Do you carry spare magazines?

[hfjeff]

Never, the way I see it is I am 7 times safer with the installed mag than I was prior to carrying. I have enough crap in my pockets already.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Motodeficient]

I don't know, I just figure it can't hurt. From the few hours I have just spent carrying a spare horizontal single stack 7 round mag, I hardly notice it. What would happen if a shooter, or multiple shooters came into your workplace or a similar situation. You might need more than 7 rounds. By the time you realize how many rounds you really need, it will be too late.

[msc8127]

For those that don't carry spares, what do you train / practice for double feeds? I just now was trying to clear a double feed by removing mag, racking slide, and re-installing mag and racking slide again. I found this much more difficult to do when I had to retain the mag from the gun in my hand while working the slide. I also tried letting the lone magazine fall to the ground and recovering it after working slide. This was problematic in that I had to remain stationary to recover my mag, and had to take my eyes off target to retrieve the mag from the floor to reload.

I'm not trying to criticize anyone here, just asking how you all address this type of situation without a spare mag?

sent via iCarry

[SFCDan]

I don't carry more than what is in my weapon. In the military we always carried spares, but circumstance is much different. I would really like to see a poll regarding who has needed more than their initial magazine in a non-military and non LEO scenario. To me it seems personal protection would usually dictate that 10 rounds would be enough. Of course I may be wrong.

[SFCDan]

By the way those of you who said 3+ mags ROCK!!!

[kg7il]

I have two leather double single stack magazine cases (2 mags in each case).
The Masters Holsters Cases

I may have all four mags with me, ususally just two.

[fullmetal1911]

My rule of thumb for carry is to have at least 15 rounds on me. When carrying my LC9 I carry one in the chamber 7 in the mag and a 7rd back up mag. When I carry my LCP I carry 2 back up mags because of the 6+1 capacity. Because none of my carry guns are high caps I always carry a backup. I think even if I were to open carry my 92FS I would still carry a back up mag though.

[Echo_Four]

The number of magazines depends on whether I'm at work or not. Off duty I agree with most that I'm unlikely to need more than what is in the gun. However by that same logic I'm highly unlikely to need the gun. If I find it in my hand the law of averages is already against me. I see no need to allow myself to end up dead due to something as simple as putting a spare magazine on my belt. I would say that if I ever needed it I'd probably make a mess in my pants but in honesty if I needed it I'd probably be too clinched up to make a mess if my life depended on it.

[Hoddicka]

If carrying an Auto, I always carry at least one spare, usually two. In my limited experience, 95% of jams, or failures to cycle were due to something wrong with the installed magazine. My first action in clearing a jam is to drop the mag, then rack to clear, insert a fresh mag and recharge. I've been taught to assume the original mag should be removed from the equation and be replaced with a spare, every time, to ensure you are recharging you weapon, without any of the previous jam's potential causal factors being in play. If carrying a revolver, I normally carry one full speed strip, as it is awfully hard to conceal a speed loader in your pocket, or elsewhere.

[SCXDm9]

For those that don't carry spares, what do you train / practice for double feeds?

sent via iCarry

By not having a Glock..... JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!! REALLY, JUST DIGGING AT THE GLOCKAPHILES. I've got about 4k rounds through my carry gun and I've never had a double feed. I guess if the day comes I start to have them I'll think about a carrying a spare or get a new gun. I'm a tall skinny guy and don't have much room to hid more things inside my shirt.

[frankmako]

yes, i do. it is easy to do so.

[eb]

For those that don't carry spares, what do you train / practice for double feeds? I just now was trying to clear a double feed by removing mag, racking slide, and re-installing mag and racking slide again. I found this much more difficult to do when I had to retain the mag from the gun in my hand while working the slide. I also tried letting the lone magazine fall to the ground and recovering it after working slide. This was problematic in that I had to remain stationary to recover my mag, and had to take my eyes off target to retrieve the mag from the floor to reload.

I'm not trying to criticize anyone here, just asking how you all address this type of situation without a spare mag?

sent via iCarry

The short answer is, I don't train for that scenario. There is a line here between being prepared, and being straight up paranoid. That line is in a different place for different folks, and that is perfectly fine. I go to the range at least once a month and shoot several hundred rounds to make sure my accuracy and proficiency is maintained at a reasonable level for a civilian.

I carry a gun with a mag inserted, and a bullet in the chamber, period. As someone else said, when you add up all the crap I carry around, keys, phone, wallet and so on, this is my limit. It puts me many times ahead of the average, unarmed individual in terms of preparation. I carry either an HK P2000SK 9mm subcompact, or a fullsize Beretta Storm 45acp. Neither gun has ever failed to do anything whatsoever in my tests. I won't carry a gun that has had any failures whatsoever, and I've traded off too many to count for that reason. I rotate the mags every 30-60 days with fresh HP ammo after shooting off what was in there at the range. I then clean and inspect both guns and mags.

This setup works for me, given the parameters I've set forth for myself. More power to these guys that carry multiple mags, spray, a knife, and a backup gun. I am genuinely impressed. Personally however, I am not John Rambo. I am just another dude blending in minding my own business being as low key as possible, that happens to have a f'ing gun. :)

[old grunt]

Always !