What is a standard capacity magazine?

Most pistols sold in the United States come equipped with magazines that hold between 10 and 17 rounds. In fact, those holding 10 rounds are generally compact or subcompact models. Full‐​size pistols, like those commonly used by law enforcement officers, overwhelmingly ship with 12- to 20‐​round magazines as standard.

When did the M16 get a 30-round magazine?

In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the US military’s standard service rifle. The M16A1’s improvements include a bolt-assist, chrome-plated bore and a 30-round magazine.

Is it bad to leave a gun magazine loaded?

Using the spring (loading and unloading the magazine) frequently will cause it to wear out as well. Some springs may stay loaded for decades and still function, and others might wear out after a much shorter period of time. So just to be safe, the best practice is to rotate the magazines periodically.

Why do you need 30 round magazines?

The reason for the 30-round magazine’s popularity is simple: It hits a technological sweet spot. Magazines with larger capacities, while available, are often cumbersome and unreliable. Their size makes lying prone difficult. And the number of moving parts means they often jam.

Is 30 rounds standard capacity?

For most firearms, 10-30 round magazines are actually standard capacity.

Are 30 round magazines necessary?

Large capacity magazines — the component of a firearm that store rounds before they are fired — are popular accessories for semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15, and 30 round magazines are common. That leaves “personal protection” as the main justification for large magazines.

Did they use 30 round magazines in Vietnam?

Growing Popularity. Only around 1,000 30-round mags were deployed in Vietnam. This rusted model was used in the Invasion of Grenada in 1983. No more than about a thousand 30-round AR magazines were issued to American troops before the war ended in Vietnam.