Do you carry extra mags?

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kstud

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I don't carry extra mags but thinking maybe I should.

I've tried to find a balance between convenience/comfort and with a phone, wallet, keys, firearm, etc... on me, a spare mag is just another annoyance. With the overwhelming odds against actually drawing a firearm in SD and discharging...I've never felt the need for extra mags.

I first try to minimize my risk by living in a very low-crime area (avoid frequenting rough areas), don't drink/drugs, mind my own business, surround myself with good people/company, and treat people with respect.

I have mags (in a carrier) and a back-up firearm in my personal vehicle but never on me. In my state, there's a "duty to retreat" clause...don't think emptying a magazine, reload and engaging falls under duty to retreat (lol).

I'm currently using Taurus pt111 G2 (my spare pistol) while the Shield is away...probably will pick up either a MP9C or XD Mod 2 or maybe try carrying my MP FS...all with no extra backup mag.

I usually test my firearm with at least 500 rounds using a single mag before relying on it...using the spare mag as my range mag (uplula loader speeds up reload considerably, so extra range mag is not a necessity and reloading gives me time to assess my performance).

Just wondering if the members here carry extra mags and why? If it's a good reason, I may start carrying extra mags. I'm not too concern with my pistol and mag failing as I put it through an intensive course to ensure relability.
 
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I do carry one Xtra. Just like the gun I hope I never have to use it. But if I ever do I don't want to lack ammo.

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No, nor speed loaders for my wheel guns either. The way I look at it, ( and statistics support) as a civilian living in a small country town, on the outside chance I ever need to use my CC gun, it's going to be quick and close . There will be no prolonged shootout. No saving of maidens from towers. IF it happens, and just producing the gun does not diffuse the situation, it's likely to take all of 2-3 rounds to stop the fight. I figure I'm carrying at least 2-3 times that with any of my guns. Admittedly, I could be (dead) wrong but I'm comfortable in my shooting skills and carry choices. IMHO, The main thing is that you are comfortable with yours.
 
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My carry pistol is a Sig P228 with 16 rounds of 9mm HP. If that won't get it done I probably wouldn't have time to change magazines anyway. Of course I hope that is a bridge I never have to cross.
 
When I'm in town, the 8 in my Colt Commander is plenty.

When I'm in the mountains, I usually carry an extra magazine or two: not because I imagine getting into a fight with a bear and reloading. Instead, because I might have to spend a night out and might need more ammo for signaling.
 
extra mag

yes! i always carry extra mags, one time i shot an armed robber with my colt commander 7 times and i did not think he was going to go down, i had extra mags beside me on the seat and a rifle and shotgun in the car, when i realized the slide was locked back i started reaching for my mags on the seat, but assistance had arrived by then and i only had to reload my colt. since then i never go anywhere without an extra mag or two on my person. the first four rounds, each one was a lethal shot but he did not stop trying to raise a sawed off pump 12ga. one round hit the shotgun stock and the bolt that held it in and glanced down and hit him in the big toe the other two went into the right arm holding the shotgun.
 
Yes, I do. Since my accident in '07, I have felt as though Murphy has been looking over my shoulder. For my semi-autos, I carry at least one extra magazine, and if I am carrying a revolver, I like to carry one or two speedloaders, plus an ammo wallet.

I do not consider myself paranoid, but I do watch the news. I don't subscribe to fortune tellers or crystal balls, so I don't know what I will encounter, or when I will encounter it.

When I am carrying, I am on the road, out of state. With the way the predators have been at it of late, there is no guarantee that you will encounter just one, or what.

Since my accident, my outlook has been to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Sadly, we can't bank on the possibility that when we have to defend ourselves, that it will be against just a mugger or an armed robber with today's state of affairs.
 
I carry J frame revolvers.

A speed strip reload weighs very little and hides in any pocket.

So I can't see a reason not to carry one -- even if it's unlikely I'll ever need it.
 
Always. It's about being prepared (not necessarily for the extra rounds into multiple bad guys, but for the malfunction that will surely happen when you aren't expecting it). Also, it balances my belt better! :cool: A good gun belt and gear are essential for comfortable and safe carrying.
 
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Motorsporting said:
Always. It's about being prepared (not necessarily for the extra rounds into multiple bad guys, but for the malfunction that will surely happen when you aren't expecting it). Also, it balances my belt better! :cool: A good gun belt and gear are essential for comfortable and safe carrying.
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The balance is important. An unbalanced belt is a sure tell that someone is carrying. You get out of the car and grab the strong side and pull it up. If your pants are simply baggy, you grab both sides to pull your belt up.

I carry two mags on my weak side when I carry a semi-auto. When carrying my 642 in a jacket pocket, I either have two speed loaders in my off hand pocket or two speed strips in my hip pocket if the pistol is in my pants pocket.
 
MichiganScott said:
The balance is important. An unbalanced belt is a sure tell that someone is carrying. You get out of the car and grab the strong side and pull it up. If your pants are simply baggy, you grab both sides to pull your belt up.

I carry two mags on my weak side when I carry a semi-auto. When carrying my 642 in a jacket pocket, I either have two speed loaders in my off hand pocket or two speed strips in my hip pocket if the pistol is in my pants pocket.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need a better belt.
 
Yes - one extra mag. In my 30 years of law enforcement, I always believed the fastest reload in combat was a second gun. Now that I'm retired from law enforcement, I just carry a spare mag.


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For the EDC bottom feeder, a five dollar ballistic nylon universal single-mag carrier with a velcro closure flap, oriented horizontally on my belt, weak side. Securely carries everything from subcompact single-stack to full size double-stack mags. Never even notice it's there.

For the occasional carry revolver, two HKS speedloaders or moonclips, in a double HKS carrier, strong side. A bit more obtrusive, but I don't care.

I never leave home without carrying reloads on me. I also live in a very safe area, and don't frequent dangerous locales, but you never know what the future has in store.
 
Yes I carry an extra. I never want to have to say "if I only had one more shot".
 
I carry a Glock 19 with a 15 round magazine in a Sticky Holster in my car. I carry an extra 10 round magazine (an old AWB leftover) in a small compartment to the left of the steering wheel. Sometimes, when I IWB carry, I'll put the 10 rounder in. It's lighter.
 
The short answer is yes, always a spare mag for my M&P .380 w/two more extra mags in my car and two more in my wife's car. All this is driven by the fact that I ran out of ammo in a gunfight during my LEO career and even though I'm retired almost 20 years, that experience had a profound effect on me.
 
Florida J Frame said:
Sounds like you need a better belt.
Click to expand...

Not speaking for Scott but for myself a better belt is not the answer. I have 3 wide gun belts that I cinch up till my legs go numb and the belt and pants still slide down. I need a better body with something to hold the belt up a a smaller belly that pushes it down. I wear suspenders in the winter but then need to wear a tee shirt under them and a cover shirt over. To hot here in Florida for that most of the time. I am likeing this BG in the pocket as it and the holster doesn't even pull my gym shorts down. While wearing cargo shorts a 6 round mag goes in each of the lower pockets it gym shorts it is just the rounds in the gun.
 
I carry a revolver most of the time off duty. But to court or training I will usually carry my Colt Defender. Spare mag fits into a leather leather man pouch on weak side. It's not so much the running out of bullets I'm concerned about. I just know the weakest part of the gun is the magazine. So I carry a spare.

When I carry a revolver, usually just a speed strip, sometimes two. Going on vacation next week and will have a couple speed loaders in the cup holder as well
 
Magload said:
Not speaking for Scott but for myself a better belt is not the answer. I have 3 wide gun belts that I cinch up till my legs go numb and the belt and pants still slide down. I need a better body with something to hold the belt up a a smaller belly that pushes it down. I wear suspenders in the winter but then need to wear a tee shirt under them and a cover shirt over. To hot here in Florida for that most of the time. I am likeing this BG in the pocket as it and the holster doesn't even pull my gym shorts down. While wearing cargo shorts a 6 round mag goes in each of the lower pockets it gym shorts it is just the rounds in the gun.
Click to expand...

I'm 6'2" and 200lbs and had the same problem until I switched to a BullHide gun belt. It made all the difference. I can pocket carry a G42 or a Shield depending on the pants and everything stays put.
 
If I'm carrying my Shield I carry the 7 round mag in my weak side pocket. If I'm carrying my 640 Pro it will be with one or two speed strips in my pocket.
 
Yes.

Without reopening the how many is enough debate, I will observe that even if you feel single hicap mag is enough rounds, dropping and replacing fresh mag are key parts of dealing with a malfunction.
 
Some valid points for carrying extra mags.

I definitely understand that law enforcement personnel (former or current) should carry extra mags or even a back up to a back up firearm due to their occupation or experiences.

As for civilians, I'm not so convinced I need an extra mag although there are many valid points made in this thread.

My main concern is mag failure (going to get rid of the shield and carry 12+ firearm). I usually test the heck out of my pistols with a single mag before I deem it reliable, so chances of mag failure is less.

During a draw against an armed (gun) criminal and if my firearm were to suffer a mag failure, I'd probably be dead or suffer serious injuries due to the return fire. No time to change mag when the BG returns fire.

Against a non-firearm self defense, I'm less concern as I am a fast sprinter...lol.

Again, the chances of drawing a firearm and discharging it is overwhelmingly low and the inconvenience of carrying an extra mag is not worth the hassle for me.

For now, I'll just stick to carrying a well tested high round count firearm with no spare mag, but I do have a spare firearm in my vehicle.

Besides, I have a "duty to retreat" per my state law so letting out 12+1/ 17+1 rounds, reload and repeat will not be viewed favorably by the courts.

Don't quote me but I think the average SD rounds fire is 2-3 rds....
 
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In this area with the local gangbangers most of the robberies seem to come from more than one assailant. I carry and extra mag just in case. Plus, you just may end up in a situation where you cannot retreat. What's that old adage about " I've never heard someone in a gun fight complain that he had too much ammunition"?
 
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