Carrying Spare Mags

[asia331]

Carry a single loaded spare mag (Weak side) in a leather OWB pouch. Absolutely will not carry a spare mag in the pocket out of concern for foreign object damage to the feed lips.

 

[surferdaddy]

I never gave much thought to messing up my mags by sitting on them. M&P mags seem to be made of pretty heavy gauge steel, wonder if I could goof them up that way.

 

[smalls]

Murphy's law, again. If it can happen, it will happen at the worst possible time.

You know what would be worse than having a failure with your primary mag? A failure with your secondary mag, caused by lint or from sitting on it. .

 

[TAKtical]

I carry two 20rnd mags for my glock 17 in one of my hybrid IWB mag carriers. It was a challenge to create a comfortable IWB mag carrier for the fat glock mags but it was definitely worth the trial and error. Now I have 60rnds with me at all times and my rig is actually very comfortable.

 

[PabloJ]

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)?

Some Walmarts carry wonderful single mag cordura pouches that can be worn vertically or
horizontally on the belt. Horizontal carry is my favorite. These hold one double stack 9mm or .40mag or two Makarov magazines. Made in USA if that matters and price is $10 a piece.

 

[Skribs]

I just got a BladeTech Tek Lok single mag carrier (specifically the 9mm/40 cal double-stack) and while the magazine fits, the carrier has a death grip on it. I try and grab the mag, and all I end up doing is giving myself a wedgie. Loosening the screws doesn't really help unless I completely take them off.

EDIT: I guess it works fine if I put the mag in backwards...they really should have put "Right Hand" on the product. That's what I get for buying in-store instead of ordering online.

EDIT 2: Turned it sideways, mag is held in rear, but when I grab it, the mag is facing the way I want it to. Guess this'll work.

 

[riceboy72]

Been carrying for 19 years, and I have always carried a spare single mag for my double stack pistols in a leather carrier on my off side. The only time I carry two mags is when I carry a single stack 1911, and I also use leather. Never got bit by the Kydex bug ... yet.

Skribs, I live and work not far from Lakewood. I have a Blackhawk single mag pouch that basically clips on and works well if you want to try it and compare it to the BladeTech mag pouch to see which one you like better. Let me know by PM.

 

[9mmepiphany]

EDIT: I guess it works fine if I put the mag in backwards...they really should have put "Right Hand" on the product. That's what I get for buying in-store instead of ordering online.

Which way are you inserting the magazines?

The bullets should be facing forward if the base of the magazine is up and should face down if the base is to the front

 

[Skribs]

Base up, bullets rear; or base rear, bullets down. The later is what I'm going to use until I get an actual LH model.

 

[Sam1911]

Base up, bullets FRONT.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yup, you have your magazine reversed for the most reliable and efficient grip and magazine change

 

[Skribs]

Sam, it wouldn't fit like that! At least without the device having such a death grip on it that instead of drawing, I would give myself a wedgie. The only way to get the magazine out with Base Up, Bullets Forward was to hold the belt down with my strong hand and draw, and it was a slow draw (something that would be more difficult and unsafe with a gun in hand). With them backwards, the mag slid in snug, didn't jostle at all, and pulled out smooth.

Like I said, the bag in the store didn't specify right- or left-handed, but it appears to be a right-handed model (I am left-handed). With Base back, bullets down, it at least gives me a decent draw...although I'm starting to think I might just be better off with the default springfield double mag pouch considering how this thing prints with the mag hanging out when it's horizontal.

 

[Sam1911]

Ohhh, I got you. Weird. I don't have any mag pouches that won't work either way.

Rotten luck, there.

I use the Springfield double mag carrier for my xDM and have never had any failure with it at all.

 

[Skribs]

It's not about failure, I just feel it holds the magazines out as opposed to keeping them pressed against me. For easy reloading a better option, for concealing in summer a worse option.

One thing I noticed is the magazine is tapered towards the front of the magazine, which is why I think rectangular carriers work fine, but this one has the grip - it's got the wider end of the mag at the narrower end of the holster.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

One thing never heard after a gunfight:

"Dang....I had too much ammo."

 

[9mmepiphany]

One thing I noticed is the magazine is tapered towards the front of the magazine, which is why I think rectangular carriers work fine, but this one has the grip - it's got the wider end of the mag at the narrower end of the holster.

Do you have this one:

...or this one, from their Revolution line

 

[Skribs]

It is the top one. I now have a Blackhawk one which works great!