Spare Handgun Ammunition

[TwitchALot]

You left out the option of carrying two loaded handguns and no spare mag. It's faster to draw a second gun than to reload.

I don't know about you, but I can do an emergency reload faster than I can draw a second gun and put it in the same position, especially if that second gun is somewhere harder to reach.

ou rack to lock back slide if possible/strip magazine/rack to clear/insert new mag (whoops you don't have one, sorry you cannot have mine) rack to load/and in my case I would then re-engage. You who choose not to carry spare ammo, what would you do, throw your gun at the guy? You see 15 plus 1 does not do a thing if the mag causes the pistol to jam.

While I agree with this sentiment and the "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" idea, it is completely possible to proficiently retain the magazine (if that's the only one you've got) while clearing a Type III or something that requires you to strip the mag. It's a little slower (and I mean little), but it's not a hopeless situation.

 

[2Lman]

I will be carrying at least one spare as soon as the new magazine comes in from Kel-Tec. That will get me up to the 15 rounds that most of you guys with the high capacity mags have.

 

[mercop]

Can't think of any reason why you would not carry a spare reload and a light.

 

[hankdatank1362]

At least one reload (17 rds) when I carry 9mm, at least two (8 rds ea.) when I carry 1911.

I've even sometimes carry my 9mm with 17+1 IWB and two 17 rnd spare mags OWB weak side, with a .38 snubby SOB and a speedstrip or two in my back left pocket. I like feeling ready for SHTF at a moment's notice, but I feel like a mall ninja at the same time.

 

[mercop]

When you need spare ammo you need it very badly.

 

[Intrepid Dad]

I carry two extra magazines of 12 rounds each for my Springfield XD40.

 

[dralarms]

I always carry 2 extra reloads, but after watching an episode of cops last night I worry about the "perceived" intent.

Story was this CCw permit holder was stopped due to a front tag being missing, one thing led to another and it turns out he was delivering a scripted drug for someone else (clearly a felony since he didn't have a script in his name).

The problem is 1 nut like this can mess up things for the rest of us, and he was carrying 2 extra loaded mags for his (well now it belongs to the state, along with his car) firearm.
It's a messed up situation since he was supposedly doing a "favor for a friend", seems like his friend had a script for the painkiller but he "needed" more so another friend was giving them to him but this guy was transporting them. Sounds to me like this guy was either stupid and didn't need to have a CCW, or was a drug dealer and didn't need a CCW. Either way he is their problem now.

 

[mercop]

Totality of circumstances. Any cop could look at that guy and know he was dirty. He should never had a CCW. If that gun and mags had been on his hip and he did not look like pill freak things would have gone different, so much so that you would never have seen it on TV IMHO.

 

[Super Trucker]

I always carry a revolver usually with no reloads, sometimes a speed strip but not usually. If I carry a semi auto I carry one spare mag, just in case of a malfunction to the mag.

 

[GRB]

I can say I am surprised by the percentage of people who carry a firearm, but who do not carry spare ammo in today's day and age.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

[KrankyKraut]

I don't carry. I live in California.

 

[Byron Quick]

I carry at least two spare magazines on my hip. I usually have other weapons int eh vehicles with spare magazines for all...usually more than two.

 

[kbellis3]

I usually carry at least two spare magazines on me and a spare gun and magazines in the truck. In the future I will have a better setup, one that includes a BUG on me person that uses the same mags as my first line gun.

As for people that say they only need one mag or their in more trouble than they can handle, MINDSET is the key, if you think that are 5,6,or 17 rounds and it over you have set yourself up to fail.

After 5,6, or 17 rounds are gone and the fight is still coming at you what is you plan, ask for a timeout or a do-over???????

FYI Type 3 Failures are a stone-bitch to clear, and in a gun fight "fingers turn to flippers" (thank Tactical Response Instructor Allen Webb for that one) and you will drop your mag (Murphy's Law), 2 spares on the belt make life longer.

PS Spare ammo is cheap and carry it is much easier and painless than die for not having it.

Kyle-3

 

[Biker]

Been in a lot of gunfights, Kyle? You seem to speak with some authority.

Biker

 

[Kevin108]

G26 - 11 rounds to start with. In summertime I carry an additional G26 mag but with cold weather coming and more clothing being an option I plan to carry a G17 mag.

 

[glockman19]

I will carry either one gun and a reload or 2 guns and no reload. regular carry is either a Glock 26 10+1 and a S&W 642/442 5 shot. The 642/442 and a reload. The Glock 26 and a reload. So at least I have 10 shots and a most 21. If that 's not enough I'm SOOL

 

[mekender]

when you think about high stress situations, more ammo is always a plus...

in the 1974 SLA shootout in LA, over 400 police and 6-7 BGs fired over 9,000 rounds at eachother, only the BGs were hit fatally and even then, most died from the resulting fire, not from the gunshots...

the 3,772 rounds fired by the BGs didnt hit any cops or bystanders....

and some of you guys here think that your 15+1 is enough?

 

[seeker_two]

the 3,772 rounds fired by the BGs didnt hit any cops or bystanders....

That's 251 loaded 15-rd. magazines and some loose ammo.......

I don't think even a Wilderness Tactical belt could hold that many pouches and still keep your pants up.....

How many times are you planning to miss?.....

 

[kbellis3]

Biker, I have never been shot at and hope to never be shot at. I do try to learn from other people experience and avoid making some of the mistakes that other people have.

For what it is worth, my ammo lesson ammo came from a former railroad police officer. He related to my father that there is nothing like being in gun fight and realizing that you are halfway through your last magazine and the bullets are still flying.

K-3

 

[kbellis3]

I pulled the mag from G-17 last night and was empting the mag so I could load some snap cap for dry firing practice. When I found out the mag was jamming on the third or fourth bullet, tip up. If I had needed my gun in an emergency and did not have spare ammo I would have been in a world of hurt.

K-3

 

[gyp_c2]

uhhhh...

I can say I am surprised by the percentage of people who carry a firearm, but who do not carry spare ammo in today's day and age.

...boy ain't that the truth...
...just two...'cause six would make me walk funny...

 

[PressCheck]

Magazines Break.

 

[jungleroy]

I find that having two spare magazines carried on the opposite side from my sidearm helps balance the load.

 

[CZ223]

Right now

I carry a Glock 23 with one extra mag, either a 13 rounder or 15 rounder made for the 22. As soon as I get another single mag pouch like the one I have or a double I will carry 2 just because I can with no real added difficulty. It is unlikey that I will need a reload or, for that matter, ever need to use my firearm. If, however, a reload is required for whatever reason, the possibility of fumbling a mag during a reload is a real poosiblityso it would be nice to have the second just in case.