After receiving your CCW permit, you’ll have to make decisions about your holster, belt, and every day carry pistol. At some point, you will also have to make the call whether to carry an extra magazine along with you. There are multiple viewpoints on this choice, so let’s go over each of them to help you make the right call.
Pros of Carrying a Spare Magazine
The advantages of carrying an extra magazine are quite clear. It’s not so different from carrying a spare tire in your vehicle. You hope to never have to use it, but it can make a world of a difference in the event that it is needed.
If you do end up having to resort to using your second magazine, it will likely be for one of the following reasons:
- Feeding malfunction with the primary magazine
- Running out of ammunition in the primary magazine
You may think you have more than enough ammunition in one magazine to get the job done, but we would urge you to reconsider. A 2019 study reports that Dallas police officers only hit the mark around 35% of the time. These are trained professionals who are missing over half of their shots fired. Assuming you are carrying a 10-round magazine, that means you’d be lucky to land three or four of your shots. While that certainly can stop a threat, its far from a guarantee. If you double that with an extra magazine, you can see how your odds of survival would climb accordingly.
Cons of Carrying a Spare Magazine
Carrying an extra magazine means you’ll have another object to thoroughly conceal. It may take time and effort to find the perfect setup that allows you to feel comfortable while still allowing easy access to both your pistol and your spare mag. It’s possible that you will eventually have to get used to the feeling of the spare mag in time. Luckily, this usually only takes a few weeks. All in all, if you can find an IWB mag holster that feels comfortable, allows you to move freely, and remains concealed, we recommend bringing it along as part of your EDC package.
Be Better Prepared with Better Training from Soteria Training Academy
Soteria Training Academy provides expert pistol training with an emphasis on safety. Whether you’re a beginner in the world of firearms, or already have a wealth of experience, we look forward to helping your shooting skill set. Contact us today by visiting our website, or call us at (410) 216-3176 to learn more.