Which is more important for CCW.....

[Eightball]

...having more ammunition carried (but in a less potent projectile) in the form of reloads, or having a good-performing JHP projectile "ready to go" and no reloads?

I ask the question because I will soon face this dilemma. Being a college student, money's kinda tight, but I will soon pick up my CCW permit, then buy myself a holster to pack around my 5" 1911 this winter (plenty of concealing garments are available, and this it the best option of what I have to carry, so please don't chide it--something beats nothing, any day of the week). But, I'll have just enough money left over after the holster purchase to either buy a mag carrier, or to purchase some JHP rounds to begin the testing procedure to see which JHPs my 1911 will feed (haven't had a chance to start that whole bit yet, to test for reliability/feeding with JHPs).

So, it boils down to, "which one first"? Should I get a mag carrier, and carry a mag in the firearm and some extra mags, but carrying 230gr FMJ? Or should I (slowly) start the process of figuring out which JHPs my 1911 will feed, and rely on the 1 mag already in the firearm?

It'll be my primary piece for the winter, since where I'll be it'll be cold and coats/overcoats and whatnot will abound and I can "get away" with it, but after Christmas I might be able to obtain a smaller, "spring/summer" carry piece.

Anyhow, thoughts or advice, as to which should come first--more ammo, but FMJ, or more potent ammo (but less of it) with not as much "prior testing" done with it?

EDIT: From my experience, it has no problems feeding FMJ--just for the record. Also, I don't really have a "smaller" pistol to carry....hopefully that's fixed soon. And also, this 1911 has an aluminum alloy frame. Don't know if that changes anything.

 

[dmazur]

You may get a lot of different answers on this one...

If the areas you frequent resemble "gangsta turf" (or drug dens, or whatever they are called now), you might equip yourself like an unfortunate LEO assigned to such an area. Mag carrier for 2 extra mags, backup gun, pepper spray and tactical flashlight. Can't be too prepared.

On the other hand, if you are just concerned about the random "nut job" that seems to pop up without warning, almost anywhere, you might feel adequately armed with a single magazine.

Some of us split the difference and carry 1 spare magazine.

On the type of ammo, there are a variety of accepted JHP's available. I like Hornady XTP's, but most of the major ammunition mfgrs have a good JHP for the .45ACP.

I haven't had any trouble at all with JHP feeding in the last 15 years. The 230gr types with "big shoulders" are really close to the profile of a 230gr FMJ, with the front missing. I believe the point of contact with the feed ramp is similar.

Before I had the feed ramp on one of my Commanders polished, it wouldn't feed JHP's. I could see copper traces in the rough machine marks on the ramp where the edge of the hollow point was catching.

If your 1911 has a properly polished ramp and a properly throated chamber, JHP's shouldn't be a problem. They were 30 years ago, when JHP's for the 1911 were kind of "new".

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why not carry an extra mag in your coat pocket instead of spending what little money you have on a mag carrier?

If you really want a mag carrier you don't need to spend a lot of money on one right now. Instead of paying a big price for a leather carrier there are good and inexpensive nylon ones available on the market like those made by Uncle Mike's.

As for ammo, you can always get the best of both worlds. Instead of paying big money for 20 rounds of the latest and greatest ammo from Speer, CorBon, Federal and others you can buy something that's not as expensive yet reliable. Instead of buying Remington Golden Saber ammo @ $28.99/25 rounds or Speer Gold Dot @ $24.99/20 rounds buy Remington UMC 230gr JHP ammo @ $28.99/50 rounds instead. (Part #L45AP7)

You have other options if you think them out.

 

[NavyLCDR]

+1 ArchAngelCD. or Winchester White Box JHPs.

You mentioned reloads in your OP. Why not reloads with JHP's?

 

[psyopspec]

I ask the question because I will soon face this dilemma. Being a college student, money's kinda tight, but I will soon pick up my CCW permit, then buy myself a holster to pack around my 5" 1911 this winter (plenty of concealing garments are available, and this it the best option of what I have to carry, so please don't chide it--something beats nothing, any day of the week).

Not only will I not chide you, but let me say that anyone who does is a fool. As far as CCW handguns are concerned, a full size 1911 ought probably do the trick in most cases.

Why not carry an extra mag in your coat pocket instead of spending what little money you have on a mag carrier?

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a bingo. If you've got pockets on your pants or coat, you've got mag carriers. Dedicate a pocket on the side of your non-shooting hand to being just for magazines so you don't reach for one and come up with a jumbo pack of Wrigley's chewing gum. Many winter jackets have large, easy to access pockets. Practice reloading with the mags in your pocket.* This may not be the most ideal way to carry, but it can suffice until you can afford to upgrade.

Also, if you wear cargo pants or carpenter jeans, many have a cell-phone size pocket that will accommodate a spare mag perfectly. Depending on how much you plan on investing in a holster, you could get a shoulder rig that will carry reloads on the opposite side of your firearm. You can also go cheap: For example, regardless of what you think of Fobus holsters, their mag carriers do an adequate job for ~20 bucks.

I say all this as someone who was a poor college student until not too long ago.** My point is, it doesn't have to be a choice between quality ammo without a mag carrier and ball ammo with a mag carrier. Be creative, use what you have, and do what you feel most comfortable with. Prioritize and then budget for what you need. I'd go for the hollow points first, since if you need to shoot in SD, it isn't likely to be that many rounds. But then, I wouldn't feel completely under gunned with .45 ball either.

Keep in mind that if you choose to go with the hollow points, it's vitally important to shoot enough of them through the gun that you're convinced they'll cycle reliably. If you can't afford enough to test fire (200 rounds is a typically suggested number), then you're better off sticking with what you know to work.

*Be safe. Use snap caps or do it with the weapon empty and the ammo in another room. Or better yet, live ammo at the range if allowed.

**Now I'm just an underpaid college graduate.

 

[BullfrogKen]

That's not really the right question. Use whatever you can shoot well, can control and practice with, and are willing to carry with you often.

It's your choice. You have to be comfortable with it. If you get "elected" none of us will be at your gunfight.


Having a gun that works when you need a gun matters most. Lots of fights have been resolved with a lot less than a 5" 1911 before. But you might not know it reading the gun magazines and the internet.

If you want to play the odds, in most fights the rounds in the gun mattered more than the rounds in the spare magazine. Get whatever feeds and you can afford to practice with. A gun that has the best ammo in it, but that doesn't feed, or you can't afford to practice with doesn't help you.

If you can't afford both ammunition and a mag carrier, I'd advise you to just stick a spare magazine in your back pocket, or someplace else you can get to it, and practice that way until you can afford a better carry system.

But I'm not you. You need to be comfortable with whatever decision you make. None of us will be at your gunfight.


Edit - psyopspec has some good advice. I'm not warm to the Fobus gun holsters, but I have some Fobus 1911 mag holsters. That's a great, low cost option that will last for a long time.

The FBI used 3 criteria to evaluate effective a handgun round's performance. Penetration, expansion, and its integrity when it came to rest. Of those, I'd say penetration matters more than any of the three. FMJ will penetrate. And .45 makes a decent sized hole. Those would be fine. Just don't let loose with too many in the kiddiepark at the mall.

 

[Elvishead]

Go to Walmart and buy a universal holster that has a mag carrier attached. They are $5.95 in the BB guns isle.

 

[mljdeckard]

I carry a full-size 1911, and I carry two reloads, but it really has less to do with more bullets than it does with clearing a malfunction. I'm thinking about dropping one reload for a mag pouch that holds one reload and a flashlight. I'm much more likely to need a flashlight than the third magazine. Not only does something beat nothing, it's the something I've settled on after trying on MANY other slippers. You are not wrong for carrying the pistol that works best for you, NO MATTER THE SIZE.

The good news about .45 is, it has good numbers even when you use FMJ ammo. If you KNOW it works, it has a lot higher chance of doing the job than a lot of smaller premium JHP rounds. I would look at the pawn shops and police supply places for a used mag carrier. They're all over the place.

BTW, my little brother is at Knox, I spent a winter there. I know exactly what you're talking about.

 

[Treo]

You can probably get a used GI mag carrier for less than 5.00$ at your local surplus store

 

[Deanimator]

I always carry one reload, whether it's for my Glock 19 or my Smith Model 36.

I have neither friends nor business in "bad" areas, so if I have trouble, it's going to be somebody who mistakes me for an easy mark in "safe" territory or some nut like a Cho or Hennard. In either case, one reload, even of five rounds, is at worst going to get me out of danger.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Oh... light goes on.... you meant reloads as in spare mags/ammo.... not reloaded ammunition.... DOH!

 

[SRT1]

First, and most importantly, carry a reliable weapon that YOU shoot well and can hit what you're shooting at EVERY TIME. A single .22 round well aimed and fired is more potent against a determined antagonist than 100 high power rounds shot into the air.
If you can shoot your current .45 well, then I'd say invest in an extra magazine to put in a pocket and put the rest into a decent holster that conceals well and retains the weapon. In other words, a holster that fits your weapon individually. After that, money will come in and you can branch out as needed. NEVER sacrifice familiarity, accuracy, or reliability for convenience or price. They are the very things that your life may well be saved by.
Good luck!
SRT

 

[GRIZ22]

Why not carry an extra mag in your coat pocket instead of spending what little money you have on a mag carrier?


Carrying in your coat pocket leads to lint and other trash in your mag. Go to Walmart and look in the sporting goods section for a knife pouch made of nylon webbing that's big enough to carry a 1911 mag. That's less than the price of a pizza.

You should always carry a reload for whatever handgun you carry. It will most likely be over before you empty the magazine in your gun. However, you carry a spare tire in your car with hopes of never needing it don't you? The same applies to a reload in my book for a lot of the other reasons mentioned.

If you can't afford to buy different types of JHP ammo to try out and you're worried about feeding reliability (as you should) carry FMJ. In a 45 it's more than adequate for SD use.

 

[Black Knight]

I doubt anyone would chide you on your choice of carry pistol. The 1911 has more than proven itself over time. The most important factor is that it must function flawlessly each and every time. Now to reloads, choose the ammo your pistol functions with best. As far as how many reloads to carry that is up to you. Two extra magazines are considered normal. When I carry my 1911 I have been known to carry 4 spare mags. If you wear a jacket you could put 1 or 2 mags in each side pocket. It evens out the jacket so it doesn't look heavy on one side or the other. It also adds weight on the gun side so it will be easier to sweep the jacket back for the draw. Good luck, stay safe and may you carry it but never need it.

 

[rcmodel]

Why not carry an extra mag in your coat pocket instead of spending what little money you have on a mag carrier?

+1000

In any case, a gun with one mag is like a car with three wheels.

Mag failure to feed, dropped mag, broken/cracked mag, etc. will put you almost out of action, with a single shot pistol, and one round of ammo, if you are lucky.

Having at least a second spare mag is just as important as the ammo inside it.

As for ammo?
Carry hardball 230's until you can afford enough of something else to throughly test it in your gun.

We know 230 HB will work in your gun if anything will, and it has a proven track record of stopping fights for going on 100 years.

 

[Water-Man]

Load it up with Federal HST 230gr. and if you think you'll be attacked by multiple assailants keep another mag in your pocket.

 

[harrygunner]

I noticed knife sheaths, for simple folders like Buck or Schrade knives, look a lot like magazine holders.

I found three leather sheaths for $10 or less each at "tourist trap" stores. It was easy to gauge by eye which size sheath fit a particular magazine. Found perfect fits for 1911, Sig 229 magazines as well as a single stack 9mm I used to own.

I used an hobby Xacto knife to cut off the hood. Then, I cut down the front a bit to make it easier to grasp the magazine.

I carry them in my weak side back pocket. But, each sheath has a slot on the back for belt carry.

 

[Japle]

PM me with your address and I'll send you a Dillon belt-slide holster.

I don't carry a 1911 anymore and the thing's just sitting in one of my holster boxes. You might as welll get some use out of it.

BTW, a Fobus mag carrier costs less than $20. Not fancy, but it'll work just fine.

 

[Defense Minister]

I'm with the folks that say carry the mag in a pocket. That's what I do, and It works fine. Use the money for some decent ammo.

Also, and I'm sure many will agree, the most important reason to carry an extra mag is not for the rounds, it's for the mag. If you drop your mag or it fails when you need it most, you'll be glad you have a spare.

 

[gbelleh]

I rarely carry extra mags (though I do usually carry a back up KT .380 as a NY reload). When I do carry a spare mag, it's in an old nylon knife case.

 

[Flopsy]

I carry no reloads. I carry one magazine loaded with golden saber JHPs which I know feed 100% in my carry gun.

I understand the the arguments for carrying an extra mag, but this is my compromise.

 

[peacemaker45]

I carry three extra mags when I carry a steel 1911. Partially because I like the idea of having more ammo, but as much as anything, just for the extra weight to balance out the heft of the gun.

But, as suggested, many pants have pockets that work well for mags. My carhartt jeans have pockets on either side, just under the hammer loops that hold either a knife or a mag very well. Coat pockets can work, or hip pockets. The standard wal mart sheath for a 4" buck folder is a great mag carrier, after you hack off the cover. Fobus and Uncle Mike make decent cheapie kydex stuff for about $20.

Wouldn't feel undergunned with ball, but remington and winchester both make decent generic JHPs for a whole lot less dollars than the primo stuff. Doesn't cost much more than a box of WWB ball.

~~~Mat

 

[jerryrigger]

i would be careful with the idea of carrying only one mag...i read some stat somewhere that some much higher percentage of failures are do to problems with the mag/ammo than with the gun, which makes sense. i carry a gov size 1911 as well, and never go anywhere without an extra mag or 2. the chances of ever needing that ammo are slim, but hey, so are the chances of ever needing the gun. the point is that if i need the gun, and need the ammo, i have it, and if one mag jams, i have another to fill its place. as others have suggested, just go ahead and drop one or 2 in a pocket until you can get a decent mag carrier if you decide you really want one.

 

[Ken Rainey]

Well there you have it...Japle is gonna give you a holster! What a nice guy, very High Road of you sir ...so now, all you have to do is pick up a mag carrier of some sort such as have been suggested and stick with your FMJ ammo....you didn't mention the brand of your pistol but you said it has an aluminum frame and without a fully ramped barrel that means the bullets are using the aluminum frame's feed ramp which means ball ammo is a friend to your pistol....some HP ammo will dig into the protective coating on the aluminum ramp and end up causing feed problems and a ruined frame...so, stick with what works! Reliability above all else

 

[gazpacho]

+1 Fobus Good quality and function for the price

I'm gonna recommend FMJ at least until winter is over. Heavy winter clothing can be a considerable performance barrier for HPs. However, if you want a JHP without a lot of testing, may I recommend Corbon's Powerball ammo. It's polymer filled hollowpoint gives superb feeding performance. After that I would recommend the Remington Golden Sabre.