Loading your hi-caps

[Tier One Arms]

How many round should I load my 30 rounders too? I have heard some say 28, 29, and 30. Does the side of the magazine the last round is loaded in matter, in other words, does it matter if the last bullet is on the left or right, assuming the gun is an Ar-15.

Thanks

[BigDogatPlay]

Put 31 in if it'll hold them.

Last round left or right shouldn't really be an issue.

[Seesm]

I have loaded mine up on my Mini an dthey fire fine full... On my AR out of state only and they shot fine too...

[ohsmily]

If you load your 30 round mag to 30 rounds, it may be difficult to insert it with the bolt closed.

[gunsmithcats]

well this is based on experience with crappy used and abused magazines that have been baking and smothered in Iraqi heat, sun, and dirt.
28 rounds. its pretty much unwritten policy out there. Topping off top two rounds have been known to cause problems.
Better safe than sorry
IMO, if u need to actually shoot off more than 28 rounds u'll prob have a brief pause in the fight to do a mag change.

[Manong0369]

I was taught in the Marine Corps that having a "full mag" for a long period of time may fatigue the magazine spring. Our magazines were not new, having been issued over and over again so caution was given to lessen failure to feed incidents. Just to be safe we loaded 28 to 29 rounds.

[sorensen440]

I load my 30s with 29 for the reason Ohsmily mentioned

[joelogic]

It depends on how you are using your mags. If you are shooting from the bench, load 30. If you have to do reloads with a round in the chamber, bolt closed, load 28.

[Barney Gumble]

I was taught in the Marine Corps that having a "full mag" for a long period of time may fatigue the magazine spring.

Myth.

[randy]

I generally use a pair of 30's clamped to gether. I fill them both up, chamber a round from the go to mag then insert the other mag. At the buzzer I start with 31 and the go to mag loads easier with one less round in it. I might down load another round if the round count isn't going to be that close.

[beerup949]

In the Marines I loaded mine with all 30 and rarely had a problem.

[Manong0369]

Myth.

Being a young Marine at the time, it sounded fine with me since I had multiple magazines. Myth or not, I've had some problems with a few magazines with less rounds before, so it was just a personal preference that I carried out through MY career. It's not Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Marine wide, but I didn't want to have one during the time.

[sorensen440]

I was taught in the Marine Corps that having a "full mag" for a long period of time may fatigue the magazine spring. Our magazines were not new, having been issued over and over again so caution was given to lessen failure to feed incidents. Just to be safe we loaded 28 to 29 rounds.

Myth.

Correct that it will not wear the spring but the feed lips on the magazine can separate over time