How much do you carry?

[mawguy]

I have had my CCL for about a month now and I was thinking about how much ammunition to carry. My SW40VE has a 14 round magazine and it came with a spare, which would be 28 rounds if I carried that too. I could carry 2 spare magazines, which would put me up to 42 rounds. But then I start asking myself, how much is enough? In some circumstances, I guess I would want 1,000 rounds or so, but in a suit and tie, could I carry it without bandoliers?

There plenty of guys carrying revolvers, both the 5 and 6 shot variety. So how many rounds do you guys carry? How many speedloaders? I know there are a bunch carrying smaller calibers and smaller guns (PF9, LCR etc.) Some people go to smaller, lesser powerful weapons because it is hot in the summer.

So, I am not making anyone wrong for the choices they make. I carry a full size 40 cal pistol and won't carry anything less just because it is hot. I am just trying to get my head around the thought process that is going on when I hear someone say "I carry a .45 ACP when I can conceal it and a .380 when I am wearing shorts." If a .380 is "better than nothing" why not carry it ALL the time? Not trying to ignite an argument about what is the better caliber, just why we make decisions to go light or heavy, not knowing what we would hope for later.

The real problem is not conceal ability in my view. There are people carrying bigger handguns than mine year round with a LOT more ammo than I carry. If we knew the right size gun and the right amount of ammo every day when we left the house each day and knew what kind of fire fight we would be in, then it would be a no brainer.

I guess what I am really asking is, once you decide what your defense weapon is, why would you decide that something else would be OK under other circumstances?

Not to start a war on motorcycle helmet wearing [having put over 100k on touring bikes myself] but it is like "the helmet is too hot in the summer, but I wear it when it is cold". Or "I wear it on the road, but not in town." Personally, I have been sliding on the pavement catching glimpses of my bike doing the grinding "spin the bottle" game. I was glad I had full riding gear and a helmet on when it happened.

So, how much do you carry and why?

 

[Kanewpadle]

I always carry at least one spare magazine. Not for capacity but for MURPHY. The magazine is the heart of the gun. If it fails for any reason, the gun is useless.

Currently I carry two guns with an extra mag each.

 

[The Big D]

My EDC is now a 60 or 642. I carry 6 rounds in a drop pouch on my belt and a speed strip with 6 rounds in my weak side pocket.

I often add a speed loader to the mix. That's all.

Be safe.

PS:

The belt pouch is ultra-low profile and though some ask what it's for, no one has ever said: "Why are you carrying bullets on your belt?"

 

[310Pilot]

I always carry my Model 60 in my pocket or, sometimes, in an upside-down shoulder hoster, along with a full speedloader (ten rounds total). That being said, as a primary gun, I usually carry a .45 ACP Commander-sized 1911 in condition one, loaded with 230 grain HPs, plus two spare mags, one with HPs, one loaded with ball. Having survived more than a few fire fights in combat, I don't like going with too little ammo, and keep the 230 ball in one mag in case the HPs jam, I need obstacle penetration, etc. The HPs have never caused a problem, but I like the little bit of insurance the mag of ball gives me.

When I carry a .357 or .44 Mag, I always have at least two full speed loaders for that gun.

 

[snakeman32]

Let me start off by saying that I ride a motorcycle as well and I always wear the proper gear. I carry either a Glock 22, Ruger SP101, or S&W model 10. I carry the bigger two when my daily wardrobe allows me to, otherwise I carry the SP101. Sometimes I carry the SP101 along with one of the other two. I generaly carry one spare mag for the Glock or two speed loaders for the revolvers. The extra mag is mostly for the fact that I have had a magazine failure happen when you don't want it to and I will always carry a spare mag because of that. The speed loaders are for the few extra rounds. I never plan on getting in a long drawn out fire fight as a civilian, but I believe in being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best.


snakeman

 

[Evil One]

Full size 1911 with 2 Wilson 47D mags as reloads, .44 snubby with a speedloader.
So... 34-35 rounds total.


Jim

 

[jbull380]

A G17 or G19 with a full mag and a G26(ankle) with a full mag along with one full G17 spare mag. Thats the neat thing about Glocks. That G17 mag will work in my 19 and 26. So I guess that would be a total of 46 or 44 rounds total.

 

[Batjac]

My EDC is a Glock 19. I keep a spare mag in the car console, but never carried a spare on my person. I have put a lot of rounds thru my mags, and I trust they will work if necessary. Sometimes I will carry a 2" model 64, in that case I will carry a speed strip in my pocket also. Anyway this is what works for me and I'm comfortable with it.

 

[Ogandydancer]

My Sig P229R mags. hold twelve and, unless I feel a great need "which is rerely" I just carry what the one mag. holds that also holds true for any of my cc pistols.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Typically 2 guns with a reload for each. On occasions when only one gun is carried, two reload devices are carried. I used to carry 2 1911 mags, but now I feel it's more important to replace that weight with ancillary stuff like a flashlight, knife, multi-tool, cell, etc. (of course, I've always carried a knife (except when forced to fly)).

I never rely on a speedstrip as a primary reload, but often as a secondary with revolvers (.38, .357, or .44). With a revolver, I prefer Safariland speedloaders as I find them faster and more compact, but I have plenty of HKSs also.

 

[RufusG]

I carry one of two 9mm autos (full-size or compact) and one spare mag (both guns can use the same mags). No longer carry revolvers in town, but do carry them in the field.

Where in the past I may have carried a half dozen or more different guns over the course of a year, I'm down to those two similar guns.

 

[P&R Fan]

Carrying reloads

I have a lot in common with some of the people in previous posts. I often carry a Glock 23 or 27 and always carry a spare mag., Sometimes two of them but rarely. It is always a G22 mag. as it will work in the shorter guns and give me a 15 rd. reload in addition to working in my G22 car gun. In revolvers I almost always carry 1 or 2 Bianchi Speed Strips. These are only available for .38/.357 but I have great news for big -bore lovers. You can now get a similar product in almost every caliber. I bought some for .44 Spl/Mag and they work very well. They're called TUFF STRIPS and can be found at Tuff Products.

 

[38-44HD45]

Two spare mags (9 rounds each, usually) for the primary, and a speed strip or a spare mag for the backup, depending on whether my backup is a snubby or a P3AT.

 

[Spotteddog]

M&P9c-12+1 in
17 round (full size pistol) magazine reload.
5 shot J-1 speed loader.
If a 1911- 8+1 in, 2-8rd. reloads

 

[Frizzman]

One combo frequently carried is Glock 27 with a G22 mag on weak side and a Ruger LCP with a spare mag as a BUG. When riding my motorcycle, its all the gear all the time...including a good SNELL full face helmet. I hit the pavement a couple of times and once, when a truck hit me, it saved my life...My motto for many years has been, "Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it." When carrying a revolver, I usually have a couple of speedloaders and a Speedstrip as well as a dump puuch with 6 rounds on the belt. I always have a good knife and a Surefire in a pocket. I don't think the potential threats become lesser in hot weather so I don't go for pea shooters in hot weather. I have found that I can conceal a serious gun or two in shorts with a lose shirt.

 

[sipowicz]

With my 442, a speed strip. I wish I could say I carry a spare mag for my P2000 but in just a t-shirt, I find it hard...mag is too bulky for pocket and off side pouches always annoy me...in jacket weather, I throw one in my pocket.

 

[44forever]

The only times you can have too much ammo

are when you are drowning or on fire. Realisticly, I carry at least one reload for whatever is in my holster, usually a 629. Additional reloads, spare pistol, shotgun, etc. in the truck in case of zombies.

 

[davel686]

I carry nothing but revolvers so 1 speed loader and a nylon flat ammo holder that holds 6 rounds for a total of 18 rounds of .357.
I also have a speed loader in a case in the console if needed.

 

[2000Z-71]

I usually carry only 1 reload. With a revolver it's usually a speed strip for the hypothetical and unlikely, "What if 5 or 6 rounds isn't enough?" For the autoloader it's in case of a magazine failure.

 

[flop-shank]

I don't think the potential threats become lesser in hot weather so I don't go for pea shooters in hot weather. I have found that I can conceal a serious gun or two in shorts with a lose shirt.

Me too. I carry a 5" .44 magnum a 2 1/4" .357 snub and a NAA Black Widow .22 mag. in 100 degree weather.

I'm a New York reloader. I carry a reload for every gun I'm carrying, except the NAA, with the idea being that I'll top the guns off when the shooting is done. I have little confidence that I'll have time to reload when the lead is flying. If time and cover allow, I would try to keep the biggest gun running though.