9mm Magazine Alternating Cartridges

[NFrameFred]

I am a layman when it comes to this, but it seems that staggering loads in one magazine could alter point of impact. I can see the possible need for different magazines, each with it's entirety loaded with separate ammo types. Loading different ammo types within the same magazine doesn't seem like a good idea. I'll further go out on a liberal limb and say the average citizen doesn't need to carry a pistol with a capacity of more than 10-11 rounds. The caveat would be home defense and those living within states be invaded by our neighbors from the south of the border.

I addressed all this (in my above opinion) except the capacity issue you bring up.

I never owned a hi-cap nine until I had planned a vacation with my wife and new-born daughter, and started reading about the drug war between rival biker gangs that was then taking place on the Interstate corridor I had to travel. The prospect of breaking down somewhere to look up and find several hostiles in close proximity to my family prompted me to buy the only option available at the time I could afford, a model 59, the latest and greatest in wonder-nine technology. With a fully loaded mag in the gun and two spares I was carrying almost a box of ammo. Didn't need it, as it turned out (the way it usually does), but I wanted it, it was legal, it was available, and the idea that magazine capacity has any real bearing on anything that a bad guy can do that he can't do without it is a straw dog. I'm no Jerry Miculek, but decades later I can still crank out dozens of rounds in less than a minute with a pocketful of HKS 6 round speed loaders and a magnum wheel gun. Doesn't take a lot of practice to get proficient at it. The divisiveness among gun owners who should know better hurts us all.

 

[monet61]

9mm alternating

Back many years ago, I carried a Model 19 and my first round was snakeshot. The snakes would come up to the edge of the highway for the warmth. I don't like snakes.

 

[Evil Dog]

I do it in one of my home defense shotguns. The first round is #7 1/2 bird shot, then 2 rounds of double-ought... the rest are all slugs.

 

[max]

I have known of folks who will load a tracer about 3 rounds from the bottom of the mag. When they see the tracer, they know it is time to start thinking about a reload.

 

[CajunBass]

I believe that's called "overthinking the situation."

Way back in the day, I used to load buckshot like that. #4 in the chamber, #1 next round, 00 for the last one. Finally I got tired of trying to keep it straight and just loaded #1 for all three. It was a lot easier to keep track of.

 

[bitstream]

I have known of folks who will load a tracer about 3 rounds from the bottom of the mag. When they see the tracer, they know it is time to start thinking about a reload.

Of all the theories posted so far, that one actually makes a lot of sense.

 

[gunblade]

Of all the theories posted so far, that one actually makes a lot of sense.

Yes...and not uncommon for military applications. I recall some of the 5.56mm for the M16A2 being loaded at a ratio of 5 to 1 ball and tracer.

 

[bitstream]

Yes...and not uncommon for military applications. I recall some of the 5.56mm for the M16A2 being loaded at a ratio of 5 to 1 ball and tracer.

Yes, but that is for a different reason. That load out in an M-16 is to help in low light level fighting.

The reason to put a tracer a couple of rounds before the bottom of your mag in your CCW is to give you a very visual heads up that you're about to get a locked back slide and you might want to take cover and do a reload or at least start reaching for your spare mag.

 

[gunblade]

Yes, but that is for a different reason. That load out in an M-16 is to help in low light level fighting.

The reason to put a tracer a couple of rounds before the bottom of your mag in your CCW is to give you a very visual heads up that you're about to get a locked back slide and you might want to take cover and do a reload or at least start reaching for your spare mag.

Oh yeah...duh...bad example. I guess it would make more sense if you only had a couple rounds of tracer loaded near the bottom instead of the 5/1 ratio.