Only when I'm going to be in Durham area but crime stats came out the other day and Raleigh/WakeCo. had more homicides than Durham last year so I may have to start carrying a spare mag all the time. In my vehicle, I have the option of a NY reload.
HahahahaI carry 2 spare mags in the console of the truck. They are there and ready to go if something gets really serious. Sometimes, I will pack them in my backpack when I am walking (I don't carry a briefcase).
Why? I can think of several reasons, but it is for the reasons I cannot think of is why. (cliche I know).
Also, I suck at pistol... It is like putting in golf for me. I am the Happy Gilmore of Pistol Shooting.
It wouldn't hurt. It's not like I'm unprepared with the 43. I definitely felt pretty confident on our road trip to Charlotte, probably the safest truck on the road that day...Sounds like someone needs a G43 spare mag carrier in OD Carbon Fiber with Speedease clips. Just sayin.....
I think all of us (but one) had 2 on us. Not including what was in the back.I had a Shield with two spare 8 round mags on me and an SR9c with 18 rounds in it and two 17 round spares in the bag.
It's not just about ammo capacity, it's more about clearing malfunctions for me.I don't carry an extra. Most of the time I am carry a 15+1 gun like a BHP, Glock 19 or Sphinx SDP Compact. The only time I throw another mag into my pocket is when I carry a LCP. The odds are heavily in my favor that if I ever have to use a gun in self defense outside the home 13 to 16 rounds is going to be enough to get the job done or allow me to flee!
It's not just about ammo capacity, it's more about clearing malfunctions for me.
Why extra mags for the Glock crew?
Ammo malfunction, i.e. ammo too long, too short, too fat, won't feed, won't eject, [*gasp*]case head separation (it can and has happened to me in which case you need a second gun), even with "quality" factory brass cased ammo.
AND - Operator malfunction in high stress situation
If someone has never had one or more of these occur, no matter what pistol they shoot, they probably should shoot more.
having it malfunction in a manner that I have to drop the mag and load another one is Very Very Very low. How often do you do you experience shooting malfunctions that require you to drop the mag while shooting? What is the ratio to rounds fired. I would be interested in your experience as a high round count shooter.
On the Glock comment, I have quiet a few (around 25) Glock mags. I have them all marked from number 1 to....and was at a Solo Defense class last year, and had a malfunction with the gun. I had been using the same mags all day, and all the sudden, a problem occurs. I quickly did a admin reload, finished up, and moved on. Next drill, change to mag that was in for the malfunction after topping off, and bam, another problem. Took the mag out of rotation, problem was gone. Mag needed a new spring and cleaning. Moral of the story, lol, is that it worked fine until it didn't. Mag was not old, a good bit newer than any other I was using that day, it just happened. I know the chances of needing a gun in self defense might be low, but I've been car jacked when younger, and the wife got attacked and a big rock thrown through her window, in traffic, last year going to work at 8am. We work in Charlotte, near downtown, so, you never know.........Just my two pennies.
I watch it happen about every weekend, or at least it seems like it, and I'm watching only one of six squads on any Saturday.
I wear cargos about every day so I just stow one in one of those extra pockets if it's not on my belt. It's just not any trouble for me, but others might have a problem.
Hahahaha
Cut from the same cloth. I view a pistol as a means to be able to reach a rifle.
Does clearing those malfunctions require dropping the mag or can one strip it out and reinsert it? I understand that dropping it might be faster especially when the mag in at the ready in a pouch but is it always the case if its floating around in a pocket?
The best illustration would be to try it at home with empties, or at the range with live ammo.
To drop/strip the offending mag, then stow it, then clear the gun (requires both hands), then dig out the offending mag from wherever you parked it (when it *might* be part of the problem) then reinsert it it, and under stress when you might drop it, then your lone mag is on the ground...
See where I'm going with this?
The truth is, doing anything is better than nothing. The odds of ever needing the gun, or an extra mag are long odds.I hear you are basically arguing that sh** will go wrong and having another mag vs crawling around on the ground is advantageous. I can see where you are coming from. Maybe I will strap on an extra mag for the rest of the week and see how it feels.
Here is what I think is a good video on the subject of clearing semi-auto malfunctions.
Here is what I think is a good video on the subject of clearing semi-auto malfunctions.
This thread reminds me of something I consider from time to time. Is my carry set up too "gun centric?"
Should I trade the spare magazine for a TQ, or a better light? Or carry all of the above? (That's a rhetorical question, by the way, ha!) Either way, keep thinking about and critiquing your mindset/gear/skills.
Here is what I think is a good video on the subject of clearing semi-auto malfunctions.
This thread reminds me of something I consider from time to time. Is my carry set up too "gun centric?"
Should I trade the spare magazine for a TQ, or a better light? Or carry all of the above? (That's a rhetorical question, by the way, ha!) Either way, keep thinking about and critiquing your mindset/gear/skills.
And that, I think, is the crux of what this forum is truly good for. It makes you think.
Should I carry an extra mag?
Do I have the proper style holster?
Have I tested my firearm enough?
Do I really get in enough practice?
What is missing from my daily carry that others already know about?
Do I need to carry a flashlight?
Do I need to have a first aid kit on me, or near me?
and so on and so forth.
Years ago, before I joined this forum, I had never really considered much of the above. Just stuff that I wasn't really brought up thinking about. And there are times where I do go against the grain a bit, i.e. I don't carry a spare mag on my physically, but they are in the car. But threads like this also get me thinking on my carry routine, other things I may need, and what I can do to improve.
And in my case, it took a whole lotta practice to improve accuracy, so y'all get out there and shoot.A zone hits are the only thing that will stop someone, and if they are not head shots, it can take a very long time.
So, accuracy is more important than caliber, capacity, or anything else.