Let's be honest for a bit...

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Captain Jonathan Davis, a US Army veteran, expended two revolvers, and cut down four remaining attackers (who were also out of ammo and charged him with blades) with a knife. Approached by yet three more men, he drew a third unfired revolver from the body of a friend who had been killed by his attackers. Fortunately, the three newcomers were coming to help, and Davis didn't need the third gun.

Okay, he was a Civil War veteran, and this occurred 150+ year ago, but, hey...
 
I carry an extra magazine for a lot of the same reasons others mentioned. I've always carried a lot of junk on my belt (multitools, flashlight, large knives) even before I got my HCP. At this point I feel extremely out of place if my belt isn't loaded up so I actually find it more comfortable to carry a spare than not, No one has ever said "I wish I would have had a few less rounds when that mugger attacked", and malfunctions happen in the real world.

"Why do you carry a spare?" The better question is "why not?"
 
It's like highway speeds - faster than me=reckless, slower than me=idiot.

For my primary carry gun, a 10-rd G30 (.45acp), I carry 10 in the gun and a spare mag if convenient. If I'm on the Harley, I wear a shoulder holster with two spare mags. If I'm driving, I'll have at least two and sometimes as many as nine spare mags.

Do I expect to ever need 100 rounds of 45 to end a threat? No - but if threats were predictable, I'd just avoid them.

Back in my LEO days, I carried a 1911 and four spare mags - and usually one or two BUGs.
 
As a LEO, my needs are slightly different, but even with my negative comments regarding the "tactards", reloads are necessary for everyone. Those carrying semi auto's (especially the 1911 crowd), magazines are a common source of failure, and a spare is an essential. Those with the 5 shot revolver also need to understand the growing trend of multiple aggressors with high capacity weapons. For me, I carry 2 reloads for anything I carry, including my old SA.;)

LD
 
Habit

I was LEO and D/T trainer as well as firearms.

I ALWAYS trained for the worst scenario.

I do so now also,the worst case I can envision is a "Mumbai" attack [ if not familiar,look it up ].

I doubt I could run away,and if that was possible then I still have my wife to leave behind [ NOT going to happen ].

So my option [ tell me if I missed one ] is to shoot to stop the threat.

I have NO idea how many rounds that will take.

But I taught all my students to SHOOT TILL THE THREAT ENDS.

I honestly have no idea how many rounds that will entail.

If you already know you will be done in a cylinder/magazine full - gooonyamate.

I am pretty sure I am not that lucky or good,so I prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

THE worst sound in a gunfight is CLICK.

Unless its the perps gun,then its a great sound.

I carry a Glock 23 [ 99 % ] and also at least one higher cap spare mag.,Also a BUG with a reload for that too.

The BUG can be one [ or 2 ] of many guns,lightest is a LCP.

But very likely to be a S&W 360 or a Kimber solo all with a reload.

After 26 years of wearing 30 pounds of gear daily - this is a light load.

And of course a STURDY blade and a real light.
 
Just something I've noticed among gun carrying folks...

Their own level of preparation is perfect.
Anyone less prepared is a naive idiot.
Anyone more prepared is paranoid.
 
Most days i'm comfortable wearing my Blackhawk .45 in a shoulder rig, with 12 reloads in loops on the other side. A fast reload is not in my future on those days, but I don't make a habit of walking through the parks at 2 am.

When wearing the M&P, I do have a 2 mag pouch that I can wear on the other side, but it's not particularly comfortable, and I'm more likely to be found simply wearing the Blackhawk as a Primary, with the M&P as my Backup.

Understand, it's not because of any particular fear that I'll be dropped into a Hollywood-style extended gunfight, but the weights of the 2 pistols balance each other out quite comfortably.

As mentioned earlier, it IS nice having that second gun there, In the unlikely event of the absolute worst case scenario, I can shield my wife while she draws the M&P.

Finally, Murphy's Law seems to love me, it's better to make your own luck rather than trust blindly that everything will be OK.
 
There is the argument that it's easier to deploy a 2nd firearm than it is to clear a serious malfuction, and if you have a breakage - no drill is going to fix it.
 
As one old time lawman said, "I ain't never heard a feller that was in a gun fight complainin' about havin' too much ammo with him.":cool:
 
If you are going by the odds, there is a case that can be made that you don't need to carry a gun at all, defensive gun use are comparatively rare. If you carry, 90+% of all defensive gun use doesn't require firing a shot, so the odds say you don't need a loaded gun.
A favorite saying is,"It's not the odds, it's the consequences". I carry a significant caliber pistol with extra magazines and sometimes a bug. Am I a paranoid? Maybe, but if I don't need the extras none is inconvenienced but me. If the rare event happens, I won't feel like all the times it didn't happen to be wasted. The route to work is through an area that would be prone to riots in the event of a disaster (pick your favorite scenario). In that case I might still be under gunned.
Everyone has to make there own personal assessment of how prepared for all of life's setbacks they wish to be. I bet there's a lot of people in New Jersey and New York who don't find Doomsday Preppers such a laugh riot anymore.
 
I rarely carry extra ammo when carrying concealed. I always carry extra ammo on a duty belt.

So, no it's not necessary and yes it is.

When carrying concealed I have a tactical advantage in regards to when and if I use the firearm. On the other hand, when on duty I have an obligation and may even be searching out danger.
 
I respect everyones own reasons to carry what they want to. The way I see it is that it could be harmful to me to carry extra mags. I read a lot about how it is dangerous to carry reloads or handloads because of the evil procesuctor making you out to be a gun nut "making their own ammo". Well on the same note, if I ever have to use my gun in real life I rather not have to explain to anyone why I had 36 extra rounds on me. If the press got a hold of that it could surely be spun that you are just looking for a reason to shoot someone, after all why would anyone carry 40 rounds on them unless they were a blood thirsty nutjob (I don't personally feel that way but could easily see the media or prosecutor spinning it)
 
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Always the question of why I need this or that or why do you do this or that. I have and own numerous firearms, I carry extra magizines, and sometimes I even carry two handguns. and you ask WHY? I do so because I CAN..... I need no other reason other than that.
I believe in the old saying "Tis better to have it and not need it, that to need it and not have it."
 
Do you keep a spare tire in your vehicle? How many times have you had to use that?

Do you have life insurance? How many times have you used that?

Would you rather fly a single engine airplane from Miami to the Bahamas or a twin engine airplane?

Would you rather take a single engine motorboat across Lake Michigan or a twin engine boat?

Two Is One, One Is None.
 
Not only do I carry a spare in case of a malfunction, but I'd hate to be out of ammo, and thus unarmed after I unloaded a mag (or even less) into a BG, waiting for police to show.
 
I would propose that if you end up in any incident where you would actually need to use 3 mags, you've either put yourself in a bad situation and you probably won't make it out unharmed/alive...or you're a terrible shot and probably shouldn't be carrying (hypothetical "you", not directed at anyone).

My primary driver is a Chevrolet HD2500 Extended Cab 4x4 with 6.0 liter engine (large, big caliber gun). In addition I have a large steel heavy duty front bumper with a bush guard (extra mags). Since it is a large heavy vehicle it is difficult to find close parking spaces and it gets lower gas mileage (heavy to carry and conceal). The tradeoff is I feel I have a better chance of surviving a accident when in this truck (firearm).

You argue if I was more careful where I chose to drive (in a bad situation) or was a better driver (terrible shot) I would not need a big truck (firearm) with it’s big front bumper (extra mags).

Since you don’t drive in the same areas I do and you believe you are a better driver than I am you have made the choice to drive a smaller, more fuel efficient car (smaller, lighter weight gun). With safety improvements such as airbags (premium ammo) you feel your chances of surviving a accident are the same as me in my big truck.

Until we are both in similar accidents there isn’t anyway to know who will come out on top is there? But which vehicle would you really want to be in in the event of a accident?
 
BSA1 hit it! Carry what you want. I will carry what I want; 1911 .45, spare mags, BUG in truck, more spares. Spare tire, flashlights, batteries, water and tools. Emergency food, clothing and first aid. In case of emergency!
Not in case of paranoia!
 
I don't carry a semi-auto but i agree a spare mag is a very good idea in case of a jam or failure.

I carry a 5 round revolver so I also carry a speedloader. If I ever need to use my revolver in a SD situation I want to have a reload so I have a fully loaded revolver on the way home. ;)
 
Most have mentioned it already. The primary function of a spare mag is to clear a malfunction as fast as possible. Secondary function is more ammo on tap.

I've been in a scrape or two and know several people who walked away from gunfights. Nobody has yet reported a desire for a smaller gun or less ammo.
 
Downside is the extra size and weight. It's easier to conceal a spare mag or even two than it is to conceal a second gun.
Click to expand...
Well ... a fully loaded Glock 19 magazine weighs 9 ounces. A fully loaded Kel-Tec P32 weighs 9.4 ounces. That's the whole gun -- not just the magazine. Of course, most people would rather have 15 rounds of 9mm than 8 rounds of .32 ACP. But there's also something to be said for having another gun.
 
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