How many spare mags and pistols do you carry?

J

JohnH1963

Moderator
Many people carry varying degrees of ammunition and spare pistols. The most extreme examples I have read about are the occasional articles where officers find huge arsenals in someone's car.

I dont think I really need anymore then one pistol or one mag to defend myself.

What do you think you need to carry? If you are an officer, do you carry lots of spares? If you are just a regular Joe, what do you carry?
 
When I was a LEO I carried a main gun and two reloads, and often a second gun. Now that I don't chase BGs for a living any more, one gun and the ammo in it seems sufficient.
 
If I'm carrying a double stack then what's in the gun will have to do. If I'm carrying a single stack I usually have a spare mag in my pocket. More to do with what is easy for me to pack around than a statement of how much I expect to need (or not need).
 
My carry pistol holds 10+1 of .40 S&W. If I can't solve a social problem with that, then I shouldn't be where I am or be doing what I'm doing.
 
If it was always so simple. Why is it that some just cant understand that no matter how hard you try to avoid it, sometimes trouble just comes looking for you? Its why I always carry a spare loadout for whatever I am carrying.
 
I was in the Revolver era of Law Enforcement My duty load was my issue S&W Model 15 4" with 4 HKS speedloaders loaded with Federal 38spl +P+ 110gr Controlled expansion bullets the issue load. Under my shirt was a 4" Model 19 .357 round butt 2 1/2" rebarreled to 4" by Davis Co. using 357 145gr Silvertips. Just after I retired the Dept went to Sigs in 9mm, Single stack mags for small hands and double stack for large hands. I bought my duty gun for $125.00 as part of the deal the dept made with Old Sacramento Armory. when they took the guns in as trade-ins for the Sigs the officers could buy their issued weapon back for that price.
Now I carry a Sig 226 in .357Sig as primary and a S&W 340PD as BUG with a reload for each.
 
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lately i've just been carrying 17+1 of 9mm GDHP's in my Px4


i hate carrying extra weight, and besides, i dont feel under gunned
i'm the kind of guy that doesnt keep change and goes through his key ring once a week to make sure he really needs all of those on there...
 
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I carry 10+1 and a reload with 17 rounds. (Glock Extended mag).

Someone once told me to ALWAYS carry a spare magazine. What if you have a spring fail, or another problem with the mag? My 2 cents
 
I carry an extra mag everytime unless I'm carrying 2 guns than I don't carry extra mags.My 2 carry pistols hold 7 and 6 in the mag CW 9 & LCP,I also carry a 38 then I put 5 extra in my pocket
I might carry 3 pistols if things get bad
 
13+1 in .45 and two 13rnd mags. Or 12+1 in.40 and two 12rnd mags. If I'm wearing my wife's gun it 7+1 in .380 and one 7 rnd mag. I always try to carry more than one gun. If not two on me then one is tucked in the bag I carry with me. Always try to have atleast one gun on me because that will be the quickest and eastiest to access if needed.
 
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Two guns and a total of 42 rounds of ammo.

BTW, the ear plugs are for noisy situations not involving gunfire.
I already wear hearing aids. Don't need any more damage!
 
On duty (security, not LEO): 2 spare mags, 0 spare gun (we're not allowed to carry a backup gun)

Off duty CC: 0 spare mags, 0 spare gun

I do have spare with 2 extra mags in the truck 24/7 though.
 
One pistol, one mag or speedloader. I just have too much darn weight in my pockets as it is.

For the guys that carry all that stuff, do you live in a really bad area or something?
 
9+1 Glock 33, no spare anythings. No flashlight, no pepper spray, no knives.

My outings are generally to Wal*Mart with the wife and kids.... well lit parking lots, plenty of people, non-violent city, early evening or afternoons, generally times and places of "safety", relatively speaking. Safe like I can't remember the last report of a violent crime outside the "expected" norms. By "expected" I mean meth dealers fighting within the group and that sort of thing. We simply do not have muggings, armed robberies or gangs problems in this area. Some day we will and then I'll rethink my strategy.
 
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Chris, I actually think I live in a "good" neighborhood and I do my best to stay out of "bad" areas. Trouble is, bad situations know no boundaries. Being in a "good" area sounds safe but really doesn't keep Mr. Crack addict from coming after you. If anything, a "good" neighborhood would attract criminals because nice houses usually have nice things to steal. I carry all that I do because my gun is useless with out bullets, and I sure as hell don't want to run out of rounds before the fight is over. A back-up gun because guns do fail. I certainly don't want to pull my weapon and have the firing pin fail, now I've got my pants down with my butt flapping in the wind. Gun failure and lack of amo is what I call the "Oh S***" moment. You expect to defend your self with what you have and it fails. Having extra amo and a back-up greatly reduces my chances of being stuck in an oh s*** moment. But I do not judge you for carrying less than me, I do not judge those who carry more than me. What is acceptable to you is fine for you and acceptable to others is fine for others.
 
Chris, same with me. I live in an area where, as Evan Marshall says, three stolen bicycles in a month is a crime wave.

BUT!!
There was a shooting less than 1/2 a mile from my house last year.

You can be attacked in any parking lot at any time of the day or night.
Home invasions are increasing.

Just because I wear a seatbelt and have airbags in my car doesn't mean I'm expecting to be in a serious accident.

Just because I carry two guns and spare ammo doesn't mean I'm expecting an attack.
 
I carry 1 gun, seldom any reloads. If its my revolver, I may drop a speed-strip in my pocket, but I rarely like the bulk of an extra mag for my auto.

I do keep 1 extra mag and a box of rounds in my truck, depending on what I am carrying at the time, but its probably of little use for anything but after-the-fact reloading if I were confronted in a parking lot.
 
usually carry one gun and one reload.also usually have a gun with a reload in vehical.
9+1 Glock 33, no spare anythings. No flashlight, no pepper spray, no knives.
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most times I'd feel more naked without the knife and flashlight,heck I've actually needed them.
 
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