Everything you state here is true. However, it could have played out in a different manner had the good guy not been fatally hit and let's say the other perps in the car decided to come to the rescue of their buddy. Not knowing the firearm good guy was using, we do know he already expended 7 rounds. How many did he have remaining if accomplices decided to participate? Of course we'll never know.
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Do you carry a spare magazine?
- Thread starter Dave Lively
- Start date
Which isn't going to be helpful at all unless you're in your truck
I carry a spare magazine, usually two.
I have multiple reasons why I do it. The first reason honestly that's what I'm used to. G4S issued me a handgun and two spare magazines and that's what they expected me to carry at work.
AUS did the same thing.
Standard issue for the Army when they issued a handgun was two spare magazines.
There's a post on this forum somewhere by Masaad Ayoob that says (paraphrased) that if the cops carry two magazines you should carry two magazines.
Another reason is, again, something Masaad Ayoob teaches. God Forbid, if you're ever in a shooting incident the very first thing you should do once the shooting stops is reload your handgun.
The overwhelming majority of the time I carry a Glock 19 and two reloads. It just doesn't seem to take up that much space on my belt and I kind of feel naked without it.
I have multiple reasons why I do it. The first reason honestly that's what I'm used to. G4S issued me a handgun and two spare magazines and that's what they expected me to carry at work.
AUS did the same thing.
Standard issue for the Army when they issued a handgun was two spare magazines.
There's a post on this forum somewhere by Masaad Ayoob that says (paraphrased) that if the cops carry two magazines you should carry two magazines.
Another reason is, again, something Masaad Ayoob teaches. God Forbid, if you're ever in a shooting incident the very first thing you should do once the shooting stops is reload your handgun.
The overwhelming majority of the time I carry a Glock 19 and two reloads. It just doesn't seem to take up that much space on my belt and I kind of feel naked without it.
duncan4521
Member
I do a carry sn extra magazine, besides providing extra BB’s it is there in case of a type 3 malfunction. I don’t find it overly cumbersome and it does at least for me provide additional piece of mind. 
Well said. From the days of the 1911, we learned that a magazine can fail. Most handguns today do not fail, I have a Glock 19 from 1990, that has never failed one time. However, I had a factory Glock 19, magazine that split at the lip. Nobody wants to carry a magazine that is split at the top, the plastic separated from the metal liner. Of course the all steel Glock mags are the answer for carry. That said, I had one of the aftermarket made in Asia 33 round Glock mags do similar. Strange.
The fastest way to clear a malfunction is to drop the mag and insert a fresh one, and that is what I have taught since becoming a state certified CCW instructor a while back, 1996.
And I concur, capacity is great, but seldom helpful in an actual self defense shooting. So, yes spare magazine are like spare tires and fire extinguishers. People who have ever had a flat or fire find them useful.
Also, as law enforcement officers we were taught to top off the handgun during lulls in the action. We counted rounds, of course, and if you got down to 2 rounds, you swapped mags. In the J frame 38, same thing, the speed loader came out at 1 remaining round. And that is a capacity thing.
Just saying.
Two is one and one is none.
Well said. And for the scientific minded lets look at the convenience and burden of that extra magazine, lets say one that weighs 8 ounces loaded, depending on bullet weight.
Now, 8 ounces vs 200 pound guy is and increase of 1/400th in weight, correct? Or, 0.0025 increase on weight on your shoes, of more scientifically, half of that amount per foot. Other have made the point better than me, the reason is because there are legitimate reasons to need a spare mag.
sousana
Member
Only a fool goes unprepared. You take the time to carry a weapon but not a spare mag? Mags don't stay full as long as you think in a gunfight. You DO NOT have the luxury of counting rounds fired especially when someone is shooting at you. It's easy at the range, oh so easy. With adrenaline pumping your accuracy takes a hit, you get hyper focused on what's going on, you don't think to count your rounds, next thing you know, your slide locks back, or your revolver goes click. 2 spare mags you won't even feel, but you'll have em IF you need em.
sousana
Member
I don't unless I'm on a roadtrip. But like I've always said, If you're somewhere that you need a spare mag, you might have made a bad decision to start with. lol
IMHO, by that mind set, if you're somewhere that you need a firearm, you might have made a bad decision to start with also. Right?
Not trying to be confrontational but, I don't get that way of thinking.
BloodyThumb
Member
UNBELIEVABLE, some of the arguments here. Very interesting and actually kinda sad in a couple of instances.
I carry a spare mag every time I leave the house. The highest capacity I have for the gun I have.
I have not had a flat tire in many years, but I won’t leave my spare at home to take a little weight off the tires, or to make more space in my trunk.
I carry a spare mag every time I leave the house. The highest capacity I have for the gun I have.
I have not had a flat tire in many years, but I won’t leave my spare at home to take a little weight off the tires, or to make more space in my trunk.
Piwo
Member
I've posted this before...Magazines can and do fall out of guns, usually at the worst time. It happened to two different partners of mine . Both times on gun runs. Both partners were able gun handlers. The first involved a shots fire call that occurred near us. Upon our arrival seconds later, the magazine fell out of my partner's gun as he drew it from his holster. The second incident involved another partner, man with a rifle call. Upon arrival the suspect ran out in front of the zone car, rifle in hand. As we bailed from our "bullet sponge" the magazine fell from my partner's gun, hit his boot and went under the car. He immediately reloaded from his belt and we secured our suspect. We had to move our patrol car (the "shamu" chevy as they were known, no ground clearance) to retrieve the magazine. I know of many other stories of mags dropping during foot chases, fence jumping and other hand to hand brawls that Police officers everywhere engage in on a routine basis. The point is that we cannot script our emergency. Nor can we predict it. In the two cases I recount, both officers were well practiced with their weapons, seasoned officers that were not in a panic mode. We all made high risk arrests all the time. These incidents were out of the blue. Our department trained officers in immediate action drills and stoppage clearance. It was not uncommon to see magazines unexpectedly come out of guns on the range. I have seen and experienced enough to know that if there is a problem with a semi auto pistol, it is likely to involve the magazine.
I carry extra ammo for revolvers and an extra mag for a semi auto always. Not that I expect to use it, but I carry them for malfunctions primarily. Secondly, for the topping off off the weapon for the after action wait for the police and ambulance.
I carry extra ammo for revolvers and an extra mag for a semi auto always. Not that I expect to use it, but I carry them for malfunctions primarily. Secondly, for the topping off off the weapon for the after action wait for the police and ambulance.
I carry a spare mag.
Probably everyone has seen a recent Youtube where a deputy sherrif had a shootout with a perp at a conveince store.
The deputy unloaded the 1st mag. Fell back outside where he change mags.
He shot 5 rounds out of 2nd mag before accudently hitting the mag release.
He used a 3rd mag to finish off the perp.
Its better to have ant need it than to need and not have.
Probably everyone has seen a recent Youtube where a deputy sherrif had a shootout with a perp at a conveince store.
The deputy unloaded the 1st mag. Fell back outside where he change mags.
He shot 5 rounds out of 2nd mag before accudently hitting the mag release.
He used a 3rd mag to finish off the perp.
Its better to have ant need it than to need and not have.
Terry G
Member
Always. Just a little extra insurance. My CZ P-01 has never failed until I was shooting Blazer 115 Grain Aluminum cased FMJ. Failure to eject. What?? I just stared at the gun for a few seconds, I was that surprised. Turns out the ammunition would cause two of my other 9 mm's to malfunction also. Granted this wasn't carry ammunition, but still. Whatever I'm carrying I have a spare magazine.
Same ^^^^^^^^^
Some of these post remind me of the guys on a bushcraft forum I frequent. EDC gun, reload, fixed blade knife, back up folding knife, multi tool, flashlight, first aid belt kit matches, tinder, paracord blah blah blah. And I haven’t even got to the shoulder bag contents yet
Valmet
Member
Yeah, I get that. But where I live and what I do, I don’t feel like I need to walk around with a spare magazine. I don’t have extra fire extinguishers in my kitchen either. For those that do, great
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rockquarry
Member
- Joined
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Don't forget a tactical pen and a spare.
