I've decided to carry two spare magazines.

"Dutch loading" is an indication of indecisiveness.

You are free to carry as many mags as you choose to, but if you believe that you will still be alive and still shooting after the first ~7-10 shots have been fired....that is your business.

I personally believe that my chances against one armed adversary are pretty good, because I practice weekly and can pretty much hit what I am at.

Against two armed adversaries...somewhat less. Remember that they will not be standing there watching, and will be returning fire.

I'll probably get the first one, but will be absorbing fire from the second. I can always hope that he is not a very good shot.

Against three or more armed adversaries--my odds are rapidly diminishinig, and while I'll do what I can, I can also do the math.

I am an advocate of the "dinner theory"...everyone gets firsts before anyone gets seconds. If I am confronted by three armed assailants, I will attempt to put one good hit on each before coming back to finish the job...but in all honesty, if any of them are half way decent, I will be done long before that is accomplished.

Remember, in this hypothetical, each of them only has one target to focus on, while I have three.

I salute your preparation, but I am also trying to keep it real.
 
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The only ammo mix ive heard of that sounds pretty good is, in finicky guns making the first round your HP of choice then following up with easy loading FMJs. If your gun wont load HPs you still get one on top.

Or snake shot on top and the rest HPs in a field gun. 99% of the time youre shooting a snake, and youve got the rest HPs for 2 legged snakes. Youre a double tap or a rack away from self defense ammo in a weapon carried primarily for snakes.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. The main reason I have varied rounds in my magazines are because that is what I own currently. I bought one box of HST's and can't find anymore that are not online. I can readily find Hornady Critical Defense and FMJ rounds.

Realistically, as long as I get the bullet to the BG, the type of round will make only a small difference. Now I know of course that the JHP will create a bigger wound channel and have less chance over penetrating and hitting a bystander.

I am still fairly new to this carrying a gun thing so maybe I am over doing it.

But as another poster said:
Carry as many spares as you are comfortable with. One can never (within reason) have too much ammo.
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I tend to agree with them. I would much rather have way more ammo than I need than not have enough.
 
Back in the days when I was a jungle fighter, my biggest fear was running out of ammo during a firefight. I left rations behind in favor of ammo. I could always go a day or two without eating but being just one round short during a critical time could make the difference between living and no tomorrows.

I have never been able to shake that fear and as a result always, always have two extra mags with me. Weight is not an issue and I dress around my concealment. Most times I carry a BUG of the same caliber as my EDC so, heaven forbid, I ever get into a jam and need to use the other gun, the mag of one will fit the other or worse case scenario, I can off load the rounds from one mag on one gun to the mag of the other gun although that is not really favored in a bad situation. I may not be fighting in the jungle these days but it certainly is a jungle out there and I do not want to be the guy out of ammo when all I may need is just one more round.

Overkill? Perhaps. I consider myself a good marksman and train for and have been in situations where I can think on my feet. Still, I cannot shake the fear of being out of ammo. Do what makes you comfortable.
 
IF one feels the need for 2 backup mags so be it. Personally, in the area of civilian CCW it's not very likely one will need an extra mag, let alone 2 but hey what ever floats your boat.

However with time, training and perspective I am going to guess this may go down not up... keep in mind the 3rd mag is still in the mail...

And I would advise shooting 200 rounds of whatever you carry before you consider it a good carry round for your gun. Yes this is expensive with defensive JHP ammo. Failure is more expensive. And yes even Glocks don't like some ammo...
 
backup mag or backup gun ok

I say one spare mag. However, if you have the extra slot for 2 backup mags than I donot see that as overkill to use it. I'd say use one ammo to erase any unforseen issues(one good one being mentioned about not having to think extra in a firefight), but I do not think having different ammo is a dealbreaker. Many people do it with their shotguns. I don't, but sometimes I do have two different makers at once by coincidence(winchester&federal). If you use different ammo, it shouldn't have to be a dealbreaker.

I know many training with LEO and/or military requires thinking and using your brain to remember which mag has this much ammo in it and which mag has this many rounds in it because while qualifying you have to reload on command and grab the 'correct' mag & have the numbers match. No, in a firefight that is the last thing you want to have to do - I just happened to think of that while reading the posts.

The closest thing I have to that is my safequeen(I don't really like the name but she is a HD firearm not used for CCW and sometimes the CCWs are used for HD instead mostly). Every time that I am running out of a particular ammo(only the ones that are a different kind), I save one round. Basically, I keep my weapons in my safe loaded, and this one firearm has different ammos in there: one round 180gr, one round 125gr, one round 158gr, etc. Of course, I don't use that for SD, CCW, and the gun has become a safequeen for the most part(gonna come up with a new name).
 
while I think the OP's posting of what is in his pockets, down to the brand names, is an affectation, I agree with his carrying extra magazines for his piece, as well as that 'New York reload' notation.
I have always carried more than one gun, and more ammo than most. You just never know...
 
You're carrying the G22 w/ 3 mags AND a .38sp?

I think it seems like over kill, but then again this is America do what makes you feel safe!

...and to think I got annoyed when having to carry around two cell phones...
 
Overkill? Depends on the D.A.

Out here in California about 7 years ago there was a cop who got into a shooting while off-duty.

I forget what brand of gun he had but he had one loaded magazine in the gun and two spares on the belt, for a total of 21 rounds.

The D.A. chose to prosecute and the jury convicted of manslaughter or murder, I don't remember which.

What I remember was that a clear 'self-defense' situation became a criminal charge and the key point the D.A.'s office used was how much ammo he was carrying. The arguement was that he was carrying so much ammo thus he was looking for a fight.

That was with 21 rounds.

You will have, what, 30 rounds? or will they be the REAL full-capacity 15s, giving you 45 rounds?

Personally, I would rather have 45 rounds than 21, but I also want to be sure I am doing no time afterwards.

Ask around your local community. Get to know cops if/when you can. Find out the attitude/mood of the local D.A. and LEO regarding the difference between 1 spare and 2 spares. IF you find the deck stacked against 2 spares, then you have to decide if you wish to ignore that [and keep a firearms defense lawyer on speed dial] or only carry 1 spare and work on shot placement and evacuation.
 
O.P carries:

1. Wallet
2. Keys
3. Cell Phone (R2-D2 limited edition Verizon Droid 2 by the way)
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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I carry the same with the addition of:

8. Bowie knife between teeth.
9. Tomahawk in belt.
 
With a properly tuned pistol and quality ammo. The weak link and cause of most malfunctions is the magazine.

The two spare mags offers two tactial clearings of jams.

Good decision to carry two spares.

Things you can't have too much of.

1. Ammo
2. Moonshine from that ceartain still NE of Fort Smith AR. See you around Christmas time.
3. Monte Cristo cigars Hope the ATF doesn't catch my source. NOT LIKELY.
 
Wow, me and my 5 shot snubby feel pretty inadaquate right about now.

But carry what you want as long as you remember to throw a little practice in there too. Was shooting next to a fella once who was trying to do some quick reloads. Dropped the first mag in the dirt and took a good 30 seconds to get the second one lined up and seated. He could have been carrying 20 mags and it wouldn't have helped.
 
O.P carries:


Quote:
1. Wallet
2. Keys
3. Cell Phone (R2-D2 limited edition Verizon Droid 2 by the way)
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

I carry the same with the addition of:

8. Bowie knife between teeth.
9. Tomahawk in belt.
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Awesome post man, you must play some COD. Keep in mind the better game, Battlefield 3, is due out in a few weeks.
 
Where do you live? Juarez?
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Exactly - how many "events" have happened where you live that one gun plus two mags wasn't enough and you needed another gun...

REALLY? SERIOUSLY?

Maybe time to move then if where you live is REALLY that bad

Let's not plan for something that can occur less than a meteor strike on your house either
 
The main reason I have varied rounds in my magazines are because that is what I own currently. I bought one box of HST's and can't find anymore that are not online. I can readily find Hornady Critical Defense and FMJ rounds.
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If you have not put 200-300 rounds of your chosen carry ammo through your carry pistol without a single malfunction, then your priorities (and your trust) are misplaced.
 
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