Number Your Magazines - The Firearms Forum

TranterUK · 08-07-2008, 09:56 AM

I know this will be old hat to many, but not everyone will know about it.

If you use an semi automatic pistol or rifle, consider numbering your magazines on the base.

Many will go to the range with a few mags and while there may have some jams or feed problems. Others might not seat properly, failing to lock in place without a fiddle. By numbering the mags you will know if any in particular give you problems. If it's used for defence, you know which mags not to use.

Whenever I had a magazine that gave repeated problems I used to bin it. Other options are to paint the base red and use it for mag change practice, some determined souls even used to fill them about a third with lead, to replicate the weight loaded.

Marlin · 08-07-2008, 09:59 AM

Fine idea, Tran.

I have been IDing them by scratching a small mark in the side if it acts up. Numbering would certainly be easier.

I only use Wilson Combat on the 1911s so they are always reliable. Have the most problems with large capacity mags for the Browning Hi-Power.

Pistolenschutze · 08-07-2008, 10:20 AM

That is indeed a good technique, Tranter, and one I have used for many years, especially with 1911 mags because I have so many of them. I normally mark an unobtrusive number on the bottom of the mag with a small brush and white appliance paint. It certainly helps weed out magazines that need to be retired or at least rebuilt.

USMC-03 · 08-07-2008, 11:06 AM

I have never numbered my pistol magazines, but have numbered the mags I use for service rifle competition for years. I don't number then in order(1, 2, 3, 4...) but by the number of rounds I need to load for each stage.

For example, the rapid fire stages require firing two rounds, a magazine change and then firing eight rounds. I have two magazines that fall out of my AR's magazine well I use for the first two rounds and are marked with a 2. My reload magazines stick a bit but reliably feed and I have them marked with an 8. My single load magazine for the slow fire stages is marked with a 1.

delta13soultaker · 08-07-2008, 12:30 PM

USMC...the fastest dropping mags I know of are steel H&K mags. Aside from being a good bit heavier than other brands they are also very reliable and tuff. I dunno if you've played with any. Only bad thing about 'em is the prices.

USMC-03 · 08-07-2008, 12:43 PM

Delta, I've never tried any H&K AR mags. I'll have to give them a try. Who carries them?

The ones I'm using for rapid fires are old Colt 20 rounders. They work great for across the course shooting. Very reliable feeding and the shorter length makes it easier to use in the prone position.

Of course I have a pile of 30-round issue aluminum mags from the 80's and 90's that followed me home somehow. Adventureline seems to be the best overall brand. Sanchez seems to give me the most trouble. I also have some old steel 20, 30 and 40 round mags made by Sterling that I kept when I traded off my AR-180. They work very well also.

pickenup · 08-07-2008, 12:51 PM

Good information to pass on to those that didn't know.

delta13soultaker · 08-07-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMC-03

Delta, I've never tried any H&K AR mags. I'll have to give them a try. Who carries them?

The ones I'm using for rapid fires are old Colt 20 rounders. They work great for across the course shooting. Very reliable feeding and the shorter length makes it easier to use in the prone position.

Of course I have a pile of 30-round issue aluminum mags from the 80's and 90's that followed me home somehow. Adventureline seems to be the best overall brand. Sanchez seems to give me the most trouble. I also have some old steel 20, 30 and 40 round mags made by Sterling that I kept when I traded off my AR-180. They work very well also.

If you have a HK dealer around, the item # for the mags is 233614. Their website has dealer locations. To avoid confusion, they are magazines for the HK 416, which works in M16, M4, AR15 etc etc. Don't get 417 mags because they are not 5.56mm. I got mine left over from gov contract issue that were dropped off my hand reciept when I left, but I'd buy more if necessary.

Midway USA has them for $50 each. Cheaperthandirt they are like $60. I really think a local HK dealer may get you a better deal.

USMC-03 · 08-07-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta13soultaker

If you have a HK dealer around, the item # for the mags is 233614. Their website has dealer locations. To avoid confusion, they are magazines for the HK 416, which works in M16, M4, AR15 etc etc. Don't get 417 mags because they are not 5.56mm. I got mine left over from gov contract issue that were dropped off my hand reciept when I left, but I'd buy more if necessary.

Midway USA has them for $50 each. Cheaperthandirt they are like $60. I really think a local HK dealer may get you a better deal.

Thanks, there are at least a couple HK dealers around here that I know of.

delta13soultaker · 08-07-2008, 02:27 PM

Anytime.

I saw a guy this summer with a spanking new S&W M&P15 for a plinker and it would fail to feed any magazine except H&K's. Other mags were so light that recoil rocked them back enough to prevent the bolt carrier from hitting a new cartridge most times. Tightening the mag release didn't help. Putting in an M4 bolt still didn't work, so gas system wasn't the prob. Just needed a heavy duty mag....somebody recommended it after every other fault was eliminated. Problem isolated to just that rifle as far as I know...other M&P15's I saw so far shot fine. Anyways, the weight difference with those is quite a bit over other mags.

UncleFudd · 08-07-2008, 06:43 PM

Good stuff and great ideas for all.
I have done as Marlin. I have marked mine with an X on the side and keep them for my practice mags. I want to have failures during practice to cause me to have go through the failure drills. But once marked they are never reintroduced into my "ready" bag.
The good thing about these failed mags is you never know when or if they will fail so the drills are actual/real when it happens.

Stay safe, always.

UF

ponycar17 · 08-07-2008, 08:27 PM

All the Butler Creek 10/22 25 rd. mags I purchased after the 2004 ban expired, I ended up marking "BAD"... because allll of them were... I wonder if Butler Creek would make good on those horrible mags? All of the one before the 1994 ban still work great!

MemphisJim1 · 08-07-2008, 09:26 PM

Last year I started having some problems with one of my semiauto pistols. My suspicion was a magazine problem so I started numbering the mags for that gun. Sure enough, all the feed problems were with the same magazine, so I rebuilt it (new spring, follower, etc.). Since then, I have numbered the mags for all my semis, rifle and pistol. I use a Sharpie silver felt tip marker; the number is on the bottom of each mag. If solvent or something starts affecting the number, I just clean it off, let it dry and then put the number back on. I decided against etching on the mags' sidewalls, firguring that's just another way to introduce a potential rust surface.

Ursus · 08-08-2008, 06:04 AM

All my mags have always been numbered.

08-07-2008, 09:56 AM	#1
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Number Your Magazines I know this will be old hat to many, but not everyone will know about it. If you use an semi automatic pistol or rifle, consider numbering your magazines on the base. Many will go to the range with a few mags and while there may have some jams or feed problems. Others might not seat properly, failing to lock in place without a fiddle. By numbering the mags you will know if any in particular give you problems. If it's used for defence, you know which mags not to use. Whenever I had a magazine that gave repeated problems I used to bin it. Other options are to paint the base red and use it for mag change practice, some determined souls even used to fill them about a third with lead, to replicate the weight loaded. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way! --> Last edited by TranterUK; 08-07-2008 at 09:58 AM..

08-07-2008, 09:59 AM	#2
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,854	Re: Number Your Magazines Fine idea, Tran. I have been IDing them by scratching a small mark in the side if it acts up. Numbering would certainly be easier. I only use Wilson Combat on the 1911s so they are always reliable. Have the most problems with large capacity mags for the Browning Hi-Power. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

08-07-2008, 10:20 AM	#3
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: Number Your Magazines That is indeed a good technique, Tranter, and one I have used for many years, especially with 1911 mags because I have so many of them. I normally mark an unobtrusive number on the bottom of the mag with a small brush and white appliance paint. It certainly helps weed out magazines that need to be retired or at least rebuilt. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

08-07-2008, 11:06 AM	#4
USMC-03 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,825	Re: Number Your Magazines I have never numbered my pistol magazines, but have numbered the mags I use for service rifle competition for years. I don't number then in order(1, 2, 3, 4...) but by the number of rounds I need to load for each stage. For example, the rapid fire stages require firing two rounds, a magazine change and then firing eight rounds. I have two magazines that fall out of my AR's magazine well I use for the first two rounds and are marked with a 2. My reload magazines stick a bit but reliably feed and I have them marked with an 8. My single load magazine for the slow fire stages is marked with a 1. __________________ Let not the rifles of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots. - Fortes Fortuna Javat -

08-07-2008, 12:30 PM	#5
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: Number Your Magazines USMC...the fastest dropping mags I know of are steel H&K mags. Aside from being a good bit heavier than other brands they are also very reliable and tuff. I dunno if you've played with any. Only bad thing about 'em is the prices. __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

08-07-2008, 12:43 PM	#6
USMC-03 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,825	Re: Number Your Magazines Delta, I've never tried any H&K AR mags. I'll have to give them a try. Who carries them? The ones I'm using for rapid fires are old Colt 20 rounders. They work great for across the course shooting. Very reliable feeding and the shorter length makes it easier to use in the prone position. Of course I have a pile of 30-round issue aluminum mags from the 80's and 90's that followed me home somehow. Adventureline seems to be the best overall brand. Sanchez seems to give me the most trouble. I also have some old steel 20, 30 and 40 round mags made by Sterling that I kept when I traded off my AR-180. They work very well also. __________________ Let not the rifles of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots. - Fortes Fortuna Javat -

08-07-2008, 12:51 PM	#7
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,841	Re: Number Your Magazines Good information to pass on to those that didn't know. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

08-07-2008, 02:27 PM	#10
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: Number Your Magazines Anytime. I saw a guy this summer with a spanking new S&W M&P15 for a plinker and it would fail to feed any magazine except H&K's. Other mags were so light that recoil rocked them back enough to prevent the bolt carrier from hitting a new cartridge most times. Tightening the mag release didn't help. Putting in an M4 bolt still didn't work, so gas system wasn't the prob. Just needed a heavy duty mag....somebody recommended it after every other fault was eliminated. Problem isolated to just that rifle as far as I know...other M&P15's I saw so far shot fine. Anyways, the weight difference with those is quite a bit over other mags. __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

08-07-2008, 06:43 PM	#11
UncleFudd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phoenix, Az Contributor Posts: 549	Re: Number Your Magazines Good stuff and great ideas for all. I have done as Marlin. I have marked mine with an X on the side and keep them for my practice mags. I want to have failures during practice to cause me to have go through the failure drills. But once marked they are never reintroduced into my "ready" bag. The good thing about these failed mags is you never know when or if they will fail so the drills are actual/real when it happens. Stay safe, always. UF

08-07-2008, 08:27 PM	#12
ponycar17 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: South Carolina Contributor Posts: 4,884	Re: Number Your Magazines All the Butler Creek 10/22 25 rd. mags I purchased after the 2004 ban expired, I ended up marking "BAD"... because allll of them were... I wonder if Butler Creek would make good on those horrible mags? All of the one before the 1994 ban still work great! __________________ Arm yourself with intellectual Ammunition! Gunfacts 5.1 Myth-Busting Facts JustFacts.com on Gun Control Stopping Power, the Downloadable Book

08-07-2008, 09:26 PM	#13
MemphisJim1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Suburban Memphis (Mississippi side) Posts: 58	Re: Number Your Magazines Last year I started having some problems with one of my semiauto pistols. My suspicion was a magazine problem so I started numbering the mags for that gun. Sure enough, all the feed problems were with the same magazine, so I rebuilt it (new spring, follower, etc.). Since then, I have numbered the mags for all my semis, rifle and pistol. I use a Sharpie silver felt tip marker; the number is on the bottom of each mag. If solvent or something starts affecting the number, I just clean it off, let it dry and then put the number back on. I decided against etching on the mags' sidewalls, firguring that's just another way to introduce a potential rust surface.

08-08-2008, 06:04 AM	#14
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: Number Your Magazines All my mags have always been numbered. __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM.