Philosophy of extra magazines

Status
Not open for further replies.

rdmercer

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Messages
95
Location
northern Idaho
When discussions come up about 1911s and other multi round semis like Glocks it is always brought up about low round count of the 1911 with 7-8 rounds versus 15 plus for most of the others. But consider the fact it is always prudent and wise to carry at least one extra mag for all semi-autos which gives the 1911 17 rounds available for protection even against multiple attackers which is the argument you see a lot for being in favor of the higher capacity firearms. Any semi can have a FTE or FTF which makes it really the most important reason for carrying the extra mag. To me it is easier to carry an extra 8 rnd single stack than it is to carry an extra 15 rnd. double stack mag for the Glock 19. So why is the 8+1 argument even an issue when comparing the two platforms? To me it is easier to conceal the thin 1911 Commander style 45 with an mag in the pocket than it is to carry a the fatter G19 with a spare 15 rnd in the pocket.
 
So why is the 8+1 argument even an issue when comparing the two platforms?

9mm v .45, revolver v semi, double stack v single stack......it’s just something to argue about. Everyone likes to think their choice is the best choice anyone can possibly make when in reality it’s probably only the best choice for them.

Think of all of the stray electrons that would be running loose if we didn’t discuss (argue) about those things on gun boards. What kind of mischief would the create if we didn’t use them to have these discussions.

Seriously, everyone is free to make their own decisions about such things. I started my LE career with a S&W Model 65 and 18 rounds of duty ammo. I never felt inadequately armed even though I could only load 6 at a time. When I retired I was carrying a Kimber Warrior with 3 spare magazines. In between I was issued a S&W 5906 with 2 spare magazines and a Glock 21 with 2 spare magazines. At no time did I worry that I didn’t have enough ammo on my person to get through any situation I might encounter.

If 8+1 with a spare mag meets your needs I’m not going to say you’re wrong. If you think you need 15+1 and 5 spare magazines, who am I to say you’re wrong?

If you’re carrying 8+1 someone is sure to find a situation where that wasn’t enough ammo, if you’re carrying 15+1 someone will find a situation where that wasn’t enough too.

Find what works for you and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks of it. All you really need is a reliable handgun in caliber .38 special or larger. How many reloads to carry is going to depend on you and what your normal activities are and how you normally dress.
 
As the OP says, it's prudent to have a spare mag regardless of the capacity of your gun. In good quality autos with a proven track record of reliability, mag issues are one of the more common issues. Personally I also think it's sensible tactically. In a large percentage of shootings I've studies it seems that the participants will often shoot to slide lock no matter how many or few rounds in the mag. It would be very awkward to be standing there with an expensive paperweight if associates of the perp were to come along afterward. Besides, if I'm going to wear a heavy $80 gun belt with a heavy $1,000 handgun in a $100 holster, why not go the extra few ounces and $60 to have a spare mag & carrier? I'm no more likely to go without a spare mag than I am to take a road trip without a spare tire.
 
I have always been a proponent of carrying one reload no matter what you're carrying.

I can feel comfortable carrying a J frame with a reload. That will cover 99.9% of the situations I forsee in my current lifestyle and travels. I usually carry more.

When I was a firearms instructor for a Federal investigative agency I used to tell people if you ran your gun dry use the reload to get yourself out of there.

Assess your situation but carry a reload for anything.
.
I have a spare tire in my car although I've only used it a few times in over 50 years.
 
The correct ;) (official) :D magazine philosophy for a 1911 or a Glock 19/23/32 (holds at least 10 rounds)
Glock + one extra magazine in a mag pouch
1911 + two extra magazines in mag pouch, not a pocket, and two helps balance weight.
4whsw7.jpg
 
The correct philosophy is to carry what you shoot well. If you can put .45 acp from a 1911 where you want them, then 8 rounds will probably be enough. If you can't put 9mm where you want it from a Glock 19, then 15 rounds is not enough. Carry what you shoot well, whether that is a 5-6 shot revolver, a 8 shot 1911, or a 17 shot Uber-9. And for the record, I always carry at least one reload for any of my carry guns.
 
In more than one video and classroom talk, John Correia has made two points on this topic:
1. He has never seen, in tens of thousands of videos, a non-LEO self defense situation a defender need to reload during the exchange.
2. Increasing numbers of criminal attack incidents have involved multiple attackers, so he recommends having enough rounds loaded to deal with more than just one person.

Balance this with advice from Tom Givens and others, and as the OP accurately pointed out, if you do have a malfunction with your EDC, your best bet with a semi is to swap magazines, but your only option with a revolver is a back up gun.

My conclusion: carry a semi with a spare mag, or if you EDC a revolver, have a BUG. Don't expect to need the mag or BUG, but practice and be prepared to use them.
I must admit, I have not yet added that spare mag to my kit. Still working all that out.

Craig
 
But consider the fact it is always prudent and wise to carry at least one extra mag for all semi-autos

Any semi can have a FTE or FTF which makes it really the most important reason for carrying the extra mag.

To me it is easier to carry an extra 8 rnd single stack than it is to carry an extra 15 rnd. double stack mag

YES to all:). These are several factors to carrying extra ammo and in this for instance in a magazine. Scenario: ''the perp was right up on me before I realized it,'' and a struggle ensued, and that magic button was touched poof, BYE BYE goes the handguns magazine. Now, IF YOU didn't buy a gun that has a mag cutoff, you have a SINGLE SHOT. In any event you are FORCED to reload, do an EMERGENCY reload.

And any EMERGENCY is always worse to deal with versus a PLANNED and needed event. Chalk this one up under ''Prudent and Wise''

Speaking of P & W, did you notice how I cleverly stayed out of the 1911 vs GLock argument hehe.


When I was a firearms instructor for a Federal investigative agency I used to tell people if you ran your gun dry use the reload to get yourself out of there.

In more than one video and classroom talk, John Correia has made two points on this topic:
1. He has never seen, in tens of thousands of videos, a non-LEO self defense situation a defender need to reload during the exchange.

Well to those posts I can only answer to my professional training by the Dept. Which was, once discharging the duty weapon, as soon as possible , do a tactical reload and retain the expended magazine. Versus emergency, which is runned dry, and, you have NO loaded ammo:what: in your weapon. Kinda like, the sheet fell down at the camping site in the MI national forest, and, THERE YOU WERE for all to see, God and country. You know...at the makeshift:eek: outhouse:what:
 
Well to those posts I can only answer to my professional training by the Dept. Which was, once discharging the duty weapon, as soon as possible , do a tactical reload and retain the expended magazine
If you see any of Correia's discussions on this, he always has emphasized he is speaking of private citizen, non-LEO incidents, only. For LEOs, who by duty must continue to engage, have multiple mags and be ready to use them, including in tactical reloads. Armed citizen is about stopping the threat and getting away. LEOs often have to continue and extend the fight and pursue the miscreant.

Craig
 
So much of the same discussion. If you carry a semi auto on your belt, it take little effort to carry an extra mag on your other side. The one mugger, economically motivated modal attacker isn't what ALWAYS happens. A more intensive situation can happen, your gun can malfunction. If you engage in competition or training, you see malfunctions do occur.

I had a reliable G19 fail in a high end event, surprise.

The statistical argument is silly as if you really go by that, you need NO ammo as more DGUs are deterrent.

We will do this again.
 
The magazine is the most common failure point of nearly any semi-auto firearm. It is less about rounds available in an extended gun fight (rarity) and more about having a redundant means of fixing common malfunctions when it comes to semi-autos. A magazine carried off side will also help balance the weight of a firearm on the strong side. For example, it is more comfortable carrying my double stack 9mm with red dot and light paired with a 17 round magazine on my support side than it does without. Same with a 1911, where I normally carry 2 spare magazines because the 1911 is much heavier.
 
But consider the fact it is always prudent and wise to carry at least one extra mag for all semi-autos which gives the 1911 17 rounds available for protection even against multiple attackers which is the argument you see a lot for being in favor of the higher capacity firearms. Any semi can have a FTE or FTF which makes it really the most important reason for carrying the extra mag. To me it is easier to carry an extra 8 rnd single stack than it is to carry an extra 15 rnd. double stack mag for the Glock 19. So why is the 8+1 argument even an issue when comparing the two platforms?
Continuity of fire and because reloading doesn't always go the way we want it to.

Fumble a mag (i've seen it, i've done it), happen to run dry at a REAL bad time...

It's a simple logic of "if some is good... more is better."

I'm not debating the merits of the 1911 platform, but I darned sure understand the argument for more rounds on tap.
 
Last edited:
I carry two extra magazines. I understand that the odds of me having to reload not once but twice are immeasurably small but it costs me nothing to carry them. While not costing me anything to carry them, in the off chance that I need them and don't have them the consequences are potentially losing my life or the life of a loved one, so for me it makes no sense not to carry them.
 
If one excludes military and law enforcement applications, the requirement/need for more than the (1) magazine inserted in the pistol and (1) spare replacement magazine, past that seems rather less relevant. I do not know about others but I have not been in a shooting incident since my Marine Days, which was a long-long time ago in the past. Feel free to carry as many magazines as you want its up to you!
 
Perennial topic. The same reasons (and debates) get brought out and trotted around the corral each time.

Remember when a pistol might come with only 1 magazine? Then it might come with a spare magazine (which was a big deal for some advertising)? Nowadays, we can see gun companies advertising a couple spare mags, and sometimes a special package might come along where more spare mags might be included. https://www.ammoland.com/2021/01/smith-wesson-mp9-shield-9mm-handgun-bundle/#axzz6lRU3Syod

The cause? Market forces.

Now, for LE/Gov, there's policy and practice to drive such things.

For example, at my former agency we had a policy (probably changed again by now) that required people in uniform assignments to carry 2 spare magazines. More could be carried, if desired. That was a continuation of when we were required, in the days of service revolvers, to carry 12 spare rounds of ammunition. People assigned to plainclothes were required to carry at least a single spare mag, but could carry more. There were some variations, such as when a couple of the available issue weapons used single stack mags, and either 3 or 4 spare mags could be issued.

When I was assigned to a plainclothes position for the last half of my career, I typically carried a single spare mag. Sometimes more, depending on my case load and any specific anticipated activities of the day or night (warrant service, etc). Sure, I carried more in my unmarked veh, as well as spare (boxed) ammo much of the time. Back in my service revolver days I often carried more than the minimum spare 12 rounds, too, especially when working areas where my cover might be up to an hour or more distant. ;)

Nowadays, in my retirement, I continue the same practice of carrying a spare magazine, or a speedstrip (or speedloader). The single spare mag is regardless of whether it's a single or double stack mag. Every once in a while, depending on my planned activities and where I'm going to be, I might add a second spare mag (or toss 1-2 in my veh) ... or more speedstrips/speedloaders.

Now, an exception (always is ;) ) to my normal practice is when I carry one of my LCP's. I seldom carry a spare mag for the LCP I'm carrying. I have my own reasons for this, and it's not like I haven't considered the advantages and disadvantages of both the choice of the LCP, and whether or not to carry an extra mag for it.

Having carried a concealed weapon with a badge/ID or one sort or another for 38 years, and having served (and received training) as a LE firearms instructor for many of those years, I feel justified in making such assessments and decisions for myself. I don't presume to make them for others, though. :)
 
Last edited:
>>SNIP<<
I feel justified in making such assessments and decisions for myself. I don't presume to make them for others, though. :)

100% on point! All of the postulation does nothing but add more heat than light to a conversation.

As always, "de gustibus non est disputandum"
 
I have always been a proponent of carrying one reload no matter what you're carrying.

I can feel comfortable carrying a J frame with a reload. That will cover 99.9% of the situations I forsee in my current lifestyle and travels. I usually carry more.

When I was a firearms instructor for a Federal investigative agency I used to tell people if you ran your gun dry use the reload to get yourself out of there.

Assess your situation but carry a reload for anything.
.
I have a spare tire in my car although I've only used it a few times in over 50 years.
 
Back in the early 80s I spent some time as a reserve officer in the Idaho State Police and they all carried a 357/two speed loaders and a 12 ga. in the trunk. An extra box of shells was somewhere but I never saw it. Times have really changed.
 
When discussions come up about 1911s and other multi round semis like Glocks it is always brought up about low round count of the 1911 with 7-8 rounds versus 15 plus for most of the others. But consider the fact it is always prudent and wise to carry at least one extra mag for all semi-autos which gives the 1911 17 rounds available for protection even against multiple attackers which is the argument you see a lot for being in favor of the higher capacity firearms. Any semi can have a FTE or FTF which makes it really the most important reason for carrying the extra mag. To me it is easier to carry an extra 8 rnd single stack than it is to carry an extra 15 rnd. double stack mag for the Glock 19. So why is the 8+1 argument even an issue when comparing the two platforms? To me it is easier to conceal the thin 1911 Commander style 45 with an mag in the pocket than it is to carry a the fatter G19 with a spare 15 rnd in the pocket.
Have you tried doing all this while wearing gym shorts? You know, those shorts with nothing but a drawstring for a belt........how'd that work out? My pocket rocket of 9mm packing 10+ DOES carry in those pockets while I walk my dog
 
1. I agree with those who say that a magazine is a likely failure point. I see magazines as consumable items. So, at least one spare mag is a good idea.

2. I agree with those who have mentioned that a reload can be fumbled. On the qual lines, at the PD range, I have fumbled a few reloads, and have seen many others do the same. So, carrying more than one reloading device, be it magazine, speed-loader, clip, strip, et cetera, regardless of capacity, seems wise. Having said that, I will concede that I do not always carry two spare magazines, especially if carrying a double-column-mag autoloader.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top