Recently, we tested two modern full-size 9mm pistols that were supplied with extended magazines or a combination of extended- and standard-capacity magazines. This stirred up interest in extended magazines in common carry guns and led to this report. We value marksmanship over a lot of shots, but many shooters find a surplus of ammunition comforting. But are these magazines reliable enough for home defense or compact enough for concealed carry? Sometimes when shooters are training, they may simply riddle a target and maybe they don’t learn much. Their ammunition goes quickly. They perceive they need more ammunition whether they actually do or not. After all, limited capacity is one reason few of us carry a revolver as the primary defensive handgun these days. Some magazines add a few rounds with little weight penalty and are not that difficult to conceal. Others affect the balance of the handgun and are impossibly unwieldy for normal concealed carry.
