Stupid Question # 1

TerryG · February 9, 2006, 02:19 PM

During competition reloading requires dropping the empty magazine on the ground prior to inserting a fresh one.
How do you deal with cleaning the dropped magazines for use later in the day?
Field stripping magazines on site doesn't sound like a wise choice.
Thanks
Terry

SMITH910 · February 9, 2006, 03:38 PM

Why would you have to clean the magazine? Are you shooting on solid dirt?

TerryG · February 9, 2006, 04:13 PM

Yes, Dirt, outdoor range

ClarkEMyers · February 9, 2006, 05:59 PM

Don't reuse - have enough magazines for the day
Shoot IDPA and reload with retention.

Seriously, if dropped on the ground enough to worry I'd prefer to examine the feed lips at home under a strong light and such or requalify the magazines on the range before reusing for the record.

HSMITH · February 9, 2006, 09:44 PM

Most of us have mag brushes that we use. Drop the base plate/pad/whatever off and remove spring and follower, a few strokes with the brush, reassemble and you are back in business.

Failure to do so WILL cause problems sooner or later no matter what gun is used.

Having enough mags to not need to clean them is nice, but I darn sure can't afford it for each gun. I've got $100 EACH in my STI mags, 15-20 mags for one club match = OUCH

First link below is a mag brush, probably the most popular I see for double stack mags.

Second link is basepads for double stack mags that make disassembly, cleaning and re-assembly literally a 5 second job.

http://shootersconnection.com/store/...products_id=72

http://shootersconnection.com/store/...roducts_id=111

TerryG · February 10, 2006, 12:04 PM

How many mags could you expect to need in a one day event for either IDPA or USPSA?

Jim Watson · February 10, 2006, 03:20 PM

Unless the ground is awful sandy, you ought to be able to shake out and whisk off the worst of the dirt and go about your business.

IDPA allows/requires only three magazines in any one stage. You will have time to reload between stages.
USPSA shoots more, I want four on my belt and one in the gun, but you can still clean up and reload between stages.

You do not have to have everything just perfect to start out. Go shooting and start learning the sports.

RickB · February 14, 2006, 05:38 PM

I used to use a magazine brush between stages, but discovered it was splaying the feed lips out, preventing the mags from dropping free. Now, unless the mag is truly full of dirt/sand/mud, I just hold the mag upside down, and work the follower up and down a half-dozen times. All of my mags have metal followers, and they act as a scraper, allowing all the junk to fall out the top or through the inspection holes. If the mag is truly full of stuff, I strip it and clean it out with a rag, before using it again.

February 9, 2006, 02:19 PM	#1
TerryG Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 4	Stupid Question # 1 During competition reloading requires dropping the empty magazine on the ground prior to inserting a fresh one. How do you deal with cleaning the dropped magazines for use later in the day? Field stripping magazines on site doesn't sound like a wise choice. Thanks Terry

February 9, 2006, 05:59 PM	#4
ClarkEMyers Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2004 Location: PacWest Posts: 455	Don't reuse - have enough magazines for the day Don't reuse - have enough magazines for the day Shoot IDPA and reload with retention. Seriously, if dropped on the ground enough to worry I'd prefer to examine the feed lips at home under a strong light and such or requalify the magazines on the range before reusing for the record.

February 9, 2006, 03:38 PM	#2
SMITH910 Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 282	Why would you have to clean the magazine? Are you shooting on solid dirt?

February 9, 2006, 04:13 PM	#3
TerryG Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 4	Yes, Dirt, outdoor range

February 9, 2006, 09:44 PM	#5
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Most of us have mag brushes that we use. Drop the base plate/pad/whatever off and remove spring and follower, a few strokes with the brush, reassemble and you are back in business. Failure to do so WILL cause problems sooner or later no matter what gun is used. Having enough mags to not need to clean them is nice, but I darn sure can't afford it for each gun. I've got $100 EACH in my STI mags, 15-20 mags for one club match = OUCH First link below is a mag brush, probably the most popular I see for double stack mags. Second link is basepads for double stack mags that make disassembly, cleaning and re-assembly literally a 5 second job. http://shootersconnection.com/store/...products_id=72 http://shootersconnection.com/store/...roducts_id=111

February 10, 2006, 12:04 PM	#6
TerryG Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 4	How many mags could you expect to need in a one day event for either IDPA or USPSA?

February 10, 2006, 03:20 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Unless the ground is awful sandy, you ought to be able to shake out and whisk off the worst of the dirt and go about your business. IDPA allows/requires only three magazines in any one stage. You will have time to reload between stages. USPSA shoots more, I want four on my belt and one in the gun, but you can still clean up and reload between stages. You do not have to have everything just perfect to start out. Go shooting and start learning the sports.

February 14, 2006, 05:38 PM	#8
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I used to use a magazine brush between stages, but discovered it was splaying the feed lips out, preventing the mags from dropping free. Now, unless the mag is truly full of dirt/sand/mud, I just hold the mag upside down, and work the follower up and down a half-dozen times. All of my mags have metal followers, and they act as a scraper, allowing all the junk to fall out the top or through the inspection holes. If the mag is truly full of stuff, I strip it and clean it out with a rag, before using it again.