How many mags?

[SidearmSam]

The 8 rounder spacers can move a little, but I still prefer them. I've never read about one report that showed them to be the cause of bad things happening in a real self defense situation. What little chance there is of needing to defend ones self is almost always resolved within the first mag worth of ammo or less. Of course, range practice can show all kinds of problems that would never occur in a real life self defense situation. To me, no way is it a big enough problem to "get rid" of them. I guess everyone can decide for themselves though.

Bear in mind "getting rid of them" doesn't mean throwing them in the trash. There are always swaps and such waitin' to happen. One man's garbage...

 

[shakyshoot]

I hate the 7 round mag for my Shield. If the mags weren't so damn high priced, I'd buy at least 3 more 8 rounders.

Put the Pearce baseplates on your 7 round mags. Hate will turn to joy.

I have 2 mags per gun. I never carry more than 1 spare, and I really only use 1 at the range. Load it, shoot, load it again. If a mag ever goes bad, I'll get another one.

 

[SidearmSam]

A drop of superglue under the spacer. Problem solved. No need to spend $12.

Hell, folks been pushin' super glue as a magic fix for anything since the stuff came out. How's it on roaches?

 

[Marie13]

That "spacer" doesn't print more than the 7 round magazines, does it?

Guess it depends on your body type/where & how you carry. I carry appendix IWB at 1:30 or so. 7 rounder much easier to conceal than the 8 rounder.

 

[fyimo]

I don't own a S&W shield but for every semi auto I own (10) I own at least 6 and in most cases 8. When I carry my Sig P228 I carry two with me and they are Mec-Gar 15 round magazines. For my semi auto rifles non hunting mostly 22LR I own a lot more but I usually go to the range with about 3. For my Bolt action Hunting rifles that have magazines I own 2 because they are expensive and I rarely need to shoot more than a couple of shots on a hunt.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Title says it all - how many mags should I have for my pistols? How many do you have?

I have an M&P 9 and a 9mm Shield.

Shield - 3 x 7 round & 4 x 8 round

M&P 9 - 4 x 17 round

I like to have 4 or 5 magazines for every semi-auto, and a dozen or better for the SHTF guns . . .

 

[1hatchet]

Hatchet, Ya got hands on experience with those?

SidearmSam

Yes, I do have hands on experience with the Talon Grip Tape on Shield 8 Round Mags. Extension tape and works great. Have them on all four of my 8 round magazines. In addition to on my Shield 9 and on my 7 round mag. with Pierce Grip Ext. Use the rubberized version of the grip tape, granular (skate tape) is also available. Excellent fit a quality product co. out of Colorado.

TALON Gun Grips for Extended Magazine for Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm/ .40

 

[TYSTYX]

For now I only have 4 x 15 round mags for my M&P 40FS and I've numbered each base plate. Best price I've found for them was at Greg Cote, LLC....25 bucks each for S&W factory mags.... and 31 bucks for you Shield owners.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Everyone has a different idea when it comes too how much they "need". I've been through enough bans and ban scares to know that when it happens, they get really expensive, really hard to find and you really wish you had more. If there is a ban and your 2-3 magazines fail, your gun is useless until it's lifted. If you have a lot of mags then you have many back-ups if a simple spring and/or follower change doesn't bring a faulty mag back to life.

The ban scare wasn't too long ago and prices were high for any magazine, even the 10 rounders. Buy as many as you can while they're cheap and available. The amount you should buy is up to you.

 

[papersniper]

I like to have 4 or 5 magazines for every semi-auto, and a dozen or better for the SHTF guns . . .

Like an M4? Isn't it nice that the magazines are finally down to a reasonable price? I recently bought another 5 for under $50. I now own more magazines and 223 rounds than some smaller countries!

 

[papersniper]

I hate the 7 round mag for my Shield. If the mags weren't so damn high priced, I'd buy at least 3 more 8 rounders.

Why? Just the additional round in the 8 mags, which is certainly a good reason. But what's to "hate" about the 7 round mags?
Just curious.....taking delivery of my 9mm Shield next week and I am holding off on ordering additional magazines until I try the gun with both.

 

[papersniper]

Guess it depends on your body type/where & how you carry. I carry appendix IWB at 1:30 or so. 7 rounder much easier to conceal than the 8 rounder.

Oh Oh, with my body type maybe I ought to carry a slim 22lr magazine!

Yeah, that is an issue for me. Sadly I have a tiny bit of a "spare tire" around my waist, and that can accentuate the bulge of a pistol and magazine. I will have to experiment with different holster and mag pouch types....I do believe I will go with a horizontal mag pouch as that's what I did on duty and it seems to fit "flusher" under a shirt, jacket, etc.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Oh Oh, with my body type maybe I ought to carry a slim 22lr magazine!

Yeah, that is an issue for me. Sadly I have a tiny bit of a "spare tire" around my waist, and that can accentuate the bulge of a pistol and magazine. I will have to experiment with different holster and mag pouch types....I do believe I will go with a horizontal mag pouch as that's what I did on duty and it seems to fit "flusher" under a shirt, jacket, etc.

I've been using horizontal mag pouchs by Safariland for years for everything from a 7rd 3913 mag ( small pouch for a multi-tool) to 17rd double stack 9mms. Easy on/off with a Velcro flap.

 

[yeti]

4 minimum for any pistol, but 12+ for competition guns.