How Many Magazines?

[Joe Chartreuse]

I put this in the Lounge because I didn't know where else it should go. Feel free to move it.

We have often discussed how much ammo per firearm we like to keep on hand. This begs a second question for me. How many magazines ( for those firearms that use them) do you keep "at the ready" and close per weapon? I ask with the understanding that some hold different quantities than others. Here in NJ we are limited to ten rounds. In my case I keep around 4-5 ready for this type. for my 4 round Ruger American .22/250 maybe 7 or 8 ( Wish I could find extended mags for this.). Some hold 8, and etc. I am aware of extended round mags as well. I guess I am just asking in general. How many magazines per weapon?

 

[Jeepnik]

Depends on what pistol. Some have over ten rounds per mag. One only has four. Usually at least two reloads when carried, one at home.

 

[Killer Bee]

I try to keep six - ten mags minimum when possible for my auto handguns and rifles. some older models can be a little difficult to find original spares so I'll relax my minimum accordingly. and naturally models that share magazines seem to accumulate a lot more LoL

for carry guns I keep three loaded, one in and two ready minimum and I cycle all of them during range visits

I've got a couple hundred magazines around here, probably a hundred just for AR, AK, 1911, and M9

 

[blume357]

Every day on my belt I have a fully loaded spare magazine for my carry pistol. Many times, especially at work, I'm not carrying but I do have that spare magazine along with another pouch with a bottle of nitroglycerin tablets. In my pocket is a Swiss Army knife in the other pocket is a bandana.... you got to be prepared.

I think the number of magazines you have for a gun just really depends on two many things....

 

[Mobuck]

" for my 4 round Ruger American .22/250 maybe 7 or 8 "
For those varmints of opportunity, I keep an old Savage 22/250 in the shop with 3 rounds in the internal magazine and a partial box on the shelf.
As far as the 'other' options--I plead the Fifth.

 

[jack black]

Depends on the situation. Also where you live. IMHO

 

[Groo]

Groo here
When I get an auto I get a total of 6 no matter the cost,
Three to use and three to loose or break.
The number to carry depends on the rounds in the mag.
Single stack ,,2,, double stack ,,1,,[or so]
Then keep my eye out for more at a sane price!!

 

[Fox Mike]

Personal opinion only but I carry only what's in the mag in the gun. If I need more that 7 or 10 shots I am no longer in a defense situation, I am in a shoot-out and I will retreat before that happens.

 

[41Dude]

For the last few years I have been picking up some extra mags a few at a time. My Glock 17 came with three. I have MANY more mags now. Some loaded some still in packaging. I am going with the theory of buy them now while you can.
I usually keep at least six loaded at all times.

 

[s4s4u]

For my pistols I am a 3 mag guy, one for the gun and two in the pouch. For the AR's, multiply that by a factor of 10 or so but I only have pouches for 3 on my carrier. Funny thing is I often carry an LCRx with 5 in the gun and a zip strip in the pocket. I like to think I have sufficient situation awareness to avoid a shootout.

 

[gnappi]

Personal opinion only but I carry only what's in the mag in the gun. If I need more that 7 or 10 shots I am no longer in a defense situation, I am in a shoot-out and I will retreat before that happens.

Agreed.

One 9 round .38 super or 8 round .357 sig mag in the gun.

 

[gnappi]

On another at home thought, I do have an old SxS 12 gauge in my bedroom

 

[BearBiologist]

Two to four per handgun, depending. One speed loader for my Python (plus 6 in it), one extra for my Glock 43, three each for my Glock 20 and Glock 29 SF in 10mm (One loaded with 220 gr hardcast for bears and two with 180 HPs by Underwood), 2 each for my Glock 27 and G22, both converted to 357 Sig. A couple each for the 22lr pistols.

Edited to include rifles:

AR 556: About a dozen 20 rounders& 30 rounders.
PC 9mm: about the same.
Winchester 12 (an attached bandolier of 12 rounds)

 

[kmoore]

For self-defense guns rifle and handgun I like the 6 pack answer but I have more. For hunting rifles, mostly 2 except a Browning .308 BLR. A spare mag for that is in the 300-dollar range so 1 is just going to do.
Having spare mags is not about a shootout at all. It's about having spares at the range and left say in a vehicle or other places. Besides they do fail and break.
On hand and ready for SD, at least 2. Why? they do fail and break. The gun can and sometimes jams. If you carry a spare or have it nearby with practice you will find dumping a mag and reloading is fast. Worse case, you are in a shooting and gun is empty or even if gun is half empty. Reload a full mag just in case. Nothing like standing around with a useless empty firearm. Retreating may not be a survivable move.

 

[bobski]

what i see appears to be obsessive.
but in light of the way the world is changing for the worse here in usa....get more and keep em loaded.

 

[GunnyGene]

Probably more than some, less than others. But I always keep an eye out for loose mags laying around in the Dollar General and Walmart parking lots.

 

[jimbo1096]

The only semi automatic weapons that have extra magazines are the 1911 and the 10/22. The max nine came with two, the AR has 4, 2 of which I keep loaded at home. The 10/22s I don't keep loaded because I only use them when I'm out for the purpose of range practice. The 1911 has two loaded when it's carried. I don't intend to get into a firefight. I only intended to defend myself and my immediate family. If I can't get the shooter down a couple of rounds, I don't need to be there.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Personal opinion only but I carry only what's in the mag in the gun. If I need more that 7 or 10 shots I am no longer in a defense situation, I am in a shoot-out and I will retreat before that happens.

Very good answer.

 

[DGW1949]

Very good answer.

I suppose so. On the other hand, that line of planning is based on the pretext that once the party starts, one can just sorta "leave the festivities" at will....in my experience, it don't work like that. In my experience, neither party gets to leave until the other can't continue the dance....for whatever reason.
Serious stuff, fighting for one's life....just sayin'.

DGW

 

[Fox Mike]

I suppose so. On the other hand, that line of planning is based on the pretext that once the party starts, one can just sorta "leave the festivities" at will....in my experience, it don't work like that. In my experience, neither party gets to leave until the other can't continue the dance....for whatever reason.
Serious stuff, fighting for one's life....just sayin'.

DGW

I personally have been in two situations where shots were fired. In a bar in Eastport MD. Two guys got into a discussion. One pulled a gun. The bartender pulled his fired twice into the ceiling and ended the discussion. Once in Waldorf MD. My buddy and I standing at the bar. A guy walks in fired three rounds and annonces he can whip any SOB in there. We left. In neither situation would I have felt the need to draw my gun.

 

[Jeepnik]

Personal opinion only but I carry only what's in the mag in the gun. If I need more that 7 or 10 shots I am no longer in a defense situation, I am in a shoot-out and I will retreat before that happens.

Great plan. As long as you can retreat and if you retreat you can live with leaving others to fend for themselves.

My opinion is that retreat isn’t always an option.

 

[WendyZXZ]

With us it is the 5 magazines loaded, including the one in the firearm, and ready and close enough to get in seconds.

 

[Kevin]

I suppose so. On the other hand, that line of planning is based on the pretext that once the party starts, one can just sorta "leave the festivities" at will....in my experience, it don't work like that. In my experience, neither party gets to leave until the other can't continue the dance....for whatever reason.
Serious stuff, fighting for one's life....just sayin'.

DGW

I’ve gotta ask, and I’m sure more are curious, how many “parties” like this have you attended?

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I suppose so. On the other hand, that line of planning is based on the pretext that once the party starts, one can just sorta "leave the festivities" at will....in my experience, it don't work like that. In my experience, neither party gets to leave until the other can't continue the dance....for whatever reason.
Serious stuff, fighting for one's life....just sayin'.

DGW

Which is why I carry more mags- but I WOULD at least attempt to leave the festivities if possible after firing a full mag and the party continues....

 

[KIR]

What's a magazine?

 

[Jeepnik]

Never had anyone like that on an M2 when I served. Talk about having an angel looking out for you.

 

[bisleyfan41]

I don't see carrying an extra mag as preparation for a firefight, I see it as a backup should the mag in the gun fail for whatever reason. I always carry one spare; capacity is irrelevant. Planning for the worst case scenario.

BTW, if something goes down and you have the ability to safely leave, you should leave. Before any shots are fired.

If you can't safely retreat, you're gonna have to work towards being able to get out. Don't think you are John McClain in Die Hard or Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon. You ain't and you'll likely die acting like it. That's not real world.

As to the OP's question, more than required. And always adding more.

 

[Mobuck]

If we're only talking about mags for our primary daily CCW gun, I carry one spare mag. When I was working, I also carried another spare mag and 50 rounds of handgun ammo in the console of my vehicle. The carry pistol was augmented by a 300AAC PDW with one 10 round mag in place and 2 loaded 20 round mags in the console. In 15 years of 'investigative work' in rural areas, I ended up in some extremely sketchy places but only drew my weapon twice and never fired a shot.

 

[vito]

Personal opinion only but I carry only what's in the mag in the gun. If I need more that 7 or 10 shots I am no longer in a defense situation, I am in a shoot-out and I will retreat before that happens.

I do the same. I have yet to have any mag fail for me, but I understand it could happen. But so could a million other problems. Many days I carry a snubby with just 5 rounds and feel prepared. You can easily imagine a scenario where nothing less than a belt fed machine gun would suffice, but that doesn’t mean you leave the house daily with that machine gun. Having 5 rounds in my snubbing, or 8 in my LC9s, or 11 in my Glock 26 is enough for me. I’ve yet to even have to draw my gun in over a decade of daily carry. Do whatever it takes to feel comfortable when out and about.

 

[Goldstar225]

One reload, pistol or revolver.