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Extended Magazine Buying Guide: They Are More Useful Than You Think
Extended magazines have been given a bad light over the years. Typically, you see them hanging under a Glock, far past the point of utility, making the regular shooter wonder why it’s needed in the first place.
However, extended magazines are extremely handy in their lower-capacity variants. For example, the Sig Sauer M17 and M18 ship with two 21-round extended magazines.
Which I use every day. Why have 17 rounds when you can have 21? Or, in FN’s case, 24 rounds? All while maintaining its utility and ability to work as a concealed-carry gun.
This setup may be difficult to carry but would be fine for the range. Source
Or, if you just want to send rounds down range, those obnoxiously long extended mags are fun and one of my favorite ways to knock the dust off a new pistol.
Extended mags can be used for almost anything. It all depends on what you plan to use them for.
Carry & Combat
Extended magazines for carry are far different than those meant strictly for the range. I don’t think you want to have a magazine poking out from under your shirt at Costco; that would be unsightly.
The good news is that most manufacturers offer extended magazines with their pistols straight from the factory. Again, consider Sig Sauer and Glock, which offer military handguns (M17, M18, 19X), FN 509T, Beretta M9A4, Smith & Wesson, etc.
If you’re a more experienced shooter, concealing an extended factory magazine holding 19-23 rounds is not challenging, especially in a colder environment. The tricky part comes in warmer weather when the layers become fewer and the garments thinner.
But for situations that call for a warbelt, you don’t have to worry about printing.
For all of these scenarios, I recommend sticking with factory magazines. It’s almost always safer to rely on what you, the manufacturer, and others have tested. Here are a few of our favorites and most popular!
Glock 19X 19 Round Magazine
The 19X 19-round extended magazine fits many Glock pistols and will sit flush with the 17 lower. It comes standard with the Glock 19X from the factory and was used in the MHS trials, further pushing the tests for durability and reliability.
I own 11 of these magazines and have successfully carried and run them through the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest. Thanks to the durable polymer construction, there have been zero issues with rust.
These mags are also lighter than most extended mags on the market and of course, feature those rear-facing witness holes to keep track of your remaining rounds.
Glock 19X 19 Round Mags work in a few different Glocks. Source
Sig P320 21-Round Magazine
The 21-Round P320 magazine comes standard with the M18 and M17 and a few other higher-end or combat-focused pistols in the P320 lineup. These magazines were also featured alongside pistols in the U.S. Army’s MHS trials.
My first pistol was an M18; I’ve spent plenty of time with these 21–round mags. At the time of this writing, I’ve put 8,000 rounds through my M18 and have only had ammo-related failures.
Constructed from Nitride-coated carbon steel and featuring anti-tilt polymer followers, they deliver superior durability and reliability, letting you rest easy knowing your Sig is being fed by the best magazine possible.
Sig P365 X-Macro, Fuse 21-Round Magazine
SALE 
SIG P365 X-Macro, Fuse 9mm 21 Round Extended Magazine
56 reviews
Original price was: $64.99.$54.99Current price is: $54.99.
For those who want a more carry-focused pistol with a great magazine capacity, the X-Macro and Fuse are two popular options for small gun handling with a big gun capacity.
Everything from the anti-friction-coated steel tower to the contour lines in the polymer baseplate proves that Sig paid attention to even the smallest details. Furthermore, this magazine makes the Fuse look all the more aesthetically pleasing.
Having that much capacity on a small pistol makes the Fuse and X-Macro a solid option for concealed carry.
P365 Fuse ready for carry, day or night. Source
Range, Fun, and Everything Else
This is where you can whip out your obnoxious extended and drum magazines and send as much ammo down range as possible. You don’t have to stress about reliability as much. Paper and steel targets are not out to get you.
And if anything else, it’s a good way to practice your remedial actions. Tap, rack, and hopefully, it goes bang.
Here are some popular options for the range.
Promag Glock 50-Round Drum Magazine
Glock shooters who want to turn the A-zone into a giant hole can have fun with these drum mags from ProMag. Sure, the magazine will be heavier than the pistol, but knocking off the factory dust and breaking in that maybe-nasty-maybe-not Glock trigger has never been easier.
The ProMag 50-round drum features a steel magazine tower and a polymer drum. This is the 9mm option, but there are options for .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm, and almost every other caliber you can find a Glock in.
Emphasis on practicing tap rack bangs.
Glock 33 Round Extended Magazine
SALE 
Glock 17, 19, 26 9mm 33 Round Gen 5 Extended Magazine
566 reviews
Original price was: $48.00.$39.99Current price is: $39.99.
Isn’t it nice when a manufacturer understands their market and releases huge magazines? Glock understands, and these 33-round magazines are at home on the range and in defensive situations, like an AR-9 or other PDW that accepts Glock mags.
That makes them versatile. The steel-reinforced polymer construction makes them lightweight while retaining the rigidity where needed.
This is the one range mag that could double as a defensive magazine if needed.
Magpul PMAG D60 GEN M3 AR-15 .223/5.56 60 Round Drum Magazine
SALE 
Magpul PMAG D-60 GEN M3 AR-15 .223/5.56 60 Round Drum Magazine
98 reviews
Original price was: $134.99.$119.99Current price is: $119.99.
While we’ve focused on extended pistol magazines up until this point, I wouldn’t feel like the article would be complete without mentioning my favorite drum magazine for the AR-15.
The PMAG D60 from Magpul has everything you could want in an AR-15 magazine. It features a loading lever, paint pen dot matrix, and a rear-facing witness window. Not to mention, it delivers 60 rounds of .223/5.56.
What more could you ask for?
Conclusion
As you can see, extended magazines come in many shapes and sizes. Regardless, my rule of thumb is to almost always use factory mags for defensive purposes and reserve aftermarket ones for everything else. This goes for pistol, rifle, and shotgun magazines.
Just remember to test everything before you rely on it. I’ve seen Shield Arms magazines outperform factory Glock mags on a few occasions, which is why I suggest testing any magazine first.
SALE 
Shield Arms S15 Gen 3 9mm 15 Round Magazine for Glock 43X, 48 Pistols
232 reviews
Original price was: $42.99.$29.99Current price is: $29.99.
Whichever style you choose, ensure it’s reliable.
Most importantly, make sure you get your training in. Break in your pistol or rifle, build muscle memory, and become confident in your abilities. Extended mag or not, three well-placed shots are better than five poorly-placed shots!
Be good and take care.
