The AWB is over, so buy Factory Mags
When I stopped and thought about writing this, I couldn’t believe how many years it has been since the AWB has expired. It feels like it was just yesterday that I could get Glock or Sig Sauer magazines without having to spend $60-$90 for them. Factory magazines are still more expensive than some of the other magazines out there, but they are always the best option for handguns. There are plenty of decent manufacturers for AK or AR15 rifles, and most problems I have seen with AK mags can be fixed with a simple file to the tab on the mag wells. I recently picked up a couple Glocks and XD handguns because I wanted to bring something to the next class I teach that wasn’t a Beretta, Sig Sauer or 1911. Some people just have issues shooting 45acp and I didn’t own anything other than a Sig 220 and a 1911.
I have found the Springfield Armory XD 45acp to be the most comfortable 45acp gun to shoot that was not a steel gun. I find the Glock 21 to be too bulky especially for my female students. The factory gun magazines for my Glocks are less expensive than Sig Factory magazines, but I have never had to replace anything on my Sigs other the springs. Wolff Gun springs work very well in all of my rifle and pistols and I have stockpiles of them so that if I notice any slowness in cycling, I can just swap them out. Rotating your gun magazines is a good way of making sure you don’t wear out the same magazine, because it’s a pain in the neck when you are trying to determine if the magazine is bad or if a shooter is limp wristing a firearm during a training session.
When training for a class or tactical situation, dealing with an unloaded magazine or an unloaded gun in the situation is expected, all guns go empty at some point. Most of us have the ability to plan ahead and carry extra magazines, but there may be a point where loading a magazine up will be necessary. Maglula from Butler Creek makes a great