Do you carry with a full mag? Why or why not?

[actaeon277]

You mean I sneaked a line from "The Hunt for Red October" by you?

No.
I ignored it.
I preferred the book.
I had a 1st or 2nd edition (paperback) back when it was printed by Naval Institute.
And.. I lost it, possibly during one of my moves.

 

[Vigilant]

I carry the full 6. That’s all the time you have to stop a threat anyway.

Unpossible, you wouldn’t have anywhere to keep your burying money?

 

[Trapper Jim]

Unpossible, you wouldn’t have anywhere to keep your burying money?

lol. May only be six but who wants to go first?

 

[churchmouse]

approximately zero

I would lay odds it is a matter of budget. Just not going to buy any boolitz.

I carry topped off +1 and 2 spares.

 

[Sigblitz]

I'm too lazy to top off.

 

[frenchiectfd2203]

G43+2 topped off and one in the pipe, Taran Tactical and one extra mag.

 

[Brad69]

Pistol full mag +1

AR rifle -2 in any magazine so 28 in a 30 rounder

AK full magazine

Pump shotgun empty chamber most shotguns are not “drop safe”

 

[Tanfodude]

I don't know why one would not load it to full.

 

[Vigilant]

I don't know why one would not load it to full.

Some claim better reliability, some say easier to insert on a closed bolt/slide. I’ve never experienced problems with full magazines and reliability (if they were quality magazines) nor have I had trouble inserting on closed bolts or slides.

 

[Expat]

I suppose not having ammo in the gun would save on weight, so ....

 

[Sigblitz]

I don't know why one would not load it to full.

I usually skip the last shot in the back of the head because it's frowned upon.

 

[Sigblitz]

I don't know why one would not load it to full.

I usually skip the warning shot.

 

[Sigblitz]

Ok. Post 65.

 

[Coach]

Come to think of it, I've rarely come across one that is more than 50% capacity.

Do you think ammo being expensive is the answer?

 

[Wstar425]

Where's the bacon option?


Question back to you though: How many of those same people are carrying spare mags?

Full mag plus one, plus two extra 18 rounders. 52 total, pretty much everywhere but in a boat....

live found the extra weight of the two mags balances out the firearm and makes it carry better. Weight doesn’t bother me, I carry this on 3-5 mile walks with dog and just look at it as exercise.

 

[MCgrease08]

Pistol full mag +1

AR rifle -2 in any magazine so 28 in a 30 rounder

AK full magazine

Pump shotgun empty chamber most shotguns are not “drop safe”

This is my approach too. Minus the AK, since I don't have one anymore.

As a dedicated watcher of the Active Self Protection channel, thousands of self defense encounter videos show that nearly everyone uses up what's in the gun, whether it's 6 rounds or 20. Better to have as many as possible.

I rarely carry a spare mag anymore, simply because the same analysis shows that the times when reloads happen in gun fights are statistically zero. When the shooting starts it almost never turns into a prolonged gun fight with folks hunkered down behind cover. When bullets start flying both bad guys and good guys generally boogie.

That said, I do generally carry a spare mag when going to places that might be a higher risk target for an active shooter, like malls, a movie theatre, etc. But I don't go to those places very often. I also don't fault anyone for having a spare or two at all times.

 

[ECS686]

I have occasion, fairly regularly, to contact lawful carriers and lawfully secure their firearms. I'd say more often than not the magazines are not loaded to capacity, and I'm not talking about downloaded by one, I'm talking about loaded to half or less of capacity. I find this curious and thought I'd pose the question of how everyone here carries. Myself? I carry with a full mag and one in the chamber.

On duty and off I carry a full mag but don't go plus 1. Couldn't in the revolver days and don't feel the need enow especially that everything is 15 to 17 rounds. Off duty I do have at least 1 spare mag though.

But when I worked municipal PD stuff like you when I had reason to secure a firearm found the same condition. half or couple round loaded magazines and when I was south (like outside Memphis) a couple times I found 22 in 25 cal and etc. (if Davis, Jennings and Hi Points count as firearms)

Convinced me that the people you usually have reason to take custody of their firearm don't exactly do it like the folks that dont put themselves in a spot to get that interaction.

 

[Phase2]

I think I've figured out the reason for the disparity in mag loading.

INGOers have a habit of losing firearms in tragic boating accidents. If we would just half-load our mags, they wouldn't be so heavy and we might not lose them.

 

[VUPDblue]

Do you think ammo being expensive is the answer?

I do not believe so.

 

[ccha8778]

I've always carried with a full mag and always one in the chamber. Not sure why someone could carry any other way. I also carry a back up mag, also full capacity.