Noob question: Beside shooting match and dooms day, I was just wondering why do you guys need more than 3 or 4 magazines per gun?

For example I only have 1 magazine for my 22lr and 4 magazines for my Glock but only use 2:
One magazine is new and fully loaded all the time for self-defense.I only shoot it once every 6 month and reload it again.
The other magazine is used at the range.

I don’t understand why some people have more than 5 magazines per gun. Is the only reason the potential ban (in which case I would understand)? I know there must be a valid reason, but just not sure what it is.

Because I can.

Guys don't realize that if the chit hits the fan there would be mags everywhere, how many can one carry in a SHTF scenario. You'd be able to pick em up off the ground everywhere a gun fight took place, just look near the loser!....grin

Less reloading at the range = more fun.

We get to spend more time shooting and less time loading Mags like you....

Spares

Different loads for different needs. I have two loaded with self defense loads (AR15), two fmj mags and two psp mags for the zombies when they come. Well, or the pigs, but the bastages haven't been showing when I'm on stand.

Some parts are only produced seasonally. Spares are useful to tide you through the dry periods. Also, many contests require or make convenient the use of several magazines. Finally, many people prefer to rotate carry magazines to prevent spring compression.

Kevin1, so for 6 months at a time you have a magazine spring under full compression. Did you ever wonder if you were changing the strength of the spring? Magazines are the most unreliable part in the semi auto process. They are also the part that is easiest lost by accident.

I hunt most of the time with a g20 (10mm). You are one accidental button push from a pistol with one shot and NO magazine.

Most folks don't really use pistol in real life situations like hunting. Taking your pistol to and from the range, you likely would not need extra mags. Take a pistol to mud, under brush, tree stands, tripods.....the most likely part to fail or be lost is magazine.

Rusty

Rusty,
Initially, like you, I also thought that keeping a fully loaded magazine will reduce the spring strength.
But after reading on this subject, I found out that it’s not keeping the magazine compressed that will reduce the strength. It’s rather the loading and the unloading the magazine. The best example is the car suspensions. They are compressed all the time (because of the weight of the car), but if you don’t use your car, they won’t lose their strength.

Also, I prefer reloading at the range. It gives me more time to concentrate between each mag. I guess it’s just a personal preference.

Thanks for info. Actually I did not know for sure if loaded mag spring would change strength. The reason I am still not sure is that I have had some new 1911 magazines that had feeding problems. I stored them under full compression for a week and they started running better.

The 1911 magazines (45acp) have a marked difference in reliability (for me) between 7 vs 8 rounds. Glock mags I have little problems with. Sigs run like a Rolex. I guess in the end magazines are not magazines. Some you treat different than others.

Rusty

Kevin is right on. I did some research on this about a year ago and came up with the same info.

^^^^^ THIS!^^^^^

I just talked to a rep from Brownells about some mags i ordered back in Dec. and they said they had no idea when i would get because they have 74,000 on backorder!!! Crazy!

WOW!!!!

Now I am wondering what the P-Mag back orders look like!

1. Because they have a service life and once it is reached it is often just as cheap to replace rather than rebuild it.

2. They get lost, broken, etc.

3. Because loading mags sucks.

4. When at a training event while everyone else is cramming mags during breaks I am hydrating, taking notes, etc because I showed up with enough loaded mags to last the course.

5. During the ban standard capacity mags were expesnsive.

6. Because I can.

Word is their backorder is over a million right now.
linky

That is the p mags 20&30

Why not?

So how many mags do you have for a given gun?
Personally I think a Glock magazine (metal with outside polymer) will last a life time. All you need to do is replace the spring once in a while.
At the same time I’m interested getting involved in some USPSA matches. I guess at that time I’ll have to reevaluate my magazine needs.

My needs and uses are different than yours so what may seem resonable to me may not be so for you and vice versa.

I keep about 60-70 AR type mags and try to have about ten mags for each type of semi auto pistol I own.

For the average recreational shooter five mags or less will indeed last a lifetime.

I have 5 for my 1911. Came with one when I bought it a long time ago. Bought two used ones and realized I should have bought better. Bought two nice Wilson Combat mags after that. Wish I would have just bought 4-5 WC mags in the first place.

AR, came with one. Bought 5 PMAGS just to make order equal $100 for free shipping. Should have bought 6 since it seems most nylon/canvas mag holders hold 6.

Personally do not have a need for 50 AR mags. If I could afford it and shot a lot more I would.Have a but load of different guns, but still have a budget to work with.

When I get my CHL and a new gun to go with it (mandatory to buy new gun right?) I will buy 5-6 mags for it for reasons similar to above.

Mike

And also, I am not LEO, Blackwater, Zombie Killer, or other, but you just never know....Would rather bring a gun to a knife fight than a spoon to a gun fight.

Mike

People being paranoid, other than that, no reason.

springs on a vehicle are not compressed
all the way when a vehicle is at rest.
they do when a vehicle is loaded to
capacity or when the suspension is
flexed during driving if bottomed out.
they do wear out after so many flex cycles
replacement spring are not only sold
because of accident or collision, some
some have to be replaced because of sag
in the suspension, i.e. worn out.
magazine and firearm springs are the same.
they can be worn out or lose their
ability to flex because of stress or
heat.

and most of all, as a law abiding citizen,
it's really nobody's damned business
how many magazines of whatever capacity
or rounds of ammo or how many closets
full of ar's or ak's i have.
as long as i can legally own and afford
them, nobody should have the teeniest
amount of say so over me at all.

at all.