How many mags?

[FMarlon]

I have been told by people who carry (doing checking before getting my carry permit) that they dont feel the need to carry extra mags.

How many do y'all carry when carrying?

What caliber?

 

[DMK]

Most often one mag in a 1911 IWB and one in a pouch on my belt. Sometimes I'll throw another in my pocket just for the heck of it. 230gr. 45ACP, 6 or 8 rnd single stack depending on the gun.

On road trips, I often take my CZ-40 in the car for a BUG to my primary CCW or for an extra gun to arm a passenger if ever needed. In that case, I'll have one mag in the gun and two more in a mag pouch stashed in the car. 165gr. 40S&W, 10 rnd double stack.

Just around town, especially in the summer, I'll have my J-frame in pocket with 5 .38 Spec. +p in the cylinder and one or two 6 round speed strips.

As you can see, I always carry reloads. Mags fail, ammo fails, nasty people fail to have the proper respect for the ammo you are carrying.

 

[Gary G23]

Normally one spare if it is a hicap or two spares if I'm carrying a 1911 single stack.

 

[wally]

If I could carry a spare mag, I'd carry a bigger gun instead!

I'm carrying for unexpected self-defense needs. If I was planning to shoot I'd be carrying a rifle or shotgun instead.

--wally.

 

[denfoote]

I always carry two irregardless of caliber!!!!

 

[vwfool]

Ditto. I carry 2, no matter if its 15 rounds each of 9mm, 7 rounds each of 45ACP, or 2 .357 speed strips. Don't really know why it is 2, but it is.

 

[dairycreek]

One in the pistol and one in my pocket! Good shooting

 

[Texas Bob]

Carry at least one spare for any primary. I'll never forget the "feeling" seven years ago when shooting a glock in idpa and on the second round my magazine spring broke rendering the mag and gun ussless. It reminded me that Mr. Murphy is alive and well. I'll grant you, it was a long shot, but needing my ccw, I hope, is also a long shot. However that doesn't stop me from ccw one spare mag for my primary, a BUG, w/o spare ammo, fox labs oc spray, a knife and a cell phone.

 

[M2 Carbine]

For the Kel Tec in my pocket I carry an extra mag in another pocket. If I'm dressed for the 45 I don't carry a spare mag.

But my cars and truck are War Wagons with at least two pistols and a rifle.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

When I carry my Makarov I carry one spare magazine. When I carry one of my wheelguns, I carry two Speed Strips.

 

[Walosi]

I try to eventually get six mags for every auto I buy. Finances usually prohibit this when the gun is new. My theory (?) is two three-mag sets. I rarely carry with just one reload.

 

[wildehond]

Two extra mags. One for each hand if I should get into a brawl.

 

[Teufelhunden]

When carrying a semi-auto I almost always carry a second mag. Through either equipment (pinched feed lips, broken springs etc.) or operator (slipping onto the mag release, not seating the mag fully etc.) errors, I'd rather have a second way of getting my weapon back in the fight.

Have a good plan. Have a good plan B. My spare mag is my plan B.

-Teuf

 

[clipse]

CZ 75 P-01 9mm.

1x 14 round mag in pistol

2x 14 round mag in pockets.

I don't expect to need 43 rounds. I think that the magazine is the weakest part of an autoloader and if the pistol is going to fail, a fresh mag will most likely cure it. IMHO

 

[cratz2]

CZ PCR with one 10 round mag... I'll replace the 10-rounder whenever Natchez gets some more 40S&W mags in stock.

 

[mpthole]

98% of the time I carry at least one spare magazine... usually I carry IWB with a weak side single or dual magazine carrier. 1911 in .45 ACP or H&K USPc in .45.

Magazines can fail - best to have a backup.


Somewhat related... A couple of years ago my fiancee, best friend and his wife and I went to Estes, CO to climb Longs Peak. I brought 5 flashlights with me, knowing that we'd be climbing in the dark and worse case scenario we might be returning in the dark. While getting our packs together before we left, they all gave me a hard time about having 5 flashlights, so I left two at the cabin. Guess what happened on the trail? Two of the three burned out their bulbs within an hour of starting the hike! That left me with one light to finish both the ascent and descent.

 

[Walosi]

Accredited to the good Colonel "There can be 'enough ammunition' or there can be 'not enough ammunition". There isno such thing as 'too much ammunition'". Seems that it can apply to flahslights, as well

 

[c_yeager]

THe magazine is generally the weakest point in a semi auto. It's also the easiest and quickest part to replace. I would recomend carrying an extra just to guard against Murphy rather than for the extra ammo.

 

[wildehond]

c_yeager wrote:

THe magazine is generally the weakest point in a semi auto. It's also the easiest and quickest part to replace. I would recomend carrying an extra just to guard against Murphy rather than for the extra ammo.

Very good point!

wildehond

 

[outofbattery]

None . I usually have either 15 rounds of 9mm or 11 rounds of .357 Sig or .40 and feel comfortable with that .

 

[albanian]

I never carry an extra mag when carrying a pistol for CCW. Sometimes I carry and extra speed loader for a revolver but never for an auto. I am not sure why, as extra mags are easier to pocket than a speed loader but that is what I do.

 

[tc300mag1]

I carry one spare mag reguardless of gun or caliber

 

[Zach S]

Normally carry one extra, doesnt matter if its my Para or Kimber compact (7+1), or my widebody kimber polymer(14+1). If one mag fails, I have another. I also keep a for GI mags in my glovebox, and throw an extra Para magazine in there when I have my widebody. You know, just in case...

 

[FPrice]

I like to carry at least one reload every time I carry. Just in case. But then, that's why I carry in the first place.

 

[Mil Novecientos Once]

14 rounds

Two extra mags. One for each hand if I should get into a brawl.

I carry 2 spares mags loaded with PMC Hardball