How much spare ammo should be carried in reality?

[Magoo541]

As much as you practically can.

There is no penalty for going home with extra ammo after a gun fight, but the penalty might be very high for coming up only one round short.

Good answer. I wish holster makers would come up with a comfortable & affordable way to carry two mags IWB.

[Solus]

Good answer. I wish holster makers would come up with a comfortable & affordable way to carry two mags IWB.

Crossbreed has a 2 mag IWB carrier.  Don't know if it meets your requirements.

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/TuckableIWB/tabid/103/List/0/ProductID/16/CategoryID/1/Level/1/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

[TAB]

Thats another reason why I like single stack  mags( or very narrow doubles)  they hide better.

[Strider]

I always carry at least 1 reload and often 2 for my primary weapon. often 1 for my backup as well.

[Rastus]

I think just like you need to consider wardrobe for what you carry...consider it for how much as a max limit and what your firearm carries.  What environment will you be in?  Why are you carrying and how will you employ your firearm?  How likely is it a drug-crazed zombie is going to threaten you when carrying that you did not see and avoid and who may be (temporarily) impervious to 5-6 rounds and still zero you out before he knows he should not be standing?

Of all the civilian gun incidents how many really needed a reload when the person who employed the weapon had some minimum competent skill level?  I would think a very low percentage for any one incident and lower still based on increasing mag capacity.  A five shot snubbie may need to carry a speed load...but my full sized M&P 9MM probably has plenty to cover 99.9% of everything you will encounter in a civilian setting.

I don't plan on protecting the world....just my family.  I want to avoid confrontation and get out of Dodge without firing a shot is Plan A.  If trapped and a life and death is forced on me (been there and did not have to fire) then Plan B is what is necessary to protect life and flee to safety.  Getting into a full fledged fire fight I can't escape from unlikely...that's Plan C and I don't prepare for that when I go out.  If I ever thought Plan C was afoot I'd stay home.

So...if I'm going to the office I don't need a reload.  If I'm going to the pizza place...no reload needed.  Going to the mall with the wife carrying an M&P in the summer...no reload for me.  

Going to the mall around a holiday when haji might show his ass...I carry a reload.  Do I need it...doubtful.  The reload is not for shoot-em-up; it's for safely directing suppressive fire to get family the heck out of danger and not to shoot a bunch of people.  I'm not carrying to enforce anything other than to attempt to provide an environment of what is minimally necessary to keep my family out-of-danger.  

I think that TRAINING regularly is far more important than worrying about having a reload. Which reminds me....

[Sponsor]

[locnload]

We can talk about the "Law of Averages", or 3 steps, 3 shots, and 3 seconds, but averages mean nothing to the guy who finds himself pinned down with a five shot snubbie, no reloads, and 3 dirtbags wanting to take him out of the witness pool. I trust my equipment, but I don't trust my luck, so I still carry a reload. Every survivor of a prolonged gunfight will tell you they were glad they had enough ammo, but would have liked to have more. While active shooters may look for special events, sometimes they just want to kill somebody and it doesn't matter if its 5 people at the Pizza Hut or 30 at the city park. Always be ready.

[TAB]

its what you feel confrotable with.  There are experts that will insist you need to carry a full box or more.  Then there are experts that will say something like " if you didn't solve the prob with the 1st 6, another 6 is not going to help."

[Solus]

its what you feel confrotable with.  There are experts that will insist you need to carry a full box or more.  Then there are experts that will say something like " if you didn't solve the prob with the 1st 6, another 6 is not going to help."

I would stay away from that "expert".  If you need more than 6, just give up...don't prepare for for the unexpected, give up instead.

Not the mental attitude I want to have while fighting for my life.

[TAB]

so is should carry 4 glock 32 round mags?   btw the expeter thatt said that was a guest of mr banes... 

[Solus]

so is should carry 4 glock 32 round mags?   btw the expeter thatt said that was a guest of mr banes... 

Like I said on this thread before...carry as much as as you practically can.

If it is practical for yo to carry 4 32rd Glock mags you would be foolish not to do all you can to protect yourself.