Carrying Spare Mags

Status
Not open for further replies.
Skribs

Skribs

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2010
Messages
6,101
Location
Texas
Compared to most people on here, I've only recently started carrying (heck, I think half the 4-5 digit posters have been carrying since before I was born), and lately I've been trying different ways - IWB, OWB, and pocket with various holsters. Recently it was brought to my attention that I should carry a spare mag, and until now I've been using an old cell phone pouch (although I just got something actually designed for magazines, which will keep it oriented correctly) in my pocket.

However, another thing that's been brought to my attention is that I would be better suited with carrying my spare mags on my belt. Currently I carry my gun IWB in a kydex holster, and I think if I carried mags IWB, I'd need new pants. I have the Springfield double mag holder, but that thing kind of hangs away from the body, and I feel is an inefficient use of space with its design. I even tried getting a holster that had a magazine pouch attached (essentially an elastic pouch), and the mag kept falling out of it.

How do you guys carry your spare mag(s)?
 
i prefer to carry my spare mags on my belt on my weak side. my preference is for a leather mag puch that holds tight to the body. for ccw, a single mag pouch is going to be a lot more comfortable all day than all the weight and bulk of a double.
 
No need to carry spare mags IWB; quality OWB mag pouches will hold the mags close to your body (presuming you're using a quality, dedicated gun belt). Most savvy packers will carry either spare mags weak side (for concealed carry, I usually have at least one single-mag pouch just behind my left hip, although depending on dress I will adjust to front left side, which is preferable, for muscle memory reasons -- years of duty carry).

I can carry a double mag pouch with two 18-round SIG mags and it doesn't print at all (with the plethora of crap folks wear on their belts these days, who notices, anyway?) ... although as JEB notes, a single mag pouch is much more comfortable ...

Just get quality gear. For off the shelf stuff, Galco makes decent mag pouches, but since you're up this way, try Kramer (the WAC show in Puyallup has a Kramer table, where you can get examine and fondle superb horsehide gunleather) or in Kydex, Blade-Tec, which is available all over.

Cheap nylon mag pouches are worthless.
 
I carry a spare mag in a belt-mounted single mag pouch (OWB) on my "off-hand" side. Second nature at this point.
 
As a civilian, in the vast majority of scenarios it would be pretty unlikely a spare mag would be beneficial. If you need to use the weapon, it would be RIGHT NOW, not in a gun battle or with extra time to reload. Stopping the threat or escaping is an immediate goal.
If some unusual circumstance did come up where you needed to reload or clear a malfunction, AND you had the time, in your pocket would work about as well as any.
 
Skribs said:
Compared to most people on here, I've only recently started carrying (heck, I think half the 4-5 digit posters have been carrying since before I was born)
Click to expand...

I've been carrying since Tuesday, I believe. I'm thinking I'm the newest carrier here lol.

Recently it was brought to my attention that I should carry a spare mag, and until now I've been using an old cell phone pouch (although I just got something actually designed for magazines, which will keep it oriented correctly) in my pocket.

However, another thing that's been brought to my attention is that I would be better suited with carrying my spare mags on my belt. Currently I carry my gun IWB in a kydex holster, and I think if I carried mags IWB, I'd need new pants. I have the Springfield double mag holder, but that thing kind of hangs away from the body, and I feel is an inefficient use of space with its design. I even tried getting a holster that had a magazine pouch attached (essentially an elastic pouch), and the mag kept falling out of it.

How do you guys carry your spare mag(s)?
Click to expand...
I carry a spare in a cargo pocket, while I wait for a couple mag holders to come in. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm thinking the Crossbreed is the best option, since it's IWB, but I too would need larger pants. I'm subbing to this thread.
1SOW said:
As a civilian, in the vast majority of scenarios it would be pretty unlikely a spare mag would be beneficial. If you need to use the weapon, it would be RIGHT NOW, not in a gun battle or with extra time to reload. Stopping the threat or escaping is an immediate goal.
If some unusual circumstance did come up where you needed to reload or clear a malfunction, AND you had the time, in your pocket would work about as well as any.
Click to expand...

I don't carry a spare for prolonged fighting, but malfunctions... Never know when it could come in handy. That is why we carry in the first place... never know.
 
The primary reason to carry a spare magazines should be in the event of a gun malfunction, where a mag change might get you back into action. With that in mind I usually carry a single magazine in an OWB mag carrier behind my hip on the weak side.

When carrying an extra magazine, it is very important to learn to perform mag changes correctly. It is a multi-step process requiring familiarity of hand and arm placement. The different between a smooth mag change and an unpracticed one can easily be the time difference of 5 shots
 
IWB opposite the gun, also IWB

I'm using a Tucker Gunleather double IWB carrier for singlestack magazines and a CrossBreed double for doublestack Sometimes something other than a magazine goes in the aft mag pouch, I'm highly amused that I can slip a NAA mini revolver in the second slot of the Tucker mag holder, which happens to be sized for 1911 magazines.
 
I'd say to judge your local area as to whether you really feel the need for a spare mag. I personally don't see the need for a spare mag for my daily routines. I understand all the mag failure scenarios etc... But if you are that concerned about a weapons malfunction (the oh what if the firing pin breaks scenario), you might as well just pocket carry a J frame or a LCP as a back up instead of the spare mag. Most compact double stack 45s will give you 9 rounds at a minimum and most 9mm will give you around 13. That should be more than enough for civilian conceal carry. Unless you are an off duty policeman, or live in a really bad part of town, I would say one mag is enough.
 
Been carrying since 64
gun = owb -usually leather or kydex paddle.
Mags= 1. no mag, 2. mag in cell phone case, 3. mag carrier on belt.
Depends on what i am doing

Revolver = 2 speed loader in cell phone case on belt, or not, depending on day.

Either way if im awake im armed.
 
Comptac makes great Kydex mag holders. They go OWB but stay close to the body.
 
I have a cheapo knife case that fits most mags 10 shots or less. The 15 shot and up mags are difficult to carry. Even the mag cases are to small.
 
Commander in a Kramer IWB 3 for many years, with a spare mag weak side in their horsehide mag pouch (OWB). The horsehide carrier is so thin and tucked into the belt that you don't even know it's there. You'll also want a good gunbelt made for carrying the weight of the gun. I tried a lot of them over the years before I finally bit the bullet for the Kramer horsehide belt. I was glad I did. None of it is cheap, but it's unbelievably quality equipment.

holster:

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=7&categoryID=23

magholder:

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=28&categoryID=31

Belt:

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=34&categoryID=2
 
I just got the setup I had wanted for a long time, but I couldn't make myself spend the cash for it. I got a Galco paddle carrier for a single mag and a flashlight. I decided a long time ago that it is MUCH more likely that I will need the flashlight than a third mag.
 
I carry what I compete with. So I use an OWB double mag pouch just behind my left hip. Compared to a gun, a pair of mags is EASY to carry, comfortable, and very unobtrusive.


Skribs, the reason for the belt-mounted mag pouch is that a smooth reload is all about minimizing "fiddling." With a mag in the pocket, you never quite know how it is sitting. Lying down? Standing on end? Bullets up, bullets down? Base-pad forward, or back? How much "fiddling" are you going to have to do to turn it the right way 'round and get it headed into the gun?

A mag pouch holds the mag in the right orientation (bullets forward, base-pad up), in exactly the same location every time you reach for it. As your strong-side thumb is pressing the mag release, your support hand is landing on the basepad, with your index finger along the front of the mag. As the spent mag drops free, your support hand already has the fresh mag on its way to the mag well. As you instinctively point your index finger at the gun, in your other hand, the magazine will be perfectly oriented to funnel straight into the gun, firmly.

Like so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAFxgQmxbGI
 
I got a Galco paddle carrier for a single mag and a flashlight. I decided a long time ago that it is MUCH more likely that I will need the flashlight than a third mag.
Click to expand...

I LOVE the idea. I really do. And I wish I could go with it. But I can't. I've seen SO many guys grab for their mag and come up with a flashlight -- honest to goodness, and some of them wuz ME! :eek: -- that I just can't have my white light anywhere near my mags.

You'd think you'd always be able to feel the difference. And you obviously can if you're taking your time and thinking about what you're doing. But when your mind is focused on the threat/target and you need to reload NOW, your hand just hits what's SUPPOSED to be a fresh mag on your belt, grabs and goes. And then the bezel of your snazzy cool light butts into the magwell of your handgun and WHOOPS, there's no BULLETS in this danged flashlight!

It is funny on the competition field. I don't think it would be as funny if I really needed it.

So I carry my light in a separate carrier, just forward of my hip.
 
That makes sense. I don't know why it doesn't always work, though. Probably with practice it should.
 
I've been carrying for about 3 years now. I initially carried no spare. Then I started carrying one spare and am currently carrying two which I'm thinking is excessive. I felt no safer with two than with none. I've been shooting since the 80s, I've been shooting about 5,000 rounds a year for the last few years and I've never had a magazine failure other than with a M16 and GI issue magazines that were old and abused but that was what I was issued. My personal opinion is that comes from the 1911 guys where it was an issue and I'm guessing that is more a matter of so many different manufacturers of both 1911s and 1911 magazines and compatibility. An awful lot of trainers tend to have time on 1911s. Carry OEM magazines in good shape and they tend to work. Now I've had jams and they happen. I had one last week with my carry G26, over 8,000 rounds with only a couple failure to fires with a good dent in the primer, but last week I had a round that was swollen in the chamber. I'm thinking it was a bad round and did not go all the way into the chamber so the gun was out of battery. But never a bad magazine.

Oh yeah, I carry my spares left side in inside magazine pockets inside cargo pockets, which is why I'm carrying two, there are two pockets.
 
I carry a spare magazine externally in a Milt Sparks #17 leather magazine pouch. I like it because it easily snaps on and off my belt.

See - http://www.miltsparks.com/17.htm

I also always carry a Streamlight Microstream AAA flashlight. IMO, it's perfect for EDC. It's inexpensive, small (about the size of a tube of ChapStick), bright and KISS simple. I clip it to the outside corner of my pants front pocket and I don't notice it at all. See - http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-MicroStream-LED-Pen-Light/dp/B005G4GBXA
 
Last edited:
It depends on my day to day and dress if I carry a spare mag...also, the firearm I am packing.

If I have my LCP, it is riding in my back left pocket in a holster with a spare mag pouch keeping the magazine upright and positioned so that as I grab it and turn it, the bullets face toward the chamber for fast insertion (ever done a dry fire drill and attempted to slam in a mag backwards:eek:)

Higher capacity guns may or may not have a spare mag packed with them unless I cam carrying less for concealment and more for firepower (my shoulder holster has double mag pouches on the weak side, so why not? It counterbalances the gun too).

I find that if I want to bring a spare mag for my G26, the standard 10 rounder fits just fine in my fifth/watch pocket. I'm left handed, so it's a natural place to grab with my right.
 
I carry a spare mag in a DeSantis OWB mag pouch. Mags are a little too pointy to stick IWB, for me.

I carry one for a few reasons. First, magazines are the one thing most likely to malfunction in a semi auto. Murphy's Law and what not.

Second, if I use my firearm, and shoot an attacker, I don't want to wait around with just a few rounds left or completely unarmed while his "homie's" come around. After a shooting, I'd do a "tactical" reload.
 
Hmmm...forgot something.

I do sometimes go with pocket-carry for mags. If I'm wearing a nice button-down shirt and using a tuckable holster, a belt-carried mag pouch really isn't workable.

I have a favorite pair of pants for that. They've got cargo pockets, but the left-side one has a pretty discrete zippered pocket behind the cargo pocket. I put two mags in a DeSantis double mag pouch and drop the whole thing into that inside cargo pocket. The mag pouch keeps the mags upright and oriented the right way, and the pouch of the pocket is actually inside the pants so it is very discrete and doesn't sag.

It is slower than belt-carry, but a tuckable IWB rig is a little slower than an OWB rig, too. All concessions to being discrete.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Vonderek
  • Locked
How do you carry spare mags for Kahr?
Replies
19
Views
3K
Armybrat
A
TheFrontRange
  • Locked
IWB Recommendations for the 1911
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Zak Smith
Zak Smith
T
  • Locked
1911 IWB holsters?
Replies
4
Views
342
TurboJeff
T
D
  • Locked
Carry a spare mag in your pocket? Come on in
2 3
Replies
64
Views
8K
bigfatdave
B
J
  • Locked
Concealed Carry and the spare Magazine
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
3K
Shootcraps
S
Back
Top