Do you fill your mags to capacity?

[jsquared]

OK, time for another heated debate about something unprovable. Do you load your magazines to 100% capacity or leave them -1?

I first heard about this "technique" while listening to some Veterans tell stories when I was a wee youngin', they talked of loading their M16 magazines in the jungle with 19 rounds to keep the rifle from double feeding. Since then I have lost track of all the references, posts, stories, articles, etc that have mentioned this. It seems to run rampant: all types of rifles, pistols, etc seem to be under question regarding loading a magazine to capacity


The main character in the book I am reading is all about loading up 29 rounds and it got me thinking how many people do this, either out of habit or just as a tactic.

 

[CCW]

-1 on >15rd handgun mags or -2 on 30rd rifle mags

...because getting that last round in while reloading 40 magazines SUCKS! LOL!

 

[unclear.six]

I honestly have never heard of the -1 thing. I've never been in the military either though haha. This sounds like the argument that leaving your mags loaded will wear out the springs....doesn't make sense to me. Hey I'm wrong a couple times a year though, any smart people care to chime in?

 

[CCW]

It's not that it wears out the springs as much as it can actually put the spring in a bind and the spring could possibly hang, resulting in NO feeds.

 

[unclear.six]

It's not that it wears out the springs as much as it can actually put the spring in a bind and the spring could possibly hang, resulting in NO feeds.

Ahhh, I've never heard that. I have heard several people tell me that it will wear out the spring which I found comical. That makes sense I guess, though it has never happened to me.

 

[fattboyzz]

I max the mag out and then let the slide go on my G19 ........ so I guess Im -1

but if Im going to the shady side of town its slam full...

on the 1911 Im 8+1 tho .....

on AR,AK stuff I usually load 20rds per mag for storage on a few mags ,,,,,,,,, but the one in the weapon is full -1 when I ket the bolt go ....

 

[NGIB]

The 1911 was designed to have 7 round mags and many of the 8 round mags were actually just "modified" 7 rounders. Many of these mags did not work well loaded with 8 so many folks just loaded them to 7. This is the only area where I've heard consistent info on this subject...

 

[FishinMech]

-2 in my 30rd and full cap on pistols.

 

[patrick4588]

on my handguns i keep them full +1 in the pipe. on my rifle, i load them to 30 but once i insert the mag and drop the bolt they are -1. but stored they are full. never had an issue and ive got about 4800 rounds downrange on my AR.

 

[MMatt30]

The only mags I load -1 are AR-15 mags.

I load the rest to the max.