How to Carry a Spare Magazine

While the debate of carrying a spare magazine can be never ending let’s start with the simple question of how can you carry a spare magazine? There are two main ways to carry a spare magazine either with a holster or in your pocket. While we don’t recommend carrying a loose magazine in your pocket some people find it works for them and choose to carry that way.

If you bring this up with your concealed carry or gun buddies it may result in a lengthy debate about if you should or should not carry a spare magazine. Ultimately it is up to the individual and what makes each person comfortable. If you decide that you want to carry a spare magazine we suggest checking out some of our magazine holsters. Using a holster to carry a spare magazine makes it easily accessible in the event that you need it and helps keep it clean and running smoothly.

Some people choose to carry a spare magazine in their pant pocket or cargo pocket. This can leave your magazine to flop freely around in your pocket and if there is anything else inside that pocket it could damage the magazine. Not to mention in a pocket the magazine is more exposed to dirt and grime.

Another option for carrying a spare magazine is in your car or a bag nearby. Those who elect to carry a spare magazine in their car use it as a retreat location in the event that things escalate to that level. They can easily go back to their car and reload to continue protecting themselves. If you carry a backpack or purse with you, you could also choose to keep a spare magazine there. It is not on your body but is most frequently nearby and easily accessible in the event that you need it.

We’ve covered the basics of different ways you can carry a spare magazine but let’s dive into this further and talk about what if you have a revolver, how do you carry extra ammunition?.

How do you carry extra ammo with a revolver?

Since revolvers don’t use magazines, how do you carry extra ammunition? Not too long ago semi-automatic pistols didn’t exist so people had to come up with other ways to easily load their revolvers. Thus the speedloader was created in the late 1800s. A speedloader typically has the same shape as the cylinder of a revolver and can simultaneously load all the rounds into the revolver speeding up the process exponentially. It’s not going to make you a speed ninja but it definitely makes the process quicker. You can keep a loaded speedloader with you as a method of carrying extra ammo for a revolver.

Instead of carrying a speedloader, some people choose to carry a backup gun as another method of having extra ammo. This is called the New York reload, because before semi-automatic pistols officers would use revolvers. Since revolvers don’t have magazines law enforcement would carry an additional revolver as a backup. This primarily began in New York City and is how it got the name New York reload.

If you love revolvers and want to carry them but have extra ammo using a speedloader or carrying a backup gun are both viable options.

Why should you carry a spare magazine?

There are a few reasons why someone might want to carry a spare magazine. It provides people with peace of mind, they are prepared if they need extra ammo, and if one magazine fails you have another.

No one wants to be in a situation where they need to use their gun much less need extra ammo, but what happens if you are in that situation. Many people like to carry a spare magazine so they have extra ammunition in the event that they need it. They may not ever need it but they are prepared if they do.

Even with how reliable guns and magazines are these days, sometimes technology and magazines can still fail on us. If you have a spare magazine you can easily replace the one in your gun to continue protecting yourself and your family. In general, having an extra magazine can give you peace of mind that if you ever were to need it, it is there and readily accessible.

People choose to carry a spare magazine because it gives them extra ammo and a backup mag if they need it. If you are looking for extra peace of mind when carrying, having an extra magazine might be right for you.

How much ammo should you carry?

Ultimately, how much ammunition you carry with you is based on your personal preference. Some people prefer to just carry whatever their pistol can hold others like to carry a spare magazine or two.

Some states have restrictions on how many rounds a gun or concealed carry gun can have, people in these states may decide to carry extra ammunition to make up for this. People in states without capacity restrictions may decide to carry an extra magazine simply because it makes them more comfortable.

Remember how we mentioned the New York reload method above, this works for semi-automatic pistols too. Some people choose to have extra ammo by carrying a backup pistol with them. Carrying a backup gun is a fairly common method of having extra ammunition, even for people who carry semi automatic firearms.

How much ammo you carry is completely up to you. You should always be comfortable with how you carry whether that is with a spare magazine, a backup pistol, or with just the ammo in your gun.

Do I need to carry a spare magazine?

So if you want extra ammo, peace of mind, or just want a backup magazine in case of a malfunction, carrying a spare magazine might be for you. If you decide you want to carry a spare magazine it is best to do this with a holster, although you can carry it in your pocket, a bag, or in your car. Another option for having extra ammo with you is carrying a backup pistol or revolver.

Our MagTuck™ and MagDraw™ holsters are the perfect addition to your carry setup if you are looking to carry a spare magazine or two. The MagTuck™ is a single IWB magazine holster with adjustable retention and cant. The MagDraw™ OWB magazine holster is available in both a single and double option and they also have adjustable cant and retention. Our SideTuck IWB holster is also equipped with an attached mag carrier if you like to keep all your gear in one place. This holster is designed for appendix carry and features two adjustable spring steel clips. All of these holsters are available with 1.5” or 1.75” clips and dozens of different color options.

But ultimately, whether you choose to carry a spare magazine or not comes down to what you prefer and what meets your needs. We recommend visiting our Holsters by Gun Model page if you are looking for holsters that are custom made for your weapon of choice. For all of our belt and holster options and for more information to help you choose the carry system that works best for you, visit our Vedder Holsters website.

Looking for items beyond holsters and belts, check out our Resources Page for popular product links like lights, laser, first aid, maintenance, and more.