Magazines, Store them loaded or unloaded?

[SchemaEnigma]

Not what I'm saying. I'm saying that if you open the ammo cabinet and it has a selection of five different ammo varieties all in .223/5.56, each box is labeled. End flap if it is factory ammo, or information on the flip top box if it's handloads.

If you load up magazines "because there is no point in storing an empty mag... none... then yep, you get to either make little labels for any/every magazine that you have, or you guess.

It literally takes seconds to make my "little labels". But, if you'd rather keep a stack of empty mags, well, go ahead.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

As for it being nonsense that some might load a single magazine with more than one kind of round, I will agree that to do this is nonsense, but if you think NOBODY does this, you're very wrong.

We had a guy in our grassroots state based political Pro2a forum get in a defensive shoot with his Glock 30, and this guy quite literally put two entirely different brands, weights and style of .45 ACP ammo in to a bad guy at a gas station.

I wouldn't do it either. Then again, I wouldn't tape labels to my magazines but whatever works for ya.

The shooter that flung Cor-Bon Pow'r Ball and 230 FMJ at his defensive shoot was not charged. And no, Mas Ayoob didn't speak to the local DA on his behalf. Not sure if that gives you your dose of hyperbole, but I gave it my best shot.

Idiots are everywhere, but that doesn't mean you need to set your mag loading and labeling system just in case...

 

[Sevens]

Cue Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown."

 

[growr]

I would need a fork lift to pick the box if I had all of my magazines loaded....

Randy

PS...

I DO have a number of magazines that are fully loaded, just not ALL of my magazines.

 

[ameridaddy]

I figure an empty magazine isn't even any good to throw at a bad guy, so I keep mine loaded. Gotta put the ammo somewhere, may as well be ready to use.

 

[BillBond]

I keep my go mags loaded, but do not load every mag.
Because if you get in a jam and need to sell some ammo,
it will sell for more money if it is in it's original sealed box.

 

[Moe Mentum]

My EDC mag is always loaded, and I don't even think about it.

 

[Gary M]

Some are and some aren't. I keep some unloaded because not always sure what I want to shoot on a range trip and emptying out Brand X to refill with Brand Y is more of a hassle than it is worth.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I don't bother with the guns and their mags that are in my safe as they are out of reach so why bother with loading the mags. My semiautomatic edc is on my person, loaded with a full mag along with 2 more full mags in my pocket.

 

[Swmwshrk]

Ugh, more nonsense.

Are you also writing a series of post-it notes and taping them to each magazine so that you can identify absolutely every single round of ammo in every magazine? Makes far more sense to leave the magazines empty until you need them, except for the cache of magazines you have specifically in the event of emergency use.

Why must so many post with the "ultimate" answer, and in such a tone where it begs a contrarian response?

My rule for anyone that shoots my guns, you shoot one mag you load one mag. This keeps the shooting going and mags loaded.

All mags are loaded with target ammo 24/7, except

EDC pistol (Hornaday Critical Duty)
M&P 15-22 (cci 40 grain velocitor cphp)
M&P 15 sport 2 (.223 Hornaday Critical Duty)

I color code my guns and their accessories including mags, so at a glance I know which mag goes to which gun. I put a piece of red duck tape on mags with self defense ammo and green duck tape for target ammo.