Spare carry mags? Really?

[willie]

I see this topic may be polarizing and urge that it not be. I will use my experience. I was fortunate not to lose a weapon stolen from my vehicle. I almost did once, but an alarm stopped the theft. From that point on I decided that leaving a weapon in a vehicle was irresponsible if I did it. But I must not point fingers. That said, I know many who have had weapons stolen from vehicles. I know crime stats show that it is common. I know zero about secure parking that lessens risk. That type parking plus a vehicle safe might make it an acceptable risk. I will say that as our rights are been compromised, we should take steps that diminish a perceived gun problem. Part of this is the large number of stolen guns in the hands of criminals. We should care about that.

[Ed L]

You’re already carrying a gun in suburban America.

You’re already a victim of paranoia.

I missed this when you posted it. You’re confusing probability with possibility, which is a classic first year underwriter and risk manager mistake.

Yeah, I have problems with Rob's proclamation on this as well. I've had several situations in my life where I needed a gun and was luckily carrying one. And I don't live a particularly high risk life. Same for a fair number of my non-LEO friends. And it's not like any of them were buying drugs. You may as well tell me that I don't need a fire extinguisher when I have personally had to use one in real life.

[Oldherkpilot]

Yeah, I have problems with Rob's proclamation on this as well. I've had several situations in my life where I needed a gun and was luckily carrying one. And I don't live a particularly high risk life. Same for a fair number of my non-LEO friends. And it's not like any of them were buying drugs. You may as well tell me that I don't need a fire extinguisher when I have personally had to use one in real life.

I don't remember where I heard this: Parachutes and pistols are a lot alike. If you ever need one and don't have one it's unlikely to be a problem in the future.

[RJ]

Sorry for on topic post here in the Revolver forum, but I did further learning about the concept of an extra mag along with AIWB today.

I mocked up a G48 mag carrier out of a JM CK G19 carrier, and put a PTD loop on it. I then placed it where it seemed to fit and let the cant figure itself out as I sat, walked, etc. this morning. Seems to be working out ok in this position. I know the cant looks kinda odd, but it seems to carry ok. The base of the carrier seems to fit perfectly in the gap left by the inboard end of the holster (DSG Hitchhiker) and the belt (MMT Specialist in my case)

Looks like several good options were posted above, Tom's Koala from DSG https://darkstargear.com/product/koala/ as well as the fabric-approach Snakeeater and PHLster. I'll look into these in January, but I think this will work.

[BehindBlueI's]

Thread temporarily closed as I sort out side conversations, etc. I will reopen it shortly.

*edit*

Ok, I think I've got the majority of the lengthier side topics/shit posting culled. I admit to being part of the problem biting on the side topic of revolvers, etc. I think what's left is at least tangentially related to how much ammo/magazines one should carry. LL moved the thread to a technical forum and posted as much, so I only culled things after the warning.

Reopening thread, let's try to keep it on topic.

[HeavyDuty]

...On the Smith 39 series pistols I taught myself how to defeat the disconnect when changing mags and keep the weapon hot at the same time. It is a trigger manipulation trick that I would not post...

Damn, you must be old like me. I was taught that trick way back when a 3913 was my primary defensive handgun, and my only centerfire semiauto. I haven’t used the 3913 in that role since the mid 90s, I’d forgotten about that technique.

[Crazy Dane]

Several years ago, after being inspired by Todd G's experience with a pair of 9MM 1911s, I had to have my own. After saving up the nickels I got my Colt Combat Commander. I also ended up with 18 magazines from several different manufacturers. After giving the pistol a shakedown run and tensioning the extractor, I started in on the 2000 round challenge. Due to outside circumstances I had to pause the challenge at about 1700 rounds. When I finally got the time to get back to that quest I had lost the heart to continue. I cleaned the gun and picked out what I thought would be the best 5 mags for carry and loaded them with some HST and it became my primary. Several weeks later I met with a shooting buddy and one of the things we do is shoot cold with what you got in your pants. I lost the coin toss and had to shoot 2nd. When the timer beeped, I got exactly one shot off because the magazine that I had chosen to bet my life on had a spontaneous abortion and dumped its parts and ammo all over the floor. Pushing the mag button did nothing and I had to strip the mag using my little finger turning what should have been a sub 3 second drill into an over 15 second demonstration of Murphy's Law. We tried to figure out what exactly went wrong and put the mag back together. It is still part of my range mags and has given no more problems. The only thing I can think of is improper reassembly or a partial disassemble from getting bumped. That whole experience is now why a carry a bug. I have also ditched the 1911s for a P365X and out of habit from the 1911 days, I carry 2 spare mags

[Casual Friday]

There are differing opinions and reasoning behind the carry of an additional magazine(s).

You have the "mags are a common failure point in semi autos" argument, which is valid, and you have the more ammo argument, which is also valid.

For some it's either/or, or a little of both, which the latter sums up my reasoning.

One of the guys I worked with for a brief time in a gun shop carried a 1911 and 4 spare mags. His reasoning was solely more ammo on hand. It was common for him to be given shit about it but in reality his choice of a 1911 and 4 spare mags only netted him one additional round over the guys carrying a G17/M&P 9 and one reload.

I don't carry a 1911 or own one, but if I did I can't say I can see myself carrying 4 spares on my belt but I have no issue carrying a G17 and a spare mag. The G17 and one spare mag solves both potential problems without the burden of the 3 additional 1911 mags.

[FAS1]

No spare magazine , but I do have a NY Reload in my right front pocket all the time.

[BehindBlueI's]

I got exactly one shot off because the magazine that I had chosen to bet my life on had a spontaneous abortion and dumped its parts and ammo all over the floor.

I've seen this happen in real world shootings. One was due to an incoming round striking the base plate when a bystander burned down a pawn shop robber. That one wouldn't have mattered because the round continued on into his abdomen and he quickly absorbed several more rounds and was dead near instantly. Even if he'd been capable of resolving the malfunction he didn't have the time.

I've seen a pistol caliber carbine's magazine dump it's guts. I *think* that guy got hit by a car when he wandered into the street during his gun fight but I don't recall the particulars any longer other than his magazine was busted and he died and that it was near an abandoned carwash. It was mope-on-mope crime and those have kind of ran together for me over the years.