How much spare ammo should be carried in reality?

[marzie]

I had a dream a few weeks ago where I was minding my own business in my house at night when someone appeared at my back patio door and was about to force their way in.  My legs immediately turned to jello and I fell to the ground and couldn't get up or even move.  I had to will myself to start crawling toward the bedroom where my handgun was, at which point I woke up.  I realize it was just a dream, but it felt incredibly real, down to the clutter on our kitchen table.  Since then, I have begun to heed the advice from MB about carrying whenever you can, wherever you can, including in your home.  Also, now I'm a believer in another statement of his: if I get to choose what I have with me when facing a foe in a life or death encounter, I want to be able to call in  an airstrike with a fighter plane to drop a 1000lb bomb on them or a helicopter with .50 cal machine guns, or an RPG, etc, etc.  The point being, you want as much firepower as you can when you need it.  Once I can actually find Hornady TAP again, my primary AR will be staying in the bedroom with at least 2 mags.

Back to the OP, I would agree with what has been said: as much as you can comfortably carry.  For me, that is a mag of 13 rounds in the gun and another with 19 close by, either in a pocket when I can or in my EDC bag next to me when I am driving.  I'd like to keep two more 19 round mags in the car and have a mag pouch on my belt as well, but that's not in the budget right now.

[PegLeg45]

I had a dream a few weeks ago where I was minding my own business in my house at night when someone appeared at my back patio door and was about to force their way in.  My legs immediately turned to jello and I fell to the ground and couldn't get up or even move.  I had to will myself to start crawling toward the bedroom where my handgun was, at which point I woke up.  I realize it was just a dream, but it felt incredibly real, down to the clutter on our kitchen table.  Since then, I have begun to heed the advice from MB about carrying whenever you can, wherever you can, including in your home.  Also, now I'm a believer in another statement of his: if I get to choose what I have with me when facing a foe in a life or death encounter, I want to be able to call in  an airstrike with a fighter plane to drop a 1000lb bomb on them or a helicopter with .50 cal machine guns, or an RPG, etc, etc.  The point being, you want as much firepower as you can when you need it.  Once I can actually find Hornady TAP again, my primary AR will be staying in the bedroom with at least 2 mags.

Back to the OP, I would agree with what has been said: as much as you can comfortably carry.  For me, that is a mag of 13 rounds in the gun and another with 19 close by, either in a pocket when I can or in my EDC bag next to me when I am driving.  I'd like to keep two more 19 round mags in the car and have a mag pouch on my belt as well, but that's not in the budget right now.

Marzie, I have had that same dream before...... legs turning to jello and muscles refusing to react to the brain's commands, and upon waking up it also felt 'real' to me. I've had dreams of equipment failures in times of need also.

I would calculate that many others who do their best to live in a state of preparedness have had the same psychological thriller play out in their dreams as well.

I carry all the time, even (and these days with the rise of home invasions, especially) in my home.
I have a standing statement, if a family member asks if I have a gun or knife, "I got my pants on, don't I?"...... 

[Timothy]

Still waiting on license here, what you describe are nightmares to me...

[tombogan03884]

Marzie, I have had that same dream before...... legs turning to jello and muscles refusing to react to the brain's commands, and upon waking up it also felt 'real' to me. I've had dreams of equipment failures in times of need also.

I would calculate that many others who do their best to live in a state of preparedness have had the same psychological thriller play out in their dreams as well.

I carry all the time, even (and these days with the rise of home invasions, especially) in my home.
I have a standing statement, if a family member asks if I have a gun or knife, "I got my pants on, don't I?"...... 

Mine is that the freaking trigger just will not budge, like the hammer was welded down .

[Solus]

Mine is that the freaking trigger just will not budge, like the hammer was welded down .

Mine is that everything is going according to plan and working fine except the multiple  hits are ineffective...good solid hits, just don't phase the target.  

Don't every remember thinking of a head shot in the dream...I'll try that next time.

[Sponsor]

[marzie]

Marzie, I have had that same dream before...... legs turning to jello and muscles refusing to react to the brain's commands, and upon waking up it also felt 'real' to me. I've had dreams of equipment failures in times of need also.

Mine is that the freaking trigger just will not budge, like the hammer was welded down .

Mine is that everything is going according to plan and working fine except the multiple  hits are ineffective...good solid hits, just don't phase the target. 

Glad to hear I'm not the only one!  Thanks for the reassurance guys!