How many magazines per rifle?

[WannaFal]

How many mags per rifle are you fellers putting back?
I sat down last night and counted and painted with numbers all my rifle mags and was surprised by how many I had. I was surprised that I had as many Fal mags as I had but how few AK mags.
So how many?

[fire for effect]

I think I have about 60 Mags for three Fals. I believe I have 50 Mags for three ARs.

[hedp]

I'll admit to having it backwards. I just worry about mags per rifle type. The number of any type of rifle may change, but I don't worry much about more or less mags. In my present situation, I will NOT be arming others and I can only use one rifle so it works for me.That leaves me with fifty-some mags for one FAL, sixty-ish for one AR, and twenty one for two M14 types. I really need to get in gear and stock up on more '14 mags.Especially as they are the most often used rifles I have. And, I almost forgot, fifty HK mags for no Hk.:)

[l1a1man]

as many as you can afford!!!!:biggrin:

[mitchellh]

At least 10:aug:

[1stSSPZ]

You should be asking yourself "How many loaded mags can I carry"?

[WannaFal]

Im not asking how many in a "How many mags can I carry?" question.
Rather its more of a combination of a possible "re-introduction" of the Assault rifle/mag ban, and possible SHTF thing where you werent an insurgent but just living a hard life where mags might get dropped or banged up beyond repair.
I agree 110% with l1a1man that I should buy as many as I can afford, but I need other stuff too.
As far as day to day life now goes, I suppose 5-6 (steel mags) should last a lifetime if not dropped or otherwise treated roughly.

[firefuzz]

[i]
As far as day to day life now goes, I suppose 5-6 (steel mags) should last a lifetime if not dropped or otherwise treated roughly. [/B]

Problem is we can't be assured this is not going to happen, or lost or needed for trade.

I've set a minimum of 20 per gun on rifles, 10 per pistol. I have more than that on my FALs, almost on the ARs. Pistols I'm about half way there.

Your're right about needing other things also. Buy a little of each catagory of needed items at a time, not all of one then another.

Rob

[Maine1]

I travel a little lighter on magazines than most on this board, but FWIW....
I have a chest pouch set up with 4 mags per rifle. Four in pouches, one in rifle=100 rounds carried, with other ammo on strippers. a spare set of 5 immediatly available in case they are needed to load or replace broken ones...
plus at leat 10 more in reserve, per rifle.

personally, I have...many, i do not have a count right now. I bought 3 of the 10 rnd boxes at tapco years ago, plus some from DSA, so I am in the neighborhood of 50 or so...for 4 rifles, so I need more.

[l1a1man]

I know what it is like needing other things too. That is wht I say get what you can afford for now. It's not cheap to get a ton at once or trying to get the best gear. Talk to people near you too, hopefully they can help you out. I always try to hook up the guys I hang out with who are just getting started in the putting their stuff together phase. Also don't break the bank trying to get it all at one time. Pace yourself.

[W.E.G.]

If ya know how many mags you got, you aint got enough. :skull:

[ephv]

20 for each rifle- 10 for each handgun- new spare parts to rebuild 10 of each gun magazine. Having the spare parts greatly multiplies the effective magazines without actually having to hold/store complete mags. Having 50-60 mags of each is good if you plan on bartering with the excess. You can only use that large a number if you plan on also standing your ground and staying in one place. No way top transport/use so many. But each to his own and let's meet on the winning side of the river someday.

[Windustsearch]

I got 10 20 rd mags and 1 30rd for my FAL. Thats 230 rds that nobody wants to be the recipient of.

[gunsmoke]

Originally posted by W.E.G.
If ya know how many mags you got, you aint got enough. :skull:


HAH!!!!!!

That's EXACTLY what I've always said about ammo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[builder77]

I think as many as you can afford is the best answer in general, however I think the minimum is up for debate. For my AK it would be four for the pouch, one for the rifle, and one as a spare. I am sure many will think you need more, and I won't disagree. That is just how many I keep in the trunk with my rifle. They are cheap these days.

[brownknees]

Nine.
4 in the ALICE rig for emergencies.
4 in the range bag.
1 in the ammunition can (10 round model, for use off of a bench at the range, or in case I forget or can't get to the others!)
lots of ammo in stripper clips though!
Sorry I lied, ten, one in the rifle.
Reasoning? ammo in stripper clips weighs less than in mags.
Mag springs are not being stressed.
If I need more than 190 rounds of .308 before being able to reload from stripper clips then I'm deadder than mutton.
:wink:

[FTW2012]

don't forget drum mags / beta c's for your AKs & Ars

I have 4-75 rnd & 2-100 rnd drums for my 4 AKs plus
a foot locker full of 30 rnders

For the ARs (2) I have 3 Betas & 1 Chinese 120 rnd drum
plus an assortment of USGI & Orlite probably at least 40 or 50 of them

Now the FALs (3), I wish there was a drum for them, but alas,
I havn't seen any, I bet it would be heavy!
But was able to get 2- 30rnd mags and another 70 - 80 / 20 rndrs

With all these guns & mags, you will probably also want to keep
at least 1000 rnds of ammo per rifle around too, just in case.............

on any outing, if you put one mag in your AK or AR and carry
2 mag pouches on your belt with 3 mags each thats 210 rounds
anything more gets heavy and a bummer to lug.

with a FAl, one in and 4 / 2 mag pouches on your belt you
have 180 rnds, plenty of shooting,
ever wonder why a battle pack has 200 rnds?
and again, 7.62 X 51 is not light
how much can you carry?
how far can you carry it?
will too much slow you down from getting away if out numbered?

[lew]

Currently, I have 47 mags for my FAL. I'll probably get three more to round it out at fifty and call it a day. Next, I'm going to grab some for my AKM. I think twenty AK mags will do it for now as the FAL would be my primary gun in the event of an emergency.

If I decide to build this other FAL kit into a complete gun, I'll have plenty of mags between the two.

[Rawles]

I have five L1A1s for my family. I have gradually reached my "comfort level" :D on magazines. I have accumulated:

132 L1A1 inch 20 rounders
34 of the L4 30 inch rounders (All of which are the curved British variety)

Plus seven full sets of web gear, an extra 10 floorplates and 60 magazine springs (10 of those are the long leaf type springs for the 30 rounders), and a set of British magazine mandrel plates (for taking out mag body dents.)

Plus I'm keeping the following, primarily for barter purposes:

46 metric 20 rounders, mostly steel, Belgian
2 metric FAL 30 rounders (Straight body, South African contract)

And of course since my rifles have inch receivers, I can use any of those metric magazines in a pinch.

[Timber Wolf]

Originally posted by W.E.G.
If ya know how many mags you got, you aint got enough. :skull:

That's exactly how many I have, more then I know so it must be enough!:D

Seriously I believe the answer is:
Minimum: battle load plus one in the gun (for each gun).
Minimum plus: the above plus some range mags.
Better: Double the above so you have spares to swap out.
Beyond "better" and we are talking investment or SHTF, IMHO.

[Artful]

Depends upon the rifle

Deer gun about 2 per. and they aren't high capacity.

Defense gun 20 at least.

Fun Gun - as many as you can find (50+) ;)

While we had the ban on Hicapacity mags I found that the plastic mags don't hold up for long term use - so no more all plastic mags. 10/22 now have to have steel lips (expensive but worth it) also it's better if you can disassemble the mags for cleaning and maint. Mark your magazines so that if they have problems you can easily id them (darn jam again - oh it # 14 feeding from the left again).

But you have to be comfortable with whatever you choose. :confused:

[TheOtherChris]

Back in the days of plentiful mags, I told people that about 10 mags were needed for each rifle. I later modified it to 10 for the first rifle and 5 for each additional copy. IF you ever sell a rifle you only sell it with 1 mag.

For ammo, I felt that 1000 rds per caliber was good, but an additional 500 rounds per rifle was better.

Now that I have seen what a mag ban can do, I think that 10 is a minimum; 20 is better and after that, you just buy them every time you see a good deal.

Same goes for ammo: buy more every month.

[justashooter]

since this is the SHTF forum, i would say 1 million, but really believe that in a shtf situation 6 mags per rifleman.

because of the uncertainty in the political situation with regard to bans, about 20 per rifle type.
wish i had bought bren kits in bulk a few years ago. could have trippled my money.

[STGThndr]

I like to figger 12 per rifle. Usually have a rig set up with 7 or more depending on which weapon we're discussing.

[chrsdwns]

Most military units find 5 per person/gun in 308 to be sufficient for general purpose military operations. That should be more than enough for me since I don't envison any military operations in the near term future.

If you plan on carrying them you should have the gear to do it as they are large and heavy when full and hard to stuff into pockets.

For the record I'd rather have five mags and 10000 rounds of ammo than 100 mags and 100 rounds of ammo.

[gunsmoke]

JUST FWIW: Some here have touched on the persepective but many only want to consider "how many you can carry."

IMHO that is short-sighted.

You've got to consider the need of replacements.

Redundency is a good thing, when we're talking about ammo, mags, water supplies, medical supplies, etc.

Whatever you consider adequate for your needs, multiply by three.

Give yourself the gift of dual redundency!

The life you save may be your own!

[DJ]

I have 3 FAL's and somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred magazines. Not really sure how many i have.

[calavera]

I have six for just one FAL right now, but I'd like to have eleven. One would stay out with the FAL and the other ten would fit just beautifully in a .30 cal. ammo can.

+1 on the numbering. You might think that you can ID the bad one you had at the range when you get home but once you dump out all your stuff they all look alike. :confused:

[STGThndr]

The stuff our widow(s) and kids sell off cheap may just be the treasures we are stashing in our (garages, basements, workshops) now. I can't remember how many nice weapons and the ammo Ive purchased from estates.... and Ive got to wonder.
So far only only my daughter has taken much interest- she even recognised that the "new" rifle I have ISNT one of my HKs. She doesnt know it yet but I have a Smith model 19 with her name on it awaiting her 21st.
My boys have been a disappointment in that regard, ROTC and their own rifles notwithstanding.

[medicman]

eleventy-billion.

[Michael N]

11 for my new FAL , I have no idea for my AR and 5 for my Rem 700 with Badger bottom metal . I have no idea how many mags I have for my 1911 and Glock .

[deltaheavy]

I don't really see the need for a large number of mags, and here's why:

1. It's expensive, and I may never need it.

2. If I do need it, I may not survive it.

3. If I do survive it, there will be plenty of gear laying about when the smoke clears. Much of my stuff is compatible with current issue mags. Most of the rest is in NATO chamberings. Can everyone say "battlefield pickups?"

4. But why bother keeping my stuff fed when there will be plenty of better weapons laying on the ground for the picking? I'm not that attached to my gear. I mean, a semi-auto M-Forgery is nice, but when you can have that dead guy's real one, with the ACOG, go-fast switch, nifty sling, and a vest full of mags loaded with Uncle Sam's finest M855, why bother? 5.56 not for you? Then how about that stiff's MP-5? Dismount that M240B and get creative. Or maybe you'll be lucky enough to find an M14... Point is, make like a frequent flyer and get the free upgrade.

I keep enough mags on hand for a realistic combat load, a few range mags, and a few spares. For multiple examples of a common design, I keep enough mags that if they were divided amongst the weapons, I'd have a decent combat load per weapon. I sleep fine at night.

[kfranz]

Originally posted by deltaheavy
I don't really see the need for a large number of mags, and here's why:

1. It's expensive, and I may never need it.

2. If I do need it, I may not survive it.

3. If I do survive it, there will be plenty of gear laying about when the smoke clears. Much of my stuff is compatible with current issue mags. Most of the rest is in NATO chamberings. Can everyone say "battlefield pickups?"

4. But why bother keeping my stuff fed when there will be plenty of better weapons laying on the ground for the picking? I'm not that attached to my gear. I mean, a semi-auto M-Forgery is nice, but when you can have that dead guy's real one, with the ACOG, go-fast switch, nifty sling, and a vest full of mags loaded with Uncle Sam's finest M855, why bother? 5.56 not for you? Then how about that stiff's MP-5? Dismount that M240B and get creative. Or maybe you'll be lucky enough to find an M14... Point is, make like a frequent flyer and get the free upgrade.

I keep enough mags on hand for a realistic combat load, a few range mags, and a few spares. For multiple examples of a common design, I keep enough mags that if they were divided amongst the weapons, I'd have a decent combat load per weapon. I sleep fine at night.

Right there is your problem my man, you are talking about NEED. NEED ain't got nothing to do with having eleventy billion mags. WANT is what it's all about. WANT is what AMERICA is all about.

What are you, some kinda commie with that NEED talk. Sheesh :wink:

[deltaheavy]

Originally posted by kfranz


What are you, some kinda commie with that NEED talk. Sheesh :wink:

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. It's just that I can't AFFORD eleventy billion mags. Heck, I can't even afford a measly thousand or so... Guess I'll have to get back on the old college diet of ramen noodles and peanut butter for a couple years and get the stash in proper order. Sorry guys, can't eat tonight, I've got to pay for that last DSA order. And the Bushmaster order, and those cases of ammo, and the RBP stuff... :fal:

[lysander6]

There is no pat answer. I think the operative question is how many magazines for your battery do you have that will last your lifetime and your childrens'. The ability of the FEDGOD to shut off the supply is an ever present danger. Act as if it will happen tomorrow.

[doktor_ecchs]

I currently have ten mags for my FAL, which I keep loaded and stored in a .30 cal. ammo box (I got the idea from the "Combat Load" thread, thanks GP) At each funshow I attend, I aim to pick up one or two to fill out my LBE mag pouches (6 in all) so in the end I will have around twenty, which is all I can keep up with anyway...:tongue:

as ever,
Dr. X :fal:

[kfranz]

Originally posted by deltaheavy


Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. It's just that I can't AFFORD eleventy billion mags. Heck, I can't even afford a measly thousand or so... Guess I'll have to get back on the old college diet of ramen noodles and peanut butter for a couple years and get the stash in proper order. Sorry guys, can't eat tonight, I've got to pay for that last DSA order. And the Bushmaster order, and those cases of ammo, and the RBP stuff... :fal:

Alright then, long as you ain't no commie. I don't like commies. Cept maybe commie chicks, cause they have abilities, and I have needs, if you get my drift.

Anyway, I'm going to make you the deal of the century. Better'n any ce deal anyday. Just for you, not any of the other poor bastards reading this thread. Seeing as to how I'm selling metric mags right now, 10/$46 shipped, and you need to make some progress on your eleventy billion mag accumulation, I'm gonna do this. You send me $46. I'll send you 10 little bit ugly metric mags. They work and all, just not real pretty. Kinda like most commie chicks. Anyway, since the USPS flat rate box has extra room in it when I only ship 10 mags, I'm gonna stuff as much ramen into the free space as I can. I don't know how much will fit, as the inspiration for this deal just hit me. I'll even leave the ramen in the package.

PM me if you want in on this deal. Remember, you only. Not your brother in law, not your weird neighbor, not the other members of your milita unit. Just you. Well, maybe you and your kids. Yeah, you and your kids. Hurry though, I'll probably come to my senses soon, and this is a limited time offer....

[M2MG]

Hey Deltaheavy,

I can't make you the mag offer, but I'll send ya 10 packs of ramen if it will help you build your gear. :biggrin:

[Caliburn]

I used to have a sh@#load of mags for my :fal:. :)

Then I got some more :fal:s. :smile:

... and now I only have a fraction of a sh#*load for each :fal: :sad:

[zallen]

Originally posted by l1a1man
as many as you can afford!!!!:biggrin:

:? Problem is that there seems to be a little "confusion" in my household about what we can afford.

[gunsmoke]

Originally posted by zallen


:? Problem is that there seems to be a little "confusion" in my household about what we can afford.


DO YOU HAVE KIDS?



IF SO, JUST BECOME A DEMO - RAT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND EXPLAIN:

OH GOD!!! WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?????? WE'VE GOT TO SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:devil:


:devil:


:devil:


:wink:

[Scott S]

Originally posted by deltaheavy
I don't really see the need for a large number of mags, and here's why:



Good reasons. However, there's one reason why I find a large number of mags quite handy--I can spend more time shooting! Rather than spending my time at the range thumbing rounds into mags, I load mags at home while I'm watching the tube, for example. I get precious little range time these days, so when I am at the range I'd rather pull triggers than load mags.

[l1a1man]

Problem is that there seems to be a little "confusion" in my household about what we can afford.


I get the same tratment in my house. :cry: Wife just dosen't understand.

[Rooster]

I've always felt good at 20 per rifle

[Deltaten]

IMHO, at least a full combat load-out for each; plus a few extras for range use and make-ups on bad mags.
I keep a dozen for the L1A1, 10 or 12 for the IMBEL and a full set of 8 plus range mags for "Shorty"..all matched to the wep.

My AK selection is set up the same

My Mini is the poor step child, as I only have half a dozen for it. Would that I could find a few spares for the Hakim, Ljungmann and the '49 ! ;)

With mags at [pretty much] an all time low price, it's a fine time to overstock.
Best,
Paul

[Caliburn]

Deltaten said: With mags at [pretty much] an all time low price, it's a fine time to overstock.
I've thought about that too. Like, this is the time to stock up on full capacity mags before some damn-ocrat gets elected and outlaws the Second Ammendment. But for the same reason, it also seems like the right time to buy that Barrett .50, or body armor, or AK kits, or class 3 license, or any other cool toys you *might* possibly want *someday*, even just for an investment, before the whole works is outlawed.

The only problem is, I can't afford any of that right now!

[MD3C]

I have more than 100 in M16 mags,
100 Styer FAL mags,
100 plus USGI M14 mags,
and plenty of my pistol mags.
M

:fal:

[Nitram68]

I like 9 for my rifles (one in, 4 in each holder) and a spare makes an even 10. Pistols, I like 5.

[WiFAL]

The number of magazines you need per rifle is a function of the cost of range time plus the net present value of your time to load a magazine at the range, usually measured as your hourly wage, less the cost to load a magazine in your spare time, which is usually measured at one half your hourly wage, multiplied by the random variability of time lost due to magazine failure, generally attributable to employing used mags divided by the cost of a magazine to the first power.

Seriously this really works if you try it. Just remember to round up at the end.

[ReconSniper173]

Here's an idea to use. Have a basic load of magazines and ammo available at home and/or in your car. Have prepared stashes of ammo and additional magazines away from your home that you can make your way to or pick up as you move. Let's say I start out with 11 magazines loaded with 25 to 27 rounds each. That means I have 10 in pouches/pockets with 1 in the rifle. I move off to my first resupply point where I pick up 5 or 6 new magazines, maybe some food, medicine, water and an ammo box of ammunition. What I don't need I put back for later use or entirely bypass. If I don't need anything from that stash, I'd move on to my next objective. I might also want to store another rifle/knife/pistol/other gear at like every other stash site. If you have 6 stash sites, that means you'll have 25 to 30 magazines, extra ammo, other gear and a number of extra firearms available to you should you need them spread out over a large area. One thing: if you use underground stash methods, make sure that they're far enough or high enough away from constant water sources like rivers, lakes and creeks. Also make sure that your stash is double/triple protected from water damage if you plan to bury them underground.

[Treborer]

About 8 mags each, carry 3.
Actually I keep a snubby .357 handy, a 12 guage, and a Marlin 30-30, and the Battle rifles would take me about 20 minutes to get rolling, leave em locked up, without firing pins, empty mags.

If a situation happens where your forced to defend with an "evil rifle", you could end up "Porked by Many", Abu-Gharib is childs play compared to our own prison system.

If your mags are AK metal types they sport stout lips, like Pam Anderson.

Some medical plans offer mental health programs, but don't tell those pussies about your paranoia, they will come and take you guns.

:]

Just funnin:D

[kp90dc]

I wanna help, see, so your menu brought up a thought -- appropriate to this forum, too.
When you boil the noodles, use mostly water, but add soysauce and dried minced onions to the water as you start. When it's done in 3 minutes, keep it boiling and add crushed red pepper flakes and a little bit of cooked chicken (or an egg - it will boil & look almost like scrambled or you could add peanuts or cashews) and a tablespoon or two of peanut butter. That's right, add the peanut butter in & stir. I like JiF because it's so sweet. Now it will thicken & you can turn off burner, unless you want mushy noodles.

No go eat yer doggone good noodles & save up to buy seventeen hundred trillion mags or sumsuch. :shades:

Originally posted by deltaheavy

Guess I'll have to get back on the old college diet of ramen noodles and peanut butter for a couple years and get the stash in proper order.

[Kyrottimus]

Here goes:

10 20-round metric FAL mags (3 are Alluminum, thanks B from the M-Gun Shop... you know who you are!)

3 30-round "converted-Bren" metric FAL mags (thanks to DSA for taking so long, but they are nice mags, no bolt-hold-open on the follower though).

Roughly 30 to 35 (I forget) 30 round AK Mags (Various Romanian/Polish Steel and Bulgarian Waffle design) and 3 Romanian 40-Rounders; all for the three AK's

7 1911 mags (7 rounders) for the Springfield GI 1911

6 16-round and 1 25-round mags for the 9mm CZ-75B

4 17-round and 2-20 round mags for the 9mm Beretta Px4

3 7-round and 1-10 round mags for the Bersa Thunder .380

2 10-round mags for the 10/22

3 5-round mags for the CZ-550 American .308

and a partridge in a pear tree. But I shot it with 00 Sellier & Bellot Buckshot out of my 6-shot, extended magazine Tactical Remington 870 with 18" barrel and 3" chambers beacuse it wouldn't stop squaking.

Take that bird. Good thing I didn't confuse it for a lawyer from Texas. I may be on the news.

[Powerkicker]

10 total on hand and 5 loaded and ready to go at any one time is a good start. I am always cracked up by the huge number of folks who claim that they will be carrying 10 or more loaded mags etc., ad naseum. Who are you going to shoot with all of that ammo? If you can't solve any survival problem with 100 rounds of .308 or 150 rounds of 7.62x39/5.56, you have a tactical shortfall,not a logistics problem. You should keep a case of ammo laid by, but don't try to carry it all in mags on your person for any length of time. Aim more, shoot less.Are you surviving or going to war? These are two separate concepts in many respects over the long-haul.

[lew]

Originally posted by Kyrottimus

and a partridge in a pear tree. But I shot it with 00 Sellier & Bellot Buckshot out of my 6-shot, extended magazine Tactical Remington 870 with 18" barrel and 3" chambers beacuse it wouldn't stop squaking.


:rofl: :rofl:

Looks like you could stand to grab some more FAL mags. Can never have too many, don't ya know.

[Kyrottimus]

Originally posted by lew


:rofl: :rofl:

Looks like you could stand to grab some more FAL mags. Can never have too many, don't ya know.

Oh.. I intend on buying plenty more, don'tcha-know. I'm just waiting on my local Gunshop to get more Alluminum ones in. The steel ones are fine too, but I already have a buttload of those.

Then it's time to strip the oils, sand, paint and bake. Then I'll have Like new mags!

:bow: :fal: :bow:

[snolden]

I got eleven now for the fal.

however, other things I need and want: optics, binoculars, night vision etc trump more mags at this point.

Plus I really need a pre fuel injected jeep wagoneer. That is gonna take some work and money (JEEP = Just Empty Every Pocket :) )

[biere]

If you can afford to buy a rifle you should be able to buy 15 magazines for that rifle.

I am not talking about a hunting specific rifle since I don't own hunting specific rifles that take magazines.

For my ak rifles, I have more 30 rounders than a 1000 round case of ammo can fill. I have a dozen or so 20 rounders, a couple 5 rounders, a 10 rounder, a 40 rounder, and I have more arriving next week. I went a bit nuts on drums recently so I won't comment on those, I have 3 75 rounders I plan to use though.

I have a dsa fal on order and bought several 30 rounders on the EE here this week. Next week they should show up. I plan to order enough 20 rounders to fill another footlocker.

While I may never need this many magazines I believe it is important to have plenty of magazines around simply because I have seen that laws can be passed that will ban the production and sale to civilians of new mags of over 10 rounds.

Overall I would rather be magazine and ammo rich and rifle poor, as in one rifle for 50k rounds of ammo and a foot locker full of magazines, than have 10 rifles and 10 magazines for each rifle.

The nice thing is that I doubt most of the prices will decrease for magazines so I am just buying what I might need in old age. I won't need a rebuild kit, I can pull a new in the wrap magazine out and put the old one somewhere out of the way.

[762 shooter]

19.

[AGC]

Twenty per rifle is probably a good minimum number.

Magazines are _cheap_ right now, for any reasonably common military style rifle you can name. You should be able to find brand new AR, AK, FAL or G3 magazines for under $10-$12 each. Used ones in very good or better shape for even less. If you can't, you're spending too much time here and too little time browsing the internet for deals.

And standardize. We're talking about a multipurpose emergency tool here, not a golf bag full of guns with a caddy to tote it around behind you until you select the "right" weapon for the situation. Pick a standard rifle and cartridge, and concentrate on acquiring ammunition and magazines that meet that standard.

Forget the fantasies about "battlefield pickups" of arms and ammunition. It's not going to happen. The first requirement for collecting "battlefield pickups" is to be alive after the battle is over. The second to is to be in possession of the field when the shooting stops. Without enough ammunition available your choices will be limited: hope you can run far enough and fast enough to live, or die in place.

What _is_ likely to happen is that the guys who were serious about acquiring gear ahead of time are going to waste a few minutes arguing over how to split up your stuff.

[snolden]

Yup. saw an add for like new mags from CDNN for metric fals for 8.99 each. Ordered 6 more. that will bring me up to 19 total. Also got a new slide for my beretta 92 to allow me to make it 96.

AGC has a good point, but for those of you on foot: 6 or 8 is about all you can carry. But you can "cache" many of them. Just remember to note the GPS locations on a map for when the batt'ries run out.

Also get a few bandoliers. Those are easy to carry and allow easy ammo carry and use.

[cobrasks]

Minimum

25 mags per MBR that you frequently use.

10 mags per handgun you frequently use.


For backup or infrequently used weapons,I would
say 10 .

Lately I've been reducing the different types of weapons I have
to concentrate my attention on less types of weapons
and fewer ammo types.
Basicly ,quality over quantity.

[AGC]

Originally posted by cobrasks
Minimum

25 mags per MBR that you frequently use.

10 mags per handgun you frequently use.


For backup or infrequently used weapons,I would
say 10 .

Lately I've been reducing the different types of weapons I have
to concentrate my attention on less types of weapons
and fewer ammo types.
Basicly ,quality over quantity.


It's not a bad idea, either, to acquire two classes of magazines: "SHTF"/"balloon goes up"/etc magazines that you function test, clean and then place in long-term storage, and "training"/"range"/etc magazines that you use today for training.

I would consider ten new magazines to be the absolute minimum for "SHTF" storage; you should be able to do that for under $100 for an AR15, FAL or G3. For the "range" magazines, good condition used magazines are adequate, and prices can be ridiculously low for those. I've bought good condition G3 magazines for about $1.50 within the last year, and I've seen prices as low as $1/each lately; $2 metric FAL magazines, $4 USGI AR15 magazines...

Chances are, you won't wear out or damage your range magazines to the point that they're not useful, so they will supplement your stored new magazines. And the low prices mean you can buy more, now, while they're cheap. It's not likely, due to the combination of recently relaxed laws and the widespread disposal of Cold War reserve stockpiles, that magazine prices will ever be lower than they are today. So buy more than you need, now, while they're cheap. You should always be able to get _at_ _least_ what they cost you in a sale, and it's more likely that in 10 or 15 years you'll be looking back saying "If only I had bought 50 of these and 100 of those..."

[AndyC]

If it helps...in Iraq, we carried 1 mag in the rifle, 6 in our vests and each had a grab-bag of another 10 at our feet in the vehicle - for the pistol, 4 spare mags. That was about all we could practically carry when we got bounced and were forced to fight on foot; obviously, having some sort of vehicle helps to carry the ammo.

[gunplumber]

Just some random thoughts.

FAL mags are currently inexpensive. I store my ammo in magazines. I shoot alot and 10 mags fit in a 30 cal ammo can. So 50 magazines in 5 ammo cans is a case of ammo. Thats what I have for the range. Very convenient. With mags so inexpensive right now, I see no purpose in stripper clips.

As for assigning them to guns, the range mags are extra. I think a minimum of 9 magazines for the fal. I base number of mags with how to carry them. I find that balancing magaziens left and right side, with how many mags can fit in the pounch, and I come up with four pouches of 2 mags each and one in the gun = 9.

Then I have a second chest pouch holding 8 which can be worn with my other gear (but it ads a lot of weight) or given to someone else .

For the AR, I normally carried 4 pouches with three mags each and one in the gun for a total of 13.


I have a second chest pouch that holds 8.

I then have 7 mag bandoleers loaded. Because the mags are relatively inexpensive, my supply of mags is about a case of ammo, or 33.

For more expensive or harder to find magazines, I have mags for guns I no longer own. I consider them barter or trade goods (or because I havn't found a buyer who will pay my price)

AK Mags - I have around 50. I think I paid less than $6 each for them, in bulk, so why not? My AK is not on my bugout list, its just more convenient to sit in front of the TV and load mags then to load them at the range. One thing I've never understood is why I used to load stripper clips (except SKS clips) when the mags were so cheap. Toook more time..

I bought a couple hundred HK mags when they first hit the market 2 yers ago. I paid around $10 each. I just put them away and I won't toucvh them for many years. Their value has already gone down to aeound $6 since I bought them. But I remember when I could sell them for $50 each and nobody blinked. But I save paperback books in case I decide to read it again, maybe my kids will find some value in these mags. And if the SHTF, a mag has to be worth a can of soup to someone. Even more if its loaded.

Anyway, I think 5 mags per rifle is an absolute minimum with 7 being better, and "best" being what fits your method of carry. and then as many extras as you can afford. Playing paintball has given me new faith in suppressive fire . Suppressive fire takes a lot of ammo. I know there isn't an exact correlation between paintball and the real world, but I can easily go through 250 balls in a 10 minute firefightt - and thats on semiauto only.