Posted: 10/9/2025 3:26:13 PM EDT
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I'm mentally preparing for VA to devolve into a ban state next summer. I regularly carry a G45 with 2 spare 19 round magazines which is 56 rounds. Unfortunately I feel like the threat of facing a deranged lunatic with a magazine fed rifle is a very real thing in today's society and I feel like more rounds may provide valuable options and flexibility in this worst case scenario. If VA goes to a 10rd mag limit, I'm considering carrying 4 spare magazines to keep my total round count on body up at 51 rounds. I'm just curious if anyone is carrying more than 2 spare concealed mags now and how you're doing it. I currently carry my spares in an OWB kydex double mag carrier on my weak side. I'm toying with the idea of carrying 2 more in a soft pouch AIWB on my weak side. Primary reloads would come from my OWB mag carrier which is how I've always trained, and then the other mags would be sourced if it came to it. Appreciate any thoughts or experience. |
| I have, at times. I have a molle pouch that holds 3 mags. I have carried it on occasion. Usually I just carry a single spare mag. I have used it for my P226, but mostly use it for my Government model clone in .38 Super. So, 61 rounds in 9mm, and 37 in .38 Supe. Increases the need for a good stiff belt. Feels a bit over the top. |
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Originally Posted By vteng10: I'm mentally preparing for VA to devolve into a ban state next summer. I regularly carry a G45 with 2 spare 19 round magazines which is 56 rounds. Unfortunately I feel like the threat of facing a deranged lunatic with a magazine fed rifle is a very real thing in today's society and I feel like more rounds may provide valuable options and flexibility in this worst case scenario. If VA goes to a 10rd mag limit, I'm considering carrying 4 spare magazines to keep my total round count on body up at 51 rounds. I'm just curious if anyone is carrying more than 2 spare concealed mags now and how you're doing it. I currently carry my spares in an OWB kydex double mag carrier on my weak side. I'm toying with the idea of carrying 2 more in a soft pouch AIWB on my weak side. Primary reloads would come from my OWB mag carrier which is how I've always trained, and then the other mags would be sourced if it came to it. Appreciate any thoughts or experience. |
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| Usually carry just one. I do have the Midway 8 mag bandolier for my pistol in the car at all times. I used to keep a 11.5 AR, war belt and PC in the car after Oct 7th happened. Now just pistol and mags. |
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If this were a threat I wanted to be prepared for, it would be with a PCC or shorty AR in a backpack or sling bag. In 2020 I sometimes carried a Stribog with a folding brace this way when visiting densely populated urban areas with a history of riots. My other prep measures for a mass shooting with a rifle threat would include wearing running shows, and having extra medical in the same bag as the gun. Better than all of that though is moving, if feasible, to an area where that's not as much of a concern. |
| Seems a bit much. You will likely never need to use your pistol. If you do, drawing it usually ends with compliance. That active self protection guy says he has reviewed over 40,000 self defense encounters using firearms and has only seen one reload, which didn’t change the outcome. Where do you envision 5 mags worth of ammunition will be going during a defense scenario? |
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Originally Posted By Johnnny13: I've carried two spare 10 round 1911 mags in THIS pouch. I will look into this for sure. Appreciate it. |
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Originally Posted By -GuNuT-: Seems a bit much. You will likely never need to use your pistol. If you do, drawing it usually ends with compliance. That active self protection guy says he has reviewed over 40,000 self defense encounters using firearms and has only seen one reload, which didn’t change the outcome. Where do you envision 5 mags worth of ammunition will be going during a defense scenario? I'm not 100% sure what I envision, I just know that currently I can legally carry 56 rounds quite easily in 2 spare mags + the mag in the gun. I don't anticipate that being the case for much longer and I am beyond pissed about it. That aside, I've never read an account of someone being in a gunfight where they wished they had less ammo. My motivation for being as prepared and doing the best I can are my kids. For me, it's nice to know that if I had to engage someone down a long aisle in a grocery store, or down a long hallway in a church, both extended distance scenarios where I'm sure accuracy will suffer under stress, that I had more rounds available to me if the event does somehow become prolonged. That's my uneducated, inexperienced $0.02, but I'm just trying to do the best I can. |
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My IWB holster (DeSantis) holds one spare mag in a pouch in front of the pistol. I have two more IWB on the left side. Shield Plus mags are kind of narrow and they're not hard to carry at all. If we go to a 10 round mag. state I'll be switching to a sub compact .40 M&P. Already got it, already know what it shoots best, already have a similar holster for it so there's one mag. with the pistol IWB on the right side. The spares will go IWB on the left side. Not sure about two of those mags. on the left side, yet. If the worst happens next month I'll start practicing between then and July. |
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That scenario is now known as the "Dicken's Drill". Elijah Dickens eliminated an AR15 equipped mall shooter using his Glock 19 IIRC at about 40 yards with no reloads. So it can be done. For me, I can't hit a 5x8 plate offhand at that distance with my P365 with any regularity even with adding a spare mags worth of ammo. Tactically, I suppose one could get behind cover and make braced shots to even it up. I do carry one spare mag on the belt for either the P365 or the Echelon 4.5. The Echelon is too big for concealing under a shirt. |
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Originally Posted By radioshooter: That scenario is now known as the "Dicken's Drill". Elijah Dickens eliminated an AR15 equipped mall shooter using his Glock 19 IIRC at about 40 yards with no reloads. So it can be done. For me, I can't hit a 5x8 plate offhand at that distance with my P365 with any regularity even with adding a spare mags worth of ammo. Tactically, I suppose one could get behind cover and make braced shots to even it up. I do carry one spare mag on the belt for either the P365 or the Echelon 4.5. The Echelon is too big for concealing under a shirt. I recall reading that he braced himself against a pillar |
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Originally Posted By green_bullet: I recall reading that he braced himself against a pillar "stabilized position (atop a trash can) ". Info link ETA: One spare pistol mag is my norm for daily carry. 
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I rarely carry a spare. I can understand wanting a spare. In case there is a mag related failure or you end up mag dumping. But wanting to carry 4? No offense, but that’s sounding kinda paranoid to me. Go ahead and do it, but needing to have a pistol is one is a million. Needing to use more than one mag is one in two million. Needing to go through 4 mags? Cmon. You’re kinda being “that guy.” You have every right to be. Just being honest on how I perceive that. |
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Originally Posted By vteng10: I'm mentally preparing for VA to devolve into a ban state next summer. I regularly carry a G45 with 2 spare 19 round magazines which is 56 rounds. Unfortunately I feel like the threat of facing a deranged lunatic with a magazine fed rifle is a very real thing in today's society and I feel like more rounds may provide valuable options and flexibility in this worst case scenario. If VA goes to a 10rd mag limit, I'm considering carrying 4 spare magazines to keep my total round count on body up at 51 rounds. . Appreciate any thoughts or experience. THIS IS WHHY I BUILT A TRUCK GUN, OR IN MY CASE A JEEP GUN, A SHORT BARREL AR IN 300 BLACKOUTBECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF A PISTOL IS TO GET YOU TO A RIFLE! |
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Originally Posted By dogrobber13: One extra with gun, three more in vehicle. This. If I have the space to carry two more mags, I have the space to carry a spare gun on the off side. There are benefits to that. Also train more for accuracy. Up your game on making every single shot count. In practice, any shots outside the A zone shouldn't count. If you can already do that, then do it faster. Worried about an active shooter, practice the hell out of the Dickens Drill. But chances are if you need your gun, it will be up close and personal, so don't let your very close combat skills atrophy either. Personally, I don't go to malls, or schools, or places where large crowds of people are temping targets for some POS with a rifle and manifesto. |
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While it would always be nice to be able to carry more ammunition, I'm not willing to sacrifice my other priorities. Thankfully, my EDC is 15+1, so even with just one extra magazine, I'm rocking 31 rounds on me. Considering my training routine, after the first magazine is consumed in a firefight, my biggest issue would likely be injury to myself rather than the threat still not being neutralized, so I would rather prioritize carrying tourniquets, a knife, etc. I can (obviously) only comfortably carry so much. If you have significant concerns that 2 extra magazines isn't enough (even with them being 10 rounds), you should consider more training (or more varied training) to help enhance your confidence. |
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Originally Posted By vteng10: I'm not 100% sure what I envision, I just know that currently I can legally carry 56 rounds quite easily in 2 spare mags + the mag in the gun. I don't anticipate that being the case for much longer and I am beyond pissed about it. That aside, I've never read an account of someone being in a gunfight where they wished they had less ammo. My motivation for being as prepared and doing the best I can are my kids. For me, it's nice to know that if I had to engage someone down a long aisle in a grocery store, or down a long hallway in a church, both extended distance scenarios where I'm sure accuracy will suffer under stress, that I had more rounds available to me if the event does somehow become prolonged. That's my uneducated, inexperienced $0.02, but I'm just trying to do the best I can. I'd be curious about self-defense cases being prosecuted and how prosecutors try to paint the law abiding citizen as the aggressor because they had even one spare magazine. |
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| My typical carry in public is 2 spares. This applies whether it’s an 8-rd 1911 or 13rd mags for the BHP. Now. If I’m going on a long trip or if I have to get out late night (very rare) then I may toss another mag or two in the glove box or pocket. And nope I have zero illusions of extended gunplay but because it makes me feel better. And that’s what it’s about. |
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Originally Posted By vteng10: I'm mentally preparing for VA to devolve into a ban state next summer. I regularly carry a G45 with 2 spare 19 round magazines which is 56 rounds. Unfortunately I feel like the threat of facing a deranged lunatic with a magazine fed rifle is a very real thing in today's society and I feel like more rounds may provide valuable options and flexibility in this worst case scenario. If VA goes to a 10rd mag limit, I'm considering carrying 4 spare magazines to keep my total round count on body up at 51 rounds. I'm just curious if anyone is carrying more than 2 spare concealed mags now and how you're doing it. I currently carry my spares in an OWB kydex double mag carrier on my weak side. I'm toying with the idea of carrying 2 more in a soft pouch AIWB on my weak side. Primary reloads would come from my OWB mag carrier which is how I've always trained, and then the other mags would be sourced if it came to it. Appreciate any thoughts or experience. |
You must play the game. You can't win. You can't break even. You can't quit the game.
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Ever thought about a shoulder holster? Galco makes a four mag offside carrier; never seen one before but they make one. https://www.galcogunleather.com/qcl-quad-magazine-carrier_8_445_1241.html I used to carry two mags, habit from carrying a 1911, but I carry a single spare and a Snakestaff TQ now. If I wear the Galco Miami Classic it has a dual mag offside carrier that balances out the weight of the gun. If you go that route get the wider shoulder straps vs the narrow ones if you're carrying a heavier gun. Lots of folks hate shoulder holster but they have their place. |