Keeping a good marking pen handy
I was recently watching the Make Ready with Paul Howe DVD about Tac Rifle Operator, and it’s a good one. I definitely put this one up with the must get collection with Magpuls Art of the tactical carbine. I won’t get too into the DVD because I’d rather you buy them, but one point that came up is something I kind of slack off on. The topic about marking or putting a strike on a gun magazine when it fails was something that should be monitored. Most people know to rotate gun magazines, but when do you give up on it and toss it?
I was one of those that had a hard time tossing magazines and usually spent the money to replace followers and magazine springs, but some magazines really aren’t worth keeping around. When the mag wells get bent or they are absurdly worn, don’t get too caught up in keeping it with your primaries. When gun magazines even something as tough as Magpul pmags are used, they are a step closer to wearing out or breaking, sometimes they don’t completely crap out on you, they just start to have intermittent malfunctions. One of those that can occur is a worn magazine follower. Three strikes and your out is a good philosophy, and keeping a good marking pen around to document this is a very good idea.