring/follower kits.

2) 1911 9x19 magazine: 17, all nine-rounders (they are all in my range bad for the next match)

3) Ruger 10/22: not enough