Marking magazines

smokindog

smokindog

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As things have improved lately, I'm finally to the point that I have "enough" magazines for all my hand guns (8-10 per).

My question now is "marking" them. I keep them all loaded but I try to keep two for each weapon loaded with "the good stuff" (SD). I've always been a tad OCD, it's the engineer in me, so I don't really want to put markings on the base pads ala golf ball marking!

I'd like to be able to quickly tell which two are said SD magazines. I keep them all in mag pouches by color by gun/caliber but when they get put in the safe, they sometimes get mixed around if the stacks should "collapse" or I grab something in a hurry.

North Star Double Pistol Mag Pouch: Shooting : Walmart.com

You can't see it in the picture but there is an eyelet under the tab near the bottom of each mag sleeve.

My plan is to use some good quality bright red high temp engine paint, neatly tape off the mag, and hit the top third of each magazine I keep for SD so that the red is visible through the eyelet. I will disassemble the mag first so as not to paint anything but the outside of the mag.

Anyone think this will cause performance problems and/or have other thoughts???
 
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Sounds good but I think youre over thinking this. Simple stripes or dots or numbers will do.

I keep them all loaded with "good stuff" and have a few range ones. Occasionally ill take the good ones and fire those off

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Rather than disassemble the mags, could you partially fill them with enough empty casings to push the followers down out of the path of the spray paint?
 
Unloading a magazine to remove SD ammo to replace with range/practice isn't much of a chore. You should always shoot some of your SD at the range anyway.

I don't keep practice ammo loaded at home. If a magazine is loaded in my home, it has SD in it. I don't need to wonder or mark a magazine.
 
BaldEagle1313 said:
I don't keep practice ammo loaded at home. If a magazine is loaded in my home, it has SD in it.
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+1, well said.
Here's the only thing if the same type/looking mag has a different caliber ammo (300 BO vs .223)....
 

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I would prefer to Armoloy the SD magazines. That would make them look distinctly different from both blued and stainless magazines, or any other magazines you are likely to encounter at the range. It costs about $17.50 each.

Additionally, Armoloy makes the magazine's internals slightly slippery, so they can be kept completely free of lubricants, yet still be reliable. It also prevents them from acquiring finger print marks if you have slightly corrosive perspiration.

The process cannot be applied to aluminum parts.
 
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Meh, I keep 3 for each handgun loaded with HD ammo that I rotate, all others are loaded at the range with shooting ammo.
Really it's not hard to tell which is which, just look at the first round in the mag to tell (which is just as easy as looking for a color/number code).
The only reason I number my mags is to tell if one is being problematic.

And one last thought:
If you code your mags and end up in a self defense situation where rounds are fired, I can bet the lawyer for the person shot/their family will use it against you.
*Evil mean person, you were just waiting on the chance to use those extra deadly bullets rather than normal ones!*

but when they get put in the safe, they sometimes get mixed around if the stacks should "collapse" or I grab something in a hurry.
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Well, it's not hard to keep them seperate, just don't throw them in with range mags/ammo.
 
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In the past when I was shooting more, I used those 1" different colored dots , they are used for color coding files..pretty sticky and stay put, but can be taken off..
 
My Glock mags are the only ones I've marked, but... For my duty mags I fill in the numbering/ markings with a red crayon. One of the digits I fill in with a white crayon. My range mags I reverse the colors.

I do this so that I can keep track of my mags at the range, especially during quals and training when there's a bunch of us on the line with the same guns. It also allows me to easily identify a problem mag. I usually get asked about it every range session and always explain that I know my mags are in good order and work 100% in my gun, everyone else's are an unknown.


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My carry and HD mags are filled with defensive loads, period. Mags for anything else are typically empty and in mag pouches or in the mag sleeves of my range bag. I usually load them before I head to the range. I'm comfortable with that set up.
 
The only semi-auto handguns I own are 1911s. I only shoot hardball ammo in them (like God, JM Browning, Alvin York and Chesty Puller intended), so every magazine has SD ammo in it. I always shoot at least 50 rounds through each magazine while checking for reliability. Those that have passed the 50 round without a malfunction test get a red sticky dot on the bottom.
 
I simply mark mine with an electric engraver. A small number 1 thru how ever many I have for each pistol on the mag body where it doesn't show when inserted.

I buy only quality mags and crush or destroy & dispose of any mags that don't work flawlessly.
 
Lot's of great suggestions and I thank you all! Will painting the outside upper third of the mags so I can see the color through the eyelet of the mag holders impact the performance? Any real life experience?
 
smokindog,
I don't really get why you need to keep Range Mag's loaded. Just keep a few loaded mag's for SD and you'll know that any loaded magazine contains SD ammo, - simple. Mag's that are designated for Range use can be kept in your Range Bag or with the Pistol itself in it's box or rug. I don't see why Range mag's need to stay loaded.
 
I use a small engraver and number mine on the base plate.
Works for me.
Dano
 
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