How Many Reloads?

[The Night Rider]

I'm strictly asking questions here.

1. Do you carry a Reload? If you don't or you do I don't care why I just want to know if you do or not.

2. If you carry a Reload how many do you carry? Why you picked that number would be relevant.

3. Does the number of reloads that you're going to carry vary?

This question is kind of specific. If say for instance you would carry a revolver and two speed loaders for a total of 18 but you would carry a glock 19 and no reload because that's 15 that's one thing.

The question I'm asking specifically is given THE GUN YOU NORMALLY CARRY* would you carry one reload in one place and five reloads in another place and zero loads in yet another place?

4. How do you decide how many reloads you're going to carry? Again I'm not so much asking if your decision would be based on changing guns. Given the same gun if you carry a different number of reloads how do you make that decision?

* I changed the BOLD text to make the guesting as generic as possible.

 

[N555]

I do. All my ammo besides shotgun ammo is reloads.
One mag full is enough.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Yes. The Versacarry Commanders I generally use for carry provide a extra mag slot, so I use them. Plus the 1911 primary and the M&P Shield secondary are low capacity guns.

 

[The Night Rider]

I do. All my ammo besides shotgun ammo is reloads.
One mag full is enough.

I'm not asking if you use reloaded ammunition

 

[GEM]

A semi and one or two extra mags. The reasons are well known. The 5 is enough is BS, so let's do this again. If NPE or dress circumstances mandate a pocket gun, one reload for it.

For a Glock 19, one extra mag would be reasonable and easy to do.

 

[.38 Special]

When I carry a Glock I sometimes carry two spare magazines. I don't have any good reason - I truly do not believe reloading during a gunfight ever really comes up for a CCW man - but the shoulder holster came with two magazine holders, and using them does balance the weight.

The Glock almost always lives in an IWB rig, though, and adding magazines to the belt simply increases weight and bulk, so I don't do it.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I do not carry a spare mag for my edc.

I take classes, train, and practice with spare mags, but I don't carry one every day.

I used to carry a 10+1 autoloader in 45 ACP, but am in the process of switching to 16+1 in 9mm. Strictly for the additional on-board capacity.

Occasionally, I'll carry a New York reload (a J-frame in an off-side pocket), but I don't think you're focused on this kind of "reload".

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Varies a lot for me. For routine carry in normally "safe" areas I am often fine with a revolver and a speed strip. Did that for decades.

If I step up to a 15rd+ 9mm I may or not carry a spare mag depending on situation and circumstances. If rioting starts again and I have to go out at night I may step up to 3 spare mags. However, it would take a LOT to get me to go out at night if things are hairy. Just not worth it, not paid for that.

Depends on a lot. With a 19 I may or not carry a spare mag based on weather and risk assessment.

 

[wayneinFL]

I carry one speedloader with a 6 shot 32 revolver.

When I'm fishing or kayaking, I carry a Glock with 1 spare mag.

When I regularly worked in areas that were higher risk I carried a full size pistol and 1 spare mag. The first one was a Glock 30 during the assault weapons ban. If I only had 10 rounds, they might as well be 45s.

 

[The Night Rider]

but I don't carry one every day.

What is the deciding factor between yes and no?

 

[mcb]

You can never have too much ammo, unless you're drowning, or on fire...

In what context?

For CCW I always carry one reload. That is usually one spare moonclip in a pocket protector.

For my woods carry revolver I carry one or two speed loaders on the bet and a few more reloads (and some rat shot) in the tool box in the UTV.

When hunting it varies a lot depending on what I am hunting and what I am hunting with:
Squirrel hunting I will probably have two or three spare 10rd magazines for the 10/22 in my pocket and maybe even a 50rd box of loose rounds or the remainder of a box of 410 in the jacket pocket after loading my shotgun.
Rabbit and upland bird hunting always started with at least a box of shotgun shells in the vest.
Turkey hunting four rounds in the gun and whatever is left of the 10rd box goes in the vest somewhere.
Varmint hunting (Armadillos mostly and maybe coyote) I have one 20rd in the gun and a spare 20rd on the belt.
Deer hunting, I have been hunting with an AR most of the last few years so I usually have one spare magazine on my binocular harness. That means 4+1 in the gun (450 BM and 30 RAR) and a 7 or 10rd magazine on the harness. If I am hunting with a bolt gun it will be full +1 in the gun and 4 spare rounds in a silent carrier in the pocket. In Ohio we had a 3rd limit and it was slug only so it was 2+1 in the gun and a handful more in the pocket.

Competition:
IDPA limits me to three reloads with my revolver and two for most semi-autos (with a few exceptions)
USPSA the number of reloads I carry depends on division:
For Production and Limited-10 I carry five reloads
For Limited or Open I usually only have two or three reloads
For Revolver I carry 8 reloads.
I have not shot Carry Optics or PPC yet.
Carbine matches I usually have two spare magazine on the belt
Shotgun I have two 6-round caddies on the belt, 6 rounds in a side saddle, and if needed 8 more rounds on the left forearm.

-rambling

 

[CDW4ME]

I always carry a spare mag, reload.
Why? Though the OP did not request it, my reasoning is getting shared anyway*.
Location? Nope. Location not factored.
Anticipated threat? Nope. I'm not a psychic.
Expect to run out of ammo? Very unlikely; I've never "needed" a single bullet and typically have at least 16 rounds before slide lock.
In case of malfunction? Bingo.

*Other people need to see it (my infallible logic), even if they choose to ignore it.

 

[N555]

One double stack of 15, in the gun seems like enough.

 

[WrongHanded]

Assuming I am carrying only one gun, I typically carry one reload. I will carry more than one spare magazine if I am out in wild places, or traveling farther from home than I generally do in an average week.

 

[The Night Rider]

I always carry a spare mag, reload.
Why? Though the OP did not request it, my reasoning is getting shared anyway*.
Location? Nope. Location not factored.
Anticipated threat? Nope. I'm not a psychic.
Expect to run out of ammo? Very unlikely; I've never "needed" a single bullet and typically have at least 16 rounds before slide lock.
In case of malfunction? Bingo.

*Other people need to see it (my infallible logic), even if they choose to ignore it.

Dude, you post the same 4 or 5 standard responses all over the internet (Except for Defensive Carry). Everyone has already seen it multiple times

 

[Kleanbore]

Let us not make personal argument.

I do not carry a reload--but I probably should.

 

[luzyfuerza]

What is the deciding factor between yes and no?

I'm a private citizen, not a cop, so the chance of shooting a 16+1 autoloader to slidelock in a real fight is vanishingly small.

I can clear type I, II, and III malfunctions without using a spare mag.

I carry IWB strong side, so having a magazine buttplate fail, spewing ammo everywhere, is also highly unlikely.

I just don't see any good reason to carry a spare mag.

But like @Kleanbore , maybe I should carry one anyway.

 

[WrongHanded]

I'm a private citizen, not a cop, so the chance of shooting a 16+1 autoloader to slidelock in a real fight is vanishingly small.

I can clear type I, II, and III malfunctions without using a spare mag.

I carry IWB strong side, so having a magazine buttplate fail, spewing ammo everywhere, is also highly unlikely.

I just don't see any good reason to carry a spare mag.

But like @Kleanbore , maybe I should carry one anyway.

I have had an unfortunate issue on occasion with bumping a magazine loose. If I'd had to use my gun in a defensive situation at such a point, I may have just lost the magazine completely. My reload wouldn't be terribly fast in such a confusing situation, but it would at least be a possibility.

There's also the chance that you run your gun low, and simply want to ensure you have sufficient ammunition ready. In which case a tactical reload might be useful.

I'm not saying these are reasons everyone should carry a reload. Just food for thought, because a full double stack magazine in the gun really should be more than enough in most circumstances.

 

[GBExpat]

... Do you carry a Reload? If you don't or you do I don't care why I just want to know if you do or not. ...

Depends upon what I am carrying and whether or not I am wearing a coat.

For several months I have been carrying one or the other of my 3.3" .45acp XDses (5+1). When I was wearing a coat I might have had an extra mag in a coat pocket or, in some circumstances, 2 on the belt.

 

[Jeff White]

I carry one spare magazine.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I have had an unfortunate issue on occasion with bumping a magazine loose.

Good point.

For whatever reason (holster design, mag release button size or force required to press it, etc.) I've never had that happen to me. If I had, it would be a really good reason to carry a spare.

 

[fastbolt]

For a retirement pistol, I typically prefer to carry 1 spare magazine. The capacity of the magazine doesn't matter (runs 6-12, depending). For comparison, when I was working, depending on the assignment and weapon, I carried from 1-3 spare pistol mags. My spare magazine is carried just as much to address any possible magazine-related problem, as for the possible need to have spare ammunition at hand.

For a retirement revolver, I typically carry 1 speedstrip or speedloader. In earlier times I commonly carried 2 speedloaders or speedstrips off-duty.

When it comes to carrying spare ammunition, I tend to look at it more from the perspective of what's probable, than what's possible. Anything may be possible, but preparing for anything can take you down a lot of rabbit holes. My thoughts are influenced by training (and having spent many years as a firearms trainer), my experiences in my LE career, and having been exposed to the successes and problems experienced by others regarding this subject. Best guess.

Unless someone is subject to regulation and policy regarding spare ammunition and reloading capability ... I tend to practice the Live & Let Live philosophy of folks deciding for themselves.

 

[The Night Rider]

I carry one spare magazine.

Always 1?

 

[Jeff White]

Always 1?

Yes, when I was working I carried 2 or 3 and maybe a bug with a speed strip. Since I’ve retired there is zero chance that I might have to take any action such as assist an on duty officer.

I live a pretty boring life these days. I live in a very rural area and I don’t often leave my property.

 

[GEM]

I had an IWB kydex holster that continually flexed and released the magazine. I switched to an OWB (also as my old bod, doesn't like IWB). It's in the box of holsters and other useless gun junk.