Cost of 9mm pistol magazines
- Thread starter Kurbsky
- Start date
I typically like 5 magazines for a given pistol. So let’s go on the higher end and say those magazines are $50 a piece. $250, not something to sneeze at. A lot of places locally and online are running about $0.40 a round of 9mm. That $250 is a whopping 625 rounds of 9mm.
Why do I mention this? I have no doubt that the cost of accessories, and moreso the availability of accessories, is a factor in Glock’s appeal for many shooters. However, if you’re going to shoot that pistol to any significant extend the cost of ammunition is going to quickly dwarf the cost of those magazines. This was true even before the pandemic. And I say this as someone that owns a lot of Glock magazines.
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Why do I mention this? I have no doubt that the cost of accessories, and moreso the availability of accessories, is a factor in Glock’s appeal for many shooters. However, if you’re going to shoot that pistol to any significant extend the cost of ammunition is going to quickly dwarf the cost of those magazines. This was true even before the pandemic. And I say this as someone that owns a lot of Glock magazines.
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Hell, the standard capacity ones were going for close to $40 when I had mine.
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Yeah the HK45 series was brutal in magazine pricing. Whenever I sold an HK I always sold any magazines over the original two over on the HK forums. It was bizarre selling used magazines for 2-3 times the cost of a factory new Glock magazine.
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/2031012905...sh=item2f49c7c04a:g:vlwAAOSwG5JfWFdz&LH_BIN=1
This ebay ad for new Sig P239 mags is a bigger insult than the HK magazines. And I can’t buy P239 mags from Mec-Gar.
This ebay ad for new Sig P239 mags is a bigger insult than the HK magazines. And I can’t buy P239 mags from Mec-Gar.
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Glock mags are cheap.
1911 mags (good ones) are twice as much.
Wife and i shoot USPSA Open division. 2011 9mm double stack.
One of the more popular mag brands is MBX
140mm long (23-24 rds) $130
155mm long (26-27 rds) $145
170mm long (29-30 rds) $160
These are the same mags as the currently popular Staccato pistols use.
We each have 3x140, 1x155 and 2x170. $875 per gun.
Yup---9mm mags can be expensive.
1911 mags (good ones) are twice as much.
Wife and i shoot USPSA Open division. 2011 9mm double stack.
One of the more popular mag brands is MBX
140mm long (23-24 rds) $130
155mm long (26-27 rds) $145
170mm long (29-30 rds) $160
These are the same mags as the currently popular Staccato pistols use.
We each have 3x140, 1x155 and 2x170. $875 per gun.
Yup---9mm mags can be expensive.
wild cat mccane
New member
Beretta 92 mags are also pretty cheap.
Probably a scale issue and a you're going to buy so why not issue.
Probably a scale issue and a you're going to buy so why not issue.
The more widely produced and used the gun is, the greater the volume of magazines made and so a lower per unit cost, usually. Especially anything in large scale use by police and /or the military.
As one example I got out of the Army in the late 70s and wanted nothing to do with the AR rifle after that. Did get .223 and Mini 14. Made it part way through the 80s before sheer economics drove me to the AR platform. At the time, a 30 rnd stick for the Mini-14 was just under $15, and a 30 rnd mag for the M16/AR15 was a whopping $3! (Three dollars).
Not like that today, but the same principles still apply.
As one example I got out of the Army in the late 70s and wanted nothing to do with the AR rifle after that. Did get .223 and Mini 14. Made it part way through the 80s before sheer economics drove me to the AR platform. At the time, a 30 rnd stick for the Mini-14 was just under $15, and a 30 rnd mag for the M16/AR15 was a whopping $3! (Three dollars).
Not like that today, but the same principles still apply.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Just the opposite.Kurbsky said:
It's called "economies of scale." Making one of something may be expensive. making gazillions of the same thing brings the cost down significantly. Glocks aren't popular because their magazines are cheap. Glock magazines are cheap because Glock sells so many pistols (and magazines).
BourbonCowboy
New member
Yep, I've noticed that the cost of mags has gotten to the point of being unreasonable. But then again, both my semiautos are HKs - and those mags have always been unreasonable. I just bought one or two a month until I had more than I wanted. I might pick up a P30 or P30SK next year...and I won't need to buy any more mags.