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Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:51 am
by Weg
I am wondering how others on this board carry their spare mag. I carry a PT140 in a crossbreed supertuck, and am trying to figure out the best way to carry my spare mag. Does anyone make a IWB spare mag holder that works well with the crossbreed ? Right now, being winter, I just put it in my jacket pocket, but with spring coming I will be back to shorts and a hawiian shirt. Until about 3 months ago I carried a airweight and just carried 5 spare rounds loose in my pocket, now that I have transitioned to a semi-auto I need to figure out what is the best to carry a spare mag. Thanks
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:08 am
by FL450
I also use a CrossBreed Supertuck with my Sig P250 compact 40 cal.
I had a Crosbreed IWB Mag holder, but returned it due to comfort issues. Crossbreed has pulled it off the market for redesign which I hope will be soon. It was a hybreed Kydex with a leather backing, but it was too thick. I would like to see them make a supertuck for mags. Meanwhile I am using a nylon flashlight holder for my spare mag. My CHL instructor ( Tom Estep) uses a leather knife holder that he reformed to the shape of his Mag. Several holster makers also offer leather mag holders.
I am still looking for the one I want. It needs to be IWB and able to tuck a shirt in.Velcro clips would be nice. I love my Supertuck with Velcro Clips.
Good luck
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:12 am
by The Annoyed Man
To my mind, it's the big drawback to double stack magazines. I carry primarily two kinds of pistols — 1911s, and a USP Compact .40 (not at the same time). While there are advantages/disadvantages inherent in both kinds of pistols, the biggest difference for me is how to carry the spare mags.
Carrying spare 1911 mags is easy. They may be low capacity, but they are nice and flat, and they carry quite comfortably most of the time in an IWB mag carrier. But the spare mag for the H&K is much larger, and carrying it presents challenges for a guy like me with a bad back. I have both an IWB carrier from D.M. Bullard and an OWB carrier from Fobus for it, but neither is an ideal alternative.
I have a Galco Miami Classic II shoulder holster system on order right now, and my order includes holsters and mag carriers for both my 1911s and my USP Compact. All things considered, I think I would rather carry on my belt; but when my back is acting up, as it is today, this is very uncomfortable for me, even downright painful, and so I am hoping that the shoulder holster system will solve that problem. Otherwise, I have no alternatives but to carry off-body in my Versipack, or to just carry my 642 in an ankle holster.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:47 am
by A-R
I rarely carry my Glock tucked, usually only with a cover garment, so it's easy to just throw it in any OWB mag holder since it will also be under the cover garment. When I do tuck my Glock (Crossbreed), I place the mag in a nylon mag/flashlight/tool holster from Academy. Don't remember brand, but they sell it on same aisle as holsters in a package with yellow printing.
All my other carry guns are either single stack (Walter PPS, Ruger LCP) or revolver (S&W J-frame) and I carry spare ammo for each in either a small digital camera pouch or cell phone pouch, each fully encloses the extra mags or speed strips. Had to shop around a bit to find models that fit each well, but now I'm set. This is a very "stealth" way to carry extra ammo basically "out in the open". I place the smaller pouch on belt right next to my larger Ripoffs CO52 iPhone pouch and thus have "two cell phone pouches" to most casual observers. Being around the Austin tech industries, a person carrying two cell phones is not at all uncommon. I've never had anyone ask me why I have two pouches.
My speed strips go in a Ripoffs C046 cell phone/pager pouch with metal belt clip and velcro closure
http://www.amazon.com/Ripoff-Usa-Holste ... B0019MHYXO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also have a random Pentax tiny camera pouch that I picked up for a buck at a local camera store that holds three HKS .38-cal speedloaders.
LCP mags in a Tamrac 5204 camera case
http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-5204-Digit ... 429&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
PPS mags (stacked inverted, one pointing "up" one pointing "down" to counter act the goofy elongated bottom plate) in a Lowepro Rezo pouch (model 15, I think? but not sure)
http://www.amazon.com/Lowepro-Rezo-Came ... 656&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
One of the larger Lowepro Rezo camera pouches might hold a pair of shorter double-stack mags (Glock 27 size?) together, but might get a bit bulky.
The key to using any of these types of pouches for spare ammo is that the ammo is completely covered but still easy to get to with a quick opening flap with velcro or snap closure. Avoid pouches that close with a zipper, as these are more difficult and take longer to open in a high-stress situation.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 11:18 am
by C-dub
My carry weapon is my G27 and I carry OWB probably 90% of the time. When carrying OWB I use a fobus double mag carrier and bring along two 15 round full size mags. When I carry IWB I'll either slip one extra mag into a pants front pocket or sport coat pocket. The later is how I carry in church most of the time.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:33 pm
by fm2
One option is a pocket mag carrier. If you wear cargo shorts it'll probably fit in the side pocket or the front pocket.
I think Sparks makes a pocket mag carrier.
You may not need a belt IWB mag pouch, a OWB one may work well enough.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 4:40 pm
by surprise_i'm_armed
Weg:
My PT111 mags are probably about the same size as your PT140's.
My PT111 is 10+1, plus I always carry TWO backup mags of 10 each,
for a total of 31 rounds on me. You can have too little ammo, but
you can never have too MUCH ammo.
1. I bought a double mag holder at Academy which is black, holds the
mags vertically and can be worn either IWB or OWB. It is ballistic nylon
with long velcro strips. I like this one OK, but have come to realize that
the best way to retrieve the mags is to squeeze them up from the bottom,
rather than try to grasp the top of the mag to bring it up.
2. I also have 2 Uncle Mike's Kydex, single mag holders. These also can be
worn either IWB or OWB. I like this style better than #1 because the mags
are only half enclosed by the Kydex, which enables faster retrieval.
Also, there is no Velcro to make a ripping sound as I retrieve the extra
mag (who cares if I was in a shootout, though??) and the Kydex has some kind
of natural friction which holds the mags in place.
The only reason I'm not using these 2 right now is that I have misplaced one
of them and I want to stay with 2 backup mags, not just 1.
Any of the suggestions made here will work. Whatever you do, always carry
at least one mag.
I carry two extra mags, because all the .45 guys tell me I have to shoot
way too many 9's to hurt a bad guy!!! :-)
SIA
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:06 pm
by Mike1951
Bianchi makes this one for doublestack mags and another for single stack mags.
http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Pro ... delID=7302" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I like it because it can be worn either horizontally or vertically.
Also, if you just want to carry one mag, some knife pouches intended for lock blade knives will work for mag carry.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:25 pm
by stroo
I generally carry my extra ammunition in a second gun.

If I don't have a second gun, I carry a spare mag in my left pants pocket.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:34 pm
by Rokyudai
Tucker has a double stack IWB (1 mag) and for two mags. Towards the bottom of this page.
http://rlcompanyusa.stores.yahoo.net/maposppo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rok
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:48 pm
by dewayneward
Nice to know that there are other sickos like myself that carry an extra mag
My Hi-point 9mm is an 8+1, so I carry 1 extra mag. Since it is single stack, it isnt too hard to carry it in clothing. When I am not wearing business casual clothes, I wear carpenter pants and place the extra mag into the side pocket (the my son finds and pulls out when we are out and about, ha ha). I also have carpenter pants shorts, same thing.
Since I carry all the time, I always wear pants that have a belt, so it isnt a big deal. If I am doing a bike ride or walk (or for some reason am wearing "shorts"), then I use a "butt belt" and carry it all in there. I picked up a gun carry bag with quick release from cabela's for $14.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:02 pm
by marksiwel
does anyone know what the average number of rounds used in CHL shooting? My guess, 3-5, do you really need the extra mag? I can carry 11 rounds (10 in the Mag 1 in the pipe) for my .40 Hi power, if I need all 11 things must be really BAD
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:29 pm
by 5thGenTexan
Say you are getting jacked in a downtown parking garage at night after a night out with the significant other, and 5 bangers crawl out of the car with a gun apiece. 10+1 means they have to break it off pretty quick or you have to make a knockout shot every 2 rounds, I carry between me and the wife, depending on hardware on hand 20-30 rounds, can you guess which bad guy is a natural coward and which one is just plain crazy?
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:38 pm
by C-dub
marksiwel wrote:does anyone know what the average number of rounds used in CHL shooting? My guess, 3-5, do you really need the extra mag? I can carry 11 rounds (10 in the Mag 1 in the pipe) for my .40 Hi power, if I need all 11 things must be really BAD
I'm thinking that if I need to use my weapon things are already real bad and I would hate it to get worse because I ran out of ammo. I should practice tactical reloading more often.
Re: Carrying a spare mag
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:40 pm
by .45mac.40
Well....I gotta tell ya' , I found this post quit interesting and very informative !
I've been watching tha' History channel lately AND this thing...." Gangland " has been airing.
This morning ... I watched intently about the Texas problem and tha' Texas corridor ( I-35 )
.... SOOOooooo, Guess who now ???? WILL BE carrying back up ammo ??!!
THANKS GUYS !
Mac

.45 >>>>>>>>>> # %%%% #