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On your AR mags, do you keep them loaded up or not? I know the one in the gun needs to be loaded, but am not sure about the extras. Loaded or not?

Also, how many extra mags should I have?

Joe

I have some loaded, some not. As far as extras, as many as you can! Magazines are always a topic for bans and restrictions, so get them now while they are cheap.

Loaded.

I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but someone did a study recently that found that loading/unloading magazines was much more detrimental for spring health, than leaving magazines loaded

jb2012 wrote:I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but someone did a study recently that found that loading/unloading magazines was much more detrimental for spring health, than leaving magazines loaded

Keep them loaded.

Loaded.
How many loaded? Only you can determine how many loaded magazines you might need in self defense scenarios both at home and in public.

How many total? As many as you can afford. Look for deals on buying 10 at a time. The Magpul PMags seem to have the best quality and fit in polymer mags for AR. I've started stocking up on aluminum D&H mags.

cyphertext wrote:I have some loaded, some not. As far as extras, as many as you can! Magazines are always a topic for bans and restrictions, so get them now while they are cheap.

As for how many should you have... well if you have to ask then you need more. Simple as that. You just don't have enough.

Ed4032 wrote:As for how many should you have... well if you have to ask then you need more. Simple as that. You just don't have enough.

Good answer! I realized a couple years back that I had enough when someone asked me how many I had and I honestly couldn't tell them. I keep mine loaded and stored in ammo cans.

Most of mine are loaded. The ones I use at the range stay unloaded, because I usually only load them at the range. When I load mags at the range I purposely load them short with random numbers of rounds to force myself to do mag changes.

cyphertext wrote:I have some loaded, some not. As far as extras, as many as you can! Magazines are always a topic for bans and restrictions, so get them now while they are cheap.

Ditto. I have all the ones I'm likely to need at any one time loaded. But I also have some that are still in the package. The reason I haven't loaded all of them is that an ammo can full of loose rounds holds a LOT more ammo in a given amount of shelf space than the same amount of ammo loaded into magazines; and by necessity, I store my unused magazines in a different place than I store my bulk ammo.

I usually keep all but one of mine loaded. That way I have one around that I can load 5 into so I can shoot a group without having to eject and clear every time.

After a range trip, I'll leave them unloaded for a little while so I can get some time in practicing reloading from my pouches. I bought a lockable can from MTM that holds 15 loaded magazines upright and it's great for safe storage and tossing in the car for a productive range day.

I have some mags that get used for training only. Those stay unloaded, so I can load whatever the instructor wants as far as round count and dummy rounds. Other than those, all my mags are loaded. Pistol or AR doesn't matter.

Of my 100 or so AR mags I usually have 10-15 loaded. 5 in a chest rig hanging in the closet, 4 in rifles, and then a couple more randomly in the safe.

As for how many, that's for you to decide. I would encourage you to think about the mix you are acquiring. Trying to stay around 50/50 with good/cheap mags seems to work out without killing the wallet. Right now I'm favoring the Lancer mags in the "good" category and the D&H mags for the "cheap" side of things. As others have said now is the time to buy while all is quiet and prices are down.

I have about 30 still in the plastic. I have about 10-12 unwrapped that I keep loaded. Some have hollow points and and some have the green tipped penetrator rounds . Those mags are indicated with different color tape around the end of the mag. The rest are loaded with 55 grain range ammo and only get unloaded when shot at the range.

Since I've been able to get to the range more often in the last couple months I've been thinking of getting some more mags.