Posted: 9/7/2011 7:09:55 PM EDT
| As a beginning prepper I often wonder what you guys think about magazines, guns that is. Per weapon, what do you consider to be a good number of magazines ready to go in a SHTF situation? I know more is better but what is realistic to you guys? |
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As one who lived through the Clinton ban ALL I CAN AFFORD I might make allowances for different firearms Marlin 22...I might say I have enough if I had 5 to 10 mags. Glock....all I can afford...Buy mags before beer. AR/ak....all I can afford...see a bargain buy some. Then there is that special rifle that take special mags...When I find a mag for sale I try to buy it...I might even spend my lunch money. I try not to let the lean years of the ban effect me.... Did I say that if you can afford the mag and if the mag is a deal that you should buy it. Oh and all you can afford |
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they can wear out, get damaged or lost.
something like a Ruger LCP doesn't need as many mags as a full sized handgun, but you still need at least 3 for a gun like that. for a duty or CCW type gun i'd say 12 and a similar number to start with for most rifles. (military type weapons, AKs, ARs, etc) for "traditional hunting rifles" with detachable, low capacity mags, not so many. if you have an SKS, stick to the original 10rd flush mag and get a bunch of stripper clips. it's one of the guns that's best left close to the original "as issued" configuration. the large mags tend to cause more problems than they solve. number your mags with a paint marker so if one starts having problems you can identicfy which one it is. if you're going to a training class, put your actual name on your school mags. if it has your handle on it, they may not know who to return them to. don't buy cheap, no name mags simply because "they're better than nothing". get quality mags from a company wth a reputation for making decent stuff. prices at most gunshows are usually DOUBLE what you can find the same mags for online. i've seen paople freak out when i recocmned 12 mags for their sidearm... "OMG, that's EXPENSIVE" yeah... no doubt. but having only 1 or 2 mags is silly. |
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Quoted:
As one who lived through the Clinton ban Butler Creek 25rd 10/22 mags were up to $100 ALL I CAN AFFORD Oh and all you can afford I have a rambling notion that the number 20x per rifle and 10x per handgun has a pretty ring to it, so that's my magic number that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Then go buy some more, a lot more, more then you think you'll ever need in your lifetime. In fact, there are some crazy people out there that probably never stop buying mag's, or so I've heard........ 
Cheers BT edit to add |
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Quoted: Whatever you likeId say I have started a good collection of SHTF weapons, same basic calibers and platforms (AR's, Glocks/Kel-tecs with glock mags, Shottys) would you guys recomend USGI mags for the ARs or polymers such as Magpul's? Whatever is of good quality and at a good price Whatever is your favorite Did I mention that more may be better. |
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Id say I have started a good collection of SHTF weapons, same basic calibers and platforms (AR's, Glocks/Kel-tecs with glock mags, Shottys) would you guys recomend USGI mags for the ARs or polymers such as Magpul's? i have several GI mags, and other steel mags...but my goto are the Magpul ones. |
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Id say I have started a good collection of SHTF weapons, same basic calibers and platforms (AR's, Glocks/Kel-tecs with glock mags, Shottys) would you guys recomend USGI mags for the ARs or polymers such as Magpul's? The pmag's IMHO have a advantage over the USGI mags, the main thing for me is there a heck of lot stronger, no more sharp edges on the bottom of the mag, and you can store loaded mags with the dust cover on. I store the pmags loaded (in an 50 cal ammo can w/ dissident) with the dust cover on. The downside is the bottoms are wider and this can effect mag pouch covers from closing properly on certain gear as they take up more room. I also like the USGI mag's, and would not feel ill equipped if that's all I had. BT |
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As a beginning prepper I often wonder what you guys think about magazines, guns that is. Per weapon, what do you consider to be a good number of magazines ready to go in a SHTF situation? I know more is better but what is realistic to you guys? I tend to think in terms of a "lifetime " supply. Rifles = about 20 mags each pistols = about 10 mags each. Thats a minimum number by the way. The military considers magazines like toilet paper. A disposable item that is expected to be lost or damaged. |
| Thanks for all the information, I have started a collection of mags but need to step up a little all the way around. I like the idea of USGI mags and rebuild kits as it seems that the USGI's could handle more rebuilds without wearing out? Maybe I'm off completely but will look into it. |
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I have a lot of mags. Most of my guns are the same though (Different length ARs, Ruger MK II's, 1911's and glocks).
BCM has a good sale. If you bought that, you'd be set for a decade. 44mag can have sales too. Aim has a 20 round ar mag for 6.99 I generally ask for mags as birthday presents. They are easy to get and cheap for now. |
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rebuild kits are good, more mags are better though. Another poster made a good point in how mags skyrocketed in price during the ban. Glock mags were going for $120 a pop. Many of us remember those years and will never get caught short again. I could only afford a couple of magazines, for my AR and Glock, per year back then.........Beginning manager and having family to feed...etc. |
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Magazines are in my experience the most common point of failure in a firearm. Slight damage, rough handling, wear and tear and all of a sudden you've got to clear stoppages every few rounds.
Couple that with the fact that you may not always be able to find cheap magazines for your weapons and it starts becoming a very good idea to stock up whenever you can.Try tossing in a mag or two every time you buy some ammo. It adds up over time. |
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the BIG ammo cans that are 8"x18"x14" with two latches for the lid and the diagonal brace on the side will store about 90 AR mags (almost a case) laid in there neatly. makes for nice sturdy and secure storage for mags when you get more than you can easily store in a bag or cardboard box. AK mags don't stash as neatly, but you can fit a bunch of those in the same cans. i use .30 cal cans for HK, M1A or FAL mags and .50 cal cans for various pistol mags.
the bottom row under one of my storage shelves is a line of these cans and the shelves are Gorilla Racks. another unit of shelving has 5gal buckets and MWCs on the bottom row. |
I'm an unrepentant mag and ammo whore. Like many here, it's not about zombies and Mad Max scenarios but a hedge against future availability due to government foolishness. When the AWB kicked in I thought I was in good shape-boy was I wrong 
Magazines are a consumable item-they wear out and become damaged. If the sale of all standard capacity mags was banned tomorrow, would you be set for life? How about the lives of your children? If the answer is no, then you may want to consider buying more. At the height of the federal AWB I can remember paying north of $50ea for beat to snot Colt 20 rounders, and over $100ea for Sig 226 and 228 mags. HK USP mags? Forget about it... |
| I bought my first gun- A Bushmaster AR back in 2002. I was able to get 30 round mags, but they were beat to hell, and I paid about 30 bucks or so for them if I remember right. I never thought we'd see mag prices go down this low. My advice if you're just getting started is to go to AimSurplus.com or 44Mag.com and hit it hard. Its a one time purchase, and you'll be glad you did. |
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As one who lived through the Clinton ban ALL I CAN AFFORD I might make allowances for different firearms Marlin 22...I might say I have enough if I had 5 to 10 mags. Glock....all I can afford...Buy mags before beer. AR/ak....all I can afford...see a bargain buy some. Then there is that special rifle that take special mags...When I find a mag for sale I try to buy it...I might even spend my lunch money. I try not to let the lean years of the ban effect me.... Did I say that if you can afford the mag and if the mag is a deal that you should buy it. Oh and all you can afford This is pretty much my take on it as well. |
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Quoted: I bought my first gun- A Bushmaster AR back in 2002. I was able to get 30 round mags, but they were beat to hell, and I paid about 30 bucks or so for them if I remember right. I never thought we'd see mag prices go down this low. My advice if you're just getting started is to go to AimSurplus.com or 44Mag.com and hit it hard. Its a one time purchase, and you'll be glad you did. thats kinna funny, because i clearly remember when AK mags were 3 for 9 bucks. now they are at least 10 bucks each and that has come way down. To the OP, I only have 15 mags total for my 2 AR's. I use the same 2 mags each and everytime at the range, then when i come home, i load em up and put em in the safe and the other 13 are in a box. I have 13 C product mags, 1 magpul and one Sanchez mag thats almost as old as Rusteerooster that operates smooth as silk every single time. i have other auto loaders and each of them has 4 mags each as do my pistols. Everyone sees this issue differently. it is up to you. |
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I remember the ban years all too well. So, I've got a good stock of AR mags. Well, I did before the tragic boating accident.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that if you decide to take a carbine or handgun class, or more than one class, you should really have a LOT of magazines available. In the basic handgun self-defense class I took, we shot about 500 rounds in a weekend. I had 4 mags and wished I'd had a dozen. When your hands are sweaty and not working all that well from shooting so much, it's easy to screw up a mag load. It's also easy to jam your thumb into a mag lip and get a nasty cut. Ask me how I know.  Imagine some of the classes I've seen advertised where you shoot 1200, 1500, 2000 rounds and it drives the point home that if you're reloading the same 4 mags all the time, it won't take long for the wear and tear to start showing up, especially if you drop them on the ground during your shoots. I had one mag that was starting to pick up a lot of dust/dirt/grass/etc. and that was just a 2 day basic class. Harder class, competition shoot, SHTF, zombies - you'll need more mags than you can carry.
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Quoted:
As one who lived through the Clinton ban ALL I CAN AFFORD I might make allowances for different firearms Marlin 22...I might say I have enough if I had 5 to 10 mags. Glock....all I can afford...Buy mags before beer. AR/ak....all I can afford...see a bargain buy some. Then there is that special rifle that take special mags...When I find a mag for sale I try to buy it...I might even spend my lunch money. I try not to let the lean years of the ban effect me.... Did I say that if you can afford the mag and if the mag is a deal that you should buy it. Oh and all you can afford This right here, Clinton gun ban and all. When I left Calif. I left several large capacity pre-ban mags with a friend. Buy all you can. |
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I've got 13 mags for my AR, 12 Mags for my AK, 5 mags each for my Glock 22 and Glock 34, 2 Mags for my M&P9, and 1 mag for my M&P15/22. Eventually I would like to have a minimum of 20 AR and AK mags, 10 pistol mags each, and 10-15 mags for the 15/22. Because of other items I need to purchase, I plan on purchasing 1 magazine a month. I'll start with the M&P9 until I reach 5, then I'll purchase for the 15/22 until I reach 5. After that I'll begin rotating one a month for a different platform until I eventually reach my goal. When I reach my goal, I'll continue with my plan until I feel the need to stop (which probably won't happen).
Also, I plan on asking for mags as Christmas and birthday presents as well. Or if I've really got a money burning a hole in my pocket then I might buy some more. Irregardless of if I purchase more at any other time, I still plan on purchasing that "1" a month. |
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I don't even know how many AR mags i have now ––- it isn't too extravagent an amount - maybe 35 or 40 , but i still pick up a couple of P-Mags whenever i can - i like the 20 rounders myself–– I feel like my AR is well equipped. As someone else correctly stated, AR-15 magazines are almost disposable items
Pistols OTOH, i am woefully under-geared. I would buy more if i thought i would truly be depending on them, but i merely have enough to cover home defense and CCW duty for most of these (2 or 3 apiece ) |
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Quoted: Id say I have started a good collection of SHTF weapons, same basic calibers and platforms (AR's, Glocks/Kel-tecs with glock mags, Shottys) would you guys recomend USGI mags for the ARs or polymers such as Magpul's? It is hard to beat Magpul, GI are also good to go, get what fits your budget. |
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Having lived thru the '94 AWB, then the Cali Ban & Y2K make it worse, I bought AR mags in '97-'99 for as much as $35-$45each. No such thing today, but that memory skews my view of preparedness. Plus my .MIL training skews my view of USGI's and the fact that IMO they're expendable... So I have 704 AR 30rd mags, for so far 36 stripped lowers, and a planned 50 AR's one of these days. I've reached my quota of 12 USGI AR mags per (current+future) AR's. Tthe next goal is 4-6 PMag/Lancer mags per AR, which will probably be bought later and piecemeal, unlike the USGI's which were purchased as a single bulk purchase (for a huge deal). My range mags, out of the 704, are a handful of new USGI's(16), pre bans(39), and the few PMag/Lancer polymer mags I have so far (13). Preparedness doesn't mean a Family of Four to me. It means a community of like-minded folks, about 12-24 families, comprised of my relatives (who aren't as prepared w/firearms but are better prepped in other ways), close family friends, and most trusted neighbors and coworkers. While I don't intend to arm them all, there's a truer purpose to this whoring - to preserve the 2A rights of my kids and grandkids, maybe even great-grandkids far far into the future...and not some Year 2050 version of the 2A, but the Year 2005-2012 version, (or before this Obamanation in office does anything). (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_17/516918_.html&page=8&anc=5201852#i5201852 fer y'all who don't believe me...) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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and I thought the guys with more than 3 lanterns were sick. WL, you got it good. Thanks OverScoped! ...but I AM sick... I have 3 propane and 3 LED lanterns, six 3-D cell Maglite flashlights of which 3 are LED and 3 standard krypton bulbs, and three 2-AA cell Maglite pocket flashlights... :) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |