dalegribble
New member
what number of mags do you feel you need for your handguns and rifles?
how many mags?
- Thread starter dalegribble
- Start date
Totally depends on your intended use. Fundamentally magazines are consumables, they are usually not intended to last as long as the firearm. Some more so than others.
For a hunting rifle I like to have three. Mostly for the range when working up handloads, but also in case of losing one in the field or one malfunctioning.
For guns I plan to pass on to my grandkids I like to have 10 mags each, just to ensure they will have enough over the decades in case they are no longer available at some point.
For self defense guns I also like to have 10 mags each to cover range work, loaded and ready for carry or at home, and some redundancy for malfunctions (Mr. Murphy when you need him the least).
There is no perfect number as it is very individual. But keep in mind that mags do malfunction and many will deform over time (feed lips, or body dents), some will get lost or misplaced, and some may be banned for sale in the future. Most firearm malfunctions originate with the magazine. A firearm without a working magazine is a single-shot gun.
For a hunting rifle I like to have three. Mostly for the range when working up handloads, but also in case of losing one in the field or one malfunctioning.
For guns I plan to pass on to my grandkids I like to have 10 mags each, just to ensure they will have enough over the decades in case they are no longer available at some point.
For self defense guns I also like to have 10 mags each to cover range work, loaded and ready for carry or at home, and some redundancy for malfunctions (Mr. Murphy when you need him the least).
There is no perfect number as it is very individual. But keep in mind that mags do malfunction and many will deform over time (feed lips, or body dents), some will get lost or misplaced, and some may be banned for sale in the future. Most firearm malfunctions originate with the magazine. A firearm without a working magazine is a single-shot gun.
Coyote Blue
New member
For my everyday carry gun, a Glock 36 .45 ACP, I have two spare mags. I carry one on the belt in a Milt Sparks pouch.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I've literally never purchased an extra mag. I own and use what comes with the gun.
I would consider one (for each) to be the absolute acceptable minimum. 
Two is better. More than that, it becomes a matter of how you plan to use the gun. More magazines than you can physically carry at one time seem a bit excessive to me, but unless the kids go hungry and your bills unpaid, excess in that direction isn't a sin, just a matter or personal taste.
Having lots of spare mags has advantages, because they do eventually wear out, can be damaged, and are sometimes even lost. Also some people prefer to load lots of magazines before they go to the range or afield. And then there is also the "Last Man Standing" pleasure in having a lot of loaded mags available.
one of my rifles (FAL) has 1 mag, and 10 spares (20rnd). My Mini 14 has over a dozen, from 5rnd to 90rnd. My BLR has 3 mags, quite enough for the kind of rifle and shooting I do with it.
Couple dozen mags for 1911s...
about 10 for my 10/22 (10 & 25rnds)
Before the anti's got on the "limit the # of rounds" kick, it was never a big deal. Today? Figure out what your needed minimum is, add 25% (rounded up to the next whole magazine
), and buy them, while you still legally can.
Two is better. More than that, it becomes a matter of how you plan to use the gun. More magazines than you can physically carry at one time seem a bit excessive to me, but unless the kids go hungry and your bills unpaid, excess in that direction isn't a sin, just a matter or personal taste.
Having lots of spare mags has advantages, because they do eventually wear out, can be damaged, and are sometimes even lost. Also some people prefer to load lots of magazines before they go to the range or afield. And then there is also the "Last Man Standing" pleasure in having a lot of loaded mags available.
one of my rifles (FAL) has 1 mag, and 10 spares (20rnd). My Mini 14 has over a dozen, from 5rnd to 90rnd. My BLR has 3 mags, quite enough for the kind of rifle and shooting I do with it.
Couple dozen mags for 1911s...
about 10 for my 10/22 (10 & 25rnds)
Before the anti's got on the "limit the # of rounds" kick, it was never a big deal. Today? Figure out what your needed minimum is, add 25% (rounded up to the next whole magazine
), and buy them, while you still legally can.New load-out...
My "new load-out" for EDC with my new CCW(when it gets back from the state capital) will be a 8rd magazine in the M&P Compact .45acp with a factory 10rd mag in a Mirage pistol holder.
19 rounds of factory made Hornady Critical Duty 220gr should due the trick.
If I get the urge I may get a new Blackhawk or Blade-tech polymer double mag holder. Then Id pack the 2 8rd S&W magazines & keep the 10rd in the M&P .45acp. It extends out a bit but it's not that bad.
Im sure the extra firepower will be better than comfort or appearances in a critical incident.
ClydeFrog
My "new load-out" for EDC with my new CCW(when it gets back from the state capital) will be a 8rd magazine in the M&P Compact .45acp with a factory 10rd mag in a Mirage pistol holder.
19 rounds of factory made Hornady Critical Duty 220gr should due the trick.
If I get the urge I may get a new Blackhawk or Blade-tech polymer double mag holder. Then Id pack the 2 8rd S&W magazines & keep the 10rd in the M&P .45acp. It extends out a bit but it's not that bad.
Im sure the extra firepower will be better than comfort or appearances in a critical incident.
ClydeFrog
FrankenMauser
New member
One extra is the minimum for most firearms.
But, there are exceptions. I only have 1 magazine for my .380, because spares are stupidly expensive, nearly unobtainable, and I don't really need one. I only have 1 magazine for my 77/22, because spares are too bulky to be carried comfortably. I only have 1 magazine for another .22 rifle, because swapping magazines takes 2 minutes - adding 30 seconds of reload time isn't a big deal, at that point...
And, I currently have a semi-auto .22 with no magazine.
Overall (rifles and handguns), I'd say the average is 2 spares per firearm. However, each magazine might have a different capacity.
The most magazines I've had for one particular firearm was 11, for a Buckmark. Five of them were given to another Buckmark owner, though. I'm currently 'handicapped' with only 5 spares.
I'm not really a fan of having more money in spare magazines, than I do in the firearm.
But, there are exceptions. I only have 1 magazine for my .380, because spares are stupidly expensive, nearly unobtainable, and I don't really need one. I only have 1 magazine for my 77/22, because spares are too bulky to be carried comfortably. I only have 1 magazine for another .22 rifle, because swapping magazines takes 2 minutes - adding 30 seconds of reload time isn't a big deal, at that point...
And, I currently have a semi-auto .22 with no magazine.
Overall (rifles and handguns), I'd say the average is 2 spares per firearm. However, each magazine might have a different capacity.
The most magazines I've had for one particular firearm was 11, for a Buckmark. Five of them were given to another Buckmark owner, though. I'm currently 'handicapped' with only 5 spares.
I'm not really a fan of having more money in spare magazines, than I do in the firearm.
I agree that the gun's intended purpose is a large part of the consideration. Guns that I shoot rarely, which are used for nothing but plinking, can get by with a single mag, though a back-up, to prevent a shortened or wasted range trip is a good idea.
I have a few guns that get shot rarely, if at all, and spare mags cost $50-$100 each, so I make do with a single mag for monetary reasons!
Competition guns need a number of mags appropriate to the type of competition. For IDPA, I have at least four mags for each gun. For USPSA, I like at least six.
Guns that accept hi-cap mags also have a "political" consideration; I bought a new gun just as the gun control debate was reheating, so I bought two spares, worried that I might literally never have another chance. I also bought a couple of additional spares for guns that probably already had "enough" mags, for the same reason.
I have a few guns that get shot rarely, if at all, and spare mags cost $50-$100 each, so I make do with a single mag for monetary reasons!
Competition guns need a number of mags appropriate to the type of competition. For IDPA, I have at least four mags for each gun. For USPSA, I like at least six.
Guns that accept hi-cap mags also have a "political" consideration; I bought a new gun just as the gun control debate was reheating, so I bought two spares, worried that I might literally never have another chance. I also bought a couple of additional spares for guns that probably already had "enough" mags, for the same reason.
5.56RifleGuy
New member
With me, it has a lot to do with price. G3 mags at $1 each? Got about 150 of those. Mp5 mags at 60 each? Three.
Crankgrinder
New member
Price/ availability has got alot to do with it for me. g19 mags are $30 a piece got 4 of them and then extra springs. px4 mags are $40 apiece and cant find springs so i only have two. Got rid of a taurus pt111 for the glock due partialy due to that aspect of it. Mags for it were almost $40 a piece/ hard to find and only held 12 rounds .
I have 2 FNP40s, one came with 3 10s and 2 14s, one came with just 3 10s. I have added maybe 6 or so 14s, found online for around $15 a piece at different times. Makes it nice to shoot at the range instead of reloading at the range. They're all full, though I can't imagine ever needing a dozen full mags all at one time. If I ever need them, I have them and like slotback said, they're like spare parts which I also like having around.
For my old .22 bolt rifle, a couple of 7shot mags.
For my old .22 bolt rifle, a couple of 7shot mags.
Depends upon intended use ..... none of my hunting rifles uses a detachable magazine. ..... I feel they are just something else to futz with, or to forget at home, as I did with my 788 when I was 16 ....... I really don't need more than is in the gun for deer ....if I do, I certainly should have spent more time on the range than I did!
For my handguns, I need enough magazines or speedloaders to get me through any of the various games I play occasionally ....... 4 or 5 as a minimum ......
My AR? I don't have enough.
For my handguns, I need enough magazines or speedloaders to get me through any of the various games I play occasionally ....... 4 or 5 as a minimum ......
My AR? I don't have enough.
armsmaster270
New member
Minimum of 5 except 1911 those I have 23.
Bolt rifles, I don't really care. If I've got one, I'm happy.
Semi-auto rifles and pistols, at least 5.
If it's a semi-auto I use for competition or shoot a lot, I'm always looking for a deal on magazines for it. I do start slowing down on my purchases once I get up over 15 for a particular gun.
Semi-auto rifles and pistols, at least 5.
If it's a semi-auto I use for competition or shoot a lot, I'm always looking for a deal on magazines for it. I do start slowing down on my purchases once I get up over 15 for a particular gun.
kilimanjaro
New member
My standard is two spare magazines for anything using a magazine. If I use it a lot, four, six, maybe ten. For one rifle, I have about 25 magazines.
They wear out and need replacing now and then.
They wear out and need replacing now and then.