How many mags per gun is enough?

Status
Not open for further replies.
What I carry, and what I want, or would like to have readily accessible are two totally different matters. Mostly due to economics. Pre, and Post Sandy Hook. I would like to have ten mags per pistol for range work and play time. But, given the fact that most of my mag. prices vary between $30 and $40+- apiece, that makes it tough. So given the fact that my carry weapons range between 12+1 to 17+1, I usually only carry one spare mag. on me. And with the thought that if it does happen, I can hopefully rely on my experience and or training to get me and mine through.

But if I have a few pennies just laying around and I do see a mag. just sitting there all lonely, I have no problem escorting it home to it's brethren. Hate to see an orphan like that.
 
Daily carry, two. Extras for spare wouldn't hurt. SHTF, I'd say three since by the time it's that bad you should have a rifle. Pistol then becomes back up and I'd rather carry more rifle ammo than trying to carry extra pistol mags.
 
rcmodel said:
Murphy's 1st. Rule of Magazines law.

1 = 0 - If you only have 1, it will break, get lost, or run over by a truck.
2 = 1 - If you have 2, one will work and the other one won't.
3 = 3 - If you have 3, all will work, and none will ever get lost or broken.
4+ = You are set for life for that gun.

This especially applies to older guns with expensive and hard to find mags.

If you carry a SD pistol?
Carry a spare magazine for it too.
(See Murphy's Magazine Law #1.)

A pistol without a working magazine makes a very poor impact weapon in a fist fight against a gun or knife.


rc
Click to expand...

Sounds reasonable.

When I was traveling and had a risk of ending up a "million" miles from civilization, I'd carry a couple spare magazine and spare rounds. I was as much concerned about four legged animals as two.

Now that I do not stray far from civilization, I carry only one magazine with the pistol. Maybe false economy.

I tend to not practice with my carry magazine and only occasionally make sure it functions.

I like to have a bunch of spares on hand for each hand gun.
 
I have 16 mags for my G29 6 of them are for the 29 so they 10round with+2 extension on each, and then I have 10 G20 mags again with +2 extensions and mag sleeves, for my 1911 I only have 4mags but I don‘t carry or shoot it very often, thee only gun I have only one mag for is a S&W swve9 got it as a gift with one mag and can‘t find any at a decent price.
 
To own? One more than you have/need.

For carry, consider why you need reloads. I generally lump it into 2 categories - 1) need more ammo 2) gun don't work.

Number 1 doesn't bother me too much. By the time you look at the statistical chance of you ever needing to draw and fire you gun and factor in needing to draw and fire it so many times you run out of ammo, you may as well wear a rubber suit just in case you get hit by lightning. Also, I'm not a huge guy and frankly don't want to buy size 40 pants just so I can stuff an extra 3 double-stack mags in them.

Number 2 is what bugs me because while you should be working your reliability stuff out during practice (does each mag work, does my ammo work with my mag/gun, does the mechanism of my gun work every time, and when it doesn't can I clear it, etc), Murphy happens. I would consider carrying a second gun as a BUG/NY Reload before carrying more than 1 spare mag (or any) unless you have some other driving reason - especially so if you're carrying something that's 16+1. Mag changes don't fix everything. There are plenty of options out there in the <1lb loaded range. Personally even an extra five rounds of 22 mag from a mini revolver in your watch pocket for something like 7 ounces seems like a no brainer. Now you've added the unlikely chance of running out of ammo to the even more unlikely chance of both/all of your guns not working.

SHTF is not generally a topic around here, but consider what you can reasonably carry on your person, along with all the other crap you may want to carry, including your longarm if applicable. If you can't carry it, it doesn't do you any good (handguns used because they are portable). It's probably around the same as your regular carry loadout (but you probably carry it differently). You don't see the guys deployed overseas running around in full battle-rattle with 20 pistol mags strapped on top of everything else.
 
Daily carry...one in the gun and (if possible) two more in a magazine carrier.

SHTF...have you seen "Last Man Standing" where Bruce Willis is loading for his 1911s?

On another note, in Iraq I always carried two spare magazines for the handgun on my vest/belt/leg. But I also had 14 magazines for my long gun.
 
for my uses, 3 is enough, but 6 would be more convenient . i have 3 mags for my competition gun and have never needed more than that. i HAVE had to use all 3 in the same stage, but it was still enough. i would rather have 6 just so that i can have the loaded mag in the gun and the other two loaded as spares. then i would just use the three non-carry mags for range time. for daily carry, i rarely carry a reload at all. sometimes i will carry a single spare mag if i am heading to the big city. sometimes i carry two spares just because i can :).
 
I agree with most of the above. Figure out what is the minimum you need and then double it! Sure three or four will last a lifetime if they stay locked in your safe or nightstand but with real-world use they will develop problems over time.

If you train like you will fight, and not just shoot at a static range, problems will develop. Feed lips get bent, bodies get dented and any number of other problems can cut your total count down. They get dropped in the mud - stepped on and many other potential mishaps.

Make sure to buy only top quality mags as well! Saving a few $ on mags is a big mistake.

Go Mec-Gar!
 
WOW! After seeing some of the responses for daily carry that the OP asked for, I gotta ask...Do you guys carry them in a duffle bag, briefcase, purse, wheelbarrow???
 
blkbrd666 said:
WOW! After seeing some of the responses for daily carry that the OP asked for, I gotta ask...Do you guys carry them in a duffle bag, briefcase, purse, wheelbarrow???
Click to expand...

It's not hard to carry one or two spare mags.

The rest of them are for SHTF, per the OP (or in case laws pass that prevent you from ever buying another 11+ capacity magazine)

Me, I'm surprised that so many folks think 2-4 is more than enough for a serious/primary gun.
 
River Wraith said:
What is the general rule of thumb when there's a 16 round capacity? I'm looking for daily (I would say one in gun and two spare) and SHTF. (No idea) All opinions are welcome.
Click to expand...

I don't think there is a rule of thumb. Whatever makes you comfortable, I s'pose.

For me, during CCW one spare mag as I go about town is enough although if the spare is forgotten I don't sweat it.

On the road and far from home, it is two guns (usu. a Glock 17 and a HK USP45) with three mags each and 100 rounds of each caliber.
 
All my mags are Mec Gar. They are the best. I have 5 per gun, I may get two more. Thanks for all the input, guys. It's nice to be able to bounce ideas around and get information and opinions. I appreciate it.
 
For daily carry... It depends. In my Glock 19 I'd feel fine carrying only one spare. In a 1911 I'd want more.
For SHTF, carry as many as your system can take. You need to think about size and weight constraints. How much weight are you willing to haul?
 
Regarding carrying a LOT of magazines, a la "Last Man Standing", did you ever wonder where he might be carrying them all? I did a little experimentation, and thought it might be interesting to see just how many 1911 mags I could comfortably carry, but still be readily accessible for fast draw and sustained shooting. I found that a person could obtain a few Galco double mag carriers for the Glock 21, stretch them a bit, and work FOUR mags into the double pouch. It facilitated drawing two mags at a time; perfect for charging two 1911's at a time. I had two of these Galco pouches, and two other regular double pouches, for 12 on the belt, and with two in the gun, at seven rounds apiece, was a minimum of 91 rounds. Enough to ALMOST duplicate a Hollywood volley. Unfortunately, with the recent reduction in the availability of ammo or components, I am having to refrain from wasting ammo that quickly. :D .......................
DSC06274.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I make sure I have at least 5 for any gun I own.

If it's one that gets used a lot at the range, for carry, or for competition, or if I suspect that magazine availablity may be an issue down the road, then I double that figure.

Those are minimums.
 
I've seen those monstrosities, but never being used by someone that's any good.

There are better ways.
 
I haven't either...I was a bit stunned by the price they were asking, so it must be selling to someone.

I'm still in economy mode and using the Blackhawk two-piece single mag carriers...the homemade one-piece ones I had previously wouldn't stay on my belt when running a COF
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
How many AR mags per rifle?
2 3
Replies
72
Views
7K
Sheepdog1968
S
J
  • Locked
Glock mags
Replies
4
Views
819
PabloJ
P
P
  • Locked
How many mag's is ''enough''!!??
2
Replies
46
Views
2K
Chris Rhines
C
M
  • Locked
Mags per Gun
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Brian Dale
B
I
  • Locked
how many is enough?
2
Replies
49
Views
2K
mr_blove
M
Back
Top