Carry a spare mag in your pocket? Come on in

[Ben86]

I have personally been considering this for a while. I am trying to decide whether I should go with a clip on single, horizontal mag pouch or pocket carrier.

I definitely think that a holster is the way to to. It keeps the magazine orientated correctly, keeps lint and other objects out of it and keeps it from falling out of your pocket. You give your gun a holster why not your extra magazine? What's a gun without a magazine?

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I've always wanted a horizontal magazine holster, but the only ones I've seen are those bulky cop things

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

I always have at least one extra mag. Took a class with the off duty officer that stopped the troly square shooting in Utah and he said he would have killed for more rounds that if the police would not have gotten there when they did he did not know cuz he only had a couple rounds left.

 

[David E]

The horizontal carriers take up quite a bit of belt space.

Since I also carry a flashlight and leatherman on the belt, I don't have the space to spare.

Aside from that, they're difficult to withdraw the mag from with any degree of speed or stress.

 

[Kayback]

I usually use a mag pouch, but sometimes it just gets tossed in a pocket. My weak side back pocket. Nothing else ever goes in there.

I generally carry my Glock 26 with 12+1 and my spare mag is a 19 round mag. Why not?

Pocket carrying a mag is easier than pocket carrying a gun.

IMHO it gives you the ability to reload, and more importantly, if something goes wrong with the mag in the gun, you can switch it out.

What are the chances the mag in the gun will fail? Low. But why take that risk?

KBK

 

[MisterMike]

I don't always carry a spare mag. I suppose it all comes down to what you feel is an appropriate level of preparedness. Yes, I could have a magazine malfunction and, yes, I could encounter a situation where I'd need more than 14 rounds, but I feel like I'm far better prepared than most. What I would urge though, is that if you do carry an extra magazine in your pocket, you can find pocket magazine holsters pretty inexpensively. That way you can always be assured that your magazine will be oriented the same way and will be free from gunk.

 

[gimlet1/21]

I use a nylon buck knife sheath on the weak side. Only a very observant individual would notice the clipped knife on my strong side pocket, and wonder why I'm carrying two knifes.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Im a "C" guy... as long as that pocket is empty of all other objects besides the mag. I pull out the pocket first and smack out as much lint and dust as possible. Then I toss the mag in there. No issues yet.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Not leather, not web, but - -

I've used this product for several years, for Commander and Hi-Power mags. Very convenient, reasonably priced, and needs no more (or less) concealment than any belt holster.


Safariland Model CD clip-on mag holder

 

[Hostile Amish]

I don't carry an extra mag most of the time, since I have a Glock 19 with 20 rounds (19 + 1 floorplate) and an additional round in the chamber. I'd rather save some weight. 21 rounds seems sufficient.

 

[Gunfighter123]

Johnny Quest,

Those are the "spring-like" mag holders I was talking about !!!

Long ago , I used them for IPSC/IDPA and they were fast to use and NEVER had a mag fall out during movement on a COF.

 

[chuckusaret]

Wow, If I would need more than 10 rounds I don't think another magazine would be of any use. I only took two bandoleers (240 rounds) with me on patrol in Vietnam

 

[Drail]

Carry a gun or a mag in a pocket also containing small objects is as Jeff Cooper loved to say..A Very Bad Idea.

 

[Gunfighter123]

Wow, If I would need more than 10 rounds I don't think another magazine would be of any use. I only took two bandoleers (240 rounds) with me on patrol in Vietnam

Hiya Chuck,
I see you didn't take "just one clip" when you were in Nam. I am just saying that if "you need more then 10 rds. " it would be a life-saver to have another 10 rds. !!

Having said that --- many times I carry a handgun and no spare ammo. BUT ONLY when I am close to home , in a safer neighborhood , local store etc. -----
If I think I MIGHT be in a place where there is a very good chance of useing my gun for SD --- I always carry a extra mag and have a full box {50 rds.} in my car.

 

[bigfatdave]

I don't carry an extra mag most of the time, since I have a Glock 19 with 20 rounds (19 + 1 floorplate) and an additional round in the chamber. I'd rather save some weight. 21 rounds seems sufficient.

21 rounds probably is sufficient ... but isn't the magazine the most common malfunction point on a semi-auto handgun?
There's no backup on the way, I'm leaning towards the single extra magazine, but I admit part of that is my CCW choice is a Walther PPS, so I get 6+1 and a 7 round reload.