Of course, mag capacity is the first thing to consider as it can influence several aspects of your shooting experience, such as shooting and reloading time – how long you can shoot without reloading and how much time the reloading process will take. It also impacts the range of activities in which your Glock can be used. For example, the Glock 17 with an extended magazine would be quite difficult to carry concealed, but plinking with it will be a delight.

Glock magazines can be classified into standard-capacity, extended, high-capacity, and drum mags. Standard capacity magazines hold as many rounds as the grip of a pistol can cover. For example, a Glock 17 magazine holds 17 rounds, a Glock 19 mag accepts 15 rounds, while a capacity of a standard Glock 43 magazine is 6 rounds.

Then, we have extended magazines and high-capacity magazines, which are the same things, but we’d like to distinguish between them. Extended magazines have an extended floorplate allowing them to accept a couple more rounds. High-capacity magazines, though may also feature an extended floorplate, have a longer body that gives that capacity increase. So, with a high-capacity magazine, you can increase the firepower of your Glock 17 from standard 15 rounds up to 33 rounds. Obviously, you won’t be able to concealed-carry it but have a fun range time.

An extended Glock magazine starts to shine when things come to increasing the firepower of a smaller self-defense Glock without hurting concealability. With an extended Glock 26 mag, you can raise the capacity from 10 to 12 rounds.

Extended magazines also provide more grip surface for better stabilization and control, which is crucial for subcompact Glocks. As you might know, the smaller the pistol, the less recoil force it absorbs, and the more of it you get.

Lastly, there are Glock drum magazines that offer even greater capacity, usually up to 50 rounds. Drum magazines are suitable for anyone looking for long shooting without reloading. However, the downside to drum magazines is that they can weigh quite a lot and may affect the balance of your Glock.

A Glock magazine is made up of several components:

• The magazine body is the backbone of the magazine and is usually made of polymer. It needs to be strong enough to withstand wear and tear over time.
• The follower is a small piece that moves up and down along the inside of the magazine’s body. It’s essential for the reliable feeding of ammunition.
• The spring is responsible for pushing the follower up when the Glock is fired to load the next round. To work reliably, it needs to be made of robust and high-quality materials.
• The floor plate is the bottom of the magazine that attaches to the magazine body. It needs to be stable and durable to prevent the magazine from accidentally disassembling itself.
• The feed lips refer to the extensions on both sides of a magazine that hold the cartridges in and release them into the chamber as the firearm cycles. The design and shape of the feed lips are critical for reliable feeding, so it is crucial to choose magazines with strong feed lips.

Today, all manufacturers use some kind of polymer to make the bodies of Glock magazines. However, the techniques and polymers vary. Here are some examples of brands that make high-grade Glock mags:

Do Glock 17 and 19 take the same magazine?

Yes, Glock 17 and 19 magazines are one-way interchangeable, meaning the Glock 19 will accept a standard Glock 17 mag, but the Glock 17 can’t accept a Glock 19 mag because it’s shorter.

Do all Glock mags fit every Glock?

No, there are differences between different types of Glock magazines. When shopping, pay attention to the caliber, model compatibility, and Glock Gen compatibility.

Does Gen matter in Glock magazines?

Yes, it is important to ensure that you have the correct generation. The wrong mag gen can affect critical components which can cause malfunctions or unsafe operation.

Are 30-round Glock mags illegal?

It depends on where you live; certain states and municipalities have placed restrictions on magazine capacity so it is important to look up the local laws where you live before purchasing any type of magazine.

Why do you need a 30-round extended Glock magazine?

A 30-round extended magazine increases the ammunition capacity of your firearm. If you shoot competitively or like long-range shooting sessions, having a 30-round Glock mag is beneficial in terms of extended shooting time and fewer breaks for reloading.