Is it smart to carry an extra/spare mag? Hell yes, and I’d answer the same way every time as I’m sure most would. However, often times I do not due to being lazy, weather, dress, weight and activities.
Would it be possible? More often than not it definitely would be but I live in t-shirts, shorts & flip flops and it’s hot as hell so I down size to either a G19 or M&P 9mm most of the time.
What say you and your carry habits?
Yes I do.
The quickest was to get a mag related stoppage fixed is another mag.
I believe that the number one cause of malfunctions/stoppages in the handgun are magazine issues. Dirt, debris, feedlips, misfeed from the mag, bad spring, etc.
I always carry at least one spare mag. More often than not I carry two, since I am a 1911 carrier, it was a habit to carry two for capacity, this translated to carrying two G17 mags for the G19.
I wear clothes conducive to carrying, not try to press carrying in to the clothes I wear. Therefore no t-shirts, no shorts without a belt, etc.
I am guilty as charged. I do not carry an extra magazine as a routine, but during Winter months, I often times stash an extra magazine in my jacket pocket. It’s a bad habit that I must endeavor to correct.
Anyone recommend a good pouch for M&P mags?
I always carry at least one spare mag. More often than not I carry two, since I am a 1911 carrier, it was a habit to carry two for capacity, this translated to carrying two G17 mags for the G19.
Same here. I always carry two spares. I may eventually replace one mag with a hand-held flashlight, though.
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I am a lazy dickhead sometimes too, but a spare is cheap insurance.
I’m interested how the spare gun guys train to make that tactically sound?
B_C
I carry a spare mag for my primary CCW (Glock 30) ~90% of the time. I ALWAYS carry a BUG (S&W 442) however, and a reload for that BUG about 75% of the time.
My carry hierarchy goes something like this, something similar has been posted in another thread but this is how I sees it:
I personally don’t carry more than one spare mag ever and my BUG (S&W 442) reload is usually a speed strip. Here’s why:
I carry a speed strip for my BUG because it’s easy to carry and it’s value added. More ammo = better. It’s going to be a bad day if I have to draw my snub because that means I’ve run through 21 rounds of .45, got shot or had a primary weapon malfunction.
As far as carrying a spare mag, if you’re the kind of person who carries a concealed weapon for self-defense no one should have to talk you into having a spare magazine and a handheld white light on your person.
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I’ve been carrying my summer gun (S&W 642) almost exclusively for the past 7 months. Although I don’t always I usually try to carry a 5 round reload in a quick strip.
Before the 642 I carried a KAHR K40 and I religiously went out with one spare magazine. I sold the K40 to my father to finance a compact M&P40.
Once I get the concealment holster and mag pouch in for my M&P40c I will be carrying that with a ten round magazine in the weapon and a full size spare magazine with grip adaptor.
Not disbelieving you, have you put this on a timer using your carry method?
I know it’s fastest when going from a carbine to an openly carried sidearm, but the whole pocket carry thing sounds slower than a mag change on a semi-auto pistol.
Know I should but almost never do
I often go around with at least one spare mag on my person, but sometimes I go overboard especially when I’m making a point to someone who says that spare mags are too bulky, etc. I use a Comp-Tac magazine carrier for 2 mags. For my smaller pistols (LWS Seecamp 25 and Beretta Tomcat Inox) I use pocket holsters and custom kydex mag pouches.
So what do you do with the primary? Chuck it down or reholster it? I am asking out of curiosity - I’m not trying to depose you counselor.
B_C
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In the past I haven’t, because I was lazy and dumb.
Now, I carry a spare magazine in my pocket (which still isn’t the best idea), until I can find a good mag holder.
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I figured that I need to take likelihood and common sense into account with my daily carry gear or else I’d be carrying 2-3 knives, a primary CCW plus at least 1 reload, a backup plus at lest one reload, 2 flashlights, a can of OC, 2 cellphones, plus 2 wallets (one’s a throwdown wallet in case I get mugged) and keys + a backup OC on the keyring. I realize that I’m playing the odds by not carrying a spare but the odds are against me ever having to use my primary CCW in the first place, much less run it dry or have a malfunction with it right when I need it. YMMV
BTW: I know at least one person reading this is probably guilty of carrying all of the above as a civilian. 
Spare mags (in mag pouches) are cheap insurance, guys.