Another aspect and influence seemingly not always taken into account by some gun owners who lawfully carry a handgun as a dedicated defensive weapon is that there's often a difference in how they may handle and manipulate their gun at normal range sessions, versus how they do so if under stress and a "dynamic" situation.
Another thing I've often observed over the years is that some folks may rush themselves when "under stress" of even just a clock, versus practicing at their own pace when not having to qualify, and induce an unexpected shooter-caused stoppage of some kind. The look on the faces of some folks when they unintentionally press a mag catch release, versus some other "intended" manipulation (pressing the trigger, manipulating a safety, slide stop or decocking lever) often shows how baffled they were when they caused the "problem" themselves, but hadn't been able to stop it from happening in the stress of the moment.
While equipment issues can (and have) happened, it's more often the user/shooter who induce some "problem", rushing themselves or getting confused under the unexpected stress of a situation. The old saying among many instructors is that on any given day probably 95% of the "problems" occurring are caused by the shooter, with the remaining bulk of the 5% being ammo-related in some manner, and only maybe 1 or 2% of the remaining problems being actual "gun problems" (and magazines are assemblies that are part of the guns).
So, while being concerned about the condition and condition/utility of a primary or spare magazine is all well and good, and something worth discussing, it's still probably a good idea to make sure the equipment "user" doesn't thrown something into the mix at the wrong moment.
Another situation where more ammo (and therefore extra magazines) may be needed is a multiple-assailant situation.
It's one thing to decide that you need no more than a handful of shots to stop a single assailant, but what about his fellow gang members? Are attacks by more than one assailant so rare that you can credibly ignore them? Even one extra assailant would make survival much more difficult, especially without extra ammo. Are multi-attacker situations so rare that you can safely ignore them?
Yes I mostly can.
I've not come across any marauding gangs in any of my travels here in Vermont/NH in the past ten years after moving back to the state.
Sure, some of our larger cities like Burlington and Rutland have had issues with imported gang related drug dealer on drug dealer violent crime, but if/when I travel to any high population area, I do indeed carry more ammo and often times more gun. But I'm only there shopping, not going into a bad neighborhood looking for trouble, so the minuscule risk is lessened even more.
But if we ever saw any BLM type rioting out in the rural areas, I guarantee that **** wouldn't last long. The locals wouldn't stand for it.
There was an account written by an off duty LEO who was in a fast food restaurant while it was being robbed. The perp was running toward him and the LEO emptied his magazine in seconds and was able to reload. He stated how much of a relief it was to know he had a fresh magazine in his firearm.
I would put the odds of a gun malfunction way above odds if your having to draw and shoot. So... how you gonna clear a FTF or stovepipe with no spare? What's the outcome of needing a spare and not having it? Not having at least one spare reload seems to be contrary to why you're carrying. Preparedness.
How many people who responded to this thread have had a critical magazine failure in their carry gun and what was the cause of mag failure and repair needed so it functioned again??
GB
Wasn't in time of need, but; wife and I were on a short road trip, as I walked through the lobby to check in to a hotel I felk a tug on my jacket. I looked but saw nothing, then I started hearing "things" hitting the tile floor and rolling around. I looked again and there was a bread crumb trail of 9mm ammo leading to the spring and base plate of the mag that was in the gun (G19). I had 2 spares on me and a couple more in the car, otherwise I would have been effectivly unarmed the rest of the trip.
The base plate on the glock mag certainly sounds like the weak link in all of this.
I rotated the same three Sig P226 mags for 12 years banging them around daily and only replacing springs once in that time and never had a single issue with them.
Lately I do find myself carrying an extra mag but my SOP is to carry a high cap 9mm (Beretta Px4 9mm) Appendix and a "New York Reload" in the form of a pocket gun. Way faster to draw a second gun and a Beretta Pico or a Kel Tec P32 is actually smaller and lighter than a second Px4 magazine.
I'm a big believer in "if you need a reload, you need a second gun".....plus if it gets really stupid I can give a gun to another person for the same amount of extra weight it takes to carry a spare hi cap 9mm mag. It's just my Way. I prefer a second gun to a spare mag if I have to choose. It sounds odd but I have carried 3 guns....Appendix Px4, back pocket .380, and a jacket pocket .32 auto or snubbie revolver like a LCR or the like. I like guns...the more the merrier.
When I go to the range my normal practice is to shoot at rapid fire my carry ammo from a cold gun in order to satisfy my confidence in CCW gun/ammo. I do this with all of the three CCW pistols I own.
Since the odds of my ever being involved in a potentially life-or-death situation is minimal if I felt those odds change I would opt for the "New York Reload" rather than fumbling with clearing a semi-auto pistol while reaching for a second magazine, all during the heat of battle.
99 percent of the time i dont carry. but when i do its a 17 with a 33 round mag if i cant get the job done with that then i should not own a gun. yes i am kidding on the 33 mag. but i dont carry very often just my knife everyday. just dont feel the need to carry.
Well, experience can sometimes, help you decide. A long time ago while going through range qualification and certification at the Sheriffs academy, I was engaging a steel plate target with my issue G-22 (MC092SD), and hit the target which SHOULD have dropped, sixteen times with .40 range ammo. All you heard was Boom/Bing x 16.
Astonished I dropped my empty mag and loaded a fresh one and on round number seventeen, the plate dropped.
Always carry a spare mag, always, just glad I was at the range that day!
- Ruger LCP Stainless front right pocket. Spare 7 rd mag rear left pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
2.) Light
- Ruger LCR .357 AIWB/front right pocket. 5 Star reloader front left pocket. Ruger LCP rear right pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
3.) Normal EDC
- Glock 26 or 27 AIWB. 9/10rd rear left pocket (occasionally a 15 rd reload) Ruger LCP front right pocket. 7 rd LCP coin pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
4.) Medium-Lite
- Glock 19 AIWB. 15 rd mag rear left pocket. Ruger LCP rear right pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
5.) Medium
- Glock 21 AIWB. 13 rd mag rear left pocket. LCP right rear pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
6.) Heavy
- SIG P226 Legion 9mm AIWB w/ 19 rds in the gun and two 20 rd SIG mags IWB double pouch five o'clock. Ruger LCP right rear pocket. Spare LCP mag in coin pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
The mag catch/release protrusion which holds the magazine in place wore down on my LC9s. Ruger had me send the gun in and then replaced the button & spring.
On the contrary, I don't find the 22-round .40 magazine to be uncomfortable or otherwise bothersome. The Glock magazine carrier works very well in carrying it comfortably.
I also carry the G27's regular magazine with a Pearce extender. I like the Glock extenders as well. Although I'm not concerned with cramming an extra round or two into the regular G27's magazine, I like the ability to fully use my pinky in gripping the gun.
- Ruger LCP Stainless front right pocket. Spare 7 rd mag rear left pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
2.) Light
- Ruger LCR .357 AIWB/front right pocket. 5 Star reloader front left pocket. Ruger LCP rear right pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
3.) Normal EDC
- Glock 26 or 27 AIWB. 9/10rd rear left pocket (occasionally a 15 rd reload) Ruger LCP front right pocket. 7 rd LCP coin pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
4.) Medium-Lite
- Glock 19 AIWB. 15 rd mag rear left pocket. Ruger LCP rear right pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
5.) Medium
- Glock 21 AIWB. 13 rd mag rear left pocket. LCP right rear pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
6.) Heavy
- SIG P226 Legion 9mm AIWB w/ 19 rds in the gun and two 20 rd SIG mags IWB double pouch five o'clock. Ruger LCP right rear pocket. Spare LCP mag in coin pocket. Protech Godfather clipped onto left front pocket.
Dont carry an extra but , got one in my car, kitchen, living room etc....
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Glock Talk
21M posts
185.2K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to Glock firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more!