How many spare mags for CCW

[Byron Quick]

I think it is enough for 99.999% of the situations I may encounter in my daily life.

Ah, the low, low probability argument! My friend, remember that you will run into 100% of the situations involved in your daily life. That 0.001% event can be darned rough and ready.

Twice in my life I've been on the short end of 3000 to 1 odds. Pretty good odds, granted, but it can be rather interesting when you find out you're not 3000, you're 1. BTDT.

 

[Claude Clay]

my BUG is my spare mag.

 

[Aaryq]

Backups are good. I carry 2 spare mags for my PA-63. I'm confident I can stop a BG in one magazine and I'm confident that my gun will go bang every time. Just in case of either one of my confidences failing (see murphy's law) I carry 2 mags of 7 plus the 7+1 in my little FEG.

 

[Big Boomer]

All day everyday, for my 1911's:

1 8rd, 2 10rd 45acp

if I'm going into a shady area:

1911
3 8rd, 2 10rd

sp101 backup
2 5rd speedloaders
8 6rd speedstrips
2 second six's

If I happen to be passing through possible gang territory...rare but then I just get silly...

1911
3 8rd, 2 10rd

sp101 backup
2 5rd speedloaders
8 6rd speedstrips
2 second six's

XD-45 (second main)
6 13rd mags

NAA 22mag (last ditch gun)
5rd in holster pocket

Yes it's heavy, yes it's concealable, yes I do look a bit "lumpy" as my wife calls it. Went to a known gang mall. Walked right past everyone including many uniformed officers not even a blink.

Why? Because I live in Texas and I CAN.


I don't know how much ammo that is but it's [ ] a lot. I always wondered what would happen should I have to show my CHL and the officer asks where my gun was

If someone wants to do the math let me know

 

[Bobarino]

i carry just one spare mag stoked with 11 rounds. i haven't had any mag related failures that lead me to me want to carry a spare for that reason, but i like it because it help balance out my carry rig. i have 2 lbs on my right hip and even a loaded mag on the left helps me feel less lopsided. i practice doing reloads with it from the mag holder but i really doubt i'll ever need it. still, its nice to know its there, just in case.

Bobby

 

[Kentucky-roughrider]

B.D.
I carry the same gun, but two spare mag. and I live in a low crime zone.

 

[Leanwolf]

CTDONATH, thanks for the information as to how that incident went down. Always interesting to know what happens in civilian situations when bag guys attack a good guy... and the good guy wins.

L.W.

 

[Deadmanwalking_05]

18 Rounds of 38 spl (Six in the model 12) 2 speed loaders.

If that isn't enough then I'll have to get close (Ka-Bar full length)

 

[Zedo]

Carrying two extra magazines is just plain smart, especially considering you have a single stack .45. Three magazines is pretty much standard for both the military and law enforcement, one in the weapon and two in a magazine pouch.

And in reality, you're neither military nor law enforcement. If you can't stop the attack with the ammo in a 45 cal. 1911, you need to move to a new neighborhood.

"Don't go places with a gun where you wouldn't go unarmed." -- advice from the defense coach.

 

[msb45]

4

I carry 4 8 rounders for my 1911 and a back up 1911 for a total of 50 rounds.

When I carried a glock 22 and back-up 27 it was three for a round count of 63.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I don't carry reloads while CCWing. I carry 2 reloads whilst on duty.

I carry 4 8 rounders for my 1911 and a back up 1911 for a total of 50 rounds.

I gotta ask. Why? 4 spare mags and a backup gun? Os this for something special, or just everyday CCW? Do you have wallet, leys, cell phone, folding knife, any of that other stuff with you? Cause to me, even one reload with all that other stuff makes me feel like I've got a bat-belt on just to go to the grocery store.

 

[MadMercS55]

One spare mag on me minimum. I now carry a Maxpedition Fatboy and have 3 more mags in that, for a total of 4 spares. Other times, I'll carry 2 spares on me, all depends on what and where I'm going, and the weather. Normally I like around 50-60rnds on hand pending the weapon platform. When I was a Police Officer, I carried a P220 with 8rnds in the weapon and 4 7rnd mags spare. Plus a backup gun. The last time I carried my P220 I had 2 reloads on me and 4 more in my bag. I drive around 2500 miles a week for work purposes and am often out in very rural areas, hate the idea of running out of ammo. if the worst would happen.

 

[tinygnat219]

I carry 1 spare magazine.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

i might carry 1 mag , (sometimes) but there is always 1-3 HIGH CAP extra mags in the truck at all times.

 

[Headless]

Rule of thumb:

you should have 4 mags for every pistol.

3 of them should be loaded at all times. Every month, rotate the unloaded one, so that every mag gets a month off once every 4th month. Number your mags so you know which one is next for it's month off. Doing this makes the mag springs last longer. Also, when your mags are numbered, you can keep track of failures and see if one particular mag is causing all the problems. If so, Replace it with a new one. And don't give the new one the same number as the one you remove from the rotation. For instance, if you throw out #4, it's replacement should be labeled #4A, #4*, or #4', or some such.

Unloading/reloading quality mags would wear on them more than leaving them loaded. Case in point, i have 3 magazines for a S&W 659 that have been loaded fully for 20 years. Then, 20+ thousand rounds of ammo were shot through those 3 mags. Never a failure to feed rounds. Unless you have a magazine spring being bent way out of spec (usually this is only an issue with super small pocket pistols that try and cram every last round into the mag), having it loaded will not hurt it's lifespan.

Great 3913LS picture, BenEzra I love my 3913LS. One of these days i'm going to actually get around to buying a holster for it so I can carry it
What do you carry it in?

 

[Maelstrom]

My belt stays pretty well loaded but not all of it is ammo.

Full size Kimber on my right hip, usually a multitool in front of that. Spare mag on my left hip, cell phone in front of that.

I often carry a fixed blade also, usually on my left hip, but I do have a CRKT First Strike which I sometimes carry horizontal at the small of my back.

 

[308win]

BDTurner - Unless you are settled on a leather magazine wallet, you can get surplus two magazine pouches made of stiff canvas with snap closures from surplus stores. These work very well for pocket carry if your pockets are large enough and you can remove the D clips if present. They protect the magazines and keep them oriented correctly. The last ones I bought were less than $3 each but the prices on original surplus stuff are really going up and some things are getting hard to find.

 

[moooose102]

well, i just carry one. i am not all that likely to get into trouble. and if i do, i certainly hope i can, if nothing else, escape before two clips full of ammo has been expended.

 

[ZeSpectre]

What is the prosecutor going to convince the jury about how many rounds you were carrying??

A prosecuting attorney will find SOMETHING to go after you for no matter what.

I read 53 rounds!! That's not defensive, that's offensive. Expect to hear Rambo stories if you ever have to use your firearm while carrying 53 rounds.

Yeah, and if you had 200 rounds at home you have a "huge cache of ammo" etc. etc.

In the end "have and not need" probably trumps "dead and buried" regardless of the hassles afterward.

Another anecdotal story:
High stress training class, rookie (actually NOT me this time) has a double feed stoppage and gets flustered such that he drops the mag on the ground after he pulled it out of the gun (SIG 229) during the clearing drill.

Grabs second mag from belt and somehow bumps it such that most of the rounds eject from the magazine before he can stuff it in the gun.

Runs what is left in that mag and goes for third (and final) magazine, fumbles that as well, when it hits the ground it lands striking the butt plate right on the edge of the concrete pad and the magazine bursts open tossing parts and rounds all over the place.

Rookie has enough presence of mind to drop to one knee and retrieve the very first mag, dust it off quickly, and jam it in the gun to finish the series.

Total rounds carried on person - 36
Total rounds actually fired - 13 (equal to one full mag plus one. In other words his starting load.)

yeah I carry at least one spare most of the time.

 

[VHinch]

1 spare, primarily for malfunction clearance, but as others have suggested, it does help balance me out as well.

 

[Headless]

I love reading those anecdotal stories, spectre They are a great way to keep in mind that nothing EVER goes right when you need it to...

 

[ZeSpectre]

Thanks, and for better or for worse, I have a million of 'em.

 

[msb45]

Why 4

Some reasons that I carry 4:

1) idiots in gangs with multiple threats, once in NW Indiana I got cornered in traffic with a revolver and a lot less ammo, never again, they had their chuckles and moved on with only some words

2) overweight middle aged person that I am, carrying the extra weight is a poor man's workout

3) When I was a disarmed citizen in Chicago I got caught in a shootout (walking my dog in front of my house). I snugged into the gutter against a car tire. I prayed the agressor BG wouldn't come around the car and blow my brains out.

I know it's seems alot, but I look at life this way. If the third times a charm I not gonna leave it to luck. I have a wife and a kid. Dad's coming home. I believe in God (see 3), but God helps those who help themselves.

 

[Kurt S.]

I CCW 'mouseguns' mostly.

I carry one extra mag when CCW'ing my NAA .32 Guardian or my Keltec P3AT. If carrying a J-frame I usually have 2 speedloaders, but one is loaded with snakeshot; and it is pretty hard to use on the Taurus Ultralight or the S&W Mod 36. Easier with the S&W mod 60 .357. I just carry the snakeshot for critters and such.

 

[innerpiece]

with the Kahr CW9 I carry 1 spare, as its a 7+1.

If I carry the Taurus PT111 MilPro, I dont usually carry an extra, as I have a 12+1... sometimes Ill throw an extra 10rd mag in the pouch mext to the Taclight, replacing the spot for my Multitool..
I have 2 10rd mags, and a 12, for the Taurus.. but have come to not like so much weight.
So Im usually with the Kahr, spare mag, taclight and knife.

I wouldnt feel comfy with less than a dozen rds on my person. but thats just me.