Topping Off Your Carry Mag

Do you top off your EDC magazine??

  • Yes

    Votes: 96 74.4%

  • No

    Votes: 32 24.8%

  • I Don't Carry

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • Total voters
    129
  • Poll closed .
N

NightSight

New member
Just curious. How many top off their EDC magazine?? Do you leave it topped off?? If so, how much quicker, if at all, do your mag springs have to be replaced??
 
By topping off do you mean inserting a round in the mag after chambering the top round? Or do you mean filling the mag to capacity every time?

If the former, then no, I don't like having loose ammo floating around and I find it much easier to release the mag, unload the chamber and place ejected round back in the mag. i.e. for my Glock 22 (.40s&w) the magazine capacity is 15, so my normal carrying capacity is 14+1 after chambering.

If the latter, then yes, I load my magazines to their capacity. I have seen no decreased performance of my mags, but I do cycle through them every couple of weeks.
 
all my guns are full mags + 1. i have tested this every time i' am at the range. i put one in the pipe and load the mag full and shoots fine with all of my guns.
 
Full mag then load. I never top off. Spend too much time at gun shows where I have to make the gun safe. Don't like loose rounds in my pocket.
 
I always top them off (full mag +1)

The only magazine problem I had was the Beretta 92F mags needed replaced after 12 years I think. All the other magazines of my semi's have stayed real strong, but I also rotate my mags the 1st of every month. I have 4-6 mags for each semi I own, with the exception of the KelTec .380. The only mag loaded in these other semis is the one in the gun. Occasionaly, I may load up a spare if we're going to a higher crime area.

Although the Keltec .380's mag is still strong, I'll replace that one every 2 yrs or so. Just to be on the safe side.
 
I keep my g22 loaded with all 15 rounds in the mag and 1 in the chamber.I also carry a mag holder with 2 full 15 round mags,too.When i carry my .357,it's fully loaded with at least an extra speed loader.

You wouldn't go around filling your car up with 3/4 of a tank of gas would you.
 
Top off carry Mag

+1 on the 3/4 tank of gas. I top mine off and back them with a minimum of 2 reloads or 2 speedloaders with my Colt Python.
 
I said yes, but I don't currently. I have a G27 with the +2 extensions. With a full mag and closed bolt there is a lot of pressure on the bolt. Never had a problem, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

I thik the myth that full loaded mags wear out the springs has been disprove several times both in theory and practice. If I remember correctly someone dug up a story about WWI era loaded 1911 mags bring found in a trench somewhere not to log ago and functioning without problems.
 
I said yes, but I don't currently. I have a G27 with the +2 extensions. Thinking about it I just traded a 26 for a 27 and I think the extensions are only +1 now. Not really sure how well it works in the 27 I have not played with it, but for the 26 I found the following to be true. With a full mag and closed bolt there is a lot of pressure on the bolt and the top cartridge. I worry about bending the top cartridges brass out of round mostly. Never had a problem, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. With normal mags I always topped off ad if I carry a different gun I top off. Putting the loose round back in the mag would be nice, but I can't manually load the last round in a Glock mag without breaking a sweat, so i don't do it.

I think the myth that full loaded mags wear out the springs has been disprove several times both in theory and practice. If I remember correctly someone dug up a story about WWI era loaded 1911 mags being found in a trench excavation somewhere not to long ago and functioning without problems.
 
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I'd be interested to hear from LEO folks on this.

Do any local governments prohibit or regulate how officers/agents load their service pistols? Are there liability issues that muddy the waters, or are LEOs given the leeway to carry however they are most comfortable?
 
If the former, then no, I don't like having loose ammo floating around and I find it much easier to release the mag, unload the chamber and place ejected round back in the mag. i.e. for my Glock 22 (.40s&w) the magazine capacity is 15, so my normal carrying capacity is 14+1 after chambering.
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Do you check for bullet setback? Rechambering the same round repeatedly can lead to this problem.
 
I always top off my mag when carrying. Rotating the round I chamber helps to avoid setback. I have some extra rounds that I use as a comparison for bullet setback. When a round is too short, I chuck it.

--Dave
 
In my case, yes, it's a good idea to top it off. I currently use the P-64 which has a 6 round mag, so it seems to make sense to wanna have a 7th round in the gun.
 
The gun I typically carry is 6 + 1. You bet your bippy I top it off. If I was carrying my Glock 34, I might not bother.
 
I think the myth that full loaded mags wear out the springs has been disprove several times both in theory and practice.
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When I was in the Navy we never had fully loaded magazines for the duty weapons. I was told it was to keep the springs from wearing out and didn't question it. I don't know if that practice is still in effect. I don't currently own a semiauto, but I'd be interested to hear if that "myth" really is a disproven myth.

What's EDC BTW?:o
 
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