The Glock is, despite only being around 40 years old, one of the most iconic pistols the world over, but particularly in the United States.
Its lightweight polymer frame not only makes for an easily carried and easily concealed firearm but also makes it eminently modifiable.
One of the most common modifications you’ll often see on this instantly recognizable handgun is the switching out of the Glock magazines for different types.
“When it comes to selecting the optimal Glock magazine for your weapon, then, the only thing holding you back is your particular needs and your imagination.”
These days, there’s even a range of cutting-edge firms producing custom Glock parts, such as RockYourGlock, to cater to the demand for custom magazines, engraved parts, and everything in between.
Whether going for high-capacity mags or transparent variants to keep an eye on your ammo count, there are a lot of options for the avid Glock enthusiast when it comes to tricking out your weapon.
Let’s take a look at some of the best options on the market.
Elite Tactical Systems Translucent Mags
Most magazines have witness holes that allow the user to get a rough idea of how much ammo they’ve got left.
However, they can be quite difficult to check in the heat of the moment, and even if you manage it, you may not be able to get an entirely accurate count.
Transparent mags change that entirely. With a simple glance, you can immediately see how many rounds you’ve got left in your magazine, enabling you to make more informed decisions about the current situation.
In addition, ETS offers the magazines in a variety of capacities (their 9mm mags go all the way to 31 rounds), different calibers (40 S&W, 380 AP, and 9mm are all options), and single- or double-stack configurations.
These mags are more than a simple gimmick!
KCI Drum Magazine
What do you do when even 31 rounds aren’t enough for your Glock? You buy, of course, a KCI drum magazine – with a whopping 50-round drum capacity.
It’s probably not often that you’re going to need such outsized mag capacity, and you can’t exactly put one of these in your concealed-carry piece, but as a novelty or a fun day out at the range, the KCI drum magazine makes for a nice change.
Drum magazines are, of course, infamously unreliable, and given the size of this one (again – for a pistol), it’s never going to be your first choice.
If you want to feel a little like a Dick Tracy gangster, though, then nothing else compares. Take a look at the range of KCI drum mags on RockYourGlock, with some going for as little as $64.99!
Magpul PMAG GL Series
Magpul has a proven track record when it comes to putting out sturdy and reliable mags, and their GL series (which are – you guessed it – for Glocks) are no different.
What happens when you put one of the world’s most reliable magazines in one of the world’s most dependable guns?
Magpul GL magazines are made of tough polymer (like the Glock itself), which means that they can take a licking and keep on ticking.
You can also switch out the floor plate as and when you need it, making it pretty customizable, as the Magpul range on RockYourGlock proves.
“The Glock 17 was one of the first high-capacity pistols packing seventeen rounds of nine-millimetre parabellum ammunition, more than doubling the P-38’s magazine capacity.”
– Task and Purpose: Why The World’s Militaries Love The Glock.
It also drops free without any issues of catching or sticking, meaning that you don’t need to worry about an inconvenient (potentially life-threatening, under the right circumstances) inability to quickly change clips under pressure.
Magpul magazines are also very affordable, making them great for amateurs and those who don’t want to break the bank trying to put clips in their Glocks.
However, if there’s one downside, it’s the lack of witness holes at the bottom of the magazines.
There’s only a single hole down there, making it tough to ascertain whether or not your magazine is full.
KCI USA Standard Magazines
We’ve seen the insanity that is the KCI drum magazine, and that’s certainly fun if you want to cosplay as a 1920s Mafioso. But what about the Korea-based company’s standard magazines?
KCI manufactures all-polymer Glock clips in 15- and 17-round capacities, and they’re extremely affordable.
However, while they’re great for range practice, they might not be so suitable in a Glock that sees frequent use, as they tend to break if they’re dropped too many times.
Until this happens, however, they will feed rounds through and cycle your bullets without any issue, and their affordability means that they’re easily replaced.
Just don’t expect them to go the distance in any situation other than simple range shooting.
Beta Mag 9mm Glock Drum Magazine
Do you like the look of KCI’s 50-round drum magazine, but you’re concerned that 50 rounds still isn’t enough?
Fear not – Beta Mag has you covered with their frankly ridiculous 100-round twin-drum magazine.
It’s hard to imagine a situation where you’ll need access to 100 9mm rounds without reloading or where you will keep this absolute beast of a magazine when you’re on the move.
On top of that, this bad boy is about as expensive as it’s possible for a mere magazine to be – at almost 400 dollars, we hope you’ve got plenty of money in your rainy-day fund.
”The sleek, high-capacity Austrian weapon found its way into Hollywood films and rap lyrics, not to mention two-thirds of all U.S. police departments.”
– NPR: How The Glock Became America’s Weapon Of Choice.
But if you’re buying this double-drum mag, you don’t care about any of that. You just want to be able to put out 100 rounds without having to pause for a reload. It’s absurd, of course, but more importantly, it’s fun.
Wow your friends at the range with your howitzer-sized Glock, and proceed to headshot 100 different targets.
The possibilities are endless (but, realistically, quite limited). This one’s a novelty purchase; make no mistake – it’s vastly impractical as a daily carry.
But again, you almost certainly don’t care about those things if you’re in the market for a double-drum mag for a pistol.
Glock magazines are a Testament to the Versatility and Adaptability of the Handgun
The sheer variety of Glock magazines on the market speaks to the versatility and adaptability of this iconic weapon.
There are options for reliability (like the Magpul GL series), transparency (quite literally, with ETS’s fantastic range), and simple, unabashed playing-with-your-toys lunacy (KCI and Beta Mag drum magazine options).
When it comes to selecting the optimal Glock magazine for your weapon, then, the only thing holding you back is your particular needs and your imagination.
Further Reading
Whether you want to be Jack Bauer with a solid pair of backup mags or Flattop maniacally filling the air with lead, there is an almost endless supply of options for your Glock magazine requirements.
Oh, and don’t forget that all of them are available for unbeatable prices at RockYourGlock!
