View Full Version : How many back up Mags?
Sorry if this has been covered I don't do well with searches. I got a G19 15rd mag with 1 back up mag holder. So that's 30rds incase, is that enough? I've heard stories where plenty of back up mags would be a good choice. Just want to know what every1 carries for back up mags and is 1 in the gun and 1 on the hip a good number? I know a lot of guys will say 5 or something lol the more the merrier!
[AR15][M2]
Colorado Osprey
06-02-2010, 07:33
In my high cap CCW's I only carry the loaded mag in the gun.
In my low cap guns I keep at 1 reload. For the auto's thats a mag for the revolvers that is a speedloader.
After law enforcement training I still consider a handgun just a gun to fight yor way back to your long gun. If I need more ammo than that, you are too far away from your long gun.
After law enforcement training I still consider a handgun just a gun to fight yor way back to your long gun.
Yeah that sounds pretty manly and all but by the time you make your way to your rifle the fights over.
I always keep a spare mag on me as most of the troubles I've ran into were mag related.
Rgr, I believe "standard practice" in CCW is two: one in teh gun, and one backup.
I belive "standard practice" in LE is "ussually" three: one in the gun, two on hip.
"Standard practice" in military is not standard... just depends on how you set up your vest. Easy to say that most of the ones I've seen have at least 5 mags: one in the gun, 4 on vest.
"Standard practice" on the range: the more the merrier! HAHA. (Less reloading time)
Glock Shooter
06-02-2010, 09:38
remember you can always use a Glock 17 magazine as your 2nd with the new sleeve (http://glockstore.com/pgroup_descrip/3_Factory+Magazines+%26amp%3B+Extensions/6759_Magazine+Sleeve+for+Glock/?mode=image) for your 19 or 26.
A spare full size mag on the hip should serve you well enough for any mag related problems in addition having more ammo, regardless of initial capacity. I also have 1 or 2 more loaded in my vehicle in the door pocket for bad days and the go bag behind the seat for worse days. I don't think that 5 mags on the hip will do you any good because its difficult to conceal and why would you go somewhwere that requires 5 mags (unless it's your job/range/match/etc...)?
glock56534
06-02-2010, 10:12
remember you can always use a Glock 17 magazine as your 2nd with the new sleeve (http://glockstore.com/pgroup_descrip/3_Factory+Magazines+%26amp%3B+Extensions/6759_Magazine+Sleeve+for+Glock/?mode=image) for your 19 or 26.
ADawg38, carrying a spare G17 mag with a +2 base is your best bet. Toss it in your back pocket or on your pistol belt and you're good to go with 19 extra rounds.
Just make sure you do yourself at least one favor: stick with factory Glock mags. DO NOT get the Korean (KCI) mags, as they are known for having feeding and reliability issues.
I just carry the gun and try to stay out of trouble. I don't carry with the hopes that I'll stop a bunch of pros from a bank heist.
I carry one spare, mostly to cover a possible malfunction. It seems to me from an informal survey of armed encounters that the likelihood of needing to reload is pretty low, and reloading more than once even lower.
I just carry the gun and try to stay out of trouble. I don't carry with the hopes that I'll stop a bunch of pros from a bank heist.
Big +1
I carry one spare, mostly to cover a possible malfunction. It seems to me from an informal survey of armed encounters that the likelihood of needing to reload is pretty low, and reloading more than once even lower.
Always needs repeating. The chances that a non-mil firefight lasts more than say 10 seconds is neglible. One mag should do you. One for backup if you need it.
glock56534
06-02-2010, 12:08
I just carry the gun and try to stay out of trouble. I don't carry with the hopes that I'll stop a bunch of pros from a bank heist.
Avoiding conflict is always #1 priority. However, you can't control the minds of others who wish to do harm.
Running out of ammo in your primary magazine is only one factor to consider. What will you do if you have a malfunction? Also, you don't need to run out of ammo in your primary mag to warrant a mag change. A full mag is always better than a half-full mag.
There are MANY benefits of carrying an extra mag (of whatever size), with little to no drawbacks.
I don't have anywhere to adequately carry a second mag is the #1 reason I don't carry a second one.
glock56534
06-02-2010, 13:53
I don't have anywhere to adequately carry a second mag is the #1 reason I don't carry a second one.
I don't know your exact circumstances, so my response may not be practical as it applies to you. But, it isn't very burdensome or difficult to carry one in a mag pouch on your belt or slide it in your back pocket (as I said before) or any pocket you choose.
No offense, but I don't think your #1 reason for not carrying a second mag is because you don't have anywhere to adequately carry it. There are TONS of adequate places you can carry a second mag; to name a few: on the belt, IWB, in any pocket, ankle holster, or inside a bag. Maybe you are sacrificing some comfort, bulk, or convenience, but location isn't the issue. But, I don't know your particular situation, so who knows.
I don't have anywhere to adequately carry a second mag is the #1 reason I don't carry a second one.
Cheese/sarcasm factor: Is that a "clip" in your pocket or are you happy to see me?!
[ROFL1][Beer]
I'll give it a shot, just for you.
glock56534
06-02-2010, 14:40
Cheese/sarcasm factor: Is that a "clip" in your pocket or are you happy to see me?!
[ROFL1][Beer]
Maybe a little bit of both!
I'll give it a shot, just for you.
How considerate of you! I really appreciate you going through the trouble just for me ;).
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, right?
what is worse: being in a gunfight without a gun or with a gun and no more bullets?
Doesn't matter.. I can dodge headshots with "l33t skillz"!!
In all seriousness. One in the gun, and one backup is pretty logical. Throw the extra one in a pocket, sock, etc. You don't have to have a "dedicated system" to hold it. Use a rubber band if you have too, lol.
glock56534
06-02-2010, 16:20
what is worse: being in a gunfight without a gun or with a gun and no more bullets?
I'd rather have a gun with no more ammo than nothing at all.
In all seriousness. One in the gun, and one backup is pretty logical. Throw the extra one in a pocket, sock, etc. You don't have to have a "dedicated system" to hold it. Use a rubber band if you have too, lol.
Exactly, you can keep the thing almost anywhere as long as you can reasonably get to it when you need it. Even inside a backpack or man-purse will work, if that's what you have.
Inside a sock? Let's get real guys. I'm not going to walk around with a half pound of metal banging my ankle all day. Perhaps my reluctance is that I have a double stack mag and it is more heavy and bulky than my large, bulky cell phone. Not mention that all my pants that used to fit just right, I can barely put on around my gun anymore.
Colorado Osprey
06-02-2010, 16:51
Yeah that sounds pretty manly and all but by the time you make your way to your rifle the fights over.
I always keep a spare mag on me as most of the troubles I've ran into were mag related.
True, but view of CCW is to protect (defend) yourself not engage in a battle.
It sounds like some of you are planning to be in a battle with your CCW's.
My CCW is to get me away from a fight, not into one.
SA Friday
06-02-2010, 18:21
Two is one; one is none. Old SOF saying. Shit breaks, mags jam.
You don't need the sleeve to get the G17 mag to work in the G19 or a G26. It just extends the grip when inserted.
There are a couple of companies making decent kydex mag pouches that work really well: Kytac, Comp-Tac, SKDTAC, Blade-tec. I've tried all of these and they all work well and conceal well.
Standard military issue for 5.56 is 120 rounds, but most just take a full battle pack, 210 rounds (most carry 4 and bag the rest). I carried 6 on my kit, one in the M-4, and another battlepack in my Oh-Shit/bail-out bag. I carried 3 extra Sig P228 mags on my kit and one in the gun.
I cut that awkward mag holder off my Desantis 'Tuck This' holster and was thinking about sewing it into the pocket of some of my pants, but any pocket I put the mag into, in most of my pants looks like a huge bulge.
That's what I have been thinking 1 in the gun and 1 on the hip. I got a Fobus paddle mag pouch that is pretty comfortable and sits high so I'll probably give that a shot.
I read a story how a guy and his wife from Okie was driving through here one night and got robbed by 4 guys with guns just to make the story short he wasn't carrying but his wife managed to call 911 and the cops barely showed up after they were robbed and being led to an alley. Just in that situation I'd rather be prepared but I guess with 30rds of 9mm or even going with higher capacity mags if that's not enough maybe I am in over my head lol.
[Tooth]
claimbuster
06-13-2010, 20:46
Guess I'm old school....he11, I know I'm old school. I carry a S&W M640 J-frame, 5 shot 357M. It is Mag-Na-Ported, the action has been tuned and it is a shooter. Funny, but I have two of them set up the same way. They are loaded with hot home brew 135 gr. Speer Gold Dots. I don't worry about the crap about home brew ammo in a defensive situation.
I shoot one or the other of them on a regular basis. I know how they shoot, where they shoot and am very comfortable when they come out of the holster. I know my gun.
Reason for all this crap, I normally don't carry backup ammo. In three shots, even under pressure, I'll have the first two attackers down. Anyone still standing will have to be pretty determined. I'm not planning on being in a war. I just want to end the confrontation as quickly as I can.
If I can't finish the job, my wife and her pepper spray will do it.
[Beer]
I've been trying to carry my extra mag in my front pocket since I lasted posted in this thread. A pocket holster that would keep it in the same position all the time would be pretty cool.
There's your million dollar idea....I mean my new million dollar idea!
Heh, I thought you could get a Nemesis pocket holster that was made for one mag instead of a pocket pistol or revolver.
It's been said Two is One, One is None. I'm amazed at how many CCW folks don't carry a spare mag. For all of our appreciation of Murphy's Law, we invite catastrophe by not simply carrying a spare. Kinda like not having a spare tire (which my little car doesn't)... you won't need it 99% of the time, but that 1% sure brings its importance to life. I have run flats because the car can't hold a spare, cost about 25% more, but just like the spare mag, not going to really feel comfortable without that extra little bit of safety net when I can do something to prevent a crappy situation before it happens.
This though, is one of the reasons I consolidated gun types. 9mm and .45 Glocks. When I carry either of the subcompacts, I carry the larger versions standard mags. The G26 is the only one that I'm not thrilled with for initial mag capacity, but the 18rnds in the spare mag are reassuring. Been carrying those spare mags in my front weak side pocket for so many years now that I hardly notice when its there, but do when it isn't.
I can see where some might have the perception that this is wannabe billy badass like logic, but most of us (IMHO) don't like to think that we'll have to need the ammo as much as having a spare to deal with the primaries failure to function for what ever reason.
I find the theory that a hand gun is only for fighting your way back to your rifle irrelevant for civilians honestly. Don't know about you guys, but I don't keep an AR (or any other long arm) in my car, so the only thing I'm fighting my way back to is a way the hell out of the situation. Gun fights are fast, brutal and nasty things, especially with handguns. In what generally comes down to being knife fighting range with guns is a sure fire way to mess up someones day and then some. So staying out of the engagement if possible is one hell of a smart mind set, but we carry for those times when we don't have that choice right?
Hey if you don't want to carry a spare or a reload, that's your call. Not going to pass judgment on your choice. I there there is enough room for both approaches. I think all that is really being said is that the option should be considered. If you take a moment, think through the variety of situations where that spare will help and or save your life, I think you can see the value. Then again if the logic doesn't really add up for you, rock on brother.
cowboykjohnson
06-14-2010, 09:30
one extra mag for the .45 on my hip, with one mag in the gun... and one mag in my LCP as a B.U.G.
hurley842002
06-14-2010, 11:58
One extra mag for my G23 plus my S&W 642 as a BUG. If i'm going on extended trips, or very questionable areas (which I try not to frequent if at all possible), i'll add another mag for the Glock and maybe a speed loader for the Smith. I have no plans of getting into any type of a war with my handguns, however stranger things have happened. If I can comfortably carry the extras, then why not. Call me crazy, but I just call it prepared.
Heh, I thought you could get a Nemesis pocket holster that was made for one mag instead of a pocket pistol or revolver.
http://www.lapolicegear.com/desantis-magpacker-pocket-holster.html
Also if you have a cloth leatherman pouch, you can throw a mag in their on your belt and no one is the wiser.
Wulf, I've seen people talk about using those cheapo, one size fits all, leather cell phone holsters. I suspect no one would be the wiser for that either.\
BadShot, I've never really had a mag related failure on my carry gun. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen or course.
cowboykjohnson
06-14-2010, 13:39
I occasionally leave a 1911 mag in my back pocket with the ammo facing down... nobody ever notices.
BadShot, I've never really had a mag related failure on my carry gun. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen or course.
Same here, and exactly why I've got that spare mag. Not to mention, if I haven't corrected the situation in 28 rounds, I guess I won't be the one correcting it after all [Rant2]
DD977GM2
06-16-2010, 19:57
At least on back up magazine. My wife carries 2 in her purse when we are together. [Beer]
So I have 53 rounds of 45 ACP goodness in the event SHTF and I have to use my CCW
I have a glock 19 and I carry 1 extra mag. I'll carry 2 extra mags if I use my shoulder holster.
remember you can always use a Glock 17 magazine as your 2nd with the new sleeve (http://glockstore.com/pgroup_descrip/3_Factory+Magazines+%26amp%3B+Extensions/6759_Magazine+Sleeve+for+Glock/?mode=image) for your 19 or 26.
Huh, I've done this for years without using a sleeve on the magazine. Is the sleeve a permanent attachment to the magazine, or can you remove it again?
H.
Its not permanent, it is held in place by tension with a small allen head screw on the back. It can be removed at any time, but will generally leave a mark on the back of the mag where the screw came in contact with it.
http://glockstore.com/images/magick_cache/pgroup_6759_image_400x600__shadow.jpg
I don't use those allen screws they mess up the mag. I think the sleeve fits tight enough by itself.
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