[Robot Dir]

At the latest gun show they had a bunch of police surplus mags for $9 each ($10 out the door including tax) and I picked up five for a G22 although I don't have a G22. The springs are definitely weak (very easy to load the first five rounds) but I have tested them on my range buddy's G23/22 and they were 100% reliable through 150 rounds. For good measure, I also tested them on my G17 with 50 rounds and they were 100% reliable, this was strange since they are for G22 but them functioned fine in 17 as well.

Do you ever replace springs in mags? Would you trust your life to police surplus mags? Since they are surplus it would follow that an officer was already trusting their life to them but I just wonder.

I have friends with old guns and we have used 1911 and Hi Power mags from WW2 and they are 100% reliable at least at the range... have also used Walther P38 mags from WW2 also 100% reliable. Surplus mags are cheap and abundant and I wonder if there are any reasons to avoid them since in my opinion you can never have too many mags?

Finally, do mags actually go bad if they are not rusty or dirty? I have four colt ar mags from 1970s and they are 100% reliable, the finish is almost completely gone but they never have issues, and they have not been cleaned in at least 20 years... I have plenty of MagPuls which only cost $13 but they just don't have the character of these old mil mags...

I don't mind newish mags but given the price of surplus mags on HK USP 40, Sig 226/220 Beretta 92/96, Ruger P series and Glock 17/22/23 mags is there any reason to avoid surplus especially in Sig mags which seem to cost at least 2-3X what glock mags cost new and surplus mags seem to be $10 in gun shows regardless of brand and they are factory mags... Given what surplus mags cost my friends and I get them even if we don't have the gun but the gun is on our wish list.

 

[aberrant]

Do you ever replace springs in mags?

When I do, they become range / practice mags.

Would you trust your life to police surplus mags?

Nope. My carry mags were purchased new and are inspected/tested monthly.

Finally, do mags actually go bad if they are not rusty or dirty?

The age-old debate is whether magazine springs age faster untensioned, under tension, or under cycling.

 

[FireMedic-50]

Magazine springs should be checked periodically.

A very easy way is to compare the height to a new [same type] one.
They are priced reasonably if you search around, $4-$6 each.

 

[RobertF]

I bought several of the Clinton ban era "law enforcement only" marked Glock mags a while back. Yes, I trust these mags so long as they are unmodified and no silly extensions or other nonsense.

No, I won't change mag springs. I toss the mag and buy another one should it wear out, but such occurances are rather rare. I've only wore out two pistol mags to where they would no longer function reliably, and neither were Glock mags.

 

[Glockdude1]

Yes, I trust them. I have many of them.

 

[BamaTrooper]

Go to a GSSF match and have them check the springs. If they’re not good they might replace them for you. They flat out replaced 5 of my mags because they were stamped “Restricted LE- GOV on them and they knew they were AT LEAST 2004 production.

 

[Night Train]

I would relegate those mags to the range for practice. Keep the newly purchased ones as your go to mags for self defense. That's my basic logic.

 

[Biggfoot44.5]

The age-old debate is whether magazine springs age faster untensioned, under tension, or under cycling.

No , it's facts of engineering and metallurgy. Spring fatigue is from cycling .

Either way , springs ( and followers for that matter) are cheap and easy to routinely replace .

Inspect used magazines of course . Check feed lips . Check metal mags for dents . Check polymer mags for wear and rounding of sharp edges , especially for mag catches . Function test in your gun , just as you should for brand new magazines.

Is it possible to wear out Clock magazines? Sure . Iirc various Mega round torture tests , it took 20k ish rounds . Is a general issue LE gun likely to have put that many rounds thru each magazine ? Dedicated training guns used only for training in an Academy? Sure . Guns issued to individual Officers, extremely unlikely .

 

[familyman357]

Like anything else that's used, with an unknown history, you can't make a blanket statement about being able to "trust" it.

People don't necessarily like to think of them this way, but magazines are consumable items. They have a lifespan, not in years (unreinforced polymer magazines can be an exception to this, unfortunately) but in the number of rounds cycled through them.

 

[Jarhead Al]

Remember, many, if not most, cops are not gun people. As such, they may only 200-300 round a year. While old in years, they may be young in rounds cycled. Also, brand new mags (anything really) occasionally fail.

 

[Jason D]

Do the magazines appear to be fine externally? No dings, dents, cracks, messed up feed lips, or dinked up mag catch? Then you only need to worry about a spring. Install a new spring, check for function, and you're good to go.
There is no need not to trust the mags unless they are damaged.

 

[stompah]

I bought 20 pre-owned LEO 22 mags. Since we're ok and a few were a little rough. I bought them solely for the range.

Worst case scenario in SHTF they will be my last resort.

 

[glockforlife100]

Newly purchased (at some point) OEM mags for EDC. Older mags and mags purchased used for Range and Competition (where they are regularly dropped in dirt and sand).

 

[cciman]

Just like anything used, it's a gamble. But that's a great price, so a good gamble.

One look at the follower should tell you how used they are. Hard to wear out mags.

 

[azmercedes]

If factory original mags, I trust they were good when new, and I trust I am able to inspect, clean, replace springs or followers as necessary, retire if needed and determine if they are reliable. These days, as far as I'm concerned, you're on your own. Don't trust anything or anybody. Learn to do it and trust yourself.

 

[Lt. Donn]

At the latest gun show they had a bunch of police surplus mags for $9 each ($10 out the door including tax) and I picked up five for a G22 although I don't have a G22. The springs are definitely weak (very easy to load the first five rounds) but I have tested them on my range buddy's G23/22 and they were 100% reliable through 150 rounds. For good measure, I also tested them on my G17 with 50 rounds and they were 100% reliable, this was strange since they are for G22 but them functioned fine in 17 as well.

Do you ever replace springs in mags? Would you trust your life to police surplus mags? Since they are surplus it would follow that an officer was already trusting their life to them but I just wonder.

I have friends with old guns and we have used 1911 and Hi Power mags from WW2 and they are 100% reliable at least at the range... have also used Walther P38 mags from WW2 also 100% reliable. Surplus mags are cheap and abundant and I wonder if there are any reasons to avoid them since in my opinion you can never have too many mags?

Finally, do mags actually go bad if they are not rusty or dirty? I have four colt ar mags from 1970s and they are 100% reliable, the finish is almost completely gone but they never have issues, and they have not been cleaned in at least 20 years... I have plenty of MagPuls which only cost $13 but they just don't have the character of these old mil mags...

I don't mind newish mags but given the price of surplus mags on HK USP 40, Sig 226/220 Beretta 92/96, Ruger P series and Glock 17/22/23 mags is there any reason to avoid surplus especially in Sig mags which seem to cost at least 2-3X what glock mags cost new and surplus mags seem to be $10 in gun shows regardless of brand and they are factory mags... Given what surplus mags cost my friends and I get them even if we don't have the gun but the gun is on our wish list.

Send them to Glock and they will test them, and if weak, you will get brand new ones in return mail...OR if you live within a reasonable distance, a visit to the Mothership is definitely worth it

 

[Gamera]

Why anyone would compromise the reliability of their carry gun just to save a few bucks is beside me.

 

[Toocool45]

I would trust them. The exception being for home defense "with a weapon mounted light" . In this case you would need to make sure THAT magazine you are using in THAT gun with whatever ammo actually works. Make sure when you get a G22 or G23 you verify certain magazines function with a weapon mounted light. IT CAN BE AN ISSUE. In some guns. The supposed fix is magazine springs. I just would not trust them for home defense with a light mounted. Untill it can be tested.

 

[jf44]

I sold all my .40 guns and no longer have one. Glock mags are so cheap that does not makes sense to me buy used ones!

 

[Toocool45]

He has no gun these magazines fit as of yet.