The 20 Versus 30 Round Magazine Debate | Carbine Rifle Magazine Capacity
The 20 round magazine versus the 30 round magazine…it’s a hotly debated topic. Magazine capacity for rifle platforms like the AR 15, Mini 14, and AK 47 are disputed in many circles. From home defense to law enforcement and other disciplines, this debate has logical pros and cons for both 20 and 30 round magazines in most of these disciplines. A quick search on any number of online forums will quickly land you in a deep rabbit hole of theories, use cases, and opinions. And for good reason! The variety of opinions and conclusions by so many shooters is often due to the versatility of carbine rifles. With so many diverse uses, there are bound to be multiple details to consider when deciding on a 20 vs. 30 round magazine for the intended purpose of the rifle.
20 VS. 30 Round Magazine Considerations
Many factors come into play when you’re considering magazine selection for your carbine rifle. There are multiple components to recognize such as weight, rifle profile, handling, and specific use cases that make a case for one magazine capacity over the other. Though it may not sound like much, the added weight of 10 rounds of ammunition is a factor to consider before you simply grab a magazine, especially for every day carry (EDC). However, weight is not the only element to consider, the protrusion, or profile of the magazine when mounted in the rifle can be pivotal in certain circumstances, especially in close quarters like a home or vehicle. The versatility and adaptive nature of carbine rifles makes them the right rifle for many situations, but only when fitted with the correct components and accessories. Some use cases and disciplines that benefit from one size magazine over the other include: tactical shooting, precision shooting, personal defense, and law enforcement.
Tactical Shooting
Training for tactical scenarios means aggressive shooting and movement in a high-stress environment. It also means training for quick and effective shooting on targets. Speed is vital, but so is accuracy revealing one source of debate between a 20 vs. 30 round magazine.
Range time spent developing tactical skills. Simulating stressful shooting scenarios engaging multiple targets in a short amount of time calls for 30 round magazines in the well. Using a 30 round magazine allows you to spend more time on the trigger and less time swapping and reloading mags. Consider using 30 round magazines in a 300 round training session. This will save you 5 mag changes over running 20 round magazines.
■Sitting Position Drills
■Practical Kneeling Position Drills
■Follow UP Target Acquisition Drills
■Stance and Hold Drills
Running and gunning. Engaging targets from cover and quickly moving to the next engagement in a tactical training environment requires many shots sent down range. The considerable trigger time in this type of shooting is a perfect fit for 30 round mags and their larger capacity.
■Three Gun Shooting
■Law Enforcement and Military Training
■Obstacle Course Training and Practice
Prone position shooting. Shooting prone in a tactical situation usually means you’re training to get low and stay low. Steadying your rifle while lying flat and picking out targets in the prone position is best done as close to the ground as possible. In prone shooting, 20 round magazines really shine. The shorter magazine allows shooters to bring the rifle down, helping to steady the gun and keep the shooters head down. A 30 round magazine may force the shooter profile up, or in a higher shooting position which results in decreased accuracy.
■Prone Position Rifle Handling Training
■Prone Marksmanship Drills
■Prone Shooting Variable Range Practice
Precision Shooting
Just like their bolt gun cousins, carbine rifles are individuals. Each rifle is unique and prefers certain ammunition loads, bullet weights, and types. Whether you’re trying loads in 5.56 in your AR 15, .223 in a Mini 14, or 7.62X39 in an AK, it’s important to test different bullets and loads. This determines what ammunition is the most accurate, cost-effective, and cleanest functioning for your rifle. Remember not only to try different bullet weights and types, but ammunition made by various manufacturers. In these precision shooting or bench shooting applications, one magazine stands out as a clear choice.
Bench Shooting. Tuning your carbine rifle to get every ounce of accuracy it has to offer is best done from a bench. Carbine rifles are ergonomically a pleasure to shoot, and reaching out to distances past 500 yards from a bench is a great achievement. For bench shooting, 20 round magazines are the best fit. Keeping the rifle package more compact makes shooting from a bench easier. Bench shooting typically doesn’t involve a lot of trigger time either.
■Long Distance Shooting
■Accurizing Equipment
■Sighting In
Load Testing. When you’re experimenting with different loads to determine which ammunition excels in your carbine, a 20 round magazine is the most practical. Five round groupings are a great test of accuracy, so loading just 5 in the mag makes the 20 round magazine the better fit. Also consider loading 4 variants of ammunition, 5 rounds at a time to fill your 20 round magazine. Pay attention to how each of the different types of ammunition feed and cycle from the magazine to ejection. A 20 round magazine is a superb tool for this type of test.
■Testing Ammo Groups
■Chronographing Bullet Speeds
■Ammunition Cycling and Ejection Testing
Personal Defense Weapon
The concept of a home defense carbine is rooted in emergency situation planning and readiness. Like a first aid kit or a seat belt the idea of a safety precaution is that it will hopefully never be needed. The fact remains, however, that in the need of a firearm for protection of home and family you don’t want to be outgunned. Fitting a 30 round magazine to your home defense weapon keeps it practical to handle, while still providing an additional 10 rounds of firepower over the 20 round magazine. In the simple consideration of superior firepower the 30 round magazine wins hands down, however, there are other considerations for general defense use for both home and vehicle.
Home Defense. Whatever platform you choose, carbine rifles are proven defense weapons providing both security and peace of mind. There are few greater deterrents to occupied home intrusion than a defense firearm in the hands of a trained shooter willing to stand their ground. Many factors come into play when considering what magazine to load in your home defense carbine, make sure you examine the options before you decide.
Storage. How do you plan to safely store your home defense carbine? Can it easily be accessed, but not mistakenly endanger your home? Many guns safes are available with quick code or fingerprint access. Consider if there’s room in your safe for a 20 round or 30 round magazine in one rifle. Many safes can accommodate a 20 round mag, but a 30 just won’t fit. Think about these concerns.
●Quick Access Safe
●Cable Lock
●Lockable Rack
Vehicle Defense. Dependent on the local laws where you plan to be in your vehicle, a carbine rifle and ammunition magazine(s) offer a high level of security when you’re on the road. While concealed carry or vehicle destined handguns are a more common choice, a rifle offers several advantages in many situations. Many states with castle doctrine laws include an occupied vehicle as your castle, in this case, you have the right to defend your life and property when you’re in your vehicle. 20 round magazines are worth considering in a vehicle defense weapon, taking into account the tight quarters inside a vehicle and the possibilities of the rifle being caught by objects such as seatbelts. Utilizing your vehicle’s storage capacity offers the option of carrying spare magazines. You can easily carry both 20 and 30 round magazines in your vehicle.
■Be Aware of Local Laws
■Consider Vehicle Storage
■Pack Multiple Magazines
Law Enforcement / Security
One area of this debate is more heavily tested than any other, 20 round vs. 30 round magazine use in law enforcement. From EDC to active shooter response, the right magazine is absolutely necessary.
Everyday Carry (EDC). Carrying the added weight of a rifle as an everyday tool can take its toll. The weight difference between the 30 round and 20 round magazine may not sound like much, but it makes a difference in EDC. Men and women who carry a carbine on a regular basis should carefully consider their needs and probable situations when deciding on what magazine capacity to run.
■Weight vs. Rounds Trade-Off
■Practical Situational Use Case
■Access to Backup Magazines
■Space Consideration and Carry Options
Vehicle Transport. The majority of law enforcement agents use patrol vehicles in the line of duty. Access to a vehicle to store and transport the weight and bulk of a weapons system is a critical advantage for law enforcement personnel. Consideration should be given to the support a vehicle offers and how it can affect the choice between running 20 and 30 round magazines. 20 Round Mag Considerations from a Patrol Vehicle. Some law enforcement agents might see the advantage in saving weight and space running 20 round magazines with the support of surplus mags and ammo in the patrol vehicle. The 20 round magazine also makes operating from a vehicle easier considering the tight quarters from behind a steering wheel and encountering obstacles like a seatbelt. 30 Round Mag Considerations from a Patrol Vehicle. 30 round magazines obviously offer 10 additional rounds of ammunition over 20 round magazines. Those 10 rounds may become critical in a law enforcement situation and engagement. The tradeoff of more ammunition before a mag change may be worth the concession of added weight and a larger rifle profile.
Conclusion
Magazines in carbine rifles are important tools for whatever platform you choose. Use cases for these versatile rifles help dictate what magazine makes the most sense for your particular application. Practicality and versatility in carbine rifles allow you to easily switch between magazines based on the task at hand. Having a variety of magazines in different sizes allows your rifle to be adaptable and improves your systems all-around function. 20 vs. 30 round magazine talking points aren’t black and white, there are diverse and distinct factors to take into account for each. What’s your opinion on the debate? Which magazine capacity do you prefer and why?