Gun cap - ##+1, do you FULLY load your weapon

[smasraum]

Semi-auto guns are pretty much always marketed as ##+1 for the ability to put one in the chamber, and then insert a full mag. With a 1911, I can see doing that, but with some of the modern high-cap guns, do we really need/want to?

Most 1911s are 7+1, I think, right? So with a 1911 and 2 extra mags, you'll have 22 rounds. My only gun right now is a 9mm XDM, the mag holds 19 rounds. If I carried 19+1 plus 2 more mags, I'd be carrying more than your average box of ammo, 58 rounds. So, for you folks that carry something that holds 13 or more rounds in the mag, do you carry 13+1? Also, do you carry 2 extra mags?

Just curious what some of your thoughts are.

< edit >
Some folks misunderstood. I ABSOLUTELY CARRY WITH A ROUND CHAMBERED. I was just curious if you chamber a round, then top your mag back off and pop it back in. IE, my mags hold 19 rounds. If I pop a mag in and chamber, I've got 1 in the gun and 18 in the mag. I could remove the mag, replace the one that's in the gun, and then put the mag back to end up with 20 total instead of 19.
< /edit >

So, 2 questions

1 Do you carry ##+1

2 If your gun is high cap, do you carry 3 mags (that could mean 40-60 rounds or more of ammo)

[McKnife]

Gosh, it's early (or late) and I can't sleep!

Typically, I carry 13+1 in 45ACP with no spare mag because they are so bulky. However... lately I've been carrying 15+1 in 9mm and one additional 15rd mag because of the Holiday shopping scares and traffic tension. The extra mag in 9mm is about 1.5" shorter and much lighter when compared the the 45ACP.

You'll get many different perspectives on the subject, but there is a funny [startling, rather] thing I've noticed about the few 1st-person stories of self-defense where a weapon was actually fired. Every victim says they'll never again be without a spare magazine!

Another observation, many victims unintentionally or unknowingly empty their weapons during an incident. If the threat is still present after the first magazine, panic will certainly occur if you don't have reserves.

[Medic218]

Ive got an XD SC in .40 and my "in the pistol" mag is the SC one that only holds 9+1 and then I also carry two additional 12 round mags.
The mag carrier is an OWB but it so comfortable I see no reason I shouldn't carry two extra mags.
Am I likely to use 34 rounds in any one SD situation? I sure hope not, but if its there and its easily concealed, comfortable and convenient to carry then why not?
Don't be prepared for what you think you'll need, prepare for the unknown.

The mag holder I use can be found HERE

[USA1]

Most 1911s are 7+1, I think, right?

Not necessarily. It depends on the magazine.
My Kimber came with a 7 round mag. I replaced that with a couple of 8 round mags, so that means I have 9 rounds of 45ACP in the gun plus I always carry a spare mag with another 8 rounds.

To answer the original question..Yes, one in the pipe and a fully loaded mag....8+1

P.S. If you put all your rounds on target (don't miss), you don't need to carry 50+ rounds.
.............Unless the Zombies attack.

[MasterOfNone]

I suspect most of us decide whether to carry with a round chambered based on safety or response time rather than capacity. For me, there's always one chambered because I see the need to chamber upon drawing as an inhibitor to an effective response.

"Excuse me while I rack the slide" - Hendrix

[jimlongley]

25 rounds - .45ACP - 9 in the gun, 16 on the hip.

[OldCannon]

Carry as much as you reasonably can (for varying definitions of "reasonably" according to concealability, weight, etc.). Whether you carry with one in the breech is up to you, depending on your comfort level, training style, etc. Me? One always in the pipe and at least one spare mag. That's 26 rounds for me.

[RPB]

Ive got an XD SC in .40 and my "in the pistol" mag is the SC one that only holds 9+1 and then I also carry two additional 12 round mags.
The mag carrier is an OWB but it so comfortable I see no reason I shouldn't carry two extra mags.
Am I likely to use 34 rounds in any one SD situation? I sure hope not, but if its there and its easily concealed, comfortable and convenient to carry then why not?
Don't be prepared for what you think you'll need, prepare for the unknown.

The mag holder I use can be found HERE

Well said
A hardware store/lumber yard I was in was robbed by 5 armed men.

No matter which mag I carry (usually a Glock 26, with 20 round mag +1), I always carry FULL + 1, and at least 1 spare 20 round mag, sometimes two.... often a BUG too.
(20 round mag = a Glock 17 mag with the Pearce PG-39 +3 extension which is smaller than Glock's +2)

I find it quicker than running back to the house for that one extra cartridge I need if there are 5 "bad guys"

If the 41 to 61 rounds can't get me to my car for my two 33 round mags I keep taped together in the car, then I'll just have to "make do" with my smaller caliber 6-round BUG until more assistance arrives.

Now that's what I "NORMALLY" carry ... of course at Church or places I feel might be more likely to actually ""NEED" a weapon, I'd be much more heavily armed. (The most I've actually concealed was 32 guns at one time, but that was just for teaching rookies where to look .. and to look thoroughly.. I"d never wear more than 7 guns as a practical matter)


Will I ever NEED all that ... I very seriously doubt it;

Would I rather have it handy than run home for more? yup.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I always have one in the pipe. Whether I am carrying my 1911 or my XD.45. If a situation ever arrises to where I need to use it I want to be as quick and accurate as possible. Having to rack the slide to defend my life or my families lives could end up costing them...IMO.

As for what I carry on me. If I have the XD its 13+1 in the gun and another 13 in the pocket. I rarely have to carry my spare mag in my pocket 'cause I usually (99%) of the time carry my 1911. With that it is 8+1 and then I have two 10 round mags on my hip. Why? Cause my mag holder has a spot for two. So, I figure if I am gonna carry one I might as well carry two and with it being a 1911 its single stack so the mags are very easy to conceal and comfy. Will I ever need 29 rounds? Probably not but I will be glad that I have them in case I am wrong one day.

[texanron]

I carry 40 rounds. Gun 13+1 and 2 extra 13 round mags. I'd rather have it and not need it versus needing it and not having it.

[The Annoyed Man]

That's kind of a question without a right answer. Carry what makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I'm in the habit of carrying the magazine topped off with one in the pipe, plus one extra magazine - regardless of what I'm carrying. That means if it is my Kimber Ultra, it's a total of 15 rounds. If it's my 5" Springfield, it's a total 17 rounds. If it's my M&P 45, it's a total of 21 rounds. In the other direction, if it's my .357 snubbie, it's a total of 10 rounds.

The only exception to that is when I use my shoulder holster, in which case I carry a second spare magazine in the mag holder; but that is only to balance the load a bit and not because I feel like I need the extra rounds.

The average exchange of fire in a gun fight is 2 to 3 rounds. So even if you carry a 1911 with 7 round magazines and you don't top off the one in the gun, you likely have 6-7 times as many rounds as you'll actually need in a shooting. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.... there is no feeling so low as being in a war zone without sufficient ammo yada yada yada. I don't live in a war zone. I live in suburban Grapevine, Texas, and I don't pretend to be a ninja warrior. I'm too old and fat for that stuff. If 10-31 rounds of handgun ammo (depending on carry configuration) isn't enough, then I should have brought a long gun, in which case I should have avoided going outside in the first place.

[SpringerFan]

Always fully loaded, all the time.

[ex_dsmr]

Well you seem to be addressing 2 seperate issues.
On the first about having a full magazine + one in the pipe I have never thought this was anything but normal practice. That 1 bullet could make a difference.

On the second topic of loadout: as long as there isnt anything in the laws stating otherwise (and I dont think they ever should) I think people should carry as much or as little ammunition/magazine capacity as they feel comfortable in so doing. Some people dont feel comfortable carrying a weapon that is chambered in anything less than .4x. I dont consider that excessive. As long as its done in a legal manner I personally could not care less how others conduct their loadout.

You start really going down a slippery slope when you use verbage like "need to".

[MoJo]

Here's my take on this subject. Carry as much or as little ammunition as you see necessary. 90% of all handgun malfunctions are caused by operator error and/or magazine problems. There is little one can do about a brain fade except train; if your mag goes south on you you can replace it and keep on fighting. I carry my M&P 40 and one or two spare mags and a .38 snubby with two tuff strips total round count 60 if two spare M&P mags. Too much ammo? Not if things really go into the toilet.

On the subject of +1 do what makes you feel best. I quit +1 in my double stack guns simply because whenever I had to unload couldn't decide what to do with the loose round.

[Excaliber]

Here's my take on this subject. Carry as much or as little ammunition as you see necessary. 90% of all handgun malfunctions are caused by operator error and/or magazine problems. There is little one can do about a brain fade except train; if your mag goes south on you you can replace it and keep on fighting. I carry my M&P 40 and one or two spare mags and a .38 snubby with two tuff strips total round count 60 if two spare M&P mags. Too much ammo? Not if things really go into the toilet.

On the subject of +1 do what makes you feel best. I quit +1 in my double stack guns simply because whenever I had to unload couldn't decide what to do with the loose round.

You could improve tactical readiness by loading the chamber and underloading the magazine by one cartridge. When you unload the gun, you can put the round from the chamber back in the magazine where it's ready for reloading into the chamber.

One less round in the magazine would be much less of a disadvantage in a bad situation than an empty chamber when you may not have enough hands available to manage that in a hurry.