Realistically, how many magazines do you need for any one pistol?
Two, three, four or more? I have three mags for each pistol I use and rotate them for use. I don't anticipate needing more, but if I do I am sure I will find them. I sold a Swiss made P-210 when magazines for it started selling for over $125.00 a piece. I don't feed scalpers period. Triple K M52 mags are at a price I would pay if I needed them, but I don't. Even if they need some massaging at that price it isn't a bad deal. At least Triple K did something to help the shortage of M52 mags while all the other manufacturers sat on their hands including Smith and Wesson. They won't do anything to help us out, but they will come out with some overpriced "classic" firearm to help line their pockets. Why can't S&W re-make M52 magazines? Follow the money as in all other things.
Rick H.
The older military men think of magazines as consumables or disposables. That's fine if you have a defense department keeping you supplied.
Here is how I do it.
-Three magazines stay loaded, and they get carried, one in the gun and two reloads on the belt.
-Two more are dedicated to the range and they get dropped, kicked, stepped on, lost on the ground somewheres. The Promags are OK for this. -Two more are kept for dry fire practice and are loaded with snap caps.
-One magazine is a "Barney mag". It is used to put one in the chamber, so I do not have to top off the carry mag. Named after Barney Fife.
Here are my beliefs and assumptions which inform these practices:
-Skills not gear. This is my most important belief. It is carried over in my mind from my experience as a musician.
-Administrative handling. If the magazine springs are prone to "take a set", then be aware that keeping carry mags loaded the way I do may become a problem. However, I have learned that with my guns it is repeated flexing that weakens and wears out the springs. After some years I needed to replace the spring on a Promag magazine. Another consideration is that I found when unloading and reloading the pistol that I kept rechambering the same round over and over pushing the projectile slightly deeper into the case each time.
-Shoot and move. I practice at the creek because our local range does not allow working from the holster. I believe in reloading on the move and sometimes I have dropped the spare while moving. I do not wish to go down on the ground looking for a dropped mag. Also, I believe in clearing malfunctions in exactly the same way every time, so it is better to just grab the other mag and keep going.
All comment and contradiction is welcome with my thanks.
Kind Regards RickH!
BrianD
