Magazine Management?

G

Guyon

New member
Wasn't sure if this post should go here or on Gear & Accessories. Here goes anyway...

How do you typically manage your magazines? How many per gun is an average number for you?

I also wonder if people practice with their high cap mags more often/the same/less than other "standard" mags. As for me, since the high cap mags are so much more expensive (I paid over half the price of my semi-auto for three pre-ban high-cap factory mags), I tend to practice with them less. Spring wear is equated with cycling the springs, so I tend to use cheaper mags for practice. The cheaper versions sometimes are more prone to jamming, but while jams are a nuisance on the range, they're usually not life-threatening.

However, I tend to keep the factory mags loaded (downloaded by one cartridge)with my defensive ammo. Occasionally I shoot them at the range just to make sure everything is working the way it should.

Is this normal? What do you all do?

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Guyon
NRA & GOA Member
 
I would suggest if you keep the regular cap mags for use in defensive purposes that you practice with them.

Mag springs are relatively inexpensive. Check out http://www.gunsprings.com and wolff gunsprings will have any spares you might ever need.
 
I figure that it'll take me the rest of my life to wear out my hi-cap magazines for any of my guns, so I use them. Springs are cheap, and they don't go bad nearly as often as some people believe.
 
Thats my thought too. springs are dirt cheap. Have been using some carbine mags that where stored with the full 15 rounds in them for 15 years and they work just fine. :) I also have some shiny worn .45 mags from WWI that work just fine still. Most hi-caps have shorter more solid feed lips than the old style single stacks so they will take more of a licking and keep ticking. I go for as many mags as I can get when the price is good on them, just got 10 20 rounders for my FN for 79 bucks. :)
 
Lets take a few givens:

1. It is possible to count your rounds in a high-stress situation. (this is completely debatable...I have no idea if people, on average, are able to do so)

2. Under stress you revert to training.

Conclusion: If you want to get the most bang for your buck (so to speak), you are best to train with hi-caps, counting rounds as if you were in a firefight. Mag springs are cheap. If they get weak, replace them. And use your hicaps.

IMHO.

And no, I've never been in a firefight...but look at it this way, if this logic is wrong, you might spend a few extra bucks over the course of your life on hicap mag springs, for no gain. If its right, it could save your butt.

Mike

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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I have 4 hi-cap factory mags for my pistol. I've replaced the factory springs with Wolff extra-power springs. I keep 2 loaded at a time-- one in the gun, one backup-- and 2 resting. I underload the loaded ones by 2 rounds and rotate them every 2-3 months. In practice I load them fully and use them ALL to make sure they function 100%. So far they have never failed. Use only factory mags. You can save a fortune shopping around on the net. I've seen factory mags for 3x what I paid. The factory mags I bought NIB were cheaper than S & W now charges for their <reduced> capacity mags!
 
I use the factory mags for defense and range work and the reduced capacity mags for training where they may be dropped, stepped on, damaged, etc.
 
10-rounders practice and training
(15) rounders for carry and defense

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The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/UGW/PCT/KTOG
 
Own many, use all, dropping them on concrete range floors, in the sand/snow/mud/water at USPSA matches (and on my range).

They're getting really expensive!

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"all my mags are factory mags"
 
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