Ahhh... a trick question since "pre-ban" only matters for magazines of more than 10 round capacity.

To comment a bit further on my picture of my Sig and the mags. I went to a 3 day school at TDI and was told we would shoot a lot of ammo. By taking 20 magazines, I was able to spend more time on the line with the instructors and shot more than some others in the class. Some were spending as much or more time reloading than shooting. When we got a break, I would reload as many mags as I could and get back to shooting.

When I go to the range here, I load a lot of mags to take with me. I would rather spend my time shooting.

I had 6 to go with my 92FS which I loved a lot until I sold it like a dummy. It had the sweetest trigger setup I have ever fired and other trick stuff done to it as well.

I'm old and my guns are for SD. I usually only have one spare mag with me. If I git into a squabble and things ain't over by the time I've shot up both mags, neither one of us is very dangerous.

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Eccentric old coot

Never less than 1 spare. After that, however many happen is ok. Have never had more than 5 spares, but who knows ? Had a very clean Astra 400 w/4 originals. Sorry I let that one go.

Larry

For my rimfire guns, at least 6. Center fire at least 4

About 10 for the Bushmaster, 10 for the Mac90 AK-47, Colt and Springfield about 15, 6 HKS speed loaders each for my 686's 7 shooters and 6 shooters. 10/22 has 4. that will do it. I am doing this for my son's sons generation, when he has them. Ya never know what 10 years will bring.

HAVING READ ALL THE POSTS ABOVE, IN THE END, ONE MAY SEE THAT THERE IS NO DEFINITE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION I GUESS. IMHO, IF YOUR SMITH IS OUT OF PRODUCTION, GETTING MORE MAGAZINES MAY HELP BOTH, YOU USING YOUR GUN, AS WELL AS INCREASE ITS RESALE VALUE(IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SELLING). ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET THEM FOR LOW PRICE. ON A CURRENT PRODUCTION GUN, GET THEM AS NEEDED. ALSO, WHEN ORDERING THEM FROM VENDORS THAT SHIP, BEAR IN MIND THE SHIPPING COSTS. MIGHT BE WORTH BUYING MORE TO GET THE FREE SHIPPING DEAL, WHERE APPLICABLE. BEAR IN MIND, THAT WHEN MALFUNCTIONS OCCUR, USUALLY IF ITS NOT THE AMMO, ITS THE MAGAZINE'S FAULT. SO, LIKE OTHER MEMBERS MENTIONED ABOVE, ALWAYS TEST FIRE THEM PRIOR TO DEPENDING ON THEM. FINALLY, I DISAGREE WITH THE PRACTICE OF STOCKING UP ON PISTOL MAGAZINES FOR SHTF AND APOCALYPSIS SCENARIOS. IF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES OCCURE AND ONE IS ARMED WITH HANDGUNS INSTEAD OF LONGARMS, NO MATTER HOW MANY MAGAZINES/ROUNDS THEY HAVE, SOMETHING HAS BEEN TERRIBLY PLANNED.

For my 908, I'd need to check to be sure. But IIRC, I have at least eight magazines. All are S&W stainless, 8-round, with the finger extension floorplate. For most of my semi-auto pistols, four to five magazines is the minimum I like to have.

My rule is no less than 12 per gun. More, if you can afford it.

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Retired Career Security Guard

I had a pistol on consignment to sell, against a couple of others of the same model. I had three more mags with mine. It sold first, at my ask. The others are still there. Best part of the story? I found the extras in a junk mag bin, paid very little, cleaned them up, and they became $40 each value added to the deal.

I also pick up the ten rounders that no one in my area wants (we can have anything we want). Came in handy when I was traveling a lot, and passing through limited states.

All I know for certain from this "How many magazines?" thread is that apparently I don't have nearly enough.

It seems that I may be a few short for some guns by this thread!

I think it is fun to have magazines that fit more than one pistol. For example, my single stack S&W magazines get used in my 952's, my 3906's, my 639 and all my 39's. Same exact magazines get to pull duty across eight handguns whenever I ask them to. Pretty neat!

My double stack S&W 9mm mags run across almost as many pistols.

My 4506 mags get used in three different guns... none of which is a 4506.

I don't have a definite number. As a general rule of thumb when I go to the range I burn about 200 - 250 rounds at a time. I don't like reloading at the range. Mine is outdoors and in the summer it isn't fun getting beat up by the sun, trying to reload with sweaty hands, while the bugs treat me like a dinner. So, I keep about 200 - 300 rounds of whatever I might shoot on a given day loaded up and ready. Then I go to the range shoot till I run out of ammo, return home and reload on the screen porch while sipping beer.


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Get as many as you can afford to buy then double it.

Given some of the stunning recommendations in this thread... and the sad realization that I am way behind the magazine ownership curve... I ordered 3 brand new pistol magazines today. Yes, trivial by some member's standards but it still set me back well over a C-note and it doesn't even raise my average magazines per gun index by even a fraction... but I guess I've got to start somewhere.

40? 50? 70 magazines per gun? I've got an awfully long way to go. Anybody know where I can rent a self-storage unit?

I've got 4 for my Shield - one 7 round, and the rest 8 round. That's my current go to carry pistol. For my Sig P320, I've got 3 - 2 17 round mags that came with it, and one 21 round just for fun on the range. I use the P320 as my primary home defense pistol currently as that one is a full size, though I am trying to decide on a nice rifle to buy for that purpose in the future.

The S&W M&P 15 can currently be had for around $500.

There is another complication (inferred already) for pistols that share range and SD duty - I hate to have to unload my JHP then load it again when I get done shooting. Seems trivial, but us arthritis folks don't think so.

That one is actually one of the ones I am looking at.

Na your doing OK......

I decided I liked 3rd Gen Smiths.......... about 26-28 years ago........ and have accumulated a 'few". Smith has been really good about magazines 59, X59 and 59xx and X69, 69xx can all use the same magazines( Farrar made great collar for $6 a peice)......spend $45 to $60 bucks a year for 25 years....... that gives you a stash of 75-100 mags.

Single stack magazines from 1990- 2005...... were"please take them" priced!!!

The golden years were.... when Dept's were switching to Glocks....."used" $15 mags..... 3 for $40

I'm clearly paying the price now for having slept through the 2nd & 3rd Gen years. But that's still not where I'm most behind.

Before I even start to consider building up my magazine stash toward 40, 50 or (God help me!) as many as 70 magazines per pistol, I've got to first address those pistols for which I only own 1 or 2 magazines. Yes, there are a few. Those are mostly newer pistols, almost all plastic fantastics, that I just never got around to properly accessorizing.

The problem is that when I get a little money in my pocket, I am more inclined to buy another gun rather than magazines for the guns I already own. The notable exceptions to that rule are my beloved 3rd Gens... but for almost all other brands and models, adding more guns to the accumulation/collection generally takes precedence over buying more magazines.

You could solve that whole issue by getting a Calico 9mm pistol
Running joke around our house is...
"Pity the poor fool that breaks into here,
but least they'll set a world record for being shot!!"
100 rounds per mag, with optional lighter 50-rd mags available!

Attached Images

	CalicoZombieposter.jpg (63.2 KB, 17 views)
	calicos.jpg (69.2 KB, 17 views)

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

Ya maybe...... mine was not a quest........ it was just ..... one here ......two there............. no intent ..... goal or number to strive for......just one here....... two over there.................. X 20+years...............

Well, that's great if you can do it that way, but you know better than anyone else that I don't have 20+ good years left in me. In fact, I doubt I've got 20 years left in me in total.

The challenges (for building up a massive pistol magazine stash) are pretty tough here behind enemy lines... with the newest danger being that CA's latest lunacy is going to move east to MA. Let's be honest here: I'm now at somewhere around 3.75 to 4 magazines/pistol average for my beloved 3rd Gens. After this week's orders, I will have at least 2 magazines per non-3rd Gen pistol in the collection/accumulation. For certain other pistols I have as many as 8 or so mags/pistol but that is rare. For far too many, I only have 2 or 3.

The odds of me being able to get to even 40 magazines per pistol in my 3 remaining "good years" are somewhere between slim and none.

Enough for...what?

Magazines are like ammo -- you can never have enough!

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Bill

I'm still of the "at least 3 mags for any owned firearm"
& "As Many As You Can Get For Shooting Sports Specialists".

But I have three holdouts that screw up my average...
an Erma KGP68A in .32acp, 1 mag so far...
and a Star Megastar 45, in .45acp, 1 mag so far...
Star Ultrastar in .40S&W, 1 mag so far...
in time I'll get more mags...
there's always another gun show

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

I like to have four standard capacity mags for handguns and a couple of high capacity if available. For a long gun such as an AR I'm looking at six say 30rd mags as minimum with an additional two each 10 and 20 as they are useful for bench rest shooting. Maybe the odd drum or extra capacity mag if I find quality offerings at sale prices.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. Just when you think you've achieved that baseline of 3 or 4 magazines (minimum) per gun for every handgun you own, suddenly you remember this or that obscure collectible in the back of the safe or that new mouse gun you bought that only came with one magazine. Or it may be one for which you thought spare magazines would be reasonably cheap & easy to find... until you saw them on an auction site going for $100 each! I feel your pain.

Like TTSH, i was late to the 3rd Gen game. Part, actually most, of that was despite the desire to acquire various guns, I was short of money for most of the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s. Not poor, but two kids, wife only working part time jobs, I'm sure many of you know the story.

My awakening to the beauty and functionality of the 3rd Gen guns started just about 10 years ago. Right about the time S&W decided that their mass produced like happy meal toy guns were the future.

I finally have enough magazines for the various guns to feel comfortable. Then again, if I see a bargain ($15.00 3913 mag at gun show) come along, I'll still snap it up.

I try not to do that as well. Occasionally, especially if it's a new to me gun or different manufacturer, I'll put a magazine or maybe two of SD ammo through and then recharge the magazine. Still, I prefer to have range magazine that might get a bit of beating and SD magazines that don't.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

If the gun is out of production and or the mags I'd buy 10-15 or more for safety and investment purposes.

I've bought several for each 3rd Gen I own. I also rebuild them with springs when I get them. I also have spare followers, base plates, and magazine base plate catches. Just in case...

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Can open, worms everywhere.

MecGar makes 59 series magazines so you can get as many of those as you like.

Found this too


MAGAZINES - MAGAZINES - Smith & Wesson - Page 1 - Climags

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Retired Career Security Guard

As many as you can carry without dropping them.

Fortunately I'm also one of those evil rapscallions
that can take a mag that's Close...and mod it into
a FITS & WORKS perfectly

Part of that is blind luck, the other part is good luck

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

Wow, until I read this thread, I didn't realize what a lightweight shooter I am. First, I only own one Smith & Wesson semi-auto at this time, my model 41. However, in the past I have owned many 3rd generation centerfire pistols. Honestly, I never bought an extra magazine for any of them. I have never shot in competition, I'm just a casual/informal plinker and target shooter and I've always loaded them one at a time as I shot them. I'm ashamed to say that I only own one magazine for my model 41. Most of my centerfire pistols came with 2 magazines, so that's what I owned.

I have two MKII Ruger target pistols that each came with 2 magazines, so I have a total of 4. Been a gun enthusiast all my life but was always more interested in buying another firearm than buying more magazines for the ones I already owned. Like I said, I'm feeling like a real lightweight now.

There are folks like that here in MA who can make almost any double stack pistol work with a "pre-ban" Beretta 92 magazine. Just takes time and patience and a Dremel set plus a few files. The point, of course, is to make any double stack pistol work with a still-legal-in-MA "pre-ban" hi-cap magazine. They just need to watch out that they don't go so far as to have the magazine considered a newly manufactured hi-cap magazine, which would be illegal except for cops. The often repeated criteria is to make sure it will still work in the original (Beretta 92) pistol.

Glad to see that there is still someone here who owns fewer magazines per pistol than myself. I need to do one more accounting exercise today to make sure there aren't any pistols left without at least one or two spares so I'll be able to sleep at night again after this thread.

But I know what you are saying about preferring to pickup a new pistol vs. buying more magazines for your existing pistols. That is a constant battle for dirt poor old me with so little money to spend. I finally had to set-up two separate budgets: One for new acquisitions and one for parts, magazines and accessories for existing firearms. Even then, it's a struggle.

Lol that not a problem. If it works for you roll with it. It's just that between lemons, laws, and out of production spending $100 on 5 extra mags doesn't really take a bite out of any funds. When I got into guns there was the 94 AWB that restricted magazine capacity. Pre 94 mags were outrageously expensive. Along with new laws in states like NY, CO and CT and the preban lunacy in Ma.. having extra is always a good idea. And then what recently happened with S&W 45XX and 10XX where the mag production stopped and suddenly​they went from $25 to $100. However, if one or two works for you rock on!,,,!,

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My minimum is 5, but prefer at least 10!

For the pistols I use for IPSC and IDPA I feel less than ten is not enough. Especially for those pistols where the mazagine production will end someday.

As I saw warnings about S&W 3rd Generation magazines getting scarce, I managed to locate new original 5906 and 4506 magazines and ordered many more. I should still have a few decades to live and I would hate to lose the use of those beautiful pistols because of a lack of magazines.

For subcompacts, like the Glock 26, I'm happy with 3 mags. For full size pistols the minimum is 10 but I try to get at least 25. A lot of older pistols like the 3rd gens and H&K's are hard to find now or are really expensive.

My 39-2 only has 3,because thats what my dad had for it when he passed and I got it.I carried it (off and on) from 1980 untill this year when I bought the shield 9.I have 3-8's and 3-7's for it one is a dedicated edc mag loaded with critical defense rounds.The round carried in the pipe is a 115gr fmj.The logic there is that I dont have to rack a cd out(and then deal with a loose round)So no matter what my intended purpose for the first "triple tap",the first one down the pipe is always a fmj,and the gun always has the mag capacity +1,ready to go.I dont disassemble and clean my guns after every range session because my range is only 10 steps out my door and I can stop for 3 minutes at a time and maybe dump 4 mags per day.There is rarely a day that I dont empty it at least once.My new .22 compact (which I REALLY like except for the saftey)still only has the 2 that came with it,but that will change as I shoot it more.My wife shoots a ruger sr22 and has 5 or maybe 6 mags for it.We both step out the door and burn ammo regularly.My Korean Conflict bring back is a Reminton Rand 1911.It has about 10 mags,but its a safe queen anymore along with the S&W 4576 ss which is just too big and heavy for my old arthritic hands !

I generally store 2 mags with each handgun in it's case. If I want more mags for a shooting session, I go to my reserve bin where I keep the spares in ziplock bags. Ideally, for range guns that "may" see some sort of organized shooting sports, I consider 5 spare mags to be minimum. For self defense handguns, 2 spares above the 2 with the gun would be minimum.

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Dave

I buy my 3rd gen s&w mags mostly at gun shows from small tables found most in odds and ends boxes.when I got my 4506 it had 2 mags over the past 3 years I have built up mags for it 2 being the 2nd gen flat metal floor plate one. didn't pay over $20 for each one. same with my at mags I get the used gi mags and inspect them and get 4 or 5 at a show for $20 a set of 4 some do 5.been doing that for many years. 5906 mags I have a lot. and glock mags I have a lot per gun.

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God save the SOUTH

For SD guns, how many rounds do You need to solve the problem. If You need more than one full magazine You probably won't survive the conflict. If, and a big if, You are able to duck and cover immediately, You might get by with one spare, praying that the LEO's get there in time. If You know the conflict is eminent You aren't going out the door with just a handgun anyway.

SWaMPy 9c Two twelve rounders and three seventeen rounders, two grip adaptors for the long magazines. I got the spares for about $22 a piece on sale.
SW9VE, four fifteen rounders I bought three spares on sale awhile back for about $21.

Years back I kept about ten, eight round competition magazines for my 1911s. They got dirty a lot playing King of the Swampy Desert.

Geoff
Who has four for his relatively new Walther Creed, they were on sale for $19 and change from CDNN, marked PPX, work just fine.

After reading colt saa post? I feel has the best answer! Than just saying 5 min. His breakdown is more realistic. So sit back and think it out?

It always helps to actually read the question. The OP isn't asking how many magazines you should carry he's asking how many you should buy to keep the gun running long term.

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Retired Career Security Guard