Do you fill your mags to capacity?

[protective measures]

I've shot AK military surplus mags that were loaded to capacity for over 5 years without a problem.

Not knocking the trainers/experts/etc. but if I have a weapon that requires not being loaded to capacity for it to function reliably, it's time for a new weapon.

The problems we see are not "hardware" related problems but more "operator" induced problems.
If those of you who load your mags. full don't have any problems then I'm not saying your way is wrong.
What I am saying is there is a big difference between a relaxing day shooting at the range versus shooting a high stress, high speed drill solving tactical problems while firing on the move looking for cover, looking at the threat & not looking down at your firearm, etc., etc. Which one do you think more closely replicates what happens during a fight for your life?
I would encourage you to "test" your theory out on the range on this or any other manipulation to make certain that it will work EVERY time under ALL conditions for YOU.
We see too many people come to our range with pre-conceived misconceptions of what they or their equipment can do & with the introduction of just a little stress, their "system" falls apart.

 

[protective measures]

I've shot AK military surplus mags that were loaded to capacity for over 5 years without a problem.

Not knocking the trainers/experts/etc. but if I have a weapon that requires not being loaded to capacity for it to function reliably, it's time for a new weapon.

Even when downloading most of the time, we still have issues when mag springs wear out due to high useage. With semi-auto's the majority of the time that there is a feeding problem, all that is needed is a new mag. spring., not a new gun.
I definitely agree with you that if I can't get a weapon to be 100% reliable then I have no use for it.

 

[Bypass]

I've never had a problem with my mags on deployments. I heard bad stories of the cheap contract M9 mags so I ordered factory ones for my M9 when I was a M240B gunner 6 years ago.

X 2 and 249/M2 -minus the ordering new m9 mags. All our mags were new in wrapper factory beretta made in Italy. Where were you 6 years ago?

 

[Bypass]

I have never had problems with quality magazines. The Vietnam era 20 rounders were notoriously unreliable if loaded to capacity, but modern failures are few and far between. Even if you have a jam in your AR, SPORTS clears it in 3 seconds.

The vietnam era mags didn't have the bumps/dimples at the top and on the sides for feeding which led to the malfunctions even the new twenty rounders have been fixed.

 

[USMC - Lock and Load]

I don't have that worry with my Mattie Mattel Fanner 50. I use a full roll of "Greenie Stick-um Caps"...... works great every time!

View attachment 80241 View attachment 80242

You "youngsters" probably don't know about this gun!

 

[Xcaliber]

Going to the ranger=yes
Long term storage=no

 

[Bypass]

I don't have that worry with my Mattie Mattel Fanner 50. I use a full roll of "Greenie Stick-um Caps"...... works great every time!

View attachment 80241 View attachment 80242

You "youngsters" probably don't know about this gun!

Nice cap gun!!

 

[Billrube]

The problems we see are not "hardware" related problems but more "operator" induced problems.
If those of you who load your mags. full don't have any problems then I'm not saying your way is wrong.
What I am saying is there is a big difference between a relaxing day shooting at the range versus shooting a high stress, high speed drill solving tactical problems while firing on the move looking for cover, looking at the threat & not looking down at your firearm, etc., etc. Which one do you think more closely replicates what happens during a fight for your life?
I would encourage you to "test" your theory out on the range on this or any other manipulation to make certain that it will work EVERY time under ALL conditions for YOU.
We see too many people come to our range with pre-conceived misconceptions of what they or their equipment can do & with the introduction of just a little stress, their "system" falls apart.

The OP's subject was filling mags to capacity...I'm not talking about systems/drilling/high speed tactical/wearing out mag springs. If we accept the theory that less than capacity makes for better reliability, would it not be safe to argue using the same logic that filling the magazine to only, say, half capacity would make it even more reliable?

 

[DES365]

pistol mags fully loaded AR15 mags -1.

 

[protective measures]

The OP's subject was filling mags to capacity...I'm not talking about systems/drilling/high speed tactical/wearing out mag springs. If we accept the theory that less than capacity makes for better reliability, would it not be safe to argue using the same logic that filling the magazine to only, say, half capacity would make it even more reliable?

If you read Chuck Taylor of American Small Arms Academies' article where he shot over 300,000 rounds through his G-17 you could see where he had reliability issues until he started downloading his mags. by one whereupon the " life" of the mag. springs & therefore the reliability was greatly increased.
Besides, what "context" are you referring to?
I was simply giving the reasoning WHY many people who download their mags. choose to do so.
I have no interest in arguing w/ anyone. As I stated, to each to their own... doesn't matter to me.