Magazines - How many do you really need?

I have a minimum of 5-7 per gun. I have separated them into range magazines and self defense mags. But with the current climate, I have increased my total to 6 30rds AR Mags, 2-20rd AR Mags. I have two Glock 19 with 11 magazines of 15rds and one 1911 with 3 8rd mag and 2 7rds mag. My minimum rule is 5 and maximum being 10 per gun.
 
Aguila Blanca said
Two, maybe three times as many as I've got.
This.

Hopefully, you only need one. But what if you're at the range and don't want to be stuffing rounds into the mag when you could (should?) be shooting?
What if you're attacked by a gang of zombie ninja bikers?
 
I'm in the situation were the G.I. mag works across several weapons. The Mossberg bolt, my Sig 556, the Colt's all use the same magazines. So I guess maybe five 20 rnd and one 30 rnd for giggles. 5 for the P239, 6 for the m1carbine, 4 for the 6906, and so on ad nauseum. I'm really starting to appreciate the tube feed pumps and lever guns.
 
Depends on the gun. I have several AR platforms and about 20- 20 rounders, and I think about 30 -30 rounders. For my FAL I have about 15, for the 1911 models about 15, and for the 92FS which I like to shoot, about 25. But I need more when the prices get cheap again.
 
My Enfields only need one each, and they never come out.
The SKS has a fixed magazine which is reliable.
The Garand only needs one loaded clip.

With no Hezbollah or Taliban swine in west TN, which could require rifles with their designed ranges and power, these magazines or clips are enough.
 
I buy a min of 10 with each weapon that uses magazines. I figure that should last me my lifetime and my nephews lifetime even with damaged ones. For AK's I probably have 2-300, no plastic ones though. I don't need that many but when I find em cheap, 6-8$ before all this crap, I buy em.
 
It's pretty easy to damage or loose a magazine. I usually have 5 mags that function per gun plus usually have additional spares. For trips to the range, usually only 2 mags per gun make the trip, with the extras being safely stored away. When the '94 magazine ban was enacted, I went to 10 rounders for the range use and reserved the hi-cap mags for self defense use. At the time, saw no use in using up something that I might not be able to replace.
 
I have 12 for the Stag 2T and 12 for the Ak-47 (Chinese Norinco)

Funny about the pistols though....I only have one for the RIA .45 and 1 for the S&W Bodyguard, but have 9 for the Beretta 92FS, 5 for the Springfield XD-45, 4 for the Glock 21SF, 7 for the S&W 4506 and 4 for the Glock 23.

I didn't realize there was such a discrepancy in my pistol mags.....1, 1, 4, 4,
5, 7 and 9.

I need to get a few more for the XD and Glock 21SF. What a dummy.....
 
How many mags?

Because magazines can be lost, stolen, damaged, or just plain old wear-out...

Rifle or pistol, if it takes a magazine, no less than 12 per. More if they're cheap.
 
For example, if I purchase an EAA Witness Match 9mm with a couple of 19 round magazines, how many more will I really need for the life of the gun? Do magazines really tend to wear out faster than say: firing pin, recoil spring, slide stop etc?

What about for competition - how many magazines do you typically use in one handgun competition? Rifle competition?

It will depend on how you use your firearms and what you use them for.

It is highly recommended that you have at least one spare mag per gun; the more the merrier of course.

If you shoot on the range a lot (say thousands of rounds a month), you may need a few magazines on hand. I won't say how many because that is up to you, but some say at least 5 to 10 mags per gun. Magazines wear out from use, (not from storage) so it is smart to have a few spares on hand when they malfunction or need to be serviced.

For competition-type use, you will need a minimum of at least 5 mags per firearm; I would say have a least 10mags or more if you are serious with IDPA/USPSA or 2-gun/3-gun matches etc.

For example, for 3-gun I have 5 mags for my Glock, and 10mags for each AR15. No mags for the pump shotgun of course.
 
What is the lifespan of a magazine?

That would have some bearing on what you would need. I have 5 for my 9mm Cougar, 5-30 rd mags and 1-10 rd mag for my AR-15 and 4-25 rd magazines for my S&W 15-22. In my mind that would probably be enough for a long long time, decades probably unless they wear out. If they are only good for 1 or 2 thousand rounds apiece then I would need more.
Does anyone know how long magazines last before the "wear out"?
 
For my CZ75, I have 3 1/2 mags (2 16rd, 1 15rd, and a 10 rd). I normally keep the 16 and 15 rd mags loaded with SD ammo, and save the 10 rd for the range (or in case we see a hi-cap mag ban).

I used to have 2 speedloaders for my S&W model 19, and 2 speed strips for my S&W 642, but since I got rid of the 642, I guess I have 4 reloads for the revolver.

I only have 2 mags (1 6rd and 1 7rd)for my Kahr CM9, but have 2 7rd mags on order from my LGS.

On my other, small caliber weapons (32 ACP Tomcat/ CZ 70) I have 2 mags, and prob won't be getting any more.
 
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