How many magazines per gun?

[Cypher]

I realize this is probably a pedestrian question but how many magazines do you guys think is adequate to keep on hand per gun?

My reasons for asking are as follows

I live in Colorado, whatever 20 round magazines I have for my Mini14 right now are all I get for the foreseeable future. Similarly I'm SOL on 17 round M&P magazines. I can buy replacement springs as needed but no magazines unless I want to skirt the intent of the law.

New magazines for my 4006 are unavailable what I have is what I have for life.

My 15 round Glock magazines are currently legal but I can't predict the future. No one in Colorao thought the magazine capacity restrictions would pass.....until they did.

So I'm not asking how to survive the Zombie Apocalypse, I'm asking how to survive the (highly unlikely) concept that Gaston might decide to quit selling Glocks someday.

[Kyle Reese]

100 + for my 9mm Glock s

500+ for my ARs

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[jeep45238]

N= what you have

N+2 is what you need.

Right now I have 3 g19 mags and 9 226 mags.


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[blues]

100 + for my 9mm Glock s

500+ for my ARs

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

That's impressive, brother! I'm not worthy! :cool:

[Suvorov]

I realize this is probably a pedestrian question but how many magazines do you guys think is adequate to keep on hand per gun?

My reasons for asking are as follows

I live in Colorado, whatever 20 round magazines I have for my Mini14 right now are all I get for the foreseeable future. Similarly I'm SOL on 17 round M&P magazines. I can buy replacement springs as needed but no magazines unless I want to skirt the intent of the law.



Questions re: Colorado magazine law. I realize it was written very poorly by people who had no idea what they were trying to regulate.
1) Does the law prohibit importing new magazines from say Wyoming (as the Kalifornia law did)?
2) AFAK MOST Colorado Sheriffs have refused to enforce the law as both unconstitutional and unenforceable. Given that, unless you live in Boulder or Denver counties - is that really the law of the land?
3) "skirt the intent of the law" - Sir, the "intent" of the law is to deny you your Creator-given rights as enumerated in the US Constitution. If the law is immoral and (in the case of Colorado) toothless - then why obey it? As a Kalifornian who has been forced to deal with such laws that are NOT toothless, I know what my answer would be if I was in your shoes.

However to answer your question - it is a question I have spent a fair amount of idle brain processing power to come up with. I have always heard the rule of thumb of 10 magazines for every rifle/pistol, and sometimes 6 for every pistol. I have followed it and in my experience it has proven to be a bit on the excessive side (ask me again after the Zombie Apocalypse). I would be comfortable with twice what I would consider my "loadout" to be for either shooting sports or the inevitable Apocalypse deJure.

This has allowed me to maintain a ready amount of standard capacity magazines on all of my "legacy" platforms since the Kalifornia 2000 AWB. That said, Kalifornia just declared that those magazines they said I could keep now have to be turned in by July, so that should give you some more food for thought about the "intent of the law."

[blues]

However to answer your question - it is a question I have spent a fair amount of idle brain processing power to come up with. I have always heard the rule of thumb of 10 magazines for every rifle/pistol, and sometimes 6 for every pistol. I have followed it and in my experience it has proven to be a bit on the excessive side (ask me again after the Zombie Apocalypse). I would be comfortable with twice what I would consider my "loadout" to be for either shooting sports or the inevitable Apocalypse deJure.

That's much closer to where I am. A dozen for my AR, and roughly a dozen each for my three Glocks (mixed OEM and Magpul). Now I don't feel so inadequate.

[pangloss]

If you know exactly how many you have, you probably need more. I have dozens of Glock mags and dozens of AR mags. For range guns, I like to have 6: three to use and three to hoard. I'll keep slowly buying more, but I bought more than I could afford last year.

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

[Cypher]

Questions re: Colorado magazine law. I realize it was written very poorly by people who had no idea what they were trying to regulate.
1) Does the law prohibit importing new magazines from say Wyoming (as the Kalifornia law did)?
2) AFAK MOST Colorado Sheriffs have refused to enforce the law as both unconstitutional and unenforceable. Given that, unless you live in Boulder or Denver counties - is that really the law of the land?
3) "skirt the intent of the law" - Sir, the "intent" of the law is to deny you your Creator-given rights as enumerated in the US Constitution. If the law is immoral and (in the case of Colorado) toothless - then why obey it? As a Kalifornian who has been forced to deal with such laws that are NOT toothless, I know what my answer would be if I was in your shoes.

However to answer your question - it is a question I have spent a fair amount of idle brain processing power to come up with. I have always heard the rule of thumb of 10 magazines for every rifle/pistol, and sometimes 6 for every pistol. I have followed it and in my experience it has proven to be a bit on the excessive side (ask me again after the Zombie Apocalypse). I would be comfortable with twice what I would consider my "loadout" to be for either shooting sports or the inevitable Apocalypse deJure.

This has allowed me to maintain a ready amount of standard capacity magazines on all of my "legacy" platforms since the Kalifornia 2000 AWB. That said, Kalifornia just declared that those magazines they said I could keep now have to be turned in by July, so that should give you some more food for thought about the "intent of the law."

I got a chance to discuss the law with Massad Ayoob once. He said (paraphrased) you're always better off to avoid "grey areas" of the law and remain in clear compliance with the law at all times.

What that means to me is if the law says 15 it's 15 and we keep trying to get it repealed but until that happens I abide by the law.

Second, this isn't about "load out" it's about having enough to keep the gun in service for my life time and the life time of my grandkids.

[Cypher]

I guess if I'm going to ask question I should give my answer. When I was in the Army ( back in the dinosaur days) our standard load for the M16 was six magazines on your LBE one in the weapon. So to me the standard load for my rifle today would be 7 magazines. I would like three sets of 7 so for rifles it would be 21.

For handguns which I obviously carry more than a rifle I was always taught to carry a weapon loaded with to reload so three magazines would be the standard load and I would want 6 sets of 3 which would be 18 per handgun.

Also remember I only have 3 handguns and 1 rifle so at most we're talking 80 some magazines

So my question would be is that ridiculously high or ridiculously low?

[Gray222]

...All of them?

[Tamara]

G19 and G17 I have about ten factory mags for each as well as few assorted Magpul and ETS mags.

Guns that I'm unlikely to take to gun school or use for heavy shooting, I'm generally happy with four or five.

AR mags...I have no earthly idea how many of these things I've stacked up, but having lived through the Ban Era of '94-'04, I am not entirely rational about them.

My mom's parents got married in the middle of the Great Depression. They had a lovely late-19th/early-20th Century bungalow in Chicago with cut-glass doorknobs on half the doors. Every single one of the doorknob shafts was covered in rubber bands because they wouldn't throw any away. I'm like that with AR mags.

[blues]

So my question would be is that ridiculously high or ridiculously low?

Compared to what? Most people can (and do) go through a lifetime with much less. I like having a few more than I think I'll need just in case of future bans or worn out springs / followers etc. I don't doubt that, speaking for myself, a dozen for each firearm is overkill but I like knowing I have 'em and they didn't set me back more than I was comfortable spending.

[Malamute]

In your position, Id consider buying 10 rd mags for range use. A local shop had a few 10 rd mags several years ago, nobody wanted them. I paid $5 each for them and have used them for most of my practice shooting ever since. They've always worked for me, though others have problems I understand. Still, in your case, legally available and affordable, so buying a few for range mags might be a good investment.

I still keep them in the truck, besides practice use, if I ran through my regular mags for some reason (alien invasion?), theyd be handier than shooting single rounds in the gun or trying to load mags with loose rounds. Having spare springs on hand is a good idea also.

The 10 rders are also handy to keep loaded with birdshot loads in the summer.

[Suvorov]

Second, this isn't about "load out" it's about having enough to keep the gun in service for my life time and the life time of my grandkids.

Well, by "load out" I mean just that. Say that when you play your gun games at the range or wherever you use 3 magazines. Then 6 magazines would "probably" be sufficient for the average shooter to last them their shooting life and have some to donate to grand kids (of course the laws here in Kalifornia prohibit my children from inheriting my standard capacity magazines -- one more example of the "intent" of the law). If you are preparing for the Apocalypse deJure and say will wear the standard GI loadout of 7 30 round magazines - then 14 will probably last you for all you 3-gun matches/gun games and when the Apocalypse comes will more than likely last you until a) you are able to replenish or losses through battlefield "pickup" or b) you are zombie-food.

Obviously if you shoot tens of thousands of rounds per year then you will wear out a magazine sooner, but I can honestly say in all my time being a sub 10K/year shooter, that I have never worn out a quality factory new pistol magazine.

[Nephrology]

As a fellow CO resident, I think I have 25 17 rd G17 mags (pre-ban), another 8 15rd G17 mags, and about 20 OEM 15rd G19 mags plus another ~8 15rd Magpul G19 mags. I think have about 9 or so 10rd mags for my G17 that I use exclusively for practice.

I am planning on just buying them more or less as part of my ammo budget, i.e. indefinitely and as I find good deals on them

[rcbusmc24]

There are 4 milk crates full of AR mags sitting in my gun room, along with two training rocket crates filled with unopened p-mags and unopened brown follower AR mags
There are 2 milk crates full of ak 47 mags, one polymer and one metal
There is a milk crate full of Steyr AUG mags cause I'm a lefty and NATO stocks don't work for me
There is a milk crate filled with glock 33 rounders and MP5 mags for my 9mm toys
There is a mixed milk crate with S&W M&P 15-22 mags and Magpul AR-10 mags
There is a milk crate full of 17 round Glock 9mm mags
I have a large bin full of M-1 Garand clips and 15/ 30 round M-1 carbine mags, there are also about 350 Swedish mauser stripper clips in there as they work great for .30-06 milsurps as well.
There is a small mountain of .308 AICS mags.
I have a chest filled with Sig, M&P9, Beretta M9 and APX, FN FNS, CZ P07, 1911 (both .45 and 9mm), HK p30, 45c, P7psp, and others, some I have at least 30 of and at the minimum 5 of each type
I don't even want to think about the box of revolver speed loaders and speed strips.
And
This doesn't include the couple of mags for things like my Beretta AR-70 (3) or the HK-93A3 (4) cause I just can't bring myself to pay the stupid money they want for more of those....

Honestly, I'm not really sure how many mags I have for the various guns at home right now, But I have a gun buying problem, as of last week I'm up to 19 AR's in 5.56 alone, there 13 different 9mm glocks (4 G34's alone)

Some might say I need help........

[Nephrology]

Some might say I need help........

Well, definitely.... no way can you lift all of those boxes alone!

[45dotACP]

I'd probably get ten of the OEM glock mags...and then just buy a magpul glock mag every time you get a gallon of milk or a box of ammo. They're what...fifteen bucks?


Problem solved :D

[critter]

Well, definitely.... no way can you lift all of those boxes alone!

LoL.. yeah really. I'm obviously not holding up my end of the Patriot Supply Stock. :cool:

I have 10 mags for most pistols except the safe queens (those have either three or even one). For the rifles I have 20.

[vcdgrips]

Pistols,
Bare minimum 6 per pistol platform 3 for practice and 3 for carry, never the twain shall meet.

I tell people who say they want to get serious, 6 and 6 following the same logic. Presuming that they are a fully functioning in their career field adult, if they do not get the 12 mags, I pretty much know all I need to know re their commitment to the art.

Rifles
I would say 3/3 or 7/7 as per the above.

CAVEAT-Embrace the fact that mags are consumables. You number and initial them. If they fail you 2x, they go to the practice pile or trash (almost anything can happen 1x).

YMMV Greatly

[psalms144.1]

For me, it's a minimum of 10 for primary handgun(s) and rifle(s). Easy to accomplish with Glocks, the mags are dirt cheap. I buy 3 every year or so, and once I've run a couple cycles through them to make sure they function, they become "carry" mags. Other mags go into the range bag as "training" mags. I probably have 15-20 G17 & G19 magazines now. I have at least 15 Magpuls for my AR, and just pick more up when I find them cheap.

I'd like to get to the point of having 100 AR mags, just to piss off anti's, but eventually I'll run out of space in my safe...

[TGS]

Minimum 5, preferably 10.

I might double that when we switch to Glocks based on my personal observations of Glock mags.

If it's something you fear may be banned, then I say as many as you can reasonably fit in the budget.

[Cypher]

G19 and G17 I have about ten factory mags for each as well as few assorted Magpul and ETS mags.

Guns that I'm unlikely to take to gun school or use for heavy shooting, I'm generally happy with four or five.

AR mags...I have no earthly idea how many of these things I've stacked up, but having lived through the Ban Era of '94-'04, I am not entirely rational about them.

My mom's parents got married in the middle of the Great Depression. They had a lovely late-19th/early-20th Century bungalow in Chicago with cut-glass doorknobs on half the doors. Every single one of the doorknob shafts was covered in rubber bands because they wouldn't throw any away. I'm like that with AR mags.

Living in a ban state right now, I'm the same way

[blues]

It appears that current and former LE are a bit more restrained thus far. Well, except for one major outlier. ;)

[Cypher]

Compared to what? Most people can (and do) go through a lifetime with much less. I like having a few more than I think I'll need just in case of future bans or worn out springs / followers etc. I don't doubt that, speaking for myself, a dozen for each firearm is overkill but I like knowing I have 'em and they didn't set me back more than I was comfortable spending.

I consider most of the members here to be really well versed on the subject. So if the general consensus of replies to this tread is that I'm pissing away money trying to stock that many magazines I'm going to rethink my goals

[Suvorov]

It appears that current and former LE are a bit more restrained thus far. Well, except for one major outlier. ;)

Maybe because they are more immune to whims of politicians?

I tended to be like Tam with regards to magazines during the Klinton ban era - where has that gotten me come July when I *have* to turn them in? Should have bought Gold at $400/ounce instead of $20 beat to hell Sanchez AR magazines.......

[blues]

Maybe because they are more immune to whims of politicians?

I tended to be like Tam with regards to magazines during the Klinton ban era - where has that gotten me come July when I *have* to turn them in? Should have bought Gold at $400/ounce instead of $20 beat to hell Sanchez AR magazines.......

I totally get it and am not immune...just have a different conception of "enough". That said and to be fair, judging by the posts of many here the amount of ammo I go through in any given year is considerably less as well...so it would make sense for these folks to have a higher level of items deemed "consumables".

When I was still employed by "Uncle" we went through many of the same concerns and gyrations as the public at large even if it didn't always appear to be the case.

[PNWTO]

Handguns, I would say 5-10 for most people will be just fine, double that for the 1911 crew. Maybe those who have carried revolvers into harms can comment on speedloaders and whatnot.

I like keeping loaded mags in my truck, wife's car, "go bag", front door letter desk, and a few other places so that pushes my number up.

Rifles I have 20 mags. Only five are out of the packaging. I'm not planning a loadout for the endtimes so I'm fine with that. However, given that Western WA would really, really like to be CA I do have apractice of buying a few mags every year just to mothball, since I don't see myself leaving this state anytime soon. I also expect a good deal of "stereotypically left" legislation after this current political turmoil has passed so I have definitely been taking advantage of some of the post-election deals.

[ST911]

I realize this is probably a pedestrian question but how many magazines do you guys think is adequate to keep on hand per gun?

A quantity of magazines to fulfill its task, i.e. "basic load".
A quantity of magazines equivalent to the basic load expressly for training purposes.
A quantity of spare magazines in stock or acquired for replacement as needed or scheduled. Then, mag in for task, task mag to training, training mag to contingency spare or discard.

5-6 magazines, plus one every year or two, is a lifetime of shooting for the overwhelming majority of folks.

[Drang]

I tended to be like Tam with regards to magazines during the Klinton ban era - where has that gotten me come July when I *have* to turn them in?
Wait! What? I was supposed to...?

[Cypher]

A quantity of magazines to fulfill its task, i.e. "basic load".
A quantity of magazines equivalent to the basic load expressly for training purposes.
A quantity of spare magazines in stock or acquired for replacement as needed or scheduled. Then, mag in for task, task mag to training, training mag to contingency spare or discard.

5-6 magazines, plus one every year or two, is a lifetime of shooting for the overwhelming majority of folks.
I don't understand what you're trying to communicate in the first part of your post but the last line of your post is pretty much what I do. Start out with 6 and look for sales.

[JSGlock34]

My magazine stockpile has grown to about 15 magazines for each pistol. Three of those magazines are committed to carry ammunition (which I rotate out on a periodic basis). The other 12 magazines get loaded up with practice ammo and are kept ready to go for the next range trip. I tend to shoot at indoor ranges with hourly rates. I don't like spending my range session downloading carry magazines or stuffing practice mags - that's just wasted time and money. Practice time is precious to me so I want to maximize the time I spend shooting as much as possible.

[breakingtime91]

There are 4 milk crates full of AR mags sitting in my gun room, along with two training rocket crates filled with unopened p-mags and unopened brown follower AR mags
There are 2 milk crates full of ak 47 mags, one polymer and one metal
There is a milk crate full of Steyr AUG mags cause I'm a lefty and NATO stocks don't work for me
There is a milk crate filled with glock 33 rounders and MP5 mags for my 9mm toys
There is a mixed milk crate with S&W M&P 15-22 mags and Magpul AR-10 mags
There is a milk crate full of 17 round Glock 9mm mags
I have a large bin full of M-1 Garand clips and 15/ 30 round M-1 carbine mags, there are also about 350 Swedish mauser stripper clips in there as they work great for .30-06 milsurps as well.
There is a small mountain of .308 AICS mags.
I have a chest filled with Sig, M&P9, Beretta M9 and APX, FN FNS, CZ P07, 1911 (both .45 and 9mm), HK p30, 45c, P7psp, and others, some I have at least 30 of and at the minimum 5 of each type
I don't even want to think about the box of revolver speed loaders and speed strips.
And
This doesn't include the couple of mags for things like my Beretta AR-70 (3) or the HK-93A3 (4) cause I just can't bring myself to pay the stupid money they want for more of those....

Honestly, I'm not really sure how many mags I have for the various guns at home right now, But I have a gun buying problem, as of last week I'm up to 19 AR's in 5.56 alone, there 13 different 9mm glocks (4 G34's alone)

Some might say I need help........

this is why I love Marines... Not gonna ask how many things you "acquired" ;)

[BehindBlueI's]

I like to have about a dozen. 2 to carry (or 3 for uniform carry), 5-6 to train with, and replacements for those that break/get lost/live at the property room for a little while.

[Willard]

Having lived through the decade long dark years of the Clinton ban as an adult firearms enthusiast, I will never feel like I have enough magazines for any of my firearms ever again.

[ST911]

I don't understand what you're trying to communicate in the first part of your post but the last line of your post is pretty much what I do. Start out with 6 and look for sales.Rather than pick an arbitrary number, use the process. What is the task the gun is performing? Then, the number you need. Training mags so you don't use the working mags. Spares for replacement/rotation.

[Cypher]

Rather than pick an arbitrary number, use the process. What is the task the gun is performing? Then, the number you need. Training mags so you don't use the working mags. Spares for replacement/rotation.

Okay now I get it

[Cypher]

So I've made it my practice to purchase 3 magazines when I buy a gun for a total of 6 I currently have 9 magazines for each of my 2 "working" guns and I'm watching for sales with the intent of picking up at least 9 more per gun.

The 4006 rarely gets fired and I don't think I can get new magazines for it. So I'm going to put it on the back burner till I hit my goal with the other 2.

So far I think the general consensus supports my thinking

[rcbusmc24]

this is why I love Marines... Not gonna ask how many things you "acquired" ;)

Well there's probably a chowhall some where that wants it's milk crates back..... and there nothing like the plentiful mag harvest that magically sprouts on a manever range after a MCT company clears off....:p

[CCT125US]

Looking back over mag usage, I had a USP45 and 4 mags to go with it. I put about 20K through those four, and they still had life left in them. I had several G26 mags that were worn out with relatively little use IMO. Mags are a consumable that can certainly become damaged and become useless. I have also had a number of P30 mags that had 15K each through them, and still work. I have never deadlined an HK mag in 9mm or .45. Glocks and 1911 in particular seem to consume more mags.

I am currently shooting a USP9c and P2000, and have 10 mags that get cycled through evenly. I have a stock of NIW that will probably never see use. These are range and class mags, and then of course I have my carry mags that are vetted.

As far as AR pmags, I have 6 that I use, but I just don't shoot enough to consume them in the foreseeable future. I have enough stock to meet my needs, and actually just acquired a number of GEN3 for $8.50 each because it was a great deal. Coming into the election, I asked myself what I would have liked to have if HRC wins. I was content with what I already had and didn't feel the need to buy anything really. After Trump was confirmed, and deals were to be had, I figured why not and bought low. Since then I have done a fair amount of trading and selling off of guns and mags I could do without.

Many good points have been raised about future laws and regulations that could cause one to come under scrutiny. A case of contraband does little good if it can never see the light of day. Or you have to sell it at a loss.

But to pull out an old cliche, better to have and not need......

[ReverendMeat]

I'm good with six. 2 for carry, 4 for practice.

[Drang]

I like to have a minimum of a dozen per gun.

It was easy when they were el cheapo 1911 mags, except that many of them wore out after a class or two, which meant going with the el cheapo 1911 mags was a false economy.

I've probably got 3 dozen or so AR mags, not all of which Uncle Sugar would like back. (Actually, I don't know that the Army misses any of them now...)

I'm at a dozen full size P320 mags, a dozen sub-compact P320 magazines, plus 2 compact ones with X-Grip adapters.

I wouldn't say "no" to another dozen sub-compact mags, and maybe 10 more compacts with X-Grips, but that'd buy a lot of ammo...

[Erick Gelhaus]

As few as three for a couple pistols and an awful lot for a few other pistols and rifles.

[That Guy]

There are 4 milk crates full of AR mags sitting in my gun room, along with two training rocket crates filled with unopened p-mags and unopened brown follower AR mags
There are 2 milk crates full of ak 47 mags, one polymer and one metal
There is a milk crate full of Steyr AUG mags cause I'm a lefty and NATO stocks don't work for me
There is a milk crate filled with glock 33 rounders and MP5 mags for my 9mm toys
There is a mixed milk crate with S&W M&P 15-22 mags and Magpul AR-10 mags
There is a milk crate full of 17 round Glock 9mm mags
I have a large bin full of M-1 Garand clips and 15/ 30 round M-1 carbine mags, there are also about 350 Swedish mauser stripper clips in there as they work great for .30-06 milsurps as well.
There is a small mountain of .308 AICS mags.
I have a chest filled with Sig, M&P9, Beretta M9 and APX, FN FNS, CZ P07, 1911 (both .45 and 9mm), HK p30, 45c, P7psp, and others, some I have at least 30 of and at the minimum 5 of each type
I don't even want to think about the box of revolver speed loaders and speed strips.
And
This doesn't include the couple of mags for things like my Beretta AR-70 (3) or the HK-93A3 (4) cause I just can't bring myself to pay the stupid money they want for more of those....

Honestly, I'm not really sure how many mags I have for the various guns at home right now, But I have a gun buying problem, as of last week I'm up to 19 AR's in 5.56 alone, there 13 different 9mm glocks (4 G34's alone)

Some might say I need help........
I hate you and I feel inadequate. [emoji14]

(Of course, if we had $8 AR magazines here like you guys seem to have, I'd be a whole lot closer to owning a reasonable number of those...)

Also, I feel like adding something to most of the posts here about magazine quantity: per shooter. Like a good minimum amount of magazines would be three times a basic combat load per gun, per shooter. (Well, it won't go quite like this for those of you with 19 AR's, but you get what I mean.)

Sent from my Infernal Contraption using Tapatalk

[Totem Polar]

Compared to a couple of people posting, I'm woefully underprepared. That said, I'm ideally in the "10 mags per pistol" camp. I augment that by having multiple guns per mag stash; for instance, I have two Commanders, and I have several sets of mags that will feed my G26. In fact, I sort of bought the G26 because it will take a good chunk of what's in my safe.

Now where I go off the rails, personally, is K-frame speed loaders. Those HKS things are cheap enough that I have plenty.

[Drang]

I like to have a minimum of a dozen per gun. ...
This is my preferred solution for tracking magazines: FIREARM ID STICKERS Archives - StickIt2TheMax (https://stickit2themax.com/product-category/firearm-id-marking-stickers/). Color coded numbered base plate stickers w/caliber.

[Hambo]

The correct answer is: as many as you think is sufficient.

[BobLoblaw]

I buy them until I don't know how many I have, which is somewhere around more than I need.

[EVP]

I have 6 OEM mags for training/practice. I also rotate through 6 OEM mags for carry only(verify function every so often). Then I have 2 spare OEM mags that are unopened and unused. When a mag needs to be thrown out or replaced I buy another mag or two to keep this same quantity.

I then also have oem mags that have extended baseplates or aftermarket mags(glocks magpuls) but I don't count those.

[Padwan]

My bare minimum is 6, for high cap pistols and 9, for single stacks.

When I still owned a rifle, I was ok with 15 USGI 30rd mags. Only two mags were kept loaded at any given time, though.

[hufnagel]

As has been mentioned, it'll depend on use/usage, need, and durability of the magazines in question.

I use 2 magazines constantly when I visit the range, and they've seen the bulk of the 14k rounds I've shot through my various P30s. I don't expect them to "break" for many 10s of thousands of rounds. Somehow unbeknownst to me I wound up with 27 of the damn things, so i'm pretty sure those firearms will never need a magazine bought for them, probably until long after explosive projectile cartridges have been resigned to the dustbin of history. :D

As for all others: handguns I have at least enough to fill a 6-mag pouch/carrier, plus 1 in the range bag. Rifles, I bought a bunch when there were sales. I have no idea how fast I'll wear through them as I consider them more disposable (and cheaper!) and I haven't really gotten into rifle shooting, yet.

[Trajan]

I think I have like 25 Glock mags. People horde a lot of mags. You really can't have too many of them. I will probably never buy another Glock magazine though, as I have more than enough.

I would say 5 for range use (classes, USPSA, etc), 1-2 for carry (I don't carry a reload), and maybe a spare or two. 10 and you should be set for anything really, even if you only own one pistol.

I only have 5 mags for my G43, but that gun hardly ever gets used anymore. Guess it depends on what you do. General gun owning public is probably fine with 2-3.

Buying magazines beyond 10 shouldn't impair your abaility to buy ammo, take classes, buy nice eyes and ears, etc. And more importantly do more important things outside of your hobby.

I have a friend who plays musical guns and will buy 30 mags for a platform then sell it off. He has less than 1k in his savings account...

[Skroob]

I only keep 6 mags for pistols. But I have enough parts to rebuild each mag twice.

Rifles I do the same.


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[breakingtime91]

I only keep 6 mags for pistols. But I have enough parts to rebuild each mag twice.

Rifles I do the same.


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Why? Sorry, that sounded rude by itself. I was more curious then judging :cool:

[Skroob]

Why? Sorry, that sounded rude by itself. I was more curious then judging :cool:

Simple.

Magazines need maintenance just like your pistol. Your pistol mags are also a critical fail point.

I don't have the money to send large quantities of lead down range at any given time. So instead of buying a huge collection of mags I won't use, I just make a few rebuild kits for the mags I have.

20 to 30 magazines are just money I would rather put towards a class/training.





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[breakingtime91]

Simple.

Magazines need maintenance just like your pistol. Your pistol mags are also a critical fail point.

I don't have the money to send large quantities of lead down range at any given time. So instead of buying a huge collection of mags I won't use, I just make a few rebuild kits for the mags I have.

20 to 30 magazines are just money I would rather put towards a class/training.





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Thanks for explaining.

[JAD]

I like to load up a full practice session's worth of ammo days before I get to the range. So I have 25+2 G17 mags, way more than fifty .45 1911 mags, and way more than 25 AR mags. The more serious I get about a pistol, the more mags I get. So I have 8 P7 mags, 10 P35 mags, 13-15 P30 mags, and so forth.

[CCT125US]

I like to load up a full practice session's worth of ammo days before I get to the range.

Exactly. As mentioned I have 10 x 13 rd mags in use that are typically loaded before I get to the range. The indoor range charges per visit, not per hour, but I feel it limits my exposure to both range contamination and derp. Also if there is lull in the noise level I can continue running the timer without stopping to stuff mags.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

I have enough mags for my main carry / competition guns that I don't have to load mags for a match. That's a couple of Glocks and a 1911 - about 15 mags. I hate loading mags. For my other semis - I have about 5 to 6 mag each. For my AR - I have 5 high quality 30s and 5 high quality 20s. Then a slew of old GI mags from a soldier who was deploying and gave me a present. I built up the Glock/1911 numbers by watching for sales. Got a few G19 10 rounders than I bought dirt cheap after the ban was lifted. I use them for IDPA reloads.

For the carry aspect, I keep three mags loaded with some quality HP that I use when the gun goes for a walk.

[DocGKR]

When I was commissioned in the military, my father purchased me a gross of M16 mags; when I graduated from the police academy he likewise gave my a gross of pistol mags--those have served me well the past 30 years...

I think at least 25 training mags and 25 duty mags per weapon would be reasonable.

[Hambo]

I think at least 25 training mags and 25 duty mags per weapon would be reasonable.

I like the way you think, Doc.

[AMC]

I have over 200 spare magazines for my duty pistol. I store them in a safe. At work. At the Range. Same place I keep all my spare copies of my service weapon.:D

[spinmove_]

When I was commissioned in the military, my father purchased me a gross of M16 mags; when I graduated from the police academy he likewise gave my a gross of pistol mags--those have served me well the past 30 years...

I think at least 25 training mags and 25 duty mags per weapon would be reasonable.

Just so that I have this correct, you're suggesting that if someone were to have a full compliment (1 carry pistol, 1 backup copy, 1 training copy) of their chosen carry pistol, you'd advocate having 75 total practice mags and 75 total duty mags for a grand total of 150 magazines?

[RJ]

Geez I feel so unprepared. :(

I have two for my carry P30SK. Guess I need a few more.

Still, at least my VP9 mags fit in with X Grips.

[DocGKR]

In short, more or less 2 dozen for training and 2 dozen for duty/carry for a several decade career.

The longer answer is for a training pistol, I want enough mags to load at least 100 rounds at a time--so at least 6-7 mags for a 9mm; then at least one spare set--so that is at least 12-14 mags, plus extras in case of damage or loss. So around 2 dozen mags should last a sufficient number of years of training to master a firearm. For duty--3 on the belt, plus 1 in the pistol, along with a spare set is 8 mags. Then another set and a spare on the tactical vest so now we are at 16 mags, again with some spares for damaged and lost mags. So that also is about 2 dozen mags which should cover a big stretch of a career carrying a firearm on duty.

[ranger]

This becomes interesting when you choose a weapon system. A weapon system with $20 mags versus a weapons system with $45+ mags becomes a point of interest.

[spinmove_]

In short, more or less 2 dozen for training and 2 dozen for duty/carry for a several decade career.

The longer answer is for a training pistol, I want enough mags to load at least 100 rounds at a time--so at least 6-7 mags for a 9mm; then at least one spare set--so that is at least 12-14 mags, plus extras in case of damage or loss. So around 2 dozen mags should last a sufficient number of years of training to master a firearm. For duty--3 on the belt, plus 1 in the pistol, along with a spare set is 8 mags. Then another set and a spare on the tactical vest so now we are at 16 mags, again with some spares for damaged and lost mags. So that also is about 2 dozen mags which should cover a big stretch of a career carrying a firearm on duty.

Alright then. Doctor's orders. 2 dozen mags per pistol.


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[spinmove_]

This becomes interesting when you choose a weapon system. A weapon system with $20 mags versus a weapons system with $45+ mags becomes a point of interest.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Ammo, magazines, and spare parts all seem to be rather instrumental in determining TCO for a pistol.


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[Doc_Glock]

So around 2 dozen mags should last a sufficient number of years of training to master a firearm.

About how many years of dedicated practice do you think it takes?

[DocGKR]

Guess it depends on how much practice....someone who shoots 50 rds a day of dedicated, timed, scored, training and dry-fire might be doing Jedi level performance in a couple of years (ask Gabe White or Ben Stoeger); someone else who only shoots 50 rds a year might never get there even if they only use one handgun for 70 years. For me--maybe 10 years.

[Totem Polar]

This becomes interesting when you choose a weapon system. A weapon system with $20 mags versus a weapons system with $45+ mags becomes a point of interest.

Agreed. I keep being tempted by the siren song of the new Sig P225 A1, because, reasons; but man, comparing those mags to my Glock and 1911 buy-ins chills me out big time, even for a fun toy.

[Hot Sauce]

I realize this is probably a pedestrian question but how many magazines do you guys think is adequate to keep on hand per gun?Enough that I don't have to dick around with reloading too often. Good during practice, excellent during training classes. That way, you can listen to the instructor's finer points of wisdom during shooting lulls, rather than demonstrating the utility of opposable thumbs to your fellow students.

[Corse]

As has been mentioned, it'll depend on use/usage, need, and durability of the magazines in question.

I use 2 magazines constantly when I visit the range, and they've seen the bulk of the 14k rounds I've shot through my various P30s. I don't expect them to "break" for many 10s of thousands of rounds. Somehow unbeknownst to me I wound up with 27 of the damn things, so i'm pretty sure those firearms will never need a magazine bought for them, probably until long after explosive projectile cartridges have been resigned to the dustbin of history. :D

I'm right there with you. Of course when I pick up another VP9 and P30 I'll add a few more to the pile. Nothing wrong with 30+ mags.

I don't think the cost of mags should stop you from getting a gun. Acquire them over time and only stock up for your serious pistols.

[mtnbkr]

I'm having a hard time finding spare mags for my revolvers. :confused:

Chris

[spinmove_]

I'm having a hard time finding spare mags for my revolvers. :confused:

Chris

Clearly you're not looking hard enough.

In all seriousness though, if 24 magazines per semi-auto pistol is the way to go, then 3 times that for a revolver in speedloaders/moonclips is what should be your go to.


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[holmes168]

Couple month old threat, but a lot of good advice.
2 solely for dry fire.
2 solely for carry.
2 for each get home bag- so at least 4 in my bags.
I like to be able to load 50 rounds to start my range trip at so at least 5 more for live fire.
13 is the minimum for me I guess.

AR = as many as possible but enough for 3 basic load outs of 210 rounds.

I've always subscribed that the 2nd Amdt applies to the right to bear arms, not magazines. So best to load up.

[Cypher]

This becomes interesting when you choose a weapon system. A weapon system with $20 mags versus a weapons system with $45+ mags becomes a point of interest.

I realize this is an old thread (even if it's mine) but the above was a large part of the reason I chose Glock over M&P

[Bigghoss]

I also live in Colorado. I'm exempt from the capacity limit because I carry a gun for da gobment but it's still kinda tricky to get mags that hold more than 15 round here. I grabbed a bunch of 15 round mags for whatever I could JIC things get worse and I've grabbed as many mags over 15 rounds as I can afford (again, I'm exempt for the capacity restriction). I also grew up during the AWB and turned 21 just a couple weeks after it ended. I remember my dad had purchased a 10-22 and some 25 rounders just before and then seeing what they were going for at gun shows a few years later. So I'm a bit paranoid about that happening again.

Because of my situation my goal is to have at least 10 mags over 15 rounds for each gun that takes them, but I'll try to get 20, plus another 3 to keep loaded with the gun. Then for guns that hold more than 15 round but for which 15 round mags are available (Glock 17, Beretta 92, Ruger P95) I'll get another 10-20 15-round mags to train with since those can be easily replaced at the moment but that might not always be the case.

For guns that hold more than 10 but no more than 15 (Glock 19, Glock 22, 12-round G26 mags, 14-round M&P45 mags, Hi-power, PX4 compact) I just aim for 10-20 to train and 3 or so to keep loaded and with the gun.

For guns that hold 10 or less I get 3 to keep loaded and at least 3 to play with since they'll be available for a while but I want to eventually have 10-20 for those also.

What I do is stick all the mags somewhere and only have 3 or 4 that get used regularly and are numbered. If those become unserviceable and can't be repaired they get tossed and I can pull new ones from the reserves and replace them when possible.

If we should ever find ourselves under a more restrictive limit I'll get mags that meet that restriction and everything over will get moved to reserves.

Now this is all a drawn-out process due to cost so I'm a ways off from this goal. And most of my guns aren't for serious use anymore anyway so the defensive guns (Beretta right now) get priority since those mags will see the most use.

I grew up during the AWB and turned 21 just a couple weeks after it ended. I remember my dad had purchased a 10-22 and some 25 rounders just before and then seeing what they were going for at gun shows a few years later. So I'm a bit paranoid about that happening again.

[Mike C]

There are 4 milk crates full of AR mags sitting in my gun room, along with two training rocket crates filled with unopened p-mags and unopened brown follower AR mags
There are 2 milk crates full of ak 47 mags, one polymer and one metal
There is a milk crate full of Steyr AUG mags cause I'm a lefty and NATO stocks don't work for me
There is a milk crate filled with glock 33 rounders and MP5 mags for my 9mm toys
There is a mixed milk crate with S&W M&P 15-22 mags and Magpul AR-10 mags
There is a milk crate full of 17 round Glock 9mm mags
I have a large bin full of M-1 Garand clips and 15/ 30 round M-1 carbine mags, there are also about 350 Swedish mauser stripper clips in there as they work great for .30-06 milsurps as well.
There is a small mountain of .308 AICS mags.
I have a chest filled with Sig, M&P9, Beretta M9 and APX, FN FNS, CZ P07, 1911 (both .45 and 9mm), HK p30, 45c, P7psp, and others, some I have at least 30 of and at the minimum 5 of each type
I don't even want to think about the box of revolver speed loaders and speed strips.
And
This doesn't include the couple of mags for things like my Beretta AR-70 (3) or the HK-93A3 (4) cause I just can't bring myself to pay the stupid money they want for more of those....

Honestly, I'm not really sure how many mags I have for the various guns at home right now, But I have a gun buying problem, as of last week I'm up to 19 AR's in 5.56 alone, there 13 different 9mm glocks (4 G34's alone)

Some might say I need help........

I love this forum, not only is it the book of faces for the gunternet but every time I get to feeling bad about how much money I spend on, "gun shit" I come here, hit the like button and go back to not feeling guilty. Now that I have thread drifted, you can never have enough magazines.

[Bucky]

I like to have 6 per gun. If it's something I'll compete with regularly, then an additional 6 to "beat on".

Back in 2004, I started binge buying magazines. I even bought magazines for guns I might buy in the future.

[blues]

I like to have a minimum of 6 OEM and at least that many Magpul versions for the range for each Glock.
(Though I have vetted and carry the Magpul 12 GL9 in my G26.)

A dozen or so Magpul magazines so for the AR.

[jwperry]

I like to have 150-ish rounds ready/available for my range sessions and not have to mess with my primary/carry mags. That gives me 8 training mags and 2 carry mags.

I think it also depends on the type of guns you're feeding. I've only had to re-furb my Sig P226/8 mags and metal AK mags (cleaning/springs/followers). Same for when I had M&P9, Hk P30 and HK45 mags. I've had actual failure with steel/aluminum/polymer AR mags, 1911 mags & Glock mags.

I tend to stock up on mags for those guns, but will only pick up spare springs for the other types.

Loaner/"fun" guns don't get extra anything.

[Willard]

I even bought magazines for guns I might buy in the future.

I used to do this in the dark times when we might get a democrat president. Have a lot of mags for guns I don't own. But I guess this is an excuse to buy those guns at some point.