Is a spare mag really needed?? (2024)

I don’t know if a spare mage is necessary in terms of added firepower. Having grown used to ten rounds I’ve learned to make each and every one count. I also don’t see how as a civilian I could defend firing 30 or 45 rounds if involved in a defense situation on the street. The decision to carry one or two or more mags for more rounds is an entirely personal decision.

I do think that a spare magazine is necessary for other considerations besides extra ammo. To clear a failure to extract, stovepipe or other jam I find it quicker to dump the mag and insert a fresh one. On the ocntrary I’d have to remove the mag, hold it in my hand, clear the jam and reinsert the mag.

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So many pistols, so little money.

There was a case in Phoenix, AZ last year when an armed citizen was required to fire on 3 gang-bangers who had killed a police officer in his cruiser as he rounded a blind corner. One of the hoods shot the officer point blank as he drove past, hitting him several times and killing the officer. The citizen was carrying a .40 caliber Glock and saw the situation unfolding. He fired his Glock all 13 (?) times, emptying the gun as his truck came to a stop in front of the assailants. He jumped out of the truck and tackled the shooter (who was holding an empty .357 Magnum at the time) until police arrived on the scene. Another suspect was captured sometime later with a 12ga. shotgun.

An interesting aside is that all rounds fired by the citizen hit the vehicle or assailant, and were accounted for. Also, his weapon was confiscated by police for the investigation, but local PD officers put a fund together and *bought* the citizen a NEW Glock as a replacement for the one used to defend the fallen officer. Nice ending.

In this case, a spare magazine would have made a difference. I've heard it said that anything important enough to have is worth having two of... I carry a spare magazine only if going into unknown territory, and am a believer in the 'more-is-better' methodology. HTH,

Yes. The Houston Gun Collectors Association had a guest speaker about 2 months ago that was involved in a gunfight with 5 "disadvantaged minority youths" - DMY's.

He told the whole, very sobering story in great detail. You could have heard a pin drop in that room of 900 folks.

This guy was driving to the store and happened to have 2 pistols and 2 magazines for each. He planned to go to the range that day but ended up determinig he did not have the time to do so. He was in west Hosuton behind a Sheriff's car when the sheriff did a quick U-turn and stopped in front a vehcle that was perpendicular to his car's braodside. The guy wasn't sure what was going on but said the hair on the back of his neck stood up as the sheriff got out, pistol drawn. 5 DMY's jumped out of the car guns blazing at the officer. This guy, in his late 60's at the time got out of his truck and pulled the trigger on a perp. "Click". His 1911 had no round in the chamber and due to his arthritis he could not work the slide. Get this, he plopped down on the road and hooked the rear sight of the pistol on his boot heel to co*ck the gun. It worked. He stood and began firing as the officer took a hit and went down.

I'll try to condense this - he returned to his truck twice to get another gun and another magazine while trying to keep the DMY's pinned down. He kept telling the audience thet he honestly expected to die any second. Finally the DMY's ran out of bravery and took of running into a field. Here's what the old man said to us next: "If you think that this old man was going to stop shooting just because I saw heels and elbows you've got another thing coming."

Out of about 60 cars that were stopped right there watching, no one came to help. Finally a woman with a 6 week old baby pulled up and told him "I have gun in my car if you need some help!" This is BEFORE Texas had CCW. He did ask her to go call the police.

The officer did survive and the man went on to speak in Washington and Austin where he and SUZANNA HUPP were instrumental in passing the Texas CCW bill.

The next day I put a spare magazine for my USPc in my vehicle.

I guess what it boils down to is the question, "What level of threat are you willing to prepare for?"

An attack by one perp, 2, 5? We each have to make that decision. For me, being able to face a threat twice at great in number simply by having an extra magazine was an easy decision.

Be safe.

CMOS

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GOA, TSRA, LEAA, NRA, SAF and I vote!

From personal knowledge I do not know anyone who has "needed" a handgun at all, and thus no one I know personaly has needed a spare magazine.

I have been shot at (with a rifle) and left the area at good speed--no pistol needed.

I have been threatened with a rifle in Alaska and left the area at a good walking pace--no pistol needed.

I have been threatened with a knife at a sporting event and I told the guy we could settle it "outside like men" and then left the area at a good running pace--no pistol needed.

I have been threatened verbally by a group of what I believe were drug dealers one night. (We'll kick your *** sort of thing). I walked away without using a pistol or my mouth; --no pistol needed.

A few other incidents of similar nature have occured, but I never "needed" a pistol to survive.

I don't think that a collection of anecdotal incidents is all that useful in formulating what I consider to be a martial art technique. In my martial art, I carry a spare magazine when I carry a pistol. This reinforces to me that I am a martial artist, not just a guy with a gun. I am willing to have the extra weight.

I like Jeff Cooper's thought'" Owning a gun no more makes you a shooter than owning a piano makes you a musician."

My point is that all anecdotal evidence for any practice is very weak. I myself use extra caution when evaluating an anecdotal argument. I am sure you would also use your judgement and my post is to emphasize how some information could be misused.

BTW, I really wanted a pistol in all of those incidents, and had a pistol with me in only some of them.

It has been said that you rarely need a pistol but when you do you really need it.

It has also been said that the weapon a person has is less important than the person, that is why I strive to be a martial artist using a gun not a guy carrying a gun.

Thanks for your topic--sorry I ignored your specific request to mention only actual uses of spare mags. Your indulgence is requested.

Noel

There was an incident in Ohio where a woman was killed after emptying her revolver. The newspaper article didn't provide many details, but the short story is that her abusive ex-husband invaded her home, broke down her bedroom door and shot her. She fired all six shots from a .357/.38 revolver, hitting him once in the arm.

Then there was the California case in which the homeowner (Dr. Fang) was shot in the back by a home invader after he'd emptied his revolver and turned to retreat.

I suppose a spare magazine wouldn't have helped either of those revolver-armed defenders, though.

Here are my private thoughts on the matter . . .

I used to work in the private sector for 15+ years and in all that time, I've never had to shoot at another individual. Although I did have to draw my weapon twice and hold people at gun point on two seperate occasions until the police arrived. I'm now semi-retired and in another line of work and carry a concealed weapon for defense purposes.

Despite my past training, I realistically do not expect to survive a long gun fight (like what you see on TV and the movies) especially if there is more than one other person involved. Additionally, it is a documented fact that "9 times out of 10" (meaning around 90% or more) times a private civilain merely has to display a weapon to prevent a crime from taking place. Of the times that the gun has to be used, the majority of the time only one or two shots has to be fired.

Despite all of these "facts" (which would lead you to believe that a spare magazine is not required), I do carry a spare magazine on me as well as enough extra bullets (in my car, traveling bag, etc.) to be able to reload both magazines if I have to.

While it is unlikely that I will ever need the spare magazine (or even need the gun for that matter), there are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of cases every day where a private citizen has to use a firearm for self defense purposes to save a life and out of all those cases (small though they may be) a reload could mean the difference between life and death.

Will it ever happen to me? Statistically speaking, it's unlikely but it's also unlikely that I will ever win the lottery yet I buy tickets ever week and statisitically speaking, I have a higher chance of needing a spare magazine than winning the lottery.

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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- EdF.

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited February 01, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited February 01, 2000).]

A common trap for shooters is to fall into the "one time" school where a single or few incidents dictate our effort to learn.
Yup, "some" do exist. But in all reality is is highly unusual (rare...very rare) that police or civilians need to reload. If you have to reload it means you missed A LOT! That is the real issue.
None of us have enough time and money it seems to shoot as much as we want. Reloading has to some become an art form with "tactical" reloading, what the hell ever that is. A reload is a reload.
I've carried guns for 40+ years and in one shooting I fired four shots out of six. I wasn't comfortable with two left. Speed loaders are nice as are magazines. But if I am out of bullets, the situation may be such I can retreat.
I worry more about hitting what I shoot at to start with. Very little effort should be placed on reloading and concentrate more on things we know are far more serious.
I have a rare few cases where reloading was an issue. Yup, I carry two speed loaders in my pocket when I carry a revolver, and a spare mag or two for my 1911 or G17 when I carry those. But if I forget the speedloaders or mags I don't go out of my way to go home and get them. If I think the risk is that high I won't be holding no stinkin handgun.
On a priority of 1-10, reloading gets a 2 or 3 at most.

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Specialists in the use and training of lethal force.

Maybe this is a little closer to topic:

I've had my Sig P239, 40 S&W for about a year. During which time I've taken numerous 2 and 4 day tactical courses using it, and have fired over 7,000 rounds without a single malfunction. It is also my daily carry gun. Whenever I go out for a little target practice (often), I shoot all of the ammo that I've been carrying around in the gun and spare mags first (ammo rotation). This weekend was the first time I've shot in about a month and a half. On the firing line, I performed an obligatory chamber/magazine check before I commenced firing. Everything was fine, the round in the chamber was not "stuck", and the magazine was not "bound".

First shot: Failure to eject.
**Tap-Rack/Flip**

Second shot: Failure to feed.
**Tap Rack/Flip**
**TYPE 3 MALFUNCTION!!**

**Look-Lock-Strip, Rack-Rack-Rack, Insert-Rack**

BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM

There was no dirt/sand/lint in that first magazine, the rounds depressed smoothly during the mag-check. Inspecting the rounds that malfunctioned, the brass was a little tarnished (just "not shiney"), but there was no corrosion. Just a little nick on the copper jacket, where the feed cycle came to an abreviated end. I put a couple hundred rounds downrange, with no more malfunctions.

I learned something that day. Even the most trustworthy, time proven peice of precision machinery CAN throw you a curve once in a while. Thank God I was at the range when this happened, and not standing between the bad guy, and my family.

On the firing line, I'd have really looked like an idiot as I marched over to the disassembly bench had I not had that spare mag on my belt. Out on the street, I'd have just looked really, really DEAD without it.

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The Bible is my lawbook. I turn the other cheek when applicable, and spend the rest of my days resisting evil at every front, until I have breathed my last breath.

Excuse me if my memory is faded, but, it seems to me that ole Ed McGivern, of S&W wheelgun fame, was once asked "Don't you feel kind of undergunned with only a six shooter? What if there are more than six assailants?" To which Ed replied, "After I shoot the first six I'm sure the others will be disoganized enough that I'll have time to reload."

If anybody knows the proper wording, please post, it's a classic!

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Be mentally deliberate but muscularly fast. Aim for just above the belt buckle Wyatt Earp
If you have to shoot a man, shoot him in the guts, it may not kill him... sometimes they die slow, but it'll paralyze his brain and arm and the fight is all but over Wild Bill Hickok
45 ACP: Give 'em a new navel! BigG

It is error alone that needs government support; truth can stand by itself. Tom Jefferson
Remember: When you attempt to rationalize two inconsistent positions, you risk drowning as your own sewage backs up. BigG

First shot: Failure to eject.
**Tap-Rack/Flip**

Second shot: Failure to feed.
**Tap Rack/Flip**
**TYPE 3 MALFUNCTION!!****Look-Lock-Strip, Rack-Rack-Rack, Insert-Rack**

BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WHAT? Are you serious? Where do you think you will get the time to try this Houdini stuff? Try BLEED-BLEED-BLEED-BLEED.
First of all if the gun is THAT complex and a problem, I'd dump it and take care of business and get a revolver. And if you think you can process that much information and perform those tasks when faced with death, I've got news for you. Where do folks come up with this Hollywood stuff? You can sure tell who's "done it" and who has as good theory.
Let's see if I have this right.
Some think if faced with death at arms length or abouts in low light we will......

Get a good stance.
Do a speed rock
get a crush grip
get a flash sight picture
double tap or something like that
seek cover
and if the fun fails we will tap bang something or other.
WOW, glad these folks don't teach sex.

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Specialists in the use and training of lethal force.

If you are carrying an auto pistol, especially one of low (7 or less) capacity, why not carry a spare magazine? The extra bulk and weight are not significant. A spare 15 rounder in .40 S&W is both bulky and heavy and may not be worth the trouble.

All that being said, accuracy is still paramount. I have a hard time envisioning a situation (outside the movies) where a good shot kills 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 BGs and there are not only more, but they keep coming rather than running away. Elite "damn the casualties" military units, maybe. Street punks? The ones I knew would be gone at the first shot, if not at the sight of the gun.

Jim

hi nobody,
as long as you have a choice in the matter, NOT carrying a reload is a BAD idea. many people go through a lot of trouble to carry a gun to protect themselves just-in-case. carrying a reload is a logical extension of the just-in-case mindset. tecolote has got it right when he brings up malfunction clearance. being able to clear a malfunction expeditiously is equally as important to having extra ammo handy- both are key elements to staying in the fight that goes longer than "statistics" may suggest.

plusp, i believe you are allowing your own "few incidents" to dictate your own course of learning don't know if you realize it or not, but the tone of your post could actually discourage someone new to ccw from carrying a reload. your last ten incidents may not have needed a reload, but a reload may be the deciding factor for johndoe@aol.com's first incident. you bury the significance of the reload behind the obvious -learning to place your shots correctly- but the bottom line is that you carry reloads because they are significant.

in a world of uncertainties, your goal should be to cover as many bases possible- and carrying an extra magazine is one of the easiest bases to cover.

best regards,
joe

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www.skdtac.com
tactical accessories for self-defense and le

I remember the case of a colonel in some Central American army that was ambushed by three terrs while walking to his car. He carried a 1911 with no extra mag. True to his training he first looked for cover (his body was found behind his car) and proceeded to deal with the situation. In the exchange he killed two of the terrs. The third, once the colonel stopped firing, came upon him and shot him several times. The picture in the paper (and you think Jerry Springer is bad) showed a lifeless body clutching a pistol with the slide locked back. I think that man, at least, would've benefitted from an extra mag.

Is the above anecdotal, yes. Does it prove anything? Maybe not. It did convince me to always stuff an extra mag in my pocket before I leave home, however.

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So many pistols, so little money.

My personal experience with the "lower elements" bears out PlusP's recommendations, i.e., you will be so close you'll smell their breath. My personal agenda indicates, that in event of a malf or a dry weapon, Gun-fu is in order!

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Be mentally deliberate but muscularly fast. Aim for just above the belt buckle Wyatt Earp
If you have to shoot a man, shoot him in the guts, it may not kill him... sometimes they die slow, but it'll paralyze his brain and arm and the fight is all but over Wild Bill Hickok
45 ACP: Give 'em a new navel! BigG

It is error alone that needs government support; truth can stand by itself. Tom Jefferson
Remember: When you attempt to rationalize two inconsistent positions, you risk drowning as your own sewage backs up. BigG