So many magazines

[LDB415]

Well, it pays to check things. Got a new 10/22, the blue synthetic 32039, because I wanted the sights. Then I thought I'll get enough mags to fill up the 4th MTM case that holds 6 ten round mags. Ordered it and turns out it makes 5 so I now have 30 mags total. My plan is to bring them all loaded to the clinic so I won't need to load mags during the clinic.

So, having various ammo available how do I apportion it? My choices are CCI: SV, Clean-22 and Mini-Mag, Federal Black Pack and Auto Match, Remington Standard V, Norma TAC II, and Armscor HVHP.
I have enough of each to at least load all 30 once. Or 6 mags each of 5 different ammo? Or some permutation between those two? And do I load the same that evening for day two or a different permutation?

(Given that results day 1 may signal elimination of 1 (or more) suspects from the list)

And thinking that Armscor is listed since it's on hand but will not actually be in contention and possibly not Fed Black Pack either?

[Zorak]

I hate to break your heart, but different stages call for magazines to be loaded differently. Depending on the string of fire, you might need a magazine with ten, eight, five, three, or two rounds, or maybe some other figure if you do a fun shoot and the math works out funny.

I would not bring magazines with a mix of ammunition. It's possible different ammunition types will hit different points of impact, even at 25 meters, and thus change your zero. That's not ideal. I would try to get to the range before your first clinic and see which of those run reliably, and then of the ones that run well, which one groups best.

[LDB415]

I hate to break your heart, but different stages call for magazines to be loaded differently. Depending on the string of fire, you might need a magazine with ten, eight, five, three, or two rounds, or maybe some other figure if you do a fun shoot and the math works out funny.

I would not bring magazines with a mix of ammunition. It's possible different ammunition types will hit different points of impact, even at 25 meters, and thus change your zero. That's not ideal. I would try to get to the range before your first clinic and see which of those run reliably, and then of the ones that run well, which one groups best.

Sounds like I should load maybe 4 cases of them and leave the other case empty for doing odd lots maybe. Or at least 2-3 empty magazines anyway. No, I should come with 4 mags, one each 8, 5, 3 and 2 rounds loaded plus an empty for oddball just in case. And I'll think of leventy-seven permutations between now and then too I'm sure.

Your advice is excellent but my current rifle shooting skill is more how does my rifle pattern than how does it group. And I'm planning to try the open sights so not sure if that has the same amount of affect on sight picture by changing ammo. I do want to get time in with it prior to the clinic, to empty the 3 cases of mags loaded with Aguila for starters. Then I'll start trying out these lots.

[Bulldog14]

I feel you are making things a little too complicated. At Appleseed the words simplicity and precision are used quite often.If you have access to a place that you can shoot 25m, take advantage of it. Shoot and figure out which ammo works best in each of your firearms, and stick with that ammo. Remember you can prep mags anytime,and you will have plenty of time between strings of fire to do so. If you try to keep a bunch of magazines prepped, and even if they are clearly marked, you will find yourself constantly questioning if the round count is accurate in each mag. Keep it simple.

[LDB415]

The best I'll get around here is 25yd but that will be close enough to know what's going on with ammo, I hope. I'd label each case as to what is in it so there'd be no confusion there. I'll have to envision it many times and many ways between now and then and then decide which I think will work best for me. Weird brain processes, but usually successful.

[DEH]

Don't overthink this.  Bring 4-5 empty mags. For consistency pick one type of ammo to bring with you.  I would choose CCI SV.

[Big John]

Bring one type of ammo and several empty mags. The course of fire can be adjusted to fit shooter needs, for instance, an additional round of 5 shots at a square might be added or deleted based on the groups.

Ruminating on the forum about ammo loadouts is time better spent dry-firing, checking/cleaning the rifle, and maybe a range trip.

[Prescott]

The most common magazine preps at the Appleseed event are as follows:
Hits Count target = 13 rounds.  People usually have a favorite mag prep; I use 6 & 7 rounds
Sighter Squares = 5 rounds
AQT Stages 1 & 4 = 10 rounds
AQT Stages 2 & 3 = two mags with 2 & 8 rounds.

If I were going to preload the mags, I would a load a one box with 2 rounds in each mag, one box with 5, one box with 8 and one box with 10 rounds.  If you need an odd number of rounds for one string of fire, then you can strip a few out of one of the mags.

Make sure to color code the magazines and the box.  This will help you keep visual track of the prep of the mag and put them back in the correct box.  For example, the box with orange tape has all of the  mags prepped with 5 rounds.  These mags should also have an orange paint dot or piece of tape on the bottom of the mag.

Also, I would recommend numbering each mag.  Not all mags are created equally.  Certain mags may stick in the magazine port and will require some sanding of the edges for them to fall easily.  Also, overtime, magazines will get dirty and require some maintenance.  It may be necessary to easily identify the mag that requires some work. 

[Smallbore]

I'll double down on mixing the ammo.
Impact points can definitely shift between two manufacturers, even with the same listed velocity.

You'd be better off picking a baseline brand that you practice with as the zero, then doping each brand to your scope from that baseline.

(Even better would be find what the rifle shoots best and stick with that permanently)

[LDB415]

I'll try a few before then and see if anything stands out. If not I'll probably go with CCI SV or Federal Black Pack as I have the most of those. I'll have to buy some paint pens for color coding. I'll number 1-6 and the MTM case in each color to know them apart. I'll have one case each of 2, 5 and 8 and I'll do two cases of 10 since I have the mags. And I'll have enough ammo in the truck to reload each 3 times. That will give 420 rounds per day plus a few dozen extras just for grins. Lots of good advice and stuff I never thought of, as usual. I appreciate that.

[StuartV]

I never load a mag with 8. I load mags with 2 and then all the rest are 10.

If I'm shooting stage 2 or 3, I want to have that extra 2 rounds, in case I have any kind of jam or misfire. There is no time to do a second reload, if you run out of ammo in the first 2 mags.

I do have to pay attention and only shoot 10 rounds, total. But, that is really not that hard.

For stages 1 and 4, I always take a second fully loaded mag to the line with me, for the same reason.