Extra Ammo?

[Raccoon]

Do you carry extra ammunition? I usually have one or two clips somewhere near me in a coat pocket or in the car.

I suppose if you subscribe to the spray and pray theory, you would want to carry lots of backup. But I have always been told that if you take that extra 1/2 second, to make the shot, you can make it count more than the guy that is just trying to get off the first shot.

That's why so many people who carry revolvers seem to be more accurate, because they know they only about 6 shots to make it count.

[Stubob]

I like your stance on carrying extra ammo - but is it true that most gun fights are only 3 or 4 shots? do you have any information on that?

:)

[VegasGeorge]

If I carry in a pack, I always have a second clip in there. If I carry in a holster, I usually just go with the ammo in the gun. I admit that I've wondered about the wisdom of leaving the second clip at home. Maybe I'll start carrying it all the time. We'll see.

[Raccoon]

Well, there are several things you have to consider. If the magazine jams, you really dont want to call a timeout :)

You will need to run through your clearing exercises and practice this on the range. slam the magazine back into the pistol by striking it on the bottom of the magazine. work the slide once and eject the round inside. Take aim and fire. If this does not work, go to second stage clearing. remove the magazine, work the slide several times, and lock to the rear. Insert a new magazine and release the slide lock, take aim and fire.

In new training, we learn that you should now keep the old magazine and put it in your pocket in case the new one gets spent. You will have ammo if needed from the old magazine.

Now in all honesty, I get lazy and just carry just the pistol too, so I am preaching to myself as well. . . .

[afone]

I have a 5 shot 38 hammerless Taurus. In addition, I carry a box of ammo in each of my vehicles.

[ccadmin]

thanks for posting - That is a good idea to leave extra ammo in the car so you "dont leave home without it".

I have forgotten additional mags or speed rounds and have run into gangs. Having 5 to 7 shots and facing 15 gang members is something that does not feel good.

[Dave]

Good question. Although my permit is yet to arrive, it is legal to conceal and carry in your automobile. I've just purchased a Kahr cw9 and carry two extra mags at all times (7 rds. ea., 21 total) This will likely be my first line carry gun, once my permit comes, it's just so easy to pack around!

Also carry an extra mag when my S&W 915 is in the car. Whichever gun I carry I'll plan to always have at least one extra load...it's just prudent.

[Genghis77]

A little advice about carrying ammo in your car and probably most of all the glove box. If you live in a hot climate or sometimes a moderate one and just park in the sun a lot, you might not want to depend on that ammo too much. Primers tend to melt a bit at those temperatures. In Arizona, a big problem. I have seen ammo left for a month that is 50% duds. And it only gets worse with time. On .22 rim fires the problem as bad as it gets. I have known of melted primers in about an hour with those. Good idea in the winter months though.

Lub will also get into your powder and make your ammo erratic. Never seen it leak so far as to saturate the primer, but with a hand cast lubed bullet, that could happen.

[packnrat]

rule number one in a gun fight:

Never ever run out of ammo.

xd 40 three mags and a box or two not far away. (the new gun)

1911 four or five mags close at hand, and a box or two not far away.

s&w 686, five speed loaders at hand, and a box or two close by.

does any leo out there have any less?

[VegasGeorge]

I just added a third magazine to my regular kit. One in the gun, two in the bag. That gives me 22 rounds of .45 ammo. I added the third magazine after thinking about this thread. I have rationalized my ammo needs as follows.

Most gunfights are over in a matter of seconds, and involve no more than three or four shots. If a gunfight lasts longer than that, I would definitely be looking for a way out. So, I see my ammo needs in excess of the first three or four rounds as being that necessary to fight my way to an exit point. Even if I am facing two or more assailants, I should be able to cover my escape with the remaining 18 rounds. I know that's all speculative, but that's how I see it right now.

[Stubob]

After running into some gang members and not shooting it out with them, but looking for cover, I have increased my Ammo that I carry. Normally 3 mags for the .45 and a minimum of 12 to 18 of 357 on the straight speed clips.

It is not the one or two that bother me. It is the rest of them. I like VegasGeorge's point - move out of the fight and get out of danger.

[hygyliac]

Extra ammo, always!
I lean towards the old adage, "its better to have and not need, . . . . "
Minimum . . . is pistol loaded, one in the chamber and one magazine.
I always want to make sure that I can get me and mine out of harm's way.

[Bill of Rights]

I agree. I carry 12+1 and one extra mag, for a total of 25 rounds. If after that I don't have a clear escape route, something is seriously wrong.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd198/St-Michael/guns1.gif
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd198/St-Michael/shooter.gif

Cogito, ergo porto.

Blessings,
M

[lildobe]

I keep an extra mag in my truck's console (Not of much use when I'm not in the truck!) But other then that nothing extra.

15 rounds in my Glock
7 Rounds in my Kel Tec P-32 BUG

The day I need 37 (or even 22) rounds to end a situation is going to be a sad day indeed! :/

[packnrat]

i would say any day i need to have / use any amount of ammo is a sad day, but i would like to have a lot of ammo around just in case.

maybe just enougth pistol ammo so i can get to the shotgun, or maybe one of my prize guns. :shock:
they do not hold more than a pistol (thanks ca) but hit harder.

[Quick_Draw_McGraw]

one extra mag for my 9mm

2 speed strips for the .357 and im good.

[nodaywithout]

I will once my permit comes in......

[ColtM1911A1]

I always carry two extra magazines-- one with a load that mimics the handgun's magazine and the other that carries a load of a deep penetrating bullet design: either FMJ, mil-spec truncated cone, hard cast, or Hornady XTP. Sometimes a need for deep penetration is important, and these non-expanders can still be effective as a self-defense bullet, especially if the caliber starts above .40 caliber...

I also always carry two firearms (a back-up)...

The reasons are obvious for two magazines, plus the back-up.

[EBDPA]

I carry a Glock 39 in 45GAP, 1 in chamber and 7 in magazine. I carry a 10 round magazine on my hip... I usually have one or two magazines in the pockets of each of my coats, so when I am out at night, I usually have at least one backup to the one on my hip.

I am not concerned as much for running out of the first 8 rounds in a fight, but having a round malfunction and needing that backup magazine, which is statisticaly more likely. The one in my pocket is cheap insurance and it helps me clear my heavier garment when drawing from concealment at night.

just my two cents...

[BikerRN]

I will give a rundown of what I carry Off Duty, most frequently.

Ruger GP100 (6+12) IWB in a Milt Sparks SSII Reloads are in a camera pouch on the belt
S&W 442 (5+10) Weakside Pocket reloads are in the strongside pocket
Cell Phone Pocket Strongside, not the same pocket as the reloads
CRKT M16 Folding Rescue Knife Weakside Pocket, not the one with the gun
CRKT "Fixed Blade Fairbairn Type" Knife On the Belt Weakside draw horizontal carry
CRKT Pocketknife for chores, cutting tape, etc. Strongside Pocket, with the reloads for the 442
SureFire E2E Weakside Pocket near the CRKT

That's my daily off duty carry. As long as I stay out of deep puddles I'm OK. :) I figure if I'm not at work and I'm forced to use my gun I'm having a real bad day and I intend to go home to my wife alive. It may be awhile before help can get to me, so I intend to do everything I can to ensure that I go home in one piece.

Biker

[Stubob]

Great List - Your attitude of coming home is a good one.

In Israel they asked that the CCW permit holders carry everywhere. That was only 10% of the population, but it impacted the terrorists by a staggering number.

We all need to keep an eye out, as the life we save may just be our own.

[DMorrison]

This is an old thread, but an important one. Let me say this there is only one thing worse then needing a gun and not having one, and thats running out of ammo. Given a jam, or being outnumbered and out gunned. Personal experience says, take what you think will need...and then a little more. There are all kinds of ideas as to the minimum to carry. But I say at least one reload, and a good knife. I carry an auto benchmade...but I am active military, i it's more or status novelty thing then actually practical, because it isn't left hand friendly, a Speed Assist equiped kershaw was my carry for a long time. The CRKT m16 is an excellent knife, Biker, for those of you who are looking for a could knife i can deffinetly recommend that as well, or a SAT SOG. I keep a surefire on my night stand, but never carry a light out. For a long time in Iraq I carried a Surefire off of my weapon. And in a fast paced moment it was never readly accessible or feasible to access. But I do plan on getting a pocket tac light soon. Alot of people reccommend carrying a knife weakside in case of gun grabing assailant....They aren't going to get that close to me, but that's just me.

[tuna]

I usually carry my S&W Mod 60, occasionally I'll carry a Mod 15-3, and once in a blue moon I'll carry a 1911A1.

The .45 is easy to slide a spare mag (for crying out loud - MAGAZINE, every time someone says "clip" God kills a kitten! OK, rant off) next to my wallet.

With the .38's, I'll throw a "speed strip" (who thought up putting "speed" in the title of that?) in my jeans watch pocket. A speed loader would be a lot better, but I find is too bulky to carry all the time, so I carry the strip, all the time.
I figure if I've gone through my first 5 or 6, gotten a chance to reload, and gone through that 5 or 6, and need to reload AGAIN, my day is really bad.