I've decided to carry two spare magazines.

T

TheNocturnus

New member
As the title says, I have decided to carry two spare magazines for my Glock 22. The one that is in the gun is loaded with Federal 180gr HST JHP.

One spare is loaded with Hornady 155gr Critical Defense JHP.

The second spare is actually in the mail from Glockmeister, but when it arrives I'm thinking about loading it with FMJ rounds.

I have the room on my belt to carry another magazine and the weight doesn't bother me. Do you guys think I'm going into overkill here?

I've posted my EDC a few times on this site but here it is again.

1. Wallet
2. Keys
3. Cell Phone (R2-D2 limited edition Verizon Droid 2 by the way:D)
4. Glock 22 (In a Serpa CQC level 2 holster)
5. 2 Spare mags for the G22 (In a double mag pouch)
6. Taurus model 85 .38 special loaded with Hornady Critical defense JHP (In an Uncle Mike's IWB holster)
7. Gerber pocket knife
 
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Carry as many spares as you are comfortable with. One can never (within reason) have too much ammo. That said ...

  • I prefer to carry one spare because a single mag pouch with a flap looks to most passersby like a knife or Leatherman pouch. A dual mag pouch pretty much looks like a dual mag pouch.
  • Why the different ammo? My concern with that is that, in time of need, you will be rushed, you will be under pressure, you will be under attack, and I wonder if you're going to confuse yourself when it's time to reload by asking "Why ammo should I use?" and "Which magazine is that ammo in?"
If I were going to carry two spare mags (and I have, on rare occasion), I'd load them both the same, carry one in a belt pouch, and carry the other one in a pocket.
 
Why the different ammo? My concern with that is that, in time of need, you will be rushed, you will be under pressure, you will be under attack, and I wonder if you're going to confuse yourself when it's time to reload by asking "Why ammo should I use?" and "Which magazine is that ammo in?"
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Yeah, you're probably right. In a perfect world, if I needed the extra penetration of the FMJ I would have it but when SHTF I'll be more concerned with dodging the flying feces.

As far as appearances go, it is concealed under a shirt so passerbys have no idea I have anything.
 
Could I ask you why you choose to opt for 2 (or 3) different loads? I personally would stick with 1 load, FMJ or JHP, doesn't matter that much IMHO, and train with that load regularly so I could judge it's reliability in the weapon.
 
The second spare is actually in the mail from Glockmeister, but when it arrives I'm thinking about loading it with FMJ rounds.
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A second spare on the way in the mail? You'd be better served with half a dozen on the way in the mail, or acquired some how. Plenty of spare magazines is standard op----for practice, rotating magazines, etc.

Then learn to strip your pistol, and always have spare parts, such as a striker and extractor on hand.

It's pretty standard, for most of us, to carry one spare mag. for dbl. stack magazines. I personally carry two for single stack.

FMJ? Where did you read that---is it in case you need to shoot through barriers after your first 30 + rds. didn't do the job?
 
That is a good idea I think you should do it. It gives you a nice variety. Add some Hard Cast FMJFN 180gr. probably, buffalo bore?
 
I must be chronically under gunned and short on ammo. I normally only carry the 8+1 9mm hydra-shocks that are in my gun. I know that anything could happen anyplace at anytime. But I feel by maintaining situational awareness what I have is normally enough. If for some reason I anticipated the threat level to exceed what I normally carry I would adjust accordingly, probably by staying home.
 
What are the other two loads going to do for you that the Federal HST won't? You're really going to fumble through your spare mags to find the one loaded with the type of ammunition "you need for that scenario?" Doubtful. If you don't trust the load you carry, then don't carry it.
 
If you're worried that you may need to shoot through barriers (with the FMJs), carry something bigger than a .40 S&W.

If you're going to carry a .40 S&W - understand its limitations, and resign yourself to improvising, if you ever end up in a situation where it isn't enough.

Carry guns are compromise guns. You can't have it all. So, be happy with what you do have.
 
I personally think it's overkill but I'm certain this is still America so go ahead and carry whatever makes your eyes twinkle. I'm perfectly comfortable with the 9+1 in my G33... actually, I'm quite comfortable unarmed but I almost always carry anyway.
Do what makes you comfortable.
 
i use to carry 2 mags but decided not to carry a gun anymore. i have my fist registered as nfa weapons. yes both of them. i still needed a ltcf though.
 
What are the other two loads going to do for you that the Federal HST won't? You're really going to fumble through your spare mags to find the one loaded with the type of ammunition "you need for that scenario?" Doubtful. If you don't trust the load you carry, then don't carry it.
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Exactly.

HST is a proven performer with and without barriers. It reliably expands better than almost anything else (Gold Dot and Win PDX/Talon also great). If it feeds reliably in your gun then it will do anything the Critical Defense and FMJ will do and likely much better.

If you have any doubts about any load feeding reliably in your pistol then you should not carry it.

If you need more than a few rounds then you are in some form of firefight at distance. If it were very close range it would be over with in a few shots most likely. At distance the various loads you plan to carry could have different points of impact. Plus you have to reliability test three different loads.

If you can't afford to thoroughly test and trust one premium load like HST then I would go with whatever you can afford to test thoroughly and trust, even if that is FMJ.

Consider why you feel you should carry three different loads and see if that doesn't reveal some underlying doubts. As others have pointed out it is not for practical reasons. In a firefight you won't have time fiddle with which mag has what and which is best for the moment. HST will do it all (as far as a handgun caliber allows) so that would be my default if udget allows. If tight budget then a cheaper HP or even FMJ. Knowing and trusting what you carry is imperative.
 
I only typically carry 7+1 in my .45 CCO 1911+spare mag, in case of function issues. The added capacity is nice but mostly for if I have issued can drop the one currently in weapon and reload. I don't plan on pulling a mag dump unless I am within 10 feet. In 10 feet I feel I will be effective enough with what I have that at least 5 .45 JHP rounds will go into BG.

Have I been in a gunfight and know how I will perform? No, but I shoot IDPA and other competitions every now and again to practice under stress.

If you need to carry 50 rounds you're doing it wrong. You frequent bad neighborhoods? Work undercover often? Is this what you carry on your duty belt? It is my opinion 50 rounds is overkill, but to each their own.
 
Truth is, newbies tend to over do things. Go ahead and carry two spare mags. Won't belong before you're carrying one like most of us.

Of course, you never know. That's why carrying a couple spares in the car so they go where you go makes sense to me---and why I do it.
 
yea i dont really understand why you would have HSTs loaded and a spare of CDs. I dont see the advantage.

On a similar note, i just changed my defense ammo from HST to hornady CD in .40. Guess my point is either of those rounds im a fan of, i just dont understand why half and half???

The FMJs are probably unnecessary too. I doubt you're going to do an ammo swap to shoot through a car or something. IMHO you have no business shooting through a car anyways.
 
I feel lopsided with just a 1911 on one side so I always carry two spares when packing a bottom feeder. With a revolver it is two in speed-loaders or four reloads for the revolvers that take full moon clips. (The carrier for speed-loaders holds 4 moon clips in 2 double stacks so why not.) I don't carry a mix of ammo. Do not need to have to try to remember what I want to shoot what. just a good quality HP. I am not currently a LEO so I'm not going to be shooting at cars or hard targets so I see no need for FMJ's.
 
Oh, on the issue of carrying varied/mixed loads... It makes no sense to me because how do you know which one you might need first? Are you going to pack HPs in the gun and take the chance that shot one should have been an FMJ? Are you going to pack FMJs and chance that shot one should have been a HP?

Not me. I pick a bullet and cartridge that have a reasonable of doing whatever I need. Currently, that's 125gr Speer GDs in 357sig.... had I to do it again, it would probably be the same bullet but in 10mm.
 
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