Mags for guns I dont own...yet

[solomon]

I'm not saying it's a good situation... but compared to us here in MA, you have it made in the shade magazine-wise.

No question, but it's a caution to those in still-free states: it *CAN* happen to you!

In practical terms, we're limited to 10rd magazines on new designs - there are no 15rd MPX magazines for instance, so you get a blocked 20 or a blocked 30 or a stock 10rd. Pretty much no one will ship anything in over 15 so good luck getting an M&P 9mm for instance and blocking it to 15.

I still wouldn't trade places with you, but don't think we've got it easy. I did stock up "with plenty of notice", but remember this was post-Sandy Hook, so getting even AR mags wasn't easy. Magpul will be forever cherished in Kolorado for the Boulder Air Lift, but there's stuff I wanted that I couldn't get in time

 

[solomon]

You wouldn't believe this...but I've bought mags for guns that haven't even been invented yet, in case they are invented, and they have mags over 15 rounds.

The problem isn't with MY believing it. Sadly the MPX magazines are date coded so even the least scrupulous of people would be hard-pressed to claim they had those before the Kolorado apocalypse....

 

[TTSH]

You wouldn't believe this...but I've bought mags for guns that haven't even been invented yet, in case they are invented, and they have mags over 15 rounds. Which, as everyone knows now, are MUCH more evil than mags of 15 rounds or less. Hello, Kolorado!

Actually, you're not the first to do that! We do a lot of research on magazine dates here in the People's Republic, especially for dates right around the 1994 pre-ban cut-off date. Can't recall the details this second but one manufacturer did release magazines for sale before the gun itself was ready to be released. I thought that was a brilliant move! I just wish I had bought some!

 

[oldman10mm]

Went to the Novi Mich show today,Sunday. 11 1/2 hour excursion,good show,small crowd. Picked up some collectable ammo(Rem 357M MULTIBALL LOAD-2 70gr 000 Buckshot and some 356TSW),2 mags(4013 and 45cal 6rd)and some misc stuff.

 

[TTSH]

Went to the Novi Mich show today,Sunday. 11 1/2 hour excursion,good show,small crowd. Picked up some collectable ammo(Rem 357M MULTIBALL LOAD-2 70gr 000 Buckshot and some 356TSW),2 mags(4013 and 45cal 6rd)and some misc stuff.

Just two magazines? You are slipping! Either that or you have already bought out all the vendors.

I did a show Saturday specifically to find more 5900-series pre-bans. I was somewhat successful in that regard, but it cost me dearly. The good news is that they are in tip-top shape... essentially new/unused. The bad news is that I can't keep buying at those kind of prices. A man's got to know his limitations and I believe I have finally reached mine.

 

[oldman10mm]

After buying the 4 boxes of rare/collectable ammo for $100,he asked me if there's anything else I'm looking for,I told him 3rd gen mags but he didn't have any in his display cases. He then pulled out 2 large plastic containers,1 for 9mm and 1 for 40/45. There were a lot of mags in them that I would have bought If I had more funds with me. The 2 I picked were marked $35 each,he gave them for $25. Next Novi show is in the fall.
How badly priced were the 59 pre-bans you picked up ?

 

[TTSH]

After buying the 4 boxes of rare/collectable ammo for $100,he asked me if there's anything else I'm looking for,I told him 3rd gen mags but he didn't have any in his display cases. He then pulled out 2 large plastic containers,1 for 9mm and 1 for 40/45. There were a lot of mags in them that I would have bought If I had more funds with me. The 2 I picked were marked $35 each,he gave them for $25. Next Novi show is in the fall.
How badly priced were the 59 pre-bans you picked up ?

Sounds like you've got a good source for the future. Sure wish I could attend some of those "real" gun shows out your way. The one I attended last Saturday was kind of a depressing joke. We now have too many gun shows here in MA and it is diluting the shows (both attendance and vendor participation) considerably.

I'd not going to embarrass myself publicly by admitting when I had to pay to secure a couple of "as-new" 5900-series 15-round pre-bans. Sometimes you've just got to pay what it takes to get what you need whether you like it or not. One vendor at the show swore that he has tons of them but didn't bring them. If he was telling me the truth, he could be a good source at future shows in the fall... but I have my doubts that his story was for real. Been there, done that before and those sorts of wild dealer stories never seem to go anywhere.

In any case, just about all of my local sources have been worked to their limits. One possible/potential good source remains but I think I've bought out everyone else! I'm in pretty good shape now after Saturday's show and after a little post-show shopping. I'm not 100% where I want to be... but I'm a whole lot better off than I was before I started this "build up the 3rd Gen magazine supply" campaign!

 

[oldman10mm]

I could have easily picked out $400-500 worth of mags from in the containers he brought out. I just got 2 of the 'rarer' ones,one for 4013 and the 45 6 rounder for CS45/4513-53TSW.

 

[BUFF]

Not handguns, but I once bought 100 magazines for the West German G-3 rifle from a company called TAPCO. Probably 10-12 years ago or a little more.

I had owned the semi-auto version before then, in fact had owned 2 H&K-91's and a CETME, and later a PTR (U.S.-made clone) that used G-3 mags, but had nothing at the time and didn't think I'd own another. Great rifles but I like the M-14 style and FN-FAL types better.

TAPCO had a bazillion of them and was blowing them out.

I paid 50 cents apiece with shipping.

Later, during the AWB and various elections, I sold them for $3.00-$5.00 each, plus postage. I got tired of going to the post office.

 

[TTSH]

I could have easily picked out $400-500 worth of mags from in the containers he brought out. I just got 2 of the 'rarer' ones,one for 4013 and the 45 6 rounder for CS45/4513-53TSW.

That's a whole lot of magazines you passed up!

Funny, isn't it? I used to have a gun budget. Then I had to change it to a gun & magazine budget because I started getting too far out of balance, mags vs. gun. Then I went too far into the red last year buying up too many 3rd Gens and I had to start tracking (and hopefully paying down) gun debt. Now, I track gun debt and magazine debt as I continue to play discontinued & pre-ban magazine catch-up.

What a situation! This is what happens when you buy discontinued guns with no spares or just one spare. Then, suddenly, you wake up one day and smell the coffee. Suddenly, magazines become a higher priority than guns... and you morph from being a gun collector into being a discontinued magazine collector!

But then you know what they say. When the value of your magazines starts to exceed the value of your guns... it's time to go out and buy more guns!

Rinse and repeat!

 

[oldman10mm]

of the 13 varieties I have,only 7 are for myself,the other 6 are for others. I charge $5 over what I paid and if for to be shipped,plus USPS postage. Never had a complaint about the +$5.
What I acquire for others are;
-4013TSW 9rd double stack
-4006 11rd double stack
-4506 8rd
-M945PC 7rd
-457/4516/4513TSW 7rd
-4513TSW 6rd.

the most difficult mag is the 356TSW.

 

[solomon]

Not handguns, but I once bought 100 magazines for the West German G-3 rifle

I might have a 5rd PSG1 magazine sitting alone in a corner waiting for me to win the lottery or find an angry divorcee selling off her ex's guns for pennies on the dollar...

 

[colt_saa]

Not handguns, but I once bought 100 magazines for the West German G-3 rifle from a company called TAPCO. Probably 10-12 years ago or a little more.

I had owned the semi-auto version before then, in fact had owned 2 H&K-91's and a CETME, and later a PTR (U.S.-made clone) that used G-3 mags, but had nothing at the time and didn't think I'd own another. Great rifles but I like the M-14 style and FN-FAL types better.

TAPCO had a bazillion of them and was blowing them out.

I paid 50 cents apiece with shipping.

Later, during the AWB and various elections, I sold them for $3.00-$5.00 each, plus postage. I got tired of going to the post office.

I also bought 100 of those G3 magazines, I think I paid $.97 each for them delivered

I put mine to use in my G3k

If you bought them pre-AWB, that was over 22 years ago......time flies

 

[scoobysnacker]

I've done it, unintentionally, a couple of times. It's always worked out to my advantage.

1st time, "unknown" doublestack 9mm magazine for $14.
I owned a CZ 75, Beretta 92SF and Hi Power at the time, not sure if I had my S&W 915 yet or not. I rolled the dice, figuring I had a solid chance it would fit one of my pistols. It didn't.
I'm always on the lookout for different types of metal DA/SA duty pistols at good prices; after a little research I figured out the magazine was for a Star Model 28/30/31. I later was able to land a Star 30MI in great shape for a good price, and the magazine was indeed the correct one.

2nd time, searching for additional mags for my S&W 39-2. Someone on ebay listed a pair of 39xx series mags for a good price, a bit confusing on the description. Turned out they were for a 3914, didn't fit my pistol.
Did a straight trade with a member of this board for the mags I needed.

 

[carbuncle]

I did it with 4006 mags a few years ago: a site I will not name due to their cowardly reaction to Sandy Hook had a deal where they were selling 4006 trade-in mags for $5.99 so I grabbed 5. Refurbished with all new springs and followers, too, and 4 years later I finally found my perfect 4006.

 

[Sevens]

1st time, "unknown" doublestack 9mm magazine for $14.
I owned a CZ 75, Beretta 92SF and Hi Power at the time, not sure if I had my S&W 915 yet or not. I rolled the dice, figuring I had a solid chance it would fit one of my pistols. It didn't.
I'm always on the lookout for different types of metal DA/SA duty pistols at good prices; after a little research I figured out the magazine was for a Star Model 28/30/31. I later was able to land a Star 30MI in great shape for a good price, and the magazine was indeed the correct one.

Haha, this is a neat tale either way, but NOW that you own a Star 30MI, do you now also realize what a pain in the butt it is to find a magazine for it, and an affordable one at that?

This makes your tale even better!

I know there is another guy who posts here that is a big fan of the double stack DA Star like the Model 28/30/31 and he says the 5906 magazine works but I believe that is only if the pistol is altered and the magazine safety is removed. I have not removed mine (yet?) but the pistol is pretty cool and I like it.

 

[damienph]

I have bought a few magazines for handguns .22LR rifles that I dont own yet but what I am really bad about is buying dies and reloading components for handguns and rifles that I hope to have one day. I currently load for 28 different cartridges and have dies for at least 10 that I don't yet have firearms for. Some that I really want, I have two sets of dies for (7-30 Waters and .22-250) and even some factory ammo.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

In addition to magazines, I routinely buy ammo for guns that I do not have yet.;-). Not a problem.

 

[TTSH]

In addition to magazines, I routinely buy ammo for guns that I do not have yet.;-). Not a problem.

Ha!!! Now, that's something I never thought of doing before. Perhaps with the challenges we face now and the likelihood of far greater challenges after November, it's something I should seriously consider.

I guess the question is: What calibers might I someday need for which I don't have any matching guns right now.

I recently bought some .357 Sig ammo after acquiring a .357 Sig barrel for my M&P40 FS... so that's good for now. I also stocked up recently on "non-Plus P" .38 Special so I could use that in my vintage Model 10-5.

I don't own any .32 ACP ammo... nor do I own a .32 ACP pistol. I suppose it's a long shot possibility that I could own a Seecamp .32 someday (the .380 version is not for sale in MA). But with very few "good years" left, that's kind of doubtful.

10mm is one obvious choice, but the ammo is crazy expensive here in MA. Walmart doesn't even carry it. From what little research I've done, it appears like you've got to buy it on-line to get it at least semi-economically... but we can't import here in MA.

I own just one shotgun right now and it is .410 gauge. I guess one could make a pretty good argument that I should own some 12 gauge shotgun shells... just in case the stuff hits the fan really hard someday!

A friend recently got me fairly interested in the Ruger SP101 .327 Magnum revolver. If it ever goes on sale cheap enough, I could see myself going for one of them... so there's a fairly decent candidate!

Only other one I can think of is FN's 5.7×28mm cartridge for their PS90 bullpup. It makes no sense for me here in MA with our silly magazine size restriction, but the gun itself has always intrigued me and the price has come down a lot from a few years ago. I'm certainly not going to run out and buy one tomorrow... but I wouldn't rule it out entirely either.

 

[oldman10mm]

Ammo for guns I don't have,Yes. But my approach to that is different as I reload. 380ACP,357Sig,45LC,454Casull,460S&W,500S&W-have all components necessary,brass & bullets. Don't shoot 308Win & 30-06 anymore but have all the components/dies.