Do you clean your magazines? Is it necessary?

I usually wipe them down, particularly if dust, dirt or even mud got on the follower.  I haven't personally taken my mags apart to clean inside the mag body, but I would if there was crap in there.  I've shot in some wet and muddy conditions and have dropped my Glock and AR mags in puddles, snow, mud, etc and they all seem to function just fine with just wiping off the outside of the mags and the followers.  That said, probably not a bad idea to take them apart occasionally for nothing more than general maintenance though.  I just haven't done it myself. 

You should also have a bunch of mags and separate them for training/competition and another group specifically for defensive use (if that's one of your intended uses) that you've function tested and set aside for only defensive use.

Yes about every two outings,  cause .22 mag get fouled and dirty.  I could see issues in the future if I didn't.

Is it necessary? Yes and no.  If it is or will affect function of the magazine, then yes it's necessary. 

I've taken a class where we rolled around in the dirt a bit.  Real fine stuff.  Day 2 and the fine stuff starts to gum up the magazines.  You can hear them squeaking on loading.  Loading gets harder and some start to experience binding.  For that yes absolutely I needed to clean my mags.

Not unless I get them dirty on the ground and such.  And even then its usually more out of boredom, than function.  The only magazines I own which I do need to clean regularly, are my 10rounders for my Remington 597.  Those suckers get dirty fast, and don't work well dirty.

I run the follower up and down a few times with my thumb.  If the motion is smooth, I wipe the outside of the mag with an oily rag and move on.  If the motion feels gritty, or if it binds, then I'll clean it.

I find taking most mags apart to be pretty difficult, so I have a plastic "tupperware" that I put mags in, then soak them in Hoppes #9.  I have a special bottle of Hoppes that I only use for soaking. Afterwards, I use a coffee filter to strain the solution back into storage.

I'll dump the mags in when I start cleaning gune.  Every so often, usually after I finish a gun, I'll take the mags out, run the followed a few times, then toss 'em back in.  Once I am out of guns, I pull the mags, shake them off, then leave them to drain on a bed of paper towels while I start cleaning up.  By the time I get most things put away, the mags are ready to go back into storage, clean and ready to be abused again!

Maybe I will wipe the outside if oily.  Other than that NO!

Every once in a while I take them apart, run a paper towel (shop towel) thru them and then spray a little silicon inside before putting them back together.
Haven't had any issues........yet

Nope, never have cleaned them in 35+ years.  I'll scrub off rust if necessary and I wipe down the outside of the mag if needed, but other than that, no cleaning.

I only clean if the magazines are obviously dirty, muddy, sandy, wet, or corroded. Much of it depends on your lifestyle.I used to clean and inspect all my magazines and ammo when I returned from patrols in Iraq.  Magazine maintenance increases as usage increases. Built up lube and powder residue from .22 rimfire used to mess with my Ruger 10/22 magazines.If you are staking your life on your equipment, keep it clean and regularly inspect it

Sometimes I have to wipe off the centerfold or a page or two when they get sticky.... Uh wait ... What kind of magazine?

I am definitely not anal about getting carried away with cleaning, especially in regards to mags, however I have been in enough training situations that have created failures / stoppages due to dirty mags.  If my butt depends on those magazines functioning properly each and every time I use them for critical use, I would suggest cleaning them.

 

Sometimes I have to wipe off the centerfold or a page or two when they get sticky.... Uh wait ... What kind of magazine?

Sometimes I have to wipe off the centerfold or a page or two when they get sticky.... Uh wait ... What kind of magazine?

LOL, i literally had water gushing out of my nose when i read that!!!

I run the follower up and down a few times with my thumb.  If the motion is smooth, I wipe the outside of the mag with an oily rag and move on.  If the motion feels gritty, or if it binds, then I'll clean it.

I find taking most mags apart to be pretty difficult, so I have a plastic "tupperware" that I put mags in, then soak them in Hoppes #9.  I have a special bottle of Hoppes that I only use for soaking. Afterwards, I use a coffee filter to strain the solution back into storage.

I'll dump the mags in when I start cleaning gune.  Every so often, usually after I finish a gun, I'll take the mags out, run the followed a few times, then toss 'em back in.  Once I am out of guns, I pull the mags, shake them off, then leave them to drain on a bed of paper towels while I start cleaning up.  By the time I get most things put away, the mags are ready to go back into storage, clean and ready to be abused again!

I have a bunch of ar 15 mags that were given to me a while ago that was filthy with red dirt. I cleaned the outside and always wondered if the inside was like the outside. I dont want the hassle of taking them apart either. A couple of them looks like they have been taken apart. The metal tabs are bent back and not straight and it looks as if its bent again it will break off so I think I'll give this method a try. Thanks! 

i use to just soak mines in water and dishwashing soap and scrub the inside with a bottle cleaner...

Brusha, brusha, brusha.  I clean them occasionally, but never oil.

splice - take them apart and clean um!  it's not that bad once you do one you figure it out and is very easy.

if you running the guns I don't see how you could not want to clean them if they get dropped in dirt or mud?  maybe accidentally stepped on?  who knows what.

splice - take them apart and clean um!  it's not that bad once you do one you figure it out and is very easy.

if you running the guns I don't see how you could not want to clean them if they get dropped in dirt or mud?  maybe accidentally stepped on?  who knows what.

I'll try it on the ones that have been taken apart already. Mahalo 

Do you clean your magazines? Is it necessary?

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yes...and yes

How often you do it depends on your circumstances and your ammo too.
Obviously if you shoot in combat matches they are getting dirt and grass inside of them.
Not so obvious is some ammo blowing back unburnt powder and/or grease into the breech area.

Sometimes it is years before I have to clean them, just because I don't shoot as much now as I used to.