Second gun vs backup magazine?
- Thread starter Great Scot
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Alte Schule
Member
The amount of total protection one believes is needed is as diverse as the THR members that have responded to this poll. I just appreciate the fact that we all have at least one thing in common. The inherent right to keep and bear arms
Extra magazine, speed loader or strip or extra firearm? Sure whatever you are at ease with and allows you the mindset that you are prepared to manage any environment you may find yourself in.
Extra magazine, speed loader or strip or extra firearm? Sure whatever you are at ease with and allows you the mindset that you are prepared to manage any environment you may find yourself in.
Rex in OTZ
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Thinking you carry a spare mag, with plan B being barehanded defense like Judo.
You are the weapon, the gun, your knife or your hands are the tools you use.
You are the weapon, the gun, your knife or your hands are the tools you use.
Armybrat
Member
My son’s ex-MIL carried three handguns on her person while riding her Harley.
Didn’t bother to ask if she carried any extra magazines.
Didn’t bother to ask if she carried any extra magazines.
JR24
Member
My son’s ex-MIL carried three handguns on her person while riding her Harley.
Didn’t bother to ask if she carried any extra magazines.
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WisBorn
Contributing Member
John Wick wannabe
mokin
Member
At the moment, I have a Glock 29, an extra magazine, and a NAA Black Widow on me. I just had the Black Widow on my belt and didn't take it off. This isn't the usual situation, but it happens often enough.
It occurred to me that I do choose this condition in warmer weather when I might have a run in with a snake. It's a lot easier to load some snake shot in the NAA than have to fiddle with loads in a magazine.
It occurred to me that I do choose this condition in warmer weather when I might have a run in with a snake. It's a lot easier to load some snake shot in the NAA than have to fiddle with loads in a magazine.
I would rather carry a knife than a second handgun or a second magazine, and I do. There's a number of reasons why. I have 15 rounds in my carry gun which I think is probably 2-3x more than I'd ever realistically need in a self defense scenario, or, if at home, at least would buy me time to get to my AR15.
As for a second gun, I think falling back to a knife is more realistic. If your primary handgun has malfunctioned there's good odds in that scenario that your attacker will now have closed the distance and be striking or stabbing you, and at such close range it's going to be harder to use a handgun than a knife. If your attacker is shooting at you odds are you will be dead before getting a second gun into action anyway. So I am not sure how many times a second gun would really save you, but a knife might.
Secondly, a knife is genuinely useful on a regular basis. The most common use for my knife is honestly cutting open packages and then cutting up the boxes for recycling, but there's lots of other things it comes in handy for. I use it half a dozen times for different things during the day, so I have come to love having it on me.
I personally put the knife on my belt after watching a video from my own home security system. I'd gone out to collect the mail in the middle of winter when it was getting pitch black dark by 5pm. In the security camera video there's a cougar that walks along behind me, and then wanders off. I had no idea it was there, and fortunately, it viewed me as a curiosity rather than a meal, and left me alone. However, had it decided to attack me, I'd never have seen it coming. Really very little opportunity to draw a gun and fire at a cougar that is already on you trying to bite your neck. Assuming it hasn't succeeded in biting my neck yet and killing me, if I'm able to fight back at all I figure my best odds of survival at that point would be to pull out my knife and stab it.
Plus my knife is really light and easy to carry compared to a whole second gun. The knife is attached horizontally on the front of my belt so I can draw it with my right hand. I really don't even feel it's there, whereas when I strap on a gun--I know.
As for a second gun, I think falling back to a knife is more realistic. If your primary handgun has malfunctioned there's good odds in that scenario that your attacker will now have closed the distance and be striking or stabbing you, and at such close range it's going to be harder to use a handgun than a knife. If your attacker is shooting at you odds are you will be dead before getting a second gun into action anyway. So I am not sure how many times a second gun would really save you, but a knife might.
Secondly, a knife is genuinely useful on a regular basis. The most common use for my knife is honestly cutting open packages and then cutting up the boxes for recycling, but there's lots of other things it comes in handy for. I use it half a dozen times for different things during the day, so I have come to love having it on me.
I personally put the knife on my belt after watching a video from my own home security system. I'd gone out to collect the mail in the middle of winter when it was getting pitch black dark by 5pm. In the security camera video there's a cougar that walks along behind me, and then wanders off. I had no idea it was there, and fortunately, it viewed me as a curiosity rather than a meal, and left me alone. However, had it decided to attack me, I'd never have seen it coming. Really very little opportunity to draw a gun and fire at a cougar that is already on you trying to bite your neck. Assuming it hasn't succeeded in biting my neck yet and killing me, if I'm able to fight back at all I figure my best odds of survival at that point would be to pull out my knife and stab it.
Plus my knife is really light and easy to carry compared to a whole second gun. The knife is attached horizontally on the front of my belt so I can draw it with my right hand. I really don't even feel it's there, whereas when I strap on a gun--I know.
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Encoreman
Member
I carry with a spare mag on normal days, thinking of a bug but it would be a .357 snubbie or a .40 subcompact. For all the people that say you don't need a spare mag, go read the story of Timothy Gramin's shootout of a bank robber in 2008 Skokie, Illinois PD. He was carrying 37 rounds for primary gun plus a bug, he ended the fight with 4 rounds in his primary didn't need the bug. But today he carries 145 9mm rounds in mags for his primary and bug. He was asked paranoia? and he said nope preparation. Whenever I travel any distance I have my carry gun .40 cal with at least 2 extra mags, a bug in .40 and generally an AR-15 pistol with 30rd mag. Kind of like the guy that the cop stopped and asked the guy, you got any guns and he said yes this 1911 on my hip, any others? yep a shotgun and AR-15 behind truck seat and the cop asked what are you afraid of and he replied absolutely nothing!!
md7
Member
Glock 26 with 12 round mag and a 15 round spare is what I carry.
A second mag for me is more about having a backup mag in case of malfunction than it is additional ammo.
Also, I carry aiwb and my holster has a slot for a spare mag. It’s not in the way or taking space away from something else so there’s no reason not have a spare mag in my case. Works for me
A second mag for me is more about having a backup mag in case of malfunction than it is additional ammo.
Also, I carry aiwb and my holster has a slot for a spare mag. It’s not in the way or taking space away from something else so there’s no reason not have a spare mag in my case. Works for me
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