How Many Magazines per Semi-Auto Smith Is Enough

[HOUSTON RICK]

I maintain 3-4 magazines per semi-automatic Smith handgun. Is that enough? Does anyone have a rule for more magazines per gun?

 

[Ray1970]

My personal rule is ten. I usually don't get them all at once though. Usually just two to four at a time until I hit my ten mag limit.

 

[Tanners Owner]

For me it's no less than 6. I shoot uspsa & IDPA, so my mags to get used.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Even my classic, out of production pistols I try to get at least three. When I buy a new pistol where the magazines are readily available I go for 8-10.

 

[colt_saa]

That depends on other factors

Pistols used for investment, display or received as awards are just fine with one or two magazines

Pistols used for Personal/home defense or practice (providing the firearm is still in production), three to six are fine by me. You can always get a replacement if one fails or gets damaged

Pistols used for Personal/home defense or practice (that are no longer in production), as many as I can find at a reasonable price

Duty pistols, the minimum should be double whatever you carry on your duty belt

Competition pistols, I like a dozen at the very least

Pistols for the upcoming End of the World or Zombie Apocalypse, as many as I can get my hands on

 

[Have gun-will travel]

magazines

I have a minimum of 6 for each semi-auto that I own. That's not just S&W handguns. Sigs, Colts, Browning & Springfield. Most of my 1911 mags are interchangeable within the brands. I have over 30 mags for them.

 

[reddog81]

Somewhere between 1 and 12. Like the other posters it depends on the gun and how readily available the magazines are.

 

[max]

As many as possible. This is a photo of my Sig 229 and SOME of the magazines I have for it. This photo was taken as I was preparing for a shooting class at TDI.

 

[TNZ71]

Even my classic, out of production pistols I try to get at least three. When I buy a new pistol where the magazines are readily available I go for 8-10.

I agree. 3 is minimum. The guns that I carry. I want two spare. The guns that get range time I want 10 magazines to load. If it's a safe dweller 2-3 is good.

 

[jbtrucker]

I have three 15 round Mags for my 5906 and four 8 rounds for 9mm Shield. I pre load all before going to the range and just reload a couple of mags while shooting

 

[Barrie]

I have ten which I rotate between my M41 and M46. Fortunately they all fit both which is nice.

 

[nocents]

...................................1 more is enough...........................

 

[BigDog48]

My minimum is 5. For my #1 home defense and general purpose pistol, a Beretta 92FS, I have about 15 or 20 because I grabbed up some 15 rounders when I thought they might be banned forever.

 

[Ray1970]

For me it's no less than 6. I shoot uspsa & IDPA, so my mags to get used.

I do allow myself to go over my ten mag limit for my IDPA guns. I hate loading magazines between stages so I always have enough loaded that I can get through a match.

 

[sigp220.45]

I only buy the reusable kind, so three.

 

[NevadaBob]

It depends on your needs/occupation. I'm retired and I go out to the range for general target shooting on a weekly basis. My "unwritten rule" is 3 per gun. I have 2 guns right now that I only have 2 mags for. When finances permit, I'll be adding another to those 2 guns.

 

[rwt1405]

My minimum is 10, for any pistol that might even possibly used for carry.

I like to have a minimum of 6, for all of my other pistols.

 

[epj]

Except for competition I would agree that 3 is probably enough. For guns like the 10XX series, where mags are not readily obtainable, more is probably better. I have 2 of the 10XX and six mags. I'm ok with that, but if I found one or two more at a reasonable price I'd add a couple more.

 

[Old_Cop]

It's no wonder that you can't buy a used pistol with more than one magazine. Three is about right for me, unless it is a rifle or submachine gun.

 

[Old cop]

When our agency transitioned to the Glock we were issued three mags. I purchased a 33 round mag along w/an additional three to have w/me all the time when I was working.