Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner, where we discuss everything related to the CCW world. Like most topics in the Every Day Carry (EDC) world, today’s discussion will involve personal and mission-specific parameters. Specifically, should you carry a spare magazine? Now before you wheelgun lovers start throwing stones at my magazine-only references, hold tight; we’ve got a few CCC episodes queued up just for you.

Do You Carry A Spare Magazine?

The reason that carrying spare magazine (or ammo) is such a personal decision, much like the type, model or manufacture of your preferred gun, is because everyone’s situation is different. Since crime and violence can happen anywhere, I’ll avoid both South-Side Chicago to Mogadishu and Boise to Helsinki comparisons. But is there a standard by which concealed weapons carriers can base their baseline need for additional rounds?

3-3-3

If you’re a student of the gun in even the most basic sense, you’ve probably come across the old 3-3-3 adage in classes, books or internet forums: three rounds, three second at three yards. Meaning that a “typical” or “average” gunfight is quick, fast and involves only three rounds. Supposedly the saying originated with Colonel Jeff Cooper, others say it’s credited to the FBI, but I have not found a definitive source. Regardless, firing three rounds out of any modern handgun would most likely leave at least three additional rounds and maybe as many as 15 rounds depending on your carry gun. Even if the average gunfight requires six rounds, most modern pistols would have enough capacity to get the job done. However, some sub-compact guns would run dry.

But finding reliable gunfight data (or more accurately defensive gun use data) is incredibly tricky. A review of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports don’t spell out the average number of rounds fired during life-threatening encounters. And the rest of the limited amount of data available is taken from officer involved shootings by on-duty law enforcement, which may or may not have a relevance to individuals who carry a firearm to protect themselves. Other available data sources have potential bias issues (gun control organizations) or are unable to reference solid facts.

In my opinion, which is worth exactly what you paid for it, is that carrying an extra magazine is a good idea with a limited downside. Even if you only shoot three rounds, the feeling of being able to reload with a fresh mag either during or even after a gunfight is glorious. On the flip side of that argument, if you carry a pistol with a capacity of 12 rounds or more, the chances of needing a reload are likely minuscule.

Which brings me to the most important part of today’s episode: user data. How many of you carry a spare magazine on a daily basis? Does anyone carry more than one reload? How many rounds do you have immediately available? Please drop me a note in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. See you next week.

TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK

Normally on Make Up Your Mind Monday, I try to play the neutral third party and do my best to fairly present both sides of an issue that causes some controversy in the shooting community. Today is a little different.

In researching the topic of carrying a spare magazine, almost every resource was either an explanation of how to carry a spare mag or an attempt to convince you of all the reasons why you are a walking dead man if you don’t. There are a few dissenting voices, but usually as an incidental part of a discussion on a different topic. So this post is mostly in defense of the idea that maybe carrying a spare magazine isn’t always necessary. –  Read more at Lucky Gunner Lounge

Reasons To Carry A Spare Magazine

Where Do You Carry Your Spare Ammo?