indie_rocker
US Veteran
Minimum of three
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How Many Magazines per Semi-Auto Smith Is Enough
- Thread starter HOUSTON RICK
- Start date
RedCardinal
Member
A semi-auto without a loaded and functional magazine is a rock. A semi-auto that runs out of ammo is a rock until it is relaoded. The time to accomplish the reload is critical. Yesterday, I had over 600 magazines, and today I bought three more. At range qualification, I have enough loaded magazines to shoot the course without having to reload any magazines. Sometimes I buy three or four magazines before I buy the gun and continue buying until I get 10 or 12. More if there is a good deal. When I find that I have more than I need, I sell some. But mostly, I only sell the extras below 10 after I have sold the gun and don't have another that uses the same magazine. I also have followers, magazine springs, catch plates and butt plates for every type of magazine. Makes my man cave look like a recycling center.
squidsix
Member
Since I have been living in Maine (moved here from Italy in Jan), I walk into Kittery Trading Post about twice a month, the monday after each payday, and buy one used magazine from there old bin of throw-a-way nonsense. This has gotten me some luck, as I have found 13 model 39 mags in there, as well as two Anschutz .22 rifle mags, a +2 extension from Remington for the 870 in gloss blue, and half a dozen holsters for guns in my collection.
This has kept my per-trip cost very low, and I can accumulate magazines at 24 (or more) per year without tripping the budget.
I recommend you folks looking to plus-up your magazine stock to hit your local gun shops, spend $20, and walk out knowing you can do that again in two weeks. In no time at all you will have enough magazines to load them all up in front of the TV (like we do) and take them all to the range. Then shoot till they are empty and go home. No need to waste valuable range time thumbing rounds into your handful of mags when you can bring two ammo cans full of them.
This has kept my per-trip cost very low, and I can accumulate magazines at 24 (or more) per year without tripping the budget.
I recommend you folks looking to plus-up your magazine stock to hit your local gun shops, spend $20, and walk out knowing you can do that again in two weeks. In no time at all you will have enough magazines to load them all up in front of the TV (like we do) and take them all to the range. Then shoot till they are empty and go home. No need to waste valuable range time thumbing rounds into your handful of mags when you can bring two ammo cans full of them.
Arik
Member
I occasionally buy mags like that but it's not often that the store has something I need in the used mag box. I find it faster an easier to just get what I need right away instead of waiting for it to show up for a few dollars less. Not even going to get into the holster box. I only ever found one holster that fit what I needed. However, us lefties are the Quasimodos of the gun world!
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Spokes
Member
When I was younger it was as many for any gun I had. The older I got it just went down to six or eight. Now that I am only ten months from becoming eighty years old one spare is all I need.
Never thought I would make it this far..
Never thought I would make it this far..
Once again, this thread is making me feel very inadequate.
I need to unsubscribe for the sake of my sanity. You and GaryS may be scoring like crazy up there, but it has never worked for me.
My aging eyes aren't sharp enough to pick out the magazines I need from the KTP bargain bins. Plus, I always seem to hit the place on the most sold out days (probably right after you and GaryS just left with your big scores 
)... just my bad timing I guess. $20.00 won't get me even one desirable used 3rd Gen magazine anymore at any LGS in my area. I think my area is simply "shopped out" with little new stuff ever appearing even over a period of months... certainly not in 2 weeks. The small handful of shops with desirable 3rd Gen magazines in stock want a king's ransom for them (if they let you buy them at all - some won't!
).Maple Trapper
Member
I only have 1-3 for out of production guns/mags, but my range and SD guns, 6-10, sometimes more. I rotate them, but only keep 4 loaded at any given time. If one ever fails, it gets a new spring and tested, if that fails in testing at the range, it's history.
I have 1 gun, that my Father-in-law used in WW2 (He was on Iwo Jima that famous day), that is a Llama 1911. It seems to only like the single 8 round mag that it came to me with. That one is only used at the range, never for SD. For that one, I've bought at least 6 other mags trying to find one that will work flawlessly in the gun, but they have all failed. Who ever said all 1911 mags are interchangeable?
I have 1 gun, that my Father-in-law used in WW2 (He was on Iwo Jima that famous day), that is a Llama 1911. It seems to only like the single 8 round mag that it came to me with. That one is only used at the range, never for SD. For that one, I've bought at least 6 other mags trying to find one that will work flawlessly in the gun, but they have all failed. Who ever said all 1911 mags are interchangeable?
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Neither did I.
Just 3 "good years" left (God willing) and I'm done. I've already started selling off my cheap, soulless Tupperware, usually at a big loss.
Some of my 3rd Gens will be buried with me. It's already in my will. Question: How many magazines will I need for each of those guns?
swkohnle08
Member
I try to have a total six mags. Carry three usually, one in the gun, two in a pocket.
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Neither did I.
Just 3 "good years" left (God willing) and I'm done.
Some of my 3rd Gens will be buried with me. It's already in my will. Question: How many magazines will I need for each of those guns?
Never seen a Zombie use a handgun.............so "one" should do you fine......
PM with shipping information, for early disposal of the rest, will follow!!!!!
mstem
Member
I have 10 magazines per pistol & 10 speed loaders per revolver. All are loaded & in my go bag.
And, if true, therein lies fallacy (or at least potential problem) of buying used magazines for our beloved 3rd Gens.
On the other hand, what other choice do we have when the magazines we desire are long discontinued or have to be pre-bans?
I still say that most used magazines can be saved from the trash bin, but maybe not all...
And, if true, therein lies fallacy (or at least potential problem) of buying used magazines for our beloved 3rd Gens.
On the other hand, what other choice do we have when the magazines we desire are long discontinued or have to be pre-bans?
I still say that most used magazines can be saved from the trash bin, but maybe not all...
Most guns are bought
but rarely shot.
It's my guess that many second magazines never even get loaded ......sock drawer guns only have their springs compressed....." once"!
I've bought 2 "used" M&P .22 Compacts in the past 4 months that I swear have never been shot........ about $225 apiece.
I hear ya Bam.
I was just musing about the supposed disposable nature of magazines. I guess some folks do totally wear them out beyond repair. So far it hasn't happened to me but I don't really shoot any one gun that much. The notion that magazines wear out fairly quickly has long been behind certain dubious provisions of US and state gun law (think: pre-bans). We benefit in some of the heavily-restricted moonbat states from the continuing healthy supply of certain older "pre-ban" magazines.
And, if true, therein lies fallacy (or at least potential problem) of buying used magazines for our beloved 3rd Gens.
On the other hand, what other choice do we have when the magazines we desire are long discontinued or have to be pre-bans?
I still say that most used magazines can be saved from the trash bin, but maybe not all...
I don't have to deal with pre-ban as far as discontinued I usually buy about 20 magazines for every semi I own to begin with. At a bare minimum 10
I have a cracked or bent feed lips, cracked base plates etc. are usually just take the working parts and throw them in a box to cannibalize from. The rest go in the trash
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Arik
Member
They wear out quickly if you shoot a lot. But they can also breakI hear ya Bam.
The notion that magazines wear out fairly quickly has long been behind certain dubious provisions of US and state gun law (think: pre-bans). We benefit in some of the heavily-restricted moonbat states from the continuing healthy supply of certain older "pre-ban" magazines.
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IMO, absolute minimum is 4, 5 better. One in the gun, two on the side with HP, another with FMJ. Should also have one spare, but I seldom carry a fourth mag, so the fourth can be the spare. That's for guns you don't use in games where you drop the mags on the ground. Also, as pointed out above, folks who have Teutonic squeeze-cockers or S&W 10mm pistols would do well to get what they can when they can.
That's before we even start talking about places like MA.
That's before we even start talking about places like MA.
In my experience (and observations) here in moonbat MA, Glock magazines are the ones that show their age and abuse the worst. You should see some of the used & abused "pre-ban" Glock magazines that are for sale up here for big money.
Most people in free America would just throw them away and buy new ones for cheap. Up here behind enemy lines, no matter how used or badly damaged they are, people want them and still pay the big bucks for them. I'm just glad I'm not a Glock guy.
Arik
Member
You'd be surprised. A lot of those Glock mags are just banged up plastic. The metal inside is still fine. And as long as they keep working they're good. I have a few that look like they were used to as skateboards ....still working! The one in my carry gun is an old pre ban that's seen better days but it's all superficialIn my experience (and observations) here in moonbat MA, Glock magazines are the ones that show their age and abuse the worst. You should see some of the used & abused "pre-ban" Glock magazines that are for sale up here for big money.
I'm just glad I'm not a Glock guy.
Paying stupid high prices for them is uniquely a MA problem
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