gun magazine combo holsters, junk or tactically sound?

[JERRY]

for the sake of argument everyone is right handed.

I find that when I reload my gun I use my left hand to grab the spare magazine either mid line, left of center, or left side (9-10 o'clock). I am trying to find the sound tactical reason for the spare magazine to be carried as part of a RH holster, so help me out here.

does a right handed person drop the empty mag then switch gun to his left hand and draw the spare mag with his right hand and reload?
does the left hand reach around passed the gun, then grab the magazine then do the reload? how does this work with the gun pulled in for a tactical reload?

I'm not fat but I don't find it easy nor quick to reach my right side at 3 o'clock with my left hand with a gun in my right hand pulled in close for a reload.

are these rigs just gimmicks for the neophyte or am I missing their tactical advantage?

thanks.

 

[<*(((><]

The only combo holsters that make sense to me are AIWB where the magazine is riding in front just like the pistol.

 

[Jeff White]

There is no tactical advantage to carrying the spare magazine on the holster. I think the concept goes back to early military holsters where it was a convenient way to have the pistol and spare magazine in one package.

 

[bearcreek]

are these rigs just gimmicks for the neophyte or am I missing their tactical advantage?

They're gimmicks. There is no advantage.

 

[Double_J]

I have a couple that were on sale that are used only for car holster use in that they keep the pistol and spare ammo together in a common spot. There is no way I would use one for daily carry, they are gimmicks for the untrained.

 

[herrwalther]

I have liked some of the AIWB rigs that have the magazine attached. Some are connected with 550 cord between the holster and carrier, in case you don't want to commit to taking up that much real estate in the front. I can see a convenience advantage. Tactical advantage? Probably none without significant training to relearn the format.

 

[9mmepiphany]

are these rigs just gimmicks for the neophyte or am I missing their tactical advantage?

I wouldn't call them a gimmick, it is just a very specific use item...like the holster worn in the middle of the back (MOB/SOB) being used for standing position security duty in tailored clothing.

The holster with attached magazine should carry the magazine in front of the holster and the bullets should face toward the gun.

Carried in the AIWB position (1-2 o'clock), untucked clothing is cleared with the support hand as the dominate hand draws the gun...this is the original designed use of Bruce Nelson's legendary Summer Special. During a reload the gun stays in the dominate hand while the support hand sweeps the clothing upward to access the magazine.

With practice, the draw is very fast as is reloading...it does demand a high degree of trigger discipline. It conceals well and is highly accessible while in a vehicle or while seated

 

[1911 guy]

If it's carried on the centerline of the body, it's useable. Carried on the right or left side, it's a bad decision. 9mmepiphany describes proper use carried in front, commonly called appendix position. Some people love it and conceal very well with appendix carry.

 

[psyopspec]

I'm carrying in an AIWB sidecar rig today, as I have for years now. The advantages to me are: 1) the sidecar rig with two clips is very stable; 2) the general outline of the rig doesn't look like a gun, and is broken up over a large area; 3) additionally, having a wedge/claw makes it very easy to conceal both gun and mag; and, 4) reloads are probably a little faster than going for a carrier on the off side, since the support hand is closer to the mag in a firing position.

Of course, none of this matters if OP is referring to strongside or behind the hip IWB holsters with mag carriers onboard, which is a different matter.

 

[bearcreek]

Of course, none of this matters if OP is referring to strongside or behind the hip IWB holsters with mag carriers onboard, which is a different matter.

I assumed he was talking about a "conventional" holster with a mag carrier attached. Something like this abomination.

A mag carrier attached to an appendix holster as you describe is quite useful, IMO.

 

[bluejeans]

I agree with others that unless it’s an appendix rig, it’s not a good idea for defensive carry...
BUT
Remember that not every gun is for edc/ccw/sd. I can think of several guns for which I’d be happy to have a spare mag attached to the holster... like a ruger mk2 6” that I throw on when berry picking in case I see a grouse or squirrel. It could also be good for keeping the pistol and spare mag together inside of a backpack when hiking etc. So it’s not necessarily a bad idea. Just depends on what ones intended usage is.
I have an “abomination “ like the one @bearcreek posted... but I’ve never worn if on my belt. I use it to keep a gun (empty chamber) and two mags together inside my duffle bag when traveling (in addition to the ccw on my belt.)

 

[9mmepiphany]

I assumed he was talking about a "conventional" holster with a mag carrier attached. Something like this abomination.

That might be what the OP was referring to...it would seem so from his description of carry position

A mag carrier attached to an appendix holster as you describe is quite useful, IMO.

Something like this would be much better suited for "carry":

 

[Jenrick]

A magazine affixed to the holster, or immediately adjacent to the holster, is of major use when manipulating the pistol with the shooting hand only (ie wounded shooter, or a speciality situation such as running a ballistic shield, etc). It allows for a much more ergonomic access of the magazine than reaching across the body with the dominant hand. I actually carried on spare pistol magazine behind my duty holster for this eventuality.

 

[waterhouse]

I know several guys at work that appendix carry in something like this:

It makes as much sense to me as having a separate magazine any where else that you can reach it. I practiced with one and it worked just fine for reloads.

 

[Speedo66]

I don't see any advantage for a duty or defensive gun. I carry as I trained, reloads on my weak side. No need to switch gun hand to hand to grab a magazine.

For a field gun I guess it would be useful to have everything in one package, but then you fall into the trap of not doing as you were trained. In dire moments you unthinkingly go back to what you were trained to do.

Retired 11 years now and I still find myself unconsciously counting my shots at the range.

 

[MedWheeler]

The worst ones of these are the pocket holsters. You really have no other choice than to pass off the pistol to the other hand.

 

[boom boom]

I have one because it fits the handgun for which there are little options. It has enough give so that I can have a small laser/light combo as well. That being said, there are better options.