How to label magazines?

[hdwhit]

Hokie_PhD wrote:
How about 3.14

3.141
3.1415
3.14159
3.141592
3.1415926
...and so on.



The neat thing is that you never run out of numbers.

 

[Legionnaire]

I use my last name initial followed by a number. My largest concern is when shooting with friends/acquaintances and someone ends up with my mags. So let's say "C6" which is Chicharrones 6.

I've generally just numbered mine, but I like the idea of adding an initial or two. And I generally mark the magazine body so that the marking is not visible when inserted.

 

[Jeff H]

I don't mark mags. I must be in the minority. Not that I might not find it useful to help identify mags while shooting with a group, but it isn't something that has really been a problem yet so I haven't seen the need to do so.

I have contemplated dedicating a few AR mags to strictly 300BO. Those would have to be marked for obvious reasons.

 

[Danoobie]

I color-code some of my mags, with just a touch of paint,
if I'm using different ammo in similar mags. If a mag doesn't
function, I either fix it, or throw it out.

 

[jmorris]

1,2,3,...

Some I just use a target paster on the base plate and a sharpie, some I brand, some are chemically etched and some are CNC machined. I have seen some that are dimpled with drill bits like dice.

Doesn't really matter as long as you know what magazine is what when problem arises.

 

[Prijador]

I use small Roman numerals to number the mags, so I can reserve the regular (Arabic) numerals for the caliber (thus the ninth 9mm mag is a large "9" followed by a smaller "IX", for example)

I figure it's more of a disaster if I load a mag with the wrong ammunition, so the caliber is written larger and in the regular numbers, so I can recognize the caliber at a glance.

Edit: Pi? Why didn't I think of that?? Genius, hdwhit!

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I use my initials then sequential numbers 01-99.

I've never had more than 99 mags of a single type before...

 

[JTHunter]

I don't mark mags. I must be in the minority.

As I only have four handguns that use magazines, they are easy to tell apart. Two are for my .380; two more for a ..22 Mag Keltec PMR-30; two are for a .25 ACP; and the last is a 95 y.o. .32 ACP that only has one magazine. As the .380 and .32 are in separate locations, the chances of getting those mags mixed up is almost nonexistent.
My AK has 4 - 40 rd. bananas and 2 - 75 rd. drum magazines and my 10/22 has two Ruger 10 rd. magazines but four each 30 & 50 rd. "after market" magazines.

 

[Zach S]

I have contemplated dedicating a few AR mags to strictly 300BO. Those would have to be marked for obvious reasons.

I would use a completely different type of magazine for 300BLK. It would be easy for me, since most of my mags are USGI with Magpul followers. If/when I get around to building a 300BLK, I'll use polymer magazines exclusively for it.

 

[Ghost In The Fog]

I only mark my 9mm mags. I have multiple Glocks and a Sub2K that runs Glock mags.
All my mags are 15 rounds or larger and all fit in my 19 EDC regardless of capacity- and they are numbered 1-25.
I keep 8 loaded at all times for my EDC and others in locations throughout the house.
I rotate them all out every Saturday. Numbers 21-3 this Saturday 4-11 next Saturday etc.
I also have 17 round mags for my G34 that are numbered A-J and rotated every week as well.

All are marked with a silver sharpie and it lasts for about 2 months and then I just refresh the markings.
1-25 and A-J are great for me to identify mags in my range bag to differentiate which ones to grab at a competition based on the gun I am shooting.
The 32 round mags don't get numbered and not hard to tell apart. They stay loaded with the Sub2K in a very handy location.

 

[ATLDave]

I have used two methods. One is the silver sharpie mentioned by others (or black on stainless/polished mags). As for the numbering system, I use.... numbers.

I have also color-coded them with paintfill inside some engraving/stamping on the magazine (numbers by the witness holes, for instance). There's no numbering, just different colors of paint... "Oh, the red magazine isn't locking back... time to change the spring."

 

[RPZ]

I only mark mags when a stoppage has occurred. The same mag gets marked more than once and I am going to take a close look at the feed lips etc. If it is not old where perhaps a new spring will fix the problem, it gets the hammer and goes in the trash. I keep enough mags that I have those actively used, and a back up store of new and unused that will only come out to replace one that has been trashed.

 

[dh1633pm]

I don't deface my mags with anything. If it don't work it gets fixed or stomped and discarded.

 

[LiveLife]

I need to mark mine

I'm also thinking that it would be helpful to get an idea on spring and other wear

I marked my match magazines with masking tape over base and wrote with a marker.

Springs and mag followers are consumable items and replaced when worn as manifested by feeding issues, especially last 1-2 rounds. Magazine springs were replaced with Wolff 10% extra power springs - https://www.gunsprings.com/GLOCK ®/cID1/mID5/dID116#148

I also carried back up recoil spring assemblies in the range bag.

 

[Swing]

An assortment of colored (green, red, blue, white, etc.) tapes + a sharpie. Done. Or at least good enough.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I don't mark mags other then the ones that have issues. The ones with issues get trashed or thrown into the junk parts box.
I do see where color coding would come in hand or the type of mags used.
I have several ARs. Only one is chambered in .277 Wolverine. It is also the only AR with OD Green furniture. The only mags I use with it are Hexmags in OD Green.
I have four AR that are in FDE. One has Magpul FED mags, one has Lancer FED mags, one has the new Magpul MCT color mags, the fourth is chambered in 9mm and takes Glock mags. It is the only gun that I use Glock extended mag in.
Color coding and numbering can be used.
Hexmag sells different color follower kits.
https://hexmag.com/rifle-ammunition-identification-system
Magpul sells sand color floor plates that you can dye to any color.
https://www.magpul.com/products/firearms-accessories/magazine-enhancements

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I used to number the base plates with whatever shade of red/pink nail polish my wife was sick of. (1,2,3, etc.). However, I realized it was more important to me that I could quickly look around the range and make sure I had all my mags. My friends and I rent a whole range once a month, and often share each others stuff. At the end of the day, it is not uncommon to have a wayward magazine on a shooting bench. As such, what I started doing was spray painting all my baseplates yellow. For ARs & AKs I take off the base plates and spray them. For handguns, I usually just push the magazines through the bottom of an upside down cardboard box and spray them that way. I thought I would re-number them with a black sharpie, but have never seen the need.

I just missed a closeout on $5 pink breast cancer Troy Battle mags. If I see a similar sale on unusually colored mags from a quality manufacturer, I'll probably buy a bunch and use them for range duty.