I was curious how many people here carry extra magazines. I saw a picture of a guy with a mag holster and just thought of the question.

Myself, I normally carry one depending on what i am wearing such as cargo pants or winter coat. I might eventually look into mag holsters but not sure.

I generally carry one in a cargo pant pocket. I don't wear 'em on my belt or IWB unless I'm going to the range or expecting trouble.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

When I carry my 39-2, I carry one spare magazine.

I thought mag holsters were too expensive, so I found a properly sized knife case and re-fashioned it to an open-top mag holster. It stays concealed, so looks weren't a consideration. It was six bucks and change, thanks to ebay.

I have extra magazines in my vehicles. The chances that I will encounter a situation where more than 10 rounds are needed then I should have used better discretion.

Laughter is the key to happiness

I carry one spare mag for my Shield 40 but I don't like stuff hanging off my belt so I bought a SnagMag mag carrier.

You carry it in your off-hand pant pocket and it looks just like a knife clip. It keeps the magazine up out of the bottom of the pocket and in the proper orientation for drawing and inserting the mag into the pistol's mag well.

I've been using one for my Shield 40 for a couple of years now and like it so well, I just received one for my Full Size mag too.

That product looks pretty slick....

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AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

I always carry an extra mag

For edc I don't carry extra magazines.

If I can't solve a real life problem with 8 in a 1911, more ammo isn't going to help.

Unless you plan to miss a lot, an extra magazine won't help in a civilian sd situation.

Everyone tends to assume that you need a spare magazine because you might shoot your gun dry and still be in a gun battle.
This is more valid for police officers than with private citizens. If you face a potential confrontation with an outlaw motorcycle gang, judgment trumps the handgun and it's time to withdraw if at all possible.

However, a spare magazine is also needed because you may need it to clear a stoppage involving the original magazine, particularly the double feed. It is also possible to lose or inadvertently drop the original magazine if a struggle ensues for control of your gun.
Last but not least, two spare mags, particularly double stack mags, help to counterbalance the handgun when using a shoulder holster.

I wear a 4" revolver in .357 Mag. I carry a Bianchi Speed Strip in a dump pouch on my belt.

I always have a spare magazine when I carry a single stack auto.

SnagMag, I like it...thanks for the tip!

I carry a Kel-Tec .380 or .32 pretty regularly. I usually wear 5.11 shorts, and they have a small vertical pocket with a flap on the left front. I've gotten to where I slip a spare magazine in that pocket, but it will be hard to get to unless I've got some cover and some time. I don't plan to be around that long . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I always carry a spare mag, whether I'm carrying my 469 or my little .380 for my own peace of mind more than anything. I have no plans on being in a shootout, but as previously stated, we live in troubled times.

I have mag carriers, both owb and iwb, but I've found more often than not I just stick it in my pocket.

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"I'm your huckleberry."

Let's change that to "I don't expect the bad guy to be around that long".

(Yeah, I knew what you meant but I just didn't like leaving you dangling in the wind that way...)

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I have consistently maintained that my self defense plan for me and my loved ones is to convince the bad person that he/she has something better to do at the moment, and the situation disengages. Whether that involves he/she leaving or me seizing the opportunity to leave is left to the moment . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Well, when you put it that way...I can't disagree.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

If I'm carrying my Shield 9 I just have the 7 round magazine in my weak side pocket flat on the bottom of it rounds facing down.

I used to carry a spare mag in that handy watch pocket in many jeans/work pants. Then I decided to shoot up the ammo in my mags and reload with new. The spare mag didn't feed well on this attempt or a couple others.

Takeaway: NOTHING collects pocket lint like a loaded magazine. Lint and cartridges are not a reliable combination. You probably don't need the reload, but if you do, you'll need it bad. I'm always amused by the those who think they know how much ammo they'll need. No plan survives contact with the enemy- Field Marshall von Moltke (the elder).

Quit being cheap and buy a magazine pouch or knife pouch for your spares. Always carry at least one spare.

The following was posted by Masaad Ayoob in another thread on this topic here and there's really nothing I can add to it

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Retired Career Security Guard

Horizontal Mag carrier for 1911 mags.

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Eccentric old coot

Two backup mags always.

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Take it easy. Chris

I also carry 2spare, I carry a 19 or 23 glock with full size mags, 17 or 22 mags, gives me a few extra rounds in my reload mags.
Same deal with my sw9&40 compacts!

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NRA Life Member
CPO

Yes I carry a spare mag in my pocket in a Sneaky Peat mag holster weather I'm carrying my Full Size 1911, compact 1911, or M&P 45C. It's not so much a matter of needing more ammo, it's because the magazine in a semi-auto of any flavor is the weakest point in the system and the first to go. I don't want Murphy rearing his ugly head when I need to pull my side arm. With that said I have to admit I also carry a speed strip or speed loader when I carry my 340PD due the low capacity of the JFrame.

I guess Smoke was closest to my way of thinking. When the OP asked about carrying an extra magazine, the first thing I thought about was a fourth magazine, an addition to one in the gun and two on the other side. When I carry an autoloader, I sometimes carry an extra magazine loaded with FMJ, in addition to the two on my left side and the one in my gun, those loaded with hollowpoints of one sort or another.

Sometimes an extra magazine seems indicated. Other times I feel comfortable without it.

I use snagmag for both of my carry pistols, they work great


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EDC in the "burbs of the Burgh" is one extra mag for my 3913 in a Safariland horizontal (model 123) mag pouch....7+1 +8.

My off side pocket carries my money clip a single AAA battery flashlight and 2 quarters.....a carry over from the days of payphones.

My reasons are close to those expressed by Fererali.........

No one ever left a gun fight wishing they had less ammo.

Even so, I'm with Federali; the extra is mainly for malfunctions.

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Freedom isn't free.

Nailed it. This reflects my own training where pistols are concerned and why I always carry a spare magazine. For me, it's just second nature. YMMV

Don't you always "expect trouble?"


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You make a good point but the reason I moved to the outskirts of "Mayberry" (not Mt. Airy) was because I no longer wanted to live in an environment where I "had to" carry and look over my shoulder at all times.

Let me put a quote in here from a post I made on another firearms related forum the other day which puts in perspective how things have changed in my world view since retirement...

These days I normally EDC either a G26 or a G19 AIWB...usually with one spare mag. Last night I wore the spare mag IWB as well.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

While I agree to some extent, real life is unpredictable.

I guess you haven't seen a car full of thugs pull up and 3 or 4 get out and confront a victim. More than one carry and I sure would like a few extra just in case, instead of standing there with my gun locked open and empty.

And for other situations I actually do a little drill where I reach for my extra mag in my back pocket as if going for my wallet, using the visual distraction to slide up to appendix and draw my primary. Once you see what's in my left hand my right hand is pointing a gun at you. And if I've gone that far the next move is bang.

I too live in Mayberry, but I'm vigilant in my carry practice for that possibly SHTF day, when the need for my tools and extra ammo can't be predicted. I carry a handgun to get away first and get to my rifle second.






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I too moved to a safer town, but that is all the more reason to carry all the time.

Yes, the crime rate is lower, but we still have one. Just because it's safer doesn't mean it's safe. Because we live in a safer environment, we tend to let our guard down a little more. Thus we are less prepared to deal with the bad guy right away.

This is normal. It's how we want to live and that's a good thing. I'm not trying to change anyone here, just making a point. If anyone doesn't want to carry, that's fine. It's a level of risk they are willing to take. Fortunately for us in the US, it's a low level of risk, but there is still risk.

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Freedom isn't free.

If I'm out and about I won't have a rifle with me but I will have a "happy stick" in my 4Runner.

At home, I have ample stashed surprises including an AR ready as required. (I haven't exactly forgotten where I come from.)

Preaching to the choir, brother. I'm rarely without a firearm on my person and I prepare myself (and my spouse) for the eventuality should they need to be used. (I also carry PLI to provide financial and legal support should it come to that.)

I'm also fortunate to be able to shoot with my neighbors on their property as well as the local sheriff's department to keep my skills honed.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

When I carry my 1911s my holster has a mag pouch.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

While better than nothing, there is a serious draw back to that setup; the mag is on the shooting side. When it comes time to change the mag, you'll have to switch the gun to the other hand to retrieve the mag. Then, if you're like most of us, you'll switch the gun back to your shooting hand to insert the mag. Lots of extra movement there.

It is good that you have the extra though.

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Freedom isn't free.

Thought provoking replies to the original post.

I carry extra mags at the range in cargo pockets, grabbing fresh mags & dropping empties in a simple shoulder bag, a freebie from some conference. I seldom carry spare mags on the street but always practice "combat reloads" to hone my skills. I rotate mags every range visit & clean the mags when I clean the weapon. Lint has not been a problem but I understand some platforms are more sensitive to what the USAF called FOD (foreign object damage).

With that said I almost always carry a spare backup gun (BUG). If I or the weapon malfunction or I can't reach my primary carry, I can draw offside & defend. I don't just practice shooting a few rounds offside (left for me), my backup IS my left hand gun, shot every visit to the pistol range as such. I carry both guns fully loaded. In a true emergency I'd rather draw a loaded gun ready to fire, than attempt a combat reload.

This carry method derives from the days when guns held less rounds & were more prone to failure but makes sense. My loaded BUG weighs less than a full spare mag for my primary but helps balance the weight. Carrying a BUG doesn't preclude carrying extra mags but with keys, wallet, knife, phone & other pocket plunder, I'd need belt & suspenders.

I usually carry one reload for any handgun I carry- revolver or semi. I can easily see emptying your weapon in almost any stress-filled scenario, regardless of how many aggressors there are.

I don't want to be waiting for the authorities in hostile territory with an empty weapon.

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Because of the metric system?

I always carry two spare mags if I'm carrying an auto and extras in the vehicle if I'm away from home. I've never been in a gun fight, on or off duty, but I've had to put animals down (one being a skunk with a .380 and missed a couple of times before making the 10yd head shot) and rather than spend the rest of my day short a few rounds I was able to just swap in a fresh mag. I've also had magazine related failures, including having the base plate pop off the mag in my FNP45 Tactical while sitting in my cruiser, had magazine parts and 15rds of .45 all over the place. But, again, I inserted a fresh magazine and I was back in business.

So, there's many reasons to carry spares other than running dry in a gun fight, including reloading at the end of a shoot out, rather than being left with an empty or near empty gun while you make your escape or wait for the cops to show up.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Yes. One extra 7 round mag, in a mag pouch in my right front pocket.

Lots of good info and food for thought in this thread. I've never carried an extra mag for EDC, though I have put one in the glove box for road trips. I'm going to reconsider my EDC plan.

I can pull the velcro strap with the pistol in my left hand (using my left pinky and the pistol butt) (I'm a lefty)) and then grab the mag with my right hand while releasing the empty mag with my left finger. Not the best set up but if I'm still shooting after the first mag is empty I'll take my chances getting to the second mag.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

When I carried an auto to work every day in the Corps, I carried 6 extra magazines. That plus the one in the pistol and one in the chamber gave me a total of 50 rounds. That was for if I got into trouble while on patrol. If I did I would call for back up and had a complete squad enroute to my position within 5 minutes with nine M16A2's, three M203's and one M1911A1 and if we got in trouble there were about 150 more folks with said type assorted arms.

As a civilian I carry a 342 with five extra rounds. I feel that should be enough to get me out of trouble. I try to make sure I don't go places that I will get into trouble. If I think there may be a problem, then I take son-in-law or don't go. Son-in-law is a Deputy here............

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

During working hours, one single stack extra mag on belt. Off work, 2 extra mags on belt.

There has been some good information posted here. Here is my take on this.

Whenever I carry my pistol or revolver off-duty, I always carry an extra magazine or speed-loader/strip. I can't recall what the "average" number of rounds per officer-involved shooting currently is. I can neither predict when or if I will be involved in an off-duty critical incident, nor can I predict how many bad guys will be involved, if they have ingested/injected pain-deadening drugs, if they are wearing body armor, if they are using LE/MIL tactics, if they are religious/political zealots, or a combination of all of these. As such I plan on any incident I'm involved in as guaranteed to go "sideways".

To those persons who say that an extra magazine or speed-loader is not needed, I (respectfully) pose this question, "Where in your garage do you store the spare tire for your car?".

JM2C.

Joe

I carry two with my .45 and one with my 9 mm

I carry two with my .45 and one with my 9 mm.

I always carry a reload of some sort. I live in a small town and if I'm not going far I carry my j frame and a speed strip. I live about 5 miles South of one of the largest outlet malls in MI. It would be the perfect spot for a vehicle based terrorist incident or Multi shooter terrorist incident (1 shooter could do some damage but being an outdoor mall a set of shooters would multiply damage greater than the sum of their parts) If I go there Its one of my semi autos and a mag. If I go into the city of Detroit Its definitely my .40 and a extra mag. If I have to work an event in Detroit and there's a specific threat then I will bring a second mag.

I used to just drop them in my pocket but with everything else I carry that got rough. I shoot left but just about everything else is Right so my knife takes up my right pocket so snagmags are out. I just got a nice leather pancake style own mag holder on Amazon for cheap. Only problem is its red. My ocd won't let that stand so I will be readying it. I also have a bianchi iwb mag holder that's not bad and a niteeyez multitool/ flashlight holder that works ok but not my favorite.

I'm not so worried about super quick access to additional ammo, as long as it is either in my body on in a bag I can access. A loaded magazine isn't a safety risk, so "holstering" it is as much of a concern.


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