Concealed Carriers, do you carry spare magazines?

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Just whatever the load of the firearm is that I'm carrying.

I'm retired LE and have carried for over 40 years, and most of that was during a time I HAD to respond to a situation if it presented itself.

I'm always curious where some of you live that you feel the need to carry almost a whole box of ammunition. I'm not knocking it - just curious. I've been involved in several shootings and they were always over in a few rounds. Of course that was before the advent of zombies... :uhoh:

Seriously though - the threat potential should dictate the need for additional reloads or a backup. If you think you need it, go with it. Maybe I've just been lucky, but my awareness and ability to handle situations has enabled me to get through life with very few mishaps. I'm comfortable with just a 5-shot J-frame and a head on my shoulders.
 
It's old, so bear with me... it's been beaten into the ground, but forgive me...

A reload is like a gun or a parachute or body armor - if you need it and don't have it, you'll probably never need it (or anything else) ever again.
 
I'm always curious where some of you live that you feel the need to carry almost a whole box of ammunition. I'm not knocking it - just curious. I've been involved in several shootings and they were always over in a few rounds. Of course that was before the advent of zombies...

Read what I posted in this thread. It's not necessarily for the extra ammo, but rather to fix a malfunction.

On the other hand, if I have to shoot someone, there's a good chance I'm going to fire most (if not all) the rounds in my gun. I'd rather not wait around (mostly) unarmed for police to arrive.
 
It depends on where I'm going. Lately at work, I've been going with just a Taurus 85 & 1 speed loader. Anywhere else, M&P9C + 1) 12 rd mag on the belt and 1) 17 rd in the truck.
 
Glock 29 ATM, 10 rounds in the mag and one in the chamber.
Im comfy with that. I have a 15 round mag that I carry sometimes. Need to get a pouch for it. Seriously uncomfortable when just lugging it around and kinda silly that way as well.

I prefer to carry back up mags because you just never know...
 
Usually carry 8+1 in gun (Shield) and the 7 round as a spare. Sometimes the other way around, depending on how I'm dressed.

I don't carry the spare all the time (though I should) due to not having a belt. That's because I'm recovering from some surgeries. When I'm in big boy pants again, I'll carry at least the one spare all the time. I'll eventually hunt down a second 8 round to use as a spare.
 
G26 at around 8:30 (I'm a lefty), one spare at about 4:00. More worried about a mag malfunction than needing 10 extra rounds
 
What is with everyone being so worried about a "magazine malfunction"? With quality mags (as all carry mags should be), have you ever had a "magazine malfunction" in a way that just slapping in a new one would fix it? Guns do jam, but how often have you had a magazine just stop feeding rounds? Are you worried about broken followers, broken springs, what?

A handgun has MANY moving parts and you don't carry any extra extractors or firing pins...
 
From long experience I usually carry two guns. For autos I'll have a spare mag of standard capacity. For revolvers I carry a speed strip. Since the availability of 7-round revolvers, I'll often carry one of those as a primary, though speed strips haven't caught up, yet. As backup I carry a S&W J-frame. I have limited faith in sub-caliber rounds, and my ability to use those tiny guns.
Years ago my employer had an excellent training officer. I have large hands and can grip almost any handgun well with ease. He put together a stage where I managed to eject a full magazine. While he kept yelling "BANG BANG BANG" at me, I got the spare mag and reloaded. For me, that emphasized the efficacy of the "New York Reload."
 
I generally carry an extra mag or a revolver reload (strip or speed loader) when I carry. I just figure better safe than sorry.

I would much rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

So far haven't needed it. With any luck, I never will.
 
What is with everyone being so worried about a "magazine malfunction"? With quality mags (as all carry mags should be), have you ever had a "magazine malfunction" in a way that just slapping in a new one would fix it? Guns do jam, but how often have you had a magazine just stop feeding rounds? Are you worried about broken followers, broken springs, what?
Yes, yes I have. The malfunction was on the magazines binding up at 60 below. Keeping a spare mag inside a warm pocket fixes the problem. Then again, so does putting the bound up magazine inside one's parka.
 
I carry 2 spare mags in my car. One is in a leather pocket holster that I pocket when going anyplace public like a mall or convenience store, and its a high cap mag (7 rounds)
I front pocked carry a P238 condition 1, giving me 7 rounds initially.
But no, I don't always carry a spare mag.
 
Keeping a spare mag inside a warm pocket fixes the problem. Then again, so does putting the bound up magazine inside one's parka.

Then again, so does IWB carry in the first place
(I carry spare mags, but my boomstick generally doesn't see arctic conditions in my pants)
((and I managed to work the phrase "in my pants" into the dialog))
 
Carrying a spare mags because your primary may malfunction is a ridiculous state of mind to me. Carrying a spare because the zombies may get you is on a more rational plane of thinking. A malfunction of any kind under any condition isn't allowed in my selection of a defensive pistol. My 2 cents.
 
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Sure wish I could tell my stuff not to break, and it'd listen to me!

Could've saved thousands on car repairs! All I had to do was tell it not to break!
 
Sure wish I could tell my stuff not to break, and it'd listen to me!

Could've saved thousands on car repairs! All I had to do was tell it not to break!

That's why I carry a revolver. 6 rounds if .38 suit me just fine.


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Carrying a spare mags because your primary may malfunction is a ridiculous state of mind to me. Carrying a spare because the zombies may get you is on a more rational plane of thinking. A malfunction of any kind underkk any condition isn't allowed in my selection of a defensive pistol.

I know I personally never accept any malfunctions of any kind from anything mechanical. I would never own anything that is less than 100% reliable in in situation, in any grip, under any circumstances... oh wait... that seems unrealistic.

I know I never choose to be in a circumstance where my personal security is at risk....

My house will never catch on fire.....

I will never personally own a car that will have a flat....

I will never ever have a heart attack....

Great logic!
 
Yes i do all the time. 8 rd mag of 9mm makarov in the Makarov pistol plus an extra mag loaded in the pocket. Light as a feather anywhere i go.
 
I carry a springfield mirco compact 6+1 so i usually carry at least one mag in my left pocket. they're flat enough not to print and light enough for me not to care about the extra weight.
 
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