Range trip prep, and preloading the mags

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Tu_S

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I recently noticed a change in what I have been doing, compared to what I was for a few decades.

When going to the range, I used to bring one or two magazines and the rounds I was going to shoot in the various ammo boxes, with the mags not loaded. I think my theory on this was to not run through all the ammo too fast, and get to shoot longer.

These days, I'm loading up every mag I have while at home for the trip, to shoot more by not having to load the things while at the range. A side effect of this, I now have more magazines than I ever had for an single firearm I own since I started shooting as a kid with my Dad in the 70's, where my minimum now is to having 50 rounds ready to slap into the gun and ready to go.

Not trying to make a judgement on what is the right or wrong way to do this, and wondering what everyone else is doing. It's just something I noticed in what I do now, where personally, I guess I got to the point in life where I can afford to run through the ammo, and the limited time I get at the range is something I want to spend shooting and not loading magazines.
 
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I do pretty much the same thing. Basically, for my magazine fed weapons, I keep all my sources loaded, with the exception of a couple safe queens. Makes it a lot easier. 1911, for example - 5 or 6 mags loaded with SD ammo, the rest loaded with range or hunting ammo.

Larry
 
Ditto on the autos but also
for the HKS speed loaders
for the revolvers.

Five hi-cap mags or 10 HKSs.

I only take one gun at a time
for a range session. It's been
my practice for decades.

Two ranges only a few miles from
where I live.
 
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Tu_S said:
I recently noticed a change in what I have been doing, compared to what I was for a few decades.

When going to the range, I used to bring one or two magazines and the rounds I was going to shoot in the various ammo boxes, with the mags not loaded. I think my theory on this was to not run through all the ammo too fast, and get to shoot longer.

These days, I'm loading up every mag I have while at home for the trip, to shoot more by not having to load the things while at the range. A side effect of this, I now have more magazines than I ever had for an single firearm I own since I started shooting as a kid with my Dad in the 70's, where my minimum now is to having 50 rounds ready to slap into the gun and ready to go.
Click to expand...

I've started doing the same of late.
 
The indoor range I normally use has a policy that all weapons and magazines are to be unloaded upon entry. So that pretty much dictates what I do.
 
I load up as I shoot. I shot competition for years and had a hard time getting away from 'locked in' habits. I would tell myself I was only gonna shoot for fun, take my time . . . but when that timer goes off . . . balls to the wall.

So loading as I shoot slows me down, lets me enjoy it more now - that's just me, personally. I shoot a lot of banks of steel plates, so I only load six rounds in a magazine. Makes me hesitate/add just that extra half second knowing I don't have a "clean-up shot" if I rush and miss trying to go faster than my skills allow that day. Different strokes . . .
 
I have been doing that for years. I go to the range to shoot, not load mags. Last week, I probably had 7 1911 mags, 4 (all I have) for my 9mm 1911, 4 for the Ruger .22, and 4 for my Sig.
 
Myself and my buddies go every Tuesday , so I'd be loading mags every Monday which just doesn't work for me . We're out there for 2-21/2 hours , but then we'll stop and talk about a pistol that someone brought for shoot and talk . Although when I take my MP5-22 I'll load up 3-4 mags so I don't have to do it at the range . The important thing is going shooting , doesn't matter if you load mags before or at the range , just as long as you're at the range .
 
I always load magazines at home, much easier sitting at the kitchen table than standing in the range bay. Never pre-load revolvers. If Uplula(Maglula) would please make one for the 5.7x28. It is a real pain to load 20 of those in the magazine.
 
If i was paying for range time, and the range permitted it, the mags might be preloaded.

When going to the outdoor range, am having alternatives handy and non carried firearms unladed/mags empty. 22's, at least one pistol and one rifle. If one range is busier than liked, can go to another.
 
I hit the range to shoot not load mags. I prefer to have enough magazines for any semi auto to load at least 50 rounds. I will reload mags while at the range but never show up with empty ones.
 
Depends entirely on what my goal for that day is.
Last week I was testing ammo in two ARs. I was loading 3 or 5 rounds at a time. If I had just been there for practice, I'd have several 30 rounders already loaded up.
The same for other mag fed rifles.
With handguns, I usually only bring 2 or 3 mags and load as needed. However, back when I was shooting IDPA regularly, I'd show up with at least 10 mags loaded and ready to go.
Some of my older, collectible, semi-auto handguns only have one magazine. So there's that. :rolleyes:
 
I find I shoot better if I take my time and only bring one handgun and one magazine to the range, loading as necessary. I shoot mostly at 25 yards, sometimes 50, but never closer than 25, bullseye style. I shoot for about an hour or a little longer with the one gun. No need to overdo things to the point fatigue sets in and you begin shooting poorly. Loading a magazine gives a natural break and rest period during the shooting sequence.
 
I've always rolled fully loaded.
I was never really interested in ammo conservation. Rather a philosophy of maintaining a minimum to meet demand.
In my situation, range rates are hourly, and I do not want to waste time thumbing pills into a box.
even outside that situation, if a weapon is in tow, I consider it on call and part of my defensive toolkit just as I do my EDC.
while there are no good days to choose me as your mark, range days can be particularly bad.
 
We load at the range. It gives my wife the practice.:) Seriously, I find that maintaining concentration is more of a limit on range time than loading mags. Then there is "tourist fatigue" at the local ranges. Yes, I can hear you saying "what about all that desert to shoot in", but I refer you to the Clark County "no shooting" area. Quite honestly, this was needed looking at the ***-hattery that took place in the popular free places. Safe it was not. Then there is the heat in that desert much of the year.
 
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