How do your carry your mags for CCW?

[kage genin]

Hi all, let me first state that I do not have a CCW (yet! crossing fingers in CA..) but I've been wondering how do you conceal and extra magazine (or two) on you when carrying?
Are there any IWB Magazine Holsters? Do you just keep an extra mag in a pocket?
If/when I get CCW permitted, I plan to carry IWB and using shoulder rigs would be extremely unlikely.

I've tried various search strings that bring up hundreds of threads, all without the information i'm looking for. Any suggestions for a search on THR for this info? (I've tried "magazine holsters", 'magazine holders', 'IWB magazine', 'concealed magazine')

 

[armoredman]

I use the Uncle Mikes universal Magazine/Knife Pouch. Practice for a while retrieveing it from the velcro closure. It looks, to the fast untrained eye, to be either a big folding knife pouch, or, more likely to todays techno teens, a large cell phone holder for Gran'pa's cheapo big cell phone.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Personally, I carry my spare mag outside the waistband. It's much more comfortable and is more easily adjusted. Either way you go I would recommend a high quality holster for your firearm and magazine. I have had great experience with Galco Holsters. I've attached a picture of what their IWB mag pouch looks like. As for a gun holster I would seriously look at their summer special for IWB and a combat master holster for outside the waistband. The pancake style conforms to your hip and rides much more comfortably. As for concealment method, I normally use an untucked hawaiian shirt. Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[m91196]

This is IWB via Sparks

 

[kage genin]

Thanks for the replies and recommendations! Has anyone seen any IWB magazine holders in Kydex? Thoughts on Kydex as a material for holsters, both for magazine and for gun?

 

[Darth Muffin]

I use a safariland horizontal OWB mag holster.

http://www.holsters.com/concealment/accessories/model123.asp

It's really comfy, quick draw, and conceals very well with any untucked shirt. Even unconcealed, I doubt it would attract any attention.

 

[MikeIsaj]

I carry my P220 in a Galco retention holster and the magazine goes in my left pocket. Nothing else goes in that pocket. You don't want to fumble around or try to reload with your car keys.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

You could order a kydex IWB mag pouch from a custom place. I'm not sure what they charge for a mag pouch but I had a custom leather holster made IWB for a Taurus 617 and they only charged me fifty dollars. Very reasonable for a custom holster. You should check them out at:

http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/Default.htm

Their business is called Fist, Inc. They are out of New York. If you don't see what you're looking for on their site, you can email them with your custom requests and they will give you a quote up front. They are great people to deal with and their customer service is awesome! I had my custom holster within a couple of weeks. Check them out.

 

[enfield]

If I'm not using a belt mag carrier, I put a spare mag in my weak side rear pocket. Rear pockets are the only ones I can reach with both my weak side and strong side hands. Try a one-handed reloading drill with the mag in the wrong front pocket and you'll see what I mean.

I still don't have a good solution for carrying speed loaders in pockets. You don't want to sit on one of those things, and they're kind of obvious in a rear pocket.

 

[another okie]

Snubbie spares: either in a leather Galco belt pouch or in a plastic Ammo Wallet from MTM, which I carry in my pocket.

Glock 26 spare:
1.in my pocket in a knife pouch with the top cut off, bullets down. This protects the ammo from lint and draw equally; or
2. horizontal belt pouch from Blackie Collins that completely covers the mag and looks like a knife or cell phone.

If you are carrying on the belt with a cover garment you need to be able to pull back the garment on one side to reach your keys, wallet, etc. without exposing anything that looks gun related, so the typical police officer or competiton shooter carry on the weak side doesn't really work very well for most CCWs, though some determined types can carry it off, and I've done it for short periods of time.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I use an OWB leather mag holder. If you prefer kydex check out http://www.blade-tech.com/home.php?cat=286

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I use the twin mag pouch from..
http://www.comp-tac.com/

It's been good to me. Kydex, owb. Good renention, and it's adjustable. Nothin' special, but functional.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

For pocket carry, I have found it quite convenient to simply stitch a section of the pocket to hold the magazine. I can decide where position is most convenient and most comfortable depending on where it is stitched. I find it better to stitch it higher up in really deep front pockets. That still allows the pocket to be used, and the mag stays separate for other items that sink down in the pocket.

It is not a perfect system as I have had to reinforce a couple of pockets with a bit of denim, but it is a custom job that suits my needs quite well. I especially like the fact that I get to determine where in the pocket it rides and how high or low.

Oh, and the cost is pennies, but you invest the time in doing the stitching.

 

[BullfrogKen]

For pocket carry, I have found it quite convenient to simply stitch a section of the pocket to hold the magazine.

What an awesome idea. Never thought of it, and I use my sewing machine quite a bit...

IWB mag carriers are really uncomfortable after a long day. Maybe for someone who carries evenings and weekends it might be ok, but after several 12 - 16 hour days, I'd be downright HATING that thing digging into me. Mags are slim and don't spread out the compressed pressure of a cinched belt over a wider are, like a hangun holster.

Desantis makes some inexpensive pocket magazine carries. If you need to be so discreet as to obscure the magazine from view, this is a more comfortable alternative. And it will ensure the top of the magazine and the rounds are pointed in the same direction each time its grasped.

Sparks S-4C carries the magazine high on the belt, almost so that the bottom of the pouch is in line with the belt. They accomplish it by folding the loop under the belt and attaching it at the top of the pouch. Its quite secure.

If you are carrying on the belt with a cover garment you need to be able to pull back the garment on one side to reach your keys, wallet, etc. without exposing anything that looks gun related, so the typical police officer or competiton shooter carry on the weak side doesn't really work very well for most CCWs

I've managed fine. Learn to reach around, up, and underneath for retrieving items from the pockets on a pair of slacks rather than sweep the garment back.

 

[tegemu]

As BullfrogKen mentioned the magazines can be VERY uncomfortable. They are smaller and bite into your side easily. I find that IWB is the worst way to carry, it is closest to the body. A slanted forward OWB is far preferable and much less likely to bite. It also provides easier access. OWB is not that hard to conceal, a bloused shirt will cover most, if not all, of the magazine and in any case, most people seeing it won't recognize it but rather think it is some sort of pager or knife. Brommeland holsters makes a nice one and I have seen some others.

 

[Mute]

YMMV but I can't comfortably carry more than one spare mag IWB.

 

[Dirty Bob]

I used an old Schrade knife pouch. I moved the snap down, so the flap is lower. The Makarov mag I carry is very well hidden, yet I can wear the pouch in plain sight. Check gun shows for old (or new) knife, cellphone or multitool pouches.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[kage genin]

Desantis makes some inexpensive pocket magazine carries. If you need to be so discreet as to obscure the magazine from view, this is a more comfortable alternative. And it will ensure the top of the magazine and the rounds are pointed in the same direction each time its grasped.

I looked up the Desantis inside-the-pocket mag carrier and it looks quite interesting. That and Double Naught Spy's tailoring tip makes me reconsider looking for an IWB magazine carry solution. I'll likely be wearing business attire (ie suit & tie) at work when (if) I get my CCW, so unfortunately OWB carry isn't going to be a viable option for me.

Any opinions on carrying in an ankle holster? I have a Glock 30 and I've seen ankle holsters for it by Fobus, but it just looks like it'll be a bothersome setup as the Glock 30 loaded with a double-stack mag of .45 isn't exactly slim or lightweight for a subcompact handgun. I could see it both printing and wiggling it's way down on top of my shoe, not to mention making me walk funny.

 

[beachjumper]

I use my Buck knife pouch. Perfect for a single stack 9mm-.45. It has "100 years Buck knives 1902-2002" printed on it. I keep the Buck in my tool box. It loops through your belt and snaps closed; very secure The pouch came with the knife Everyone in Florida carries a Buck. I have a Kershaw clipped to the inside of my pocket if I ever need a knife.
Joe

 

[SheepDog68]

On the waist pancake strong side with double mag carrier weak side. Invest in quality you will not be sorry.

 

[dairycreek]

Thanks for the replies and recommendations! Has anyone seen any IWB magazine holders in Kydex? Thoughts on Kydex as a material for holsters, both for magazine and for gun?

Yes, you can get them made at FIST. Give them a call and tell them what you want.

I think Kydex is a great material for magazine and gun holding. Again, FIST makes ultra thin kydex stuff that is really easy to wear and conceal.

 

[Inline_6]

I use the Mitch Rosen SOS (one mag, one light). I found IWB mags with IWB gun is way too uncomfortable.

http://www.mitchrosen.com/product_line/accessories/body_accessories.html

 

[kage genin]

Yes, you can get them made at FIST. Give them a call and tell them what you want.

I think Kydex is a great material for magazine and gun holding. Again, FIST makes ultra thin kydex stuff that is really easy to wear and conceal.

That's the second FIST recommendation for IWB mag holsters, I think I'll be checking them out. Thanks, dairycreek and Taurus 617 CCW.

I'll look at Comp-tac as well, as I have a CTAC I plan to carry my G-30 in and am pretty satisfied with it.