How many reloads do you carry for revolvers?

[TheBigAR2003]

I have just started carrying my j frame as my primary gun at work (probation officer) i have to carry on the belt or shoulder holster so pocket carry is out of the question. I have been carrying a glock but have decided to carry the j frame from a practicality standpoint its smaller and easier to conceal.
My only real concern is ammo capacity going from a 13 rnd plus a 15 rnd extra mag to a 5 shot. I am currently carrying 1 speedstrip and 1 speedloader. How many speedloaders or speedstrips do people usually carry? I figure the speedstrip will work for tactical loads and the loaders can be used regular reloading so how much is enough?

 

[colt_saa]

How many rounds of ammunition were expended in the most recent Probation Officer involved shootings?

In your shoes I would be carrying a P229 or similar sized, holstered sidearm. Perhaps even an M&P compact

I have had a J-frame in an ankle rig for backup since the eighties.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

The fewest rounds I routinely carry are 23: 6 in a K-frame, 5 in a J-frame, and 12 in two speed strips. I've been known to carry a lot more than that, especially at work.

Okay, I'll add my work carry info: 6 .357 Mag in a 4 inch S&W 686-6, 6 .38 Spl in a 2 inch S&W 12-2, 5 .38 Spl in a S&W 642-2, 24 .357 Mag in 4 speed loaders carried in 2 double pouches, and 6 .38 Spl in a speed strip in my back pocket. Doesn't include the concealable body armor, Taser®, OC spray, expandable baton, Motorola, handcuffs, or key ring.

Incident armor, AR, and shotgun are locked up.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I carry a 642-1. I carry 2 Safariland Comp I speedloaders in JOX speedloader pouches on my belt.

My reasoning:

1) While it is highly unlikely I would need to shoot my gun in self defense, let alone need a reload, if I am forced to shoot in self defense I don't want to wait for the cavalry with an empty gun...in my city the average 911 response time is around 9 minutes.

2) Under stress I may not be able to reload as smoothly as I can when practicing, so fumbling the reload is a possibility. If I fumble, I'd rather grab a 2nd speedloader from my belt than try to find the speedloader (or, worse case scenario, loose rounds that spilled from the loader) I dropped on the ground. Once the gun's been reloaded I can look for the dropped loader/ammo.

This is just my opinion based on my own practice experience, but I don't use tactical reloads with revolvers. I think they make more sense with semi-autos (though I actually prefer the reload-with-retention technique). Doing a tactical reload with the revolver requires opening the cylinder, pushing the ejector just enough to lift up the fired cases, finding the fired cases, removing them, and refilling those chambers with live rounds. Given the circumstances, I'd rather just dump the cylinder contents and get a speedloader to refill the chambers. Plus it keeps my reload protocol the same (KISS principle).

When I carried speedstrips I often practiced a partial reload, i.e. reload just 2 rounds and back to firing in the event I don't have time to fully load the cylinder. I'm inclined to agree with those who say one is more likely to run out of time than run out of ammo.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

I carry a Model 36 in Lobo IWB with 16 extra round. 8 round
speed strip in each of my back pockets. I never worry
about number of rounds because if I ever need to fire, it will
be center hit.

 

[haywood]

Two Five shot Snubs. Two Speed Loaders. Some times I add a couple Speed Strips.

 

[jmace57]

642 with a single five shot speed strip. That should be enough for me to run away.

 

[Will Carry]

I sometimes carry a speed loader but most of the time I do not carry any extra ammo. I have been a shooter all my life and I practice a lot, but I'm not fool enough to think I could actually reload a revolver in the middle of a fight.

 

[Rpg]

I don't carry reloads except in the woods.

If I can't solve a problem with what's in my gun, more ammo won't help.

OP's job duties may suggest otherwise (what have folks in the same job who've used their guns needed?) so his decision may be different than mine.

 

[kenv1950]

60-4 3in.loaded no extras , I live in a very safe place in the mountains

 

[hannstv]

I believe you would need to be pretty optimistic to believe you would have time to run a J frame dry three times and have time for a fourth reload. There is a point where you might as well go back to the Glock if you are going to be carrying that much extra ammo.

 

[TinMon]

I carry a BUG G34 which I can draw quicker than reloading my PC627. Your mileage may vary. I have had decades of practice using a semi auto and less than a week with my revolver. I do pocket carry 2 speed strips w/ 7 rounds on each as a back up to my back-up though.

 

[federali]

Tactics and duties decide

I think that one or two reloads for the J-frame is adequate. However, if you're going on a raid or if your duties require you to kick in peoples' front doors, then by all means take the Glock and the J frame as a bug.

 

[JK-linux]

I carry based on a best reasonable guess as to what I may be dealing with. I'm not on the job anymore so a J Frame + 5rd strip, Glock 26 with no extra mag or Model 65 + 6rd strip is usually it.

That said, were I day-to-day working directly with people who don't play by societies rules, and simply not being there anymore wasn't a reasonable option, I'd probably be packing something more. People sometimes react badly when they think you may take away their freedom. Were I doing your job in today's climate, personally I'd be packing a smallish duty weapon like a Glock 19 or Colt Commander + a spare mag and a J frame. That's just me though - belt and suspenders.

 

[bigwheelzip]

When I carry a revolver (7 shot), I also have a double HKS speedloader carrier.

 

[camsdaddy]

I carry two speed strips with my model 60 or my model 65 and sometimes I carry both. One speed strip is loaded with 4 38 gold dots. The other speed strip has 4 158 lswc and 2 snake shot. I carry the lswc in case something needs shooting that I don't want to waste high dollar defensive ammo.

 

[31FordA]

My primary carry for work is a SP-101. I generally carry a 2x2x2 pouch with 6 rounds on my belt. When serving warrants I add a speedloader and a speed strip or two in my coat pockets, along with an additional revolver (340M&P) as a New York reload. Most of the time I also have a .32 Keltec in my pocket as an additional back up. I also always have a knife, currently a Kershaw Blur.

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

When I carry my J frame (640-3), (357 Mag) I also carry 12 additional rounds. (Shoulder holster with opposite side ammo carrier)
Sometimes, if I throw my 642 in my pocket, I just go with the 5 in the cylinder Buffalo Bore 158 LSWCHP +P.
Never felt under gunned or disadvantaged.

 

[snowman.45]

I don't think anyone can foresee all potential situations. As a result, when carrying one of my J-frames, I carry a couple of speed strips and/or a couple of speed loaders or any combination thereof. While the odds are not good that there will ever be a need for a reload, none of us know how a situation is going to evolve.

If carrying a semi-auto, with or without a BUG, I always carry a spare magazine. This is only partially for the off-chance that I'll need more ammunition after expending a full magazine, and more for the potential of a magazine or ammunition failure.In my experience, center mass shots may or may not stop a suspect, depending upon mindset, intoxication level, etc. Anyone who thinks that the "one-shot stop" is a certainty may be deluding themselves. Extra ammunition is cheap insurance in many situations.

 

[DD357]

K frame and usually 1 reload, but occasionally I'll carry an additional one.