Loaded Mags...how many Rounds?

[skyking13]

I've seen lots of discussion on how many mags we should have for each autoloader. Lots of opinions but generally we see LEO's carry one in the piece and two or more on their belts.

My question is this...How many rounds do we keep in the mag? For example my Para Ordnance Slim Hawg .45 has mags that will allow you to jam in 7 rounds but the action must be in the open (slide back and locked) position to accept the 7 round mag. Hit the release or slingshot the 7th round into the chamber and then you have the 6+1 for seven rounds.

The big question is thus...If I'm carrying these mags with seven rounds then I cannot do a tactical reload (having a round in the chamber ready to go) while swapping mags for one with more rounds. If I carry my mags with six rounds loaded then I can do a tactical reload.

I'm not a LEO so I do not anticipate getting into a gunfight that will require mag swaps under fire but having the extra round in the mag may make all the difference under the right circumstances.

What do you keep in your mags?

[ElDub1950]

Seems to me that there's a .01% probability you would ever need (or think about) a tactical reload. And if you needed to fire more than 2 or 3 rounds you'd fire till it locked back, reload and continue.

[Corbin Dallas]

All of them. I load to full capacity all the time every time.

[bdubz]

At capacity in the mag, but I don't keep one in the pipe.

[dc2integra]

Fully loaded .

[MossbergMan]

My carry guns are loaded with a full magazine and then chambered. Spare mags are one round down. That's just a hold over from the old days when springs weren't as good as they are today. You shouldn't worry about loading it to capacity. I do find seating a magazine with a closed slide 100% positive one round down, whereas I have had issues with fully loaded mags being seated securely with the slide down.
I don't "rotate" my ammo or magazines. Top round stays the top round. If I bang up the nose of the top round chambering it, it gets replaced. I don't want a questionable round rotated down in my magazine. I'd rather have my top round fail to feed when I loaded the gun initially than to have the offending round mixed somewhere in the mag.

[LTC-J]

For example my Para Ordnance Slim Hawg .45 has mags that will allow you to jam in 7 rounds but the action must be in the open (slide back and locked) position to accept the 7 round mag. Hit the release or slingshot the 7th round into the chamber and then you have the 6+1 for seven rounds.

When you say jam, are you talking about forcing the last round on top? It sounds to me like you have a 6 round magazine and are trying to force an extra on top. Perhaps leading to the 7th round protruding too far outside the magazine and thus not allowing insertion of the magazine without the slide back.

On my Ruger, I keep 10 or 15 rounds in the magazine depending upon what the magazine was "rated" at. I have no problems putting the magazine into the Ruger with those numbers.

In your case, I'd run the mags at 6 so you can do the tactical reload without having to rack the slide and losing a round on the ground. IMO, better a reliable tactical reload than a questionable: *rack the slide, magazine falls to ground*

[Q619]

Duty carry all the time. Fully loaded mags with one in the chamber. Keeping mags loaded won't hurt em, the wear on the spring is from cycling (loading and unloading) rather than a constant load.

[TempleKnight]

The situation you are describing is common in competition mags; we call reloadable vs non-reloadable. A 19 round STI mag can sometimes hold 20/21 rounds. A mag is considered reloadable if you can use it with a round chambered. A non-reloadable mag works fine as your first mag, but it will fall out after you take a couple of steps during a reload.

I've only experienced this with STI/SVI mags; never in a 1911.

[sirgiles]

worth reading.

http://smartcarry.com/mainwebsite_html/cocklock.htm

[sirgiles]

worth reading.

http://smartcarry.com/mainwebsite_html/cocklock.htm

[skyking13]

Thanks for the excellent article detailing the proper way to carry the 1911. I agree that the Condition one carry is the "proper" and also the safest way to carry the 1911 model automatic. I gave my Smith & Wesson 5906 to my kid that had the double action long pull for the first round. Very much like the readiness of the 1911 and have practiced with about 1,000 rounds both firing and just pulling the weapon from the holster and "snicking" the thumb safety to the off position without firing.
Being competent to hit a target is of course of primary importance however having the motor skills to unholster, take safety off, and then acquire your target without firing is a hugely important skill if we want to use our weapons to their full potential without having to ventilate someone.

As far as "jamming" an extra round into the magazine I do in fact carry 7 in the 6 round magazines. As mentioned before the 7 round mag can only be inserted into the weapon with the slide in the locked position (back). The seventh round is fed when the slide is released and then the mag is full with one in the pipe. Of course should I have to reload I'll have to fire all seven rounds until the slide again locks back before I can then insert another seven round clip and chamber the top round.

[P5Ret]

I would think "jamming" a 7th round into a 6 round mag would not be doing the mag any good. As far as carry, 1 in the chamber and the mag fully loaded. I also carry a spare. I know/hope I will never need it but things being what they are I'd hate to have the one go bad on me when I need it the most, and not have a spare.

[packnrat]

full mag one chambered. and 15 loaded pistol mags waiting to be used.
then there is the sks loaded and one chambered then one hundred rounds at the wait. (can reload or top off faster than a mg change) and this is just the bed side deal.
now if i need to break out the svt-40.


.

[Firerescuebatt07]

same, fully loaded...none in the pipe...not a LEO either haha