[gundrted]

Some how I aways seem to end up with a lot of magazines for any gun I shoot a lot. I have to say its nice load them all up at home and head to the range. When I'm not going to the range I only leave a few mags loaded with what happens to be in the nightstand.

This got me to thinking. Would it helpful to color code some of my mags. For simplicity my examples will be around my P320 but really it could apply to anything. I also do the drop-in barrel swap between 40/357sig/9mm on all my Sigs (P320 included).

Mag sizing seems pretty straight forward. I could pic a different color base plate for different capacity.

Caliber also seems personal preference. I could pic a different color base plate for different calibers. This may be less helpful because if I'm shooting 9mm at the range I just load all the 40/357 mags with 9mm.

Type of ammo seems to be the most useful in my mind.

This is NOT about what caliber if my fav or better/worse.

In 9mm I'll go from Speer Lawman 147gr sub-sonic to 115gr super-sonic or maybe get some high velocity Underwood. In 357sig I normally stay with the standard 124gr but could get some high velocity Underwood for camping. 40sw .... you get the idea.

Since I use 40/357 mags for everything doing some kind of color coding for velocity would work across all calibers. Something like colors w, x, y, z refer to hell-fire, high, med, low (ssshhhh - I'm hunting wabbits) velocity.

Has anyone color code mags in this way?
Is there a 'standard' color to velocity reference?
Besides buying colored base plates from a company like Obsidian or Springer Precision are there good color coding methods?
What is the air speed of an unladen swallow?

 

[Flash LB]

Sort of.

I use blued magazines (ACT MAGS) for range work and Stainless for SD.

 

[steved13]

I don't color code them, I just like the looks of the color fill, and easier to read. But using different colors would be very easy.

Simple process, clean it with alcohol, fill with nail polish, let dry, wipe excess with non acetone nail polish remover. Has lasted 6 months so far on other guns.

 

[gundrted]

I don't color code them, I just like the looks of the color fill, and easier to read. But using different colors would be very easy.

Simple process, clean it with alcohol, fill with nail polish, let dry, wipe excess with non acetone nail polish remover. Has lasted 6 months so far on other guns.

I have to say that looks really nice. Its amazing how much easier the filled letters are to read. If it wears off, I'm assuming you can just clean it up and re-apply the color.

How long did you let the nail polish dry before wiping off?

 

[steved13]

I have to say that looks really nice. Its amazing how much easier the filled letters are to read. If it wears off, I'm assuming you can just clean it up and re-apply the color.

How long did you let the nail polish dry before wiping off?

yes it can be redone when needed. I think it will last a good long time on the magazines though. I've done 2 M&P guns, 1 EDC and a range gun, and the slides still look good after about 6 months on the range gun and 3 months on the EDC.

I just let the nail polish dry, you can do it when it's still tacky, and it's a little easier to remove, but also easier to remove too much. I use gray, I like the look. White or bright colors pop more, I think the gray looks like it might have come that way. Someone on this forum has an avatar where they did their mags in Yellow.

 

[Willard]

"Color Coding" only works when you have "light". I understand what you are saying, in a sense it is being able to differentiate magazines, and what they are loaded with, quickly!!

The only time I have ever really done this, was as a police officer, with "patrol rifle" magazines. This was accomplished by using different brands/sizes, than "marking".
I used 30 round GI magazines for Full Metal Jacket, and 20 round GI for Soft Point ammunition. Today with the proliferation of different types of ammunition available, I could see a "need" for marking magazines. As previously mentioned, color coding only works with visible light. I've seen, where "notching" basepads, would be useful, unless you wore full fingered gloves, losing dexterity.

 

[asdfzxcv]

I started color coding my glock magazines with base pads because I had several in different calibers. Didn't continue with other pistols because I didnt have multiple calibers of the same pistol until recently with the P226 and X5. Now I just keep them in color coded walmart pencil cases: black for 9mm, blue for 40 s&w, green for 45acp, orange for 22lr, red for 38 sp 357 mag (moonclips). Problem with custom base pads is that it gets expensive quick! I try to have at least 100 rounds of ammo in loaded magazine for each firearm I bring to the range so I'm not wasting time loading magazines. I'd rather spend the money on more magazines than custom base pads (unless the base pad also gives you extra rounds).

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

 

[gundrted]

I agree that the base pads would get price quick.

I really like the nail polish fill method and I think I'll be doing that on my mags. The highlighting of the round number and caliber will look great.

I'm still on the fence with the base pad coloring. I haven't found any good info coloring standards.

 

[Blu]

I use black pmags for 223/556 and sand pmags for .300 Blk.

 

[gundrted]

I found the below info from a 2010 post about IMI 9mm ammo.

Any thoughts??

PepperOct '10
these are my measurements....

green (old sub sonic) 113.967 grain bullet
purple 114.970
black 115.048
yellow 124.075
blue (dark) 158.490
blue (baby blue) 158.490

The meaning of the colors is as follows:

Yellow tip- 9mm 124 grains- Israeli police
Blue tip- 9mm 148 grains sub sonic
Violet tip- old police 115 grains
Black tip- 9mm Armour piercing
Gray tip- new 9mm Israeli police 115 grains.

Daniel Golinsky

Marketing Director
Israel Military Industries (IMI) Ltd.
Small Caliber Ammunition Division

 

[kilyung]

I use color bands to identify rifle mags/ammo. Would hate to accidentally insert a 300BLK round in a 556 AR upper. I have no such concerns with my pistols.

 

[gundrted]

I use color bands to identify rifle mags/ammo. Would hate to accidentally insert a 300BLK round in a 556 AR upper. I have no such concerns with my pistols.

I hear that. I only have one MSR and its an MCX in 300blk. If I had multiple uppers, I would be terrified to put the wrong ammo in the wrong upper.

 

[Malicious Compliance]

300 blk won't chamber in 5.56/.223, unless you are concerned about slamfire?

 

[markm]

I don't color but just write on the bottom with a paint pen. I suppose you could every use different color paint pens. My main issue is I have over 300 magazines for pistols alone on a shelf I made and with the different calibers and sizes it's hard to tell them apart. I also number them so if I ever have a problem with one I can identify it.

 

[gundrted]

I don't color but just write on the bottom with a paint pen. I suppose you could every use different color paint pens. My main issue is I have over 300 magazines for pistols alone on a shelf I made and with the different calibers and sizes it's hard to tell them apart. I also number them so if I ever have a problem with one I can identify it.

Wow ... I think that counts as a LOT.

 

[Eticket]

I use black pmags for 223/556 and sand pmags for .300 Blk.

I do the same thing, haven't figured out one for handguns yet though...

 

[Malicious Compliance]

I use black pmags for 223/556 and sand pmags for .300 Blk.

Was considering the same, but had a concern about low light conditions. Went with plain P-Mags for .223/5.56 and added Ranger Plates to the 300 blk mags.

 

[sideburn]

Wow ... I think that counts as a LOT.

+1. I'm a magazine nut too, but I think I'm doing it wrong as I have nothing close to that many LOL

 

[Blu]

Was considering the same, but had a concern about low light conditions. Went with plain P-Mags for .223/5.56 and added Ranger Plates to the 300 blk mags.

I really like that idea!

 

[markm]

+1. I'm a magazine nut too, but I think I'm doing it wrong as I have nothing close to that many LOL

Well you start out with a new gun, so you get 6-8 extra mags for it, then you buy 3 or 4 more that use the same mags but come with 2 or 3, buy conversion barrels and then you have the 6-10 new caliber mags and pretty soon you have a pile...