Sticking with Factory magazines for all of my handguns!
I started out with 1911s and they are probable the only magazines I would not buy factory magazines for. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know who I would say made factory magazines for the 1911? Colt ? Maybe but I don’t find Colt magazines to be as sturdy and Chip McCormick mags or Wilson Combat. The strength of gun magazine springs and “you get what you pay for” really comes into play with this type of firearm. I have a Beretta 92FS that I had a lot of fun with back in the 1990’s when the assault weapon ban was going on and this was just about the only firearm I could get magazines for at a reasonable price. Back then some Glock magazines were going for $90 a magazine and after buying 3 or 4 of them you basically purchased a new firearm.
I have learned to maintain my firearms properly and magazine and spring replacement is as important as cleaning your firearms, you just don’t have to do it as much. I have heard stories of guys in the military that still had to clean out the magazines on their guns, something like the Glock 26 magazines in stock that are smaller and I’d probable say is a compact firearm, need to be cleaned probable every 5000rds or so because after that much usage, you really don’t know what else might have flown into your magazine. There is a reason magpul makes dust covers for their guns and in harsh environments I don’t think people realize that dirty magazines cause as much malfunctioning as dirty guns.
Things like recoil springs and firing pins are pretty much a MUST for serious shooters because sometimes it’s not always the guns fault that something wears out or breaks. Sometimes bad ammo can wear out a firing pin faster than normal and recoil springs are going to wear out at some point. The 2nd recommendation I would have would be to store magazine springs and followers. Those will wear out, not as often, but as often as recoil springs. If you’re a plinker and occassion shooter, these won’t be necessary, but if you put a couple thousand rounds through your Glock every year, something is going to wear down at some point so it’s best to have the spare parts around when it happens.
GLOCK MAGAZINES