Reason for 20 rndrs?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Reason for 20 rndrs?

Posted: 5/11/2001 9:20:09 AM EDT

TGIF to all! I'd like to know why people spend so much on having many 20 rounders. I mean, from reading this board, people hoard for 3 reasons: 1)Will be banned, 2)The range. 3) the SHTF scenerio. Ok, first off, 20 rnders might last many years before banishment. Secondly, if the SHTF occures and zombies/mutants/space aliens/crazed drug dealers are rampaging through the streets, you would probably want 30rnders instead of 20's. To sum up, I can see that having a few 20 rnders for the range makes sense. They are easier to store and helps you control the amount of ammo you use. But considering that you can buy a 30 rnder for less, why not just keep a few 20 rnders on hand and concentrate on collecting 30 rnders?

Posted: 5/11/2001 9:26:20 AM EDT

[#1]

20 rounders are significantly smaller.Great for prone.I use one when I go walking through the woods.I only have four mags at the moment,three 30s,and one 20.I've had "last two round" failures with snap caps (NEVER WITH LIVE ROUNDS,ONLY WITH SNAP CAPS) but the 20 seems flawless,I guess because it's strait,not curved.My 30s are reliable,only a few times I've had troubles loading snaps ( I only have 2 anyways,that's probably why)
They are both good.I plan to buy another 20,and the rest of mags I buy will probably be 30s.

Posted: 5/11/2001 9:29:14 AM EDT

[#2]

20 rounders have been banned since 1994 - it's about the year 2001 now. You are limited to buying new 10 round magazines which I have yet to find one brand that works correctly.

20 round magazines allow you to go prone. I know in the movies they stand up and take the gunshots like a man but I plan on doing a lot of my killing from my belly thank you. Prone is the most accurate of all shooting positions too so when the terrain and situation allows it you ought to be in the dirt.

My mix is six 30 round magazines and 4-6 20 rounders plus one more in the rifle. I have plenty of both sizes of magazines collected.

Posted: 5/11/2001 9:31:10 AM EDT

[#3]

3 MORE reasons for 20 rounders:

#3 When loaded they are lighter than 30 rounders, easier on the arms when you are carrying your rifle all day.j

#2 In Maryland its all we are allowed to purchase (in state).

#1 20 rounders are more reliable than the 30's, when the conditions turn bad.

Posted: 5/11/2001 11:10:24 AM EDT

[#4]

I HAVE A BUNCH OF THIRTYS AND A BUNCH OF 20S.I PREFERE THE 20.LIGHTER WHEN SHOOTING OFF HAND,BETTER WHEN SHOOTING PRONE.AND QUIKER TO LOAD UP.IT TAKES FOREVER FOR MY WIFE TO EMPTYB A 30 SO I THROW IN A 20 OR BETTER YET A 10.

Posted: 5/11/2001 11:26:19 AM EDT

[#5]

To each his own. I have 5's, 10's, 20,s 30's, and 40's but I prefer the 20rd. Why who acres it my choice.[heavy]

Posted: 5/11/2001 11:45:02 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
...20 round magazines allow you to go prone. I know in the movies they stand up and take the gunshots like a man but I plan on doing a lot of my killing from my belly thank you...

View Quote

What exactly are you planning? [:\]

Posted: 5/11/2001 11:48:38 AM EDT

[#7]

I agree with kingfish. I have a few 20's for the range and collect 30's for SHTF. I even have a 40 which is kinda rare. I stole it from a guy at the flea market for $10. The bigger mags make an AR look even more sinister. Isn't that why most of us own one?

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:09:25 PM EDT

[#8]

i follow kingfish's theory as well. 20's are good for practice and shooting standing with your hand under the mag. for me the 30's are great for prone as i use is as a kind of monopod at times for long distance shots. 30's also have the enhanced springs and followers available.

steve

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:14:34 PM EDT

[#9]

I agree with DeerSlayer. I go for the more sinister look. I don't even own a 20 rd mag. All of mine are 30 rds and I have one 120 rd drum. I also plan on getting a 100 rd Beta-C mag. I like the way the drums look on my pre ban CAR bushy with the flare launcher. It might be heavy as hell but it looks like something out of a Stallon movie..lol When I target practice and want something light I'll carry one of my Olympics.

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:21:42 PM EDT

[#10]

DeerSlayer is right 40 are cool but can't shoot from prone. 20's seem to be best allaround mag.[uzi][heavy][pyro][pistol]

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:33:48 PM EDT

[#11]

I like my Thermold 45 rounders. ;)

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:44:00 PM EDT

[#12]

I managed to obtain a goodly quantity of Colt 20 rounders NIW in the boxes of 7, just like they were shipped to Viet Nam. Or so I'm told. I spent significant $$ for them after talking with VN vets who used both and said the 30's were "okay, but only once we used up the last of the 20's and couldn't get them any more." I was often told to never load more than 26 rounds in one. I like the reliability of the 20's even though I've not had a problem with the few 30's I have used.

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:56:07 PM EDT

[#13]

30 rounders get in the way during prone. This is probably why the first '16s came with 20s, not 30s.

Personally, I feel that 30 rounds is more than you are likely to need at any one time, at least on semi. I can see that value of 30s for full auto suppressive fire, but don't believe they have any real world advantage for aimed fire.

Posted: 5/11/2001 1:01:18 PM EDT

[#14]

How do you use your ar?

Posted: 5/11/2001 1:06:01 PM EDT

[#15]

I, it goes without saying, am such a preternatually good shot that I could defeat the lot of you with a Stevens single shot .22. With that in mind, I prefer the 20 round magazines because I grew up during the Vietnam war and saw M-16's on the tube every night. The 20 looks "right" to me in a way the higher capacity magazines do not.

Posted: 5/11/2001 1:25:05 PM EDT

[#16]

Kingfish: 4) A 20-round magazine doesn't bump into my side all morning while deer-hunting in the mountains.

Posted: 5/11/2001 2:15:24 PM EDT

[#17]

Every magazine has it's place in the world of AR15 owners. I agree with using 20 rounders for the range and prone. I was trained to put 18 rounds in the 20's and 28 rounds in the 30's. In theory this keeps the spring from getting overcompressed with time, and results in more positive feeds from the magazine. Most of the high scorers on the military KD course prefer the 20's. I don't own any 20's, mainly because of price. I would buy a few if I find a good deal. Once I talked my supply 'O' out of a nice stash of brand new 30's ten years ago, and those are my primary mags.

Posted: 5/11/2001 8:28:31 PM EDT

[#18]

I have 6 gi30s and 1 colt 20 and 2 cheap 20s i prefer the 20s for range and when shooting from a prone pos.and the compactness they offer over the 30s.But when shtf more mags the better.

Posted: 5/12/2001 4:34:49 AM EDT

[#19]

The original prototype Armalite Ar15 had 25 round mags. During trials, the Army asked for 20 rounders. Later, during the Vietnam War, they went with the 30rounder.
[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/030/5L/dk/i1/4l26250.jpg[/img]
See "THE BLACK RIFLE"

Posted: 5/12/2001 4:46:10 AM EDT

[#20]

In one word....prone. The 30's dont allow me to get my rifle low enough.
Eric

Posted: 5/12/2001 6:21:22 AM EDT

[#21]

And now for a completely different reason... [b]It's easier to count your shots![/b]

Posted: 5/12/2001 6:25:24 AM EDT

[#22]

......

Posted: 5/12/2001 6:37:37 AM EDT

[#23]

I really like the 20 round magazines for the reasons stated, shooting prone, lighter, and I can keep track of my loaded ammo better since a box holds twenty.

Posted: 5/12/2001 7:18:58 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
I, it goes without saying, am such a preternatually good shot that I could defeat the lot of you with a Stevens single shot .22. With that in mind, I prefer the 20 round magazines because I grew up during the Vietnam war and saw M-16's on the tube every night. The 20 looks "right" to me in a way the higher capacity magazines do not.

View Quote

And I, without a doubt in my military mind, am such a bad motor scooter, could whip everyone here with a wrist rocket and a bag of marbles! Top that, if'n yuh can.

Posted: 5/12/2001 7:23:05 AM EDT

[#25]

Definitely like 20's better in prone.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Reason for 20 rndrs?

General » General Discussion

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us