How Many Magazines Do You Need?

How Many Magazines Do You Need?

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about magazines today. Specifically, we are going to go over things to consider when it comes to supply of these items. These important firearm components are utilized by shooters of all types and in many popular use cases. Without further ado, let’s talk about magazines and explore factors to consider when determining how many you need.

Consider What Comes with Your Gun

First, one should keep in mind which magazines initially come with your firearm. Most pistols will typically come with two to three magazines while rifles typically come with one magazine. Many shooters see this initial number as a starting point to build up from while others consider the amount to be adequate.

Consider Your Use Case

Perhaps one of the most important things one should consider when gauging the number of magazines they need is their use case. Generally, one’s practical needs and foreseeable use cases drive the acquisition of goods. There are many things one can use a firearm for such as hunting, competition shooting, self-defense, or recreational target shooting. Of course, some of these use cases will realistically require more magazines and reloading than others. For example, a hunter will generally require less magazines than a competition shooter will. Purchase Magazines

How Often Do You Shoot This Gun?

Another important factor to consider is how often a certain gun is employed. Simply put, if one is into collecting firearms and has a wide range of firearms, it may not be practical to stock up for each and every one. Doing so can be costly and a pain if one has a particularly large or diverse collection. If a firearm is rarely shot, it can be well-served by the magazine or magazines which came with it from the factory.

Are Magazines Expensive?

Ultimately, magazines can vary greatly in terms of price. Some magazines will be affordable and cost-effective while others are more premium in nature. Price can also be dictated by the specific manufacturer of a magazine or the firearm it is intended for. Of course, magazines for discontinued or vintage firearms can also command premium costs due to their rarity. The materials used in a magazine can also influence its price. Generally speaking, synthetic and polymer materials are cheaper to work with than steel and aluminum are.

Who Makes Magazines?

As of now, there are many different producers of magazines for use with pistols and rifles. Some magazines are made in-house by firearm manufacturers while other magazines are of the aftermarket or outsourced variety. Notable producers of magazines include companies such as Magpul, Lancer Systems, Mec-Gar, and KCI to name a few. Notably, companies like Mec-Gar and KCI produce OEM magazines for a number of firearms companies. The wide range of magazine producers means that shooters will have a wide range of options if they are looking to buy magazines.

OEM vs Aftermarket Magazines

Of course, as OEM and aftermarket magazine options exist, they are inevitably compared to each other. In some cases, aftermarket magazines have features not found on OEM magazine offerings. This is observable when comparing the KCI-made magazines for B&T firearms like the TP9 and APC9 to their OEM counterparts. Unlike OEM B&T magazines, KCI magazines of this type feature steel feed lips. Additionally, many aftermarket magazines are cheaper than their factory counterparts. This is particularly evident when comparing HK MP5 magazines to those offered by KCI and other companies. The original HK offerings simply cost more than their counterparts. Of course, as mentioned above, there are many companies which utilize magazines from other manufacturers with their firearms. Notably, Mec-Gar produces many magazines for companies such as Sig Sauer and CZ-USA. It is also worth knowing that often times, factory magazines have undergone R&D alongside their host firearms. This is to say that factory, OEM magazines are optimal for use as they were designed to work with their corresponding firearms in the first place. Additionally, some aftermarket magazines use inferior materials and manufacturing processes when compared to their factory counterparts. Because of this, some aftermarket magazines do not work as well as their factory-sanctioned counterparts. At the end of the day, both OEM and aftermarket magazines can be viable for the use cases of shooters of all types. One simply must do their research and testing in order to find the best magazine for their firearm. With the quality magazines we have today, this is less of a gamble than it was before as many viable aftermarket magazines exist which are as good as or better than factory offerings are. Of course, one should also do research to see if it is worth spending the money to get factory magazines over aftermarket ones or vice-versa.

Magazines Have Service Lives

An often-overlooked reality of magazines is the fact that they are ultimately consumable items. As with any consumable item, magazines degrade over time and can potentially fail if not properly maintained. Of course, one can swap components such as springs and followers when the need arises. Though, this may not be possible or as easy on some types of magazines. Often times, it may be easier for someone to purchase new magazines than it is to rebuild aging and worn ones. This, again, is ultimately dependent upon the price of units in addition to the availability of parts. Purchase Magazines

So, How Many Magazines Do You Need?

All in all, it is ultimately up to the individual to determine how many magazines they need. If their use cases or preferences call for multiple reloads, then it is certainly worth stocking up on magazines. If one does not do a lot of reloading or shooting, they can very well get by with the unit or units supplied with their firearm. Some serious shooters tend to build their magazine stock around their gear and equipment. These types of shooters will ensure that they have enough magazines to fill any pouches that they may use. For example, a shooter may elect to purchase four magazines for their chest rig and two for their belt, providing six additional mags to supplement the one in their gun.

Consider Elections and Potential Shortages

One should also keep events such as elections and potential shortages in minds when considering magazine purchases. During these times, magazines, firearms, and ammo availability tends to dwindle. There is typically a run on magazines in particular as these items are typically targets by anti-gun legislation. If one wishes to stay ahead of the curve, one should stock up on magazines sooner rather than later. One certainly does not want to be in a situation wishing they had bought more magazines when the opportunity was still around.

Conclusion

All in all, magazines are an important item for nearly every shooter. Shooters of all types employ pistol and rifle magazines in use cases of all types. If you are a shooter, odds are you own something that takes a magazine. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of magazines for sale in addition to our inventory of ammo for sale. Whether you want to buy magazines or purchase bulk ammo, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.