How many magazines do you CARRY?

[papersniper]

How many magazines do you carry with your SD pistol? Curious minds want to know! My initial reaction is to carry just one, and that one on my strong side on a pouch/holster if it feels comfortable there, otherwise on the weak side.

 

[Rowlette]

How many magazines do you carry with your SD pistol? Curious minds want to know! My initial reaction is to carry just one, and that one on my strong side on a pouch/holster if it feels comfortable there, otherwise on the weak side.

I carry M&Pc .357 the 10 mag in the weapon and extra 10 mag on the side with my Leatherman.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Generally carry one in the gun + one in a Safariland horizontal belt pouch,

Gives me 16 rounds with the 3913 or 28 with the 6906.

Generally extra mag(s) and 50rds of ammo in the car.

 

[Don 73]

One in the gun and 2 on the "off side" where I carry them on duty so I don't have to think about where they are.

 

[petepeterson]

One in the gun, and one spare.

 

[Golddog]

One 18 rounder in one of my CZ 75's and one 18 rounder in a pocket. When I carry the smaller CZ Rami, one ten rounder in the gun and one 14 rounder in a pocket

 

[xfarfuldog]

Two extra + one in the gun. The reason LEO carry two extras is due to the issue of a possible defective second magazine. If the second mag fails, dump it and use the third. I have seen the second magazine fail in qualifications.

 

[mustangman]

I carry 6 rounder + 1 in my Shield 40, plus 2 extra 7 rounders. 21 total rounds.

 

[Smitty357]

ONE......

The more rounds that are fired. The more the chances of an innocent person being struck. If i cant get the job done with one mag in a self defense situation. Then i shouldnt be carrying a weapon in the first place.

 

[jdyer225]

I carry 12 backup magazines for my Glock 19 and my 2 26's, 6 for my shield, and 8 speed strips for my .357.

And yes I am making fun of James Yeager because you never know when you might get attacked by an army or Al Capone.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[Wishoot]

Usually one. Sometimes just the one in the pistol. Kind of depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

On the bike, going to the store, dropping off the dry cleaning? Just the pistol.

Driving to or through a questionable area for a meeting, hiking, camping, hunting? At least an extra mag or speedloader.

 

[BobC357]

One in the firearm and one in the pouch mounted on the holster. with one chambered that is 17+17+1 or 35 rounds.

When I go to the range, I take them all so I don't have to spend time reloading them.

 

[Norm66]

One spare. Weak side.

 

[papersniper]

I carry 12 backup magazines for my Glock 19 and my 2 26's, 6 for my shield, and 8 speed strips for my .357.

And yes I am making fun of James Yeager because you never know when you might get attacked by an army or Al Capone.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

HA!

I understand his statement however....and appreciate what he's saying about bystanders also. But he's considering (I think) a limited scenario with only one or maybe two bad guys trying to hurt just me. I dunno, that might be the most common situation, but seems to me the latest "rave" is gangs of 4+ out to just beat the hell out of anyone for the "fun" of it. While one magazine in the gun would probably work fine, possibly with no rounds fired, I'd still like a few extra rounds as long as it's still practical for how I'm dressed, what I'm doing, etc, etc. When I was on duty I carried an H&K 40 caliber USP with two extra magazines.....I was felt ready for almost anything D) but I certainly wasn't comfortably attired!

 

[MSG Glenn]

One spare on my weak side. Normally a 15 rounder for my M&P40C with a 10 round mag in then pistol or vice versa. Sometimes a 15 rounder in the 40C & a 15 round spare.

 

[MikeChandler]

No spares. If 14+1 hasn't done the job I deserve to die anyway for sending that many bullets to God only knows where. If I start carrying my MP40 with 15+1, then even moreso. I cannot imagine any scenario where I'd be shooting that much ammo as a civilian.

 

[papersniper]

No spares. If 14+1 hasn't done the job I deserve to die anyway for sending that many bullets to God only knows where. If I start carrying my MP40 with 15+1, then even moreso. I cannot imagine any scenario where I'd be shooting that much ammo as a civilian.

I should have mentioned in the OP that I'm talking a smallish single stack pistol, like a M&P Shield. I screwed up and thought of that AFTER I posted and started getting replies.

I agree with you; 15 rounds is surely enough for just about everything that could happen in a non-LEO SD situation. Wish I had that many rounds with the 9mm Shield that I plan to carry most days. But I got tired of carrying my Sig 228, which was my prior carry gun; too heavy, too big for me to carry concealed. Then again, with a spare magazine in my Shield, I'll have 8+1+8=17 rounds.

If you were carrying a single stack pistol, would you carry a spare?

 

[Ofc.JL]

Off Duty Shield; 7rd mag in gun + 1rd in chamber(I pocket carry), and 8 rd extended mag as reload. On Duty: M&P 40FS on belt(SERPA Holster! They work just fine!), with full 15rd mag in gun, 2 15rd reload mags. One on belt, and one in cargo pocket mag pouch.
I have said this before, and I believe it due to experience; "3 is 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is none". Has to do with redundancy in the field.
Of course, YMMV.

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

I carry my Shield 9mm loaded with the 7rd flush fit magazine IWB in a Galco King Tuk hybrid holster. I further carry two 8rd extended-fit magazines in front slash pockets. Basically in 2012 and some '13 and '14, I invested in about 11? pairs of LA Police Gear pants (a few different sub-styles of their Operator line) and 4? pairs of their shorts. These are all amazing, amazing clothing that count as pieces of kit. Some of them 8 pockets, some 10, 11, and even 12. They all have two hands-pockets, two rear hip-pockets (where you'd put your wallets etc.) two cargo pockets, and two front 'slash' pockets between your hand-pockets and fly, which are custom made to hold pistol-mags. And these pockets are also on the shorts.

Since I got to FL, I basically have been wearing shorts every single day. I wear each of the 4 LA Police Gear shorts and then usually 2 more days other cargo-style shorts, sometimes more. Back home in Jersey it's pants-weather a lot more than here so I wear those pants (But of course couldn't carry a gun lol). So fortunately i always have room for spare mags.

In my setup, I have a loaded Shield with 8 rounds of 9mm plus two more loaded 8rd mags, which gives me 24 rounds of high-quality 9mm (at the moment, Winchester 147gr Black Talons). I know it's not the same as having 15+1 Glock 23 in .40 S&W with 2 15-rd spares but, I realize CCW/EDC is not preparing for war or working a duty shift. I might try to buy some more 8rd mags for the Shield but I wouldn't be carrying more than 2 very often if ever.

 

[MikeChandler]

I should have mentioned in the OP that I'm talking a smallish single stack pistol, like a M&P Shield. I screwed up and thought of that AFTER I posted and started getting replies.

I agree with you; 15 rounds is surely enough for just about everything that could happen in a non-LEO SD situation. Wish I had that many rounds with the 9mm Shield that I plan to carry most days. But I got tired of carrying my Sig 228, which was my prior carry gun; too heavy, too big for me to carry concealed. Then again, with a spare magazine in my Shield, I'll have 8+1+8=17 rounds.

If you were carrying a single stack pistol, would you carry a spare?

Yes, I carried ONE spare magazine when I was carrying a 1911. When I carried a J frame 5 shot .357 magnum I carried two speed loaders.

I think the root question you are really asking is, "How much ammo do you carry for SD?"

My answer is about 15 rounds should cover any situation where I still have a chance of not spending the balance of my life in prison.

 

[Llando88]

I carry my Shield 9mm loaded with the 7rd flush fit magazine IWB in a Galco King Tuk hybrid holster. I further carry two 8rd extended-fit magazines in front slash pockets. Basically in 2012 and some '13 and '14, I invested in about 11? pairs of LA Police Gear pants (a few different sub-styles of their Operator line) and 4? pairs of their shorts. These are all amazing, amazing clothing that count as pieces of kit. Some of them 8 pockets, some 10, 11, and even 12. They all have two hands-pockets, two rear hip-pockets (where you'd put your wallets etc.) two cargo pockets, and two front 'slash' pockets between your hand-pockets and fly, which are custom made to hold pistol-mags. And these pockets are also on the shorts.

Since I got to FL, I basically have been wearing shorts every single day. I wear each of the 4 LA Police Gear shorts and then usually 2 more days other cargo-style shorts, sometimes more. Back home in Jersey it's pants-weather a lot more than here so I wear those pants (But of course couldn't carry a gun lol). So fortunately i always have room for spare mags.

In my setup, I have a loaded Shield with 8 rounds of 9mm plus two more loaded 8rd mags, which gives me 24 rounds of high-quality 9mm (at the moment, Winchester 147gr Black Talons). I know it's not the same as having 15+1 Glock 23 in .40 S&W with 2 15-rd spares but, I realize CCW/EDC is not preparing for war or working a duty shift. I might try to buy some more 8rd mags for the Shield but I wouldn't be carrying more than 2 very often if ever.

I like how you think.

 

[papersniper]

Off Duty Shield; 7rd mag in gun + 1rd in chamber(I pocket carry), and 8 rd extended mag as reload. On Duty: M&P 40FS on belt(SERPA Holster! They work just fine!), with full 15rd mag in gun, 2 15rd reload mags. One on belt, and one in cargo pocket mag pouch.
I have said this before, and I believe it due to experience; "3 is 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is none". Has to do with redundancy in the field.
Of course, YMMV.

I see you're an armorer and instructor, so your recommendation is valued. Out of curiosity, why carry the 9mm Shield when your duty gun is a 40 cal? And which Serpa holster....I've been hearing rumors about ADs with them?

I plan to try pocket carry with the Shield once it's here. I don't know if I can manage it on my body....which sometimes leaves little room in the pockets due to my body behind it!

 

[papersniper]

I carry my Shield 9mm loaded...... I invested in about 11? pairs of LA Police Gear pants (a few different sub-styles of their Operator line) and 4? pairs of their shorts. These are all amazing, amazing clothing that count as pieces of kit. Some of them 8 pockets, some 10, 11, and even 12. They all have two hands-pockets, two rear hip-pockets (where you'd put your wallets etc.) two cargo pockets, and two front 'slash' pockets between your hand-pockets and fly, which are custom made to hold pistol-mags. And these pockets are also on the shorts.

Since I got to FL, I basically have been wearing shorts every single day. I wear each of the 4 LA Police Gear shorts and then usually 2 more days other cargo-style shorts, sometimes more. Back home in Jersey it's pants-weather a lot more than here so I wear those pants (But of course couldn't carry a gun lol). So fortunately i always have room for spare mags.

In my setup, I have a loaded Shield with 8 rounds of 9mm plus two more loaded 8rd mags, which gives me 24 rounds of high-quality 9mm (at the moment, Winchester 147gr Black Talons). .......

know it's not the same as having 15+1 Glock 23 in .40 S&W with 2 15-rd spares but, I realize CCW/EDC is not preparing for war or working a duty shift. I might try to buy some more 8rd mags for the Shield but I wouldn't be carrying more than 2 very often if ever.

I will have to investigate those LA Police Gear pants and shorts. Sounds like an interesting approach to CCW.

 

[papersniper]

. ....

I think the root question you are really asking is, "How much ammo do you carry for SD?"

My answer is about 15 rounds.....

Yeah, you are right, that would have been a better poll.

 

[WR Moore]

If you limit the question to available ammo, you possibly neglect the issue of clearing a malfunction and/or bad magazine. While how much total gear you pack may be dependent upon situation, if you're toting a semi-auto, you should have at least one spare magazine.

 

[papersniper]

If you limit the question to available ammo, you possibly neglect the issue of clearing a malfunction and/or bad magazine. While how much total gear you pack may be dependent upon situation, if you're toting a semi-auto, you should have at least one spare magazine.

Good point. I think a magazine while-in-the-gun failure would be rare, but stranger things have happened. I have had magazines fail while inserting or ejecting in training with crappy old, worn, dirty (on purpose) magazines. But that was part of the drill........and not unwelcome.

 

[MyDads38]

With my SD9VE. 1 in gun plus 1 on weak side in Safariland leather mag holder (33 rounds total). With my 1911, 1-7 rounder in the gun and 2-8rounders on weak side in Bianchi dual mag holder (24 rounds total).

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

I like how you think.

Thank you very much! Perhaps the best compliment someone could receive on a forum such as this! Thanks again.

I will have to investigate those LA Police Gear pants and shorts. Sounds like an interesting approach to CCW.

Thank you very much also. Let me give a bit of brief background... I didn't BUY these for CCW I must admit- I have spent 33 out of 33 2/3 yrs of my life in Jersey. No CCW at all. These pants were a result of an email both my father and I had received simultaneously from LA Police Gear. One style of pants were on closeout for like $14.99 or something ... so my Dad and I each got 3 pairs each. They were a revelation ... Amazing pants. A few weeks or months later, another nicer version of the pants were on sale, plus there was a 15% off your order coupon available. They were incredibly cheap and we each got a bunch more. And just a few months back they came out with a newer version that had I think 7? pockets but supposedly a more premium cloth... at a great price so I got some more new ones.

Not only are they perfect for CCW they are pretty much perfect pants. high quality cloth with a ripstop type weave built in, but they look like khakis ... in like 7? or more colors. So you could literally wear them to work, wear them on a date, wear them to the mall or to a ballgame, even wear them on duty if you were a bodyguard or armed guard etc. Really awesome and versatile.

LA Police Gear is a pretty cool company. They often have sales and promos and unlike the newer MidwayUSA policies, their sales and promos are across the board - not only regularly (read: full) priced merch or specific things. They have a large closeout section and if you find them closing out something you like while they offer a discount , you can apply the 5, 10, 15% off code to their lowest available prices .... that is HIGHLY awesome and very unusual in the post-newtown price world.

Anyway as I said I might not be an old hat at CCW but survival, preparedness, and certainly shopping, I'm an ace ... all about highest quality and best gear at the lowest prices lol. And this is a prime example.

 

[.45mtngun]

I carry Kimber Pro Commander size with 2 spare mags. This is also how I compete in IDPA events. This set up works well for me with 1911's.
Jim

 

[Trons]

I carry the Shield 9mm with the 7+1 in the gun and the 8 rounder in my weak side pocket. It's the only thing that goes in that pocket.