Clean Magazines

[JoJo]

 When my neighbor and I go to the range he only brings one magazine. He said he only wants to clean one at the end of the day. He disassembles it and cleans it.
 Do you disassemble and clean your mags after a day at the range and why?

[CJS06]

JoJo

I may be a bad example for this.  Unless my mags are used in a very sandy of dirty environment where they have gotten "stuff" in them that can lead to fouling I do not do a full disassemble and clean my magazines.  I have mags that I have used for years without ever disassembling them.  I do wipe them down and compress the follower and wipe it and the inside as far down as my fingers reach before I put them away.  I dont know your friend at all but to use one mage for lack of wanting to clean it seems a bit.... .

I do mark all of my mags incase I start to get malfunctions. This way I know which mag, can diagnose the problem and either clean it service it or if necessary dispose of it. 

Chris

[JoJo]

 I never thought of marking my mags, good idea. Thanks for the tip.

[Jackalope]

    I'm another one that doesn't clean magazines after each use.  I do clean them occasionally, especially if they're exposed to moisture, or grit.  Otherwise, like Chris, I just wipe them down as needed.

[JohnyMac]

Interesting discussion. Like Chris and Jackalope I do not clean my mag's unless I have used them in an environment that they were in a lot of mud, sand, etc.

ALL of my mags are marked with my initials* and a number. I use a paint pen paint pen that I bought at Staples.

* Some may think putting initials on my mags is bad opsec. I do this because I train with other folks and I would like to leave with the same number of mags as I arrived with. Maybe instead of using ones initials you might use a symbol like a star.

[CJS06]

I use a band of red electrical tape to identify my mags in a class.  That way as a drill is ending and we are sorting mags they are easy to pick up.  I also put ranger plates on the base of all of my mags.  This is really just for a 2nd level of identification. If someone else shows with red tape the chance of them also having changed base plates is pretty slim. (see my profile pic).

Numbering mags is really important for keeping track of problems if they occur. It is amazing how many common malfunctions are magazine related, and if you cant identify where they happened you are doomed to keep repeating.

Chris

[Nemo]

I went and put my specs on.  That pic still ain't very big.

Nemo