CCW Carrying spare mags

[sefus]

So for lack of options I usually just toss a spare mag or two in a coat or pants pocket when carrying, BUT would be hard pressed to fish one out of said pocket if I needed a tactical reload. So I've been looing at belt mag pouches and with out trying them out individually, I'm not sure which design might work best for me. I REALLY like my open top klydex IWB holster, it holds my Glock so secure that I've ran and even shot hoops while wearing it without a problem. So I was looking at the klydex designs but they just dont look like they would hold on to the mags tight enough for my piece of mind. The cloth button or velcro flap closure mag holders are the others that I am considering but thought I'd toss a post up and see what some others could tell me. Thanks!

-Sefus

 

[Handgun Midas]

I use either a kydex OWB or a shoulder holster currently.
My gun uses single stack mags, and I that was one of the criteria I chose it for.

Some times I use a Galco OWB mag carrier; it does not make a significant bulge under my clothing.
Sometimes I just slip the mag into my left pants pocket, but if I do so I put nothing else in there.
I orientate the mag so when I reach in, it's in the correct position to quickly pull it out and inert it into the gun.

 

[Fake Name]

I use a Fobus paddle. It holds the mag just snug enough. Inexpensive too.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

There are pocket magazine holders.

There are pocket magazine holders. Just as there are pocket holsters to hold and orient a pocket pistol so too there are magazine holders to orient and hold a magazine in the pocket.

I have a couple of IWB magazine holders from Horseshoe for the 1911 and some OWB which tend to be more comfortable. Singlestack magazines give more options than a really fat Glock doublestack when it comes to comfort.

 

[Doug Add]

My single magazine carrier is a leather Galco with a belt clip that is molded for a SIG double stack magazine:

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterA3.asp?ProductID=1574&CaliberID=254

I won it in a Karma over on SIGforum.com. It has fantastic retention. You can easily pull the mag out when it is on your belt, but if you turn it upside down it takes a strong shake to make the mag drop out.

My double magazine carrier is a leather Double Take by Hign Noon Holsters:

http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/_Double_Take/_double_take.html

It has retention screws, but being a more generic fit it does not have the retention strength of the molded Galco.

 

[stormspotter]

The number one reason for carrying a spare mag is in case the first one goes south on you. If you don't have a spare you are down to a single shot.

I use a Glock polymer mag carrier for my Glock 19 and like the fact that I can carry 2 of them and place them in different positions, as comfort allows. The mags stay put in them, as I have rough housed with my grandkids and never had one pop out.

 

[mmike87]

I use Kydex holders from Comp-Tac for 1911 and SIG magazines. They have adjustable tension - and you can make them tight if you want to. Appropriately adjusted, there is almost NO WAY short of someone holding you upside down and violently shaking you that you're going to lose a mag our of these holders. I wouldn't worry about it - at all.

Avoid any type of flap or cover at all costs. If you train to do speedy magazine changes, any sort of retention device will only get in the way. Remember - there are only two reason you'll need the extra magazine.

1) Mechanical failure of your primary magazine
2) You're out and need more ammo, or feel the need for a tactical reload

Either way, you need the magazine quickly. The low-cut Kydex mag holders let you adjust with just enough tension to hold the magazine tightly - but loose enough to get them out quickly. And, most importantly, they will expose enough of the magazine for you to get a good grip on them. They look like they will fall out, but they won't.

I cannot stress enough the importance of a good magazine holder to facilitate speedy magazine changes.

 

[Srigs]

I have single and double mag holders in leather that work well.

Another option is to use a knife holder with a velcro flap so the mag looks like a knife for stealth carry with an IWB. It is cheap @$0 to 6, easy and works. I use this solution all the time also.

 

[GEM]

GAlco leather for me too! Got two of them.

 

[Bix]

A properly constructed kydex mag carrier with a tension screw will hold your mags just as securely as your kydex holster holds your Glock. I use one made by Fist, which I find very secure and very concealable. I discussed it a bit here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2537180&postcount=4

 

[Mannlicher]

I use a variety of mag holders. Most often, its a double mag holder on the weak side for my 1911 mags. When I carry the CZ or BHP 9mm, I usually carry a single mag in a leather sleeve that fits in my weak side jeans pocket.

 

[gazpacho]

New York Reload

The best place to carry your spare magazine is in your second gun.

 

[langenc]

I had a belt mag holster made. It lies parallel with the belt and I wear it just to the L of the buckle-Im R handed. It is great and dont stick me in the tummy.

 

[enfield]

If you're going to carry spare mags in a pocket, be careful with which pocket you choose. You need to be able to reach the spare mags with either hand. Weak side rear pocket works for me. Needless to say, I haven't found an acceptable pocket location for speedloaders. Maybe one in each front pocket is the answer, but it totally ties up two pockets that I need for other stuff.

 

[evan price]

In the console of the truck. Never needed it anywhere else.

 

[1557]

The little sheath that my old gerber gator came in sometimes serves as a mag carrier for a G17 mag when carrying my g19.Just looks like a knife pouch.

 

[gr8cook]

New York reload

That seems like a lot of extra weight for 8-18 extra rounds. I don't see how one could comfortably carry two pistols that were both quickly accessible. This leads me to think that the second piece would be concealed deeper. In this case can you really draw the next pistol faster than you can reload? If you can is it worth all the extra weight?

Additionally, some of us (like me!) are not so blessed as to be able to afford a second pistol.

I'd like to know what folks think about this:

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum1725.php

Yes I saw it in Collateral.

There were some high speed guys involved in some of the weapons areas of that movie and so I'm curious.

It looks to me like it would either be awesome or completely suck.

Cook

 

[Hemicuda]

I use a sheath from a Buck 110 folding knife... (I had to trim a wedge of leather from the top, above the snap, internally, to fit the taper of the mag-base)

it holds my Smitty mags (everything from the 5904 to the 4506) safely, securely, and people think it is a folding knife... (which is a common thing in the boondocks!)

 

[BrennanKG]

Using a knife or multi-tool sheath is actually a cool idea.
Thanks!




B.

 

[brownie0486]

I carry a g17 mag in the off side back pocket.

I carry a gov45 mag up on my belt, and one in my back pocket.

As to two guns being as easily accessable, I used to carry a gov45 strongside and another crossdraw when doing high risk work on the streets ocassionally. Both were fast to get into play if need be. I'd say it would depend on the weapon platform of the second gun and it's carry mode would determine if it was as fast or not.

Brownie