How many AR mags do you suppose most people get for one?

GatorFarmer

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A Navy officer that bought my SKS a while back got ahold of me today to see if I had a spare M4 clone to sell. I was surprised since we had talked before and he liked my Trapdoor and Krag while discussing his dislike for AR rifles (not for EBRs in general). Turns out he wanted it for his wife. A shoulder injury limited her choices.

I asked if he was going to need mags. Since if I sold my ARs I would need to sell my mags. He said he would probably buy two...maybe four. I pointed out that I had 70 or 80 mags I would have to sell. (Embarassingly I have about a dozen more mags than I have ammo for.)

At one point I had about 100 but I ended up trading some. I only have two /4 clones since downsizing (kids are expensive) and sold or traded mags with a couple of guns I sold. I also kept a Mini 14 that I have around 30 mags for.

The four mags figure surprised me. How many mags do you suppose go with the usual AR purchase? I was a young man from 94 to 04. It took up my 20 s to live under the AWB. Even then I had something like two dozen mags for my gimped DPMS carbine at the time.
 
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My Bushmaster M4 MOE came with 1 Pmag. I've picked up a few more since then of varying brands. I have nowhere near that many, but I really don't need more than I could carry in a LBE load out comfortably. I'd also have a 9mm and 22LR pistol to tote along with their associated magazines. I've seen videos on YT of guys with walls of magazines.
 
I have 7 30 rounders, 5 20 rounders, and no .556 AR! I have 6 20 rounders for my .308, though, and 5 20 rounders for my Mini 14. I usually have 3 to 5 for my semiauto handguns.
 
There is not a necessity to carry them all. They do not go bad sitting around unused and make for a convenient way to store ammunition. They do eventually wear out and a few may suffer damaged feed lips from being left loaded for very long leriods.

Though you can fit a very large number of loaded mags in a surplus 37 mm flare can if so inclined. Two of them would be a manageable load for a stout draught animal or a Ho Chi Minh bicycle - handle bars replaced with piece of pipe and used for transport.

From 1994 to 2004 one could get weapons that differed from a banned version o ly in cosmetics. A Mini 14 was readily had - even with a flash hider. The key was to have the larger magazines that made such things desirable.

I wish that I had more and figure that I do not really have all that many.
 
gatorfarmer, if i was you, i wouldn't trade that m4 for anything that eats,no matter how good looking she was.
 
I did an inventory yesterday of all my mags and ammo. I have fifty 30 round pmags and 22 30 round aluminum mags. As soon as I find the right source I will be buying more.

IMO AR15 magazines are a consumable. They WILL wear out or break eventually and when they do I pitch them. I remember the '94 ban so I probably go overboard on the high caps but there are worse things.

I buy mags one or two at a time or when I find a good deal. Just throw a mag in with whatever else I am buying. It adds up and doesnt break the bank buying all at once.
 
Before November, I bet the average AR owner was satisfied with 3-6 mags of varying capacities. Since then, and especially this week, the average AR owner is in a frenzy trying to accumulate as many as possible.
 
Magazines are "disposable" items, in that they can wear or be damaged to the point they require replacement. 7 may be a standard load out, but having backups is always a good idea.

Can't have too much ammo unless you're swimming or on fire. ;)
 
A Navy officer that bought my SKS a while back got ahold of me today to see if I had a spare M4 clone to sell. I was surprised since we had talked before and he liked my Trapdoor and Krag while discussing his dislike for AR rifles (not for EBRs in general). Turns out he wanted it for his wife. A shoulder injury limited her choices.

I asked if he was going to need mags. Since if I sold my ARs I would need to sell my mags. He said he would probably buy two...maybe four. I pointed out that I had 70 or 80 mags I would have to sell. (Embarassingly I have about a dozen more mags than I have ammo for.)

At one point I had about 100 but I ended up trading some. I only have two /4 clones since downsizing (kids are expensive) and sold or traded mags with a couple of guns I sold. I also kept a Mini 14 that I have around 30 mags for.

The four mags figure surprised me. How many mags do you suppose go with the usual AR purchase? I was a young man from 94 to 04. It took up my 20 s to live under the AWB. Even then I had something like two dozen mags for my gimped DPMS carbine at the time.

Sir, back when I was using the AR in NRA high power matches, I had 10 USGI 20-round magazines and two or three USGI 30-round mags. I never actually used the 30s; in matches, they'd get in my way, particularly in prone. With the 20s, five were primary match mags, and the other five were backups.

Were the AR my Walter Mitty rifle, I'd consider seven good 30-round magazines (the TO load during my service) the bare minimum. I'd prefer a dozen or more.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
l watch the guards at the nuke plant laboring to move about with their load. Weighed down w/6 m4 mags, 4 9mm XD mags, BP vest, MBC pouch. Radio, Plus weapons and a backpack for personal items. Makes my back hurt seeing them walk. Even made larger stalls in the rest rooms for their gear.

And you guys talk of 25-50 magazines

Glad l stuck w/my 30-30 Marlin and 36 Chief Special.
 
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I think the average person has 2-4 magazines for any given semi-auto. My advice would be to have a couple for the range and keep 7 put away for lifetime use. By the way, I don't use hi-capacity mags at the range. However, that's just my stile. If you are a banger go for it and welcome to all the mags you think you need. If you do 3 gun or other than mags are very important to your sport. You can go through them like popcorn in a movie.
 
No one has to say how many they particularly have - I personally do not know an exact number. But again...no one suggests carrying 50 mags. Though it certainly could be done if someone wanted to or needed to move a large number in a pinch.

Rather I am curious as to how many the average Joe seemed to be buying or thought adequate.

Seven did seem to be a popular number since for a long time that was the standard infantry load. Though for certain specialties the number was higher - recon Marines used to carry 13 as standard. There are also written memoirs of LRRPs..SOG guys et al who specifically mention carrying 600 to 1000 rounds even in SE Asia. But that was not an average user then or now.

Various common load carrying systems hold six to eight mags easily.
 
How dare you ask that! I mean if they confiscate rifles at least we'll have an untold number of mags! Right!?!?! :p

I have about 20 surplus AK47 mags and about the same for my AK74. About 11 Pmags for Colt + 2 aluminum ones.



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I just pulled an inventory of magazines for all my collection and was pleasantly surprised. This house is good to go!

Good thing as inventories of all high cap magazines have disappeared this week.

Out
West
 
I have two of these Grab & Go mag carrier pouch back in 2008 by Olongapo Outfitters. They are made by a former Marine with the best materials in USA. Made with adjustable shoulder strap.

One each for the AR and M1A (holds 8 mags a piece). They are loaded up and read to grab and go when needed.

Olongapo Outfitters (Powered by CubeCart)
 

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