Thanks to those of you who watched the video, and to those of you who shared your thoughts in the comment section below! Something I'd like to add as a point of clarification is that this video is specifically discussing my personal choice not to carry a spare magazine *on my person*, but to instead prioritize other tools in it's place. That said, I often have a spare, or two inside of my vehicle. No, I likely won't need it, even there, but it's of no cost to me or sacrifice of other tools to have it there. The cost to benefit ratio changes. I also have a full IFAK in my vehicle, and other vehicle related emergency supplies. Maybe the next video should be about the items I prioritize in my vehicle?

I just carry three pistols

Spare mag is more than extra capacity for multiple attackers, it's malfunction and troubleshooting expediency when seconds are minutes and cops are running a little behind schedule.

I'm in Hawaii, so limited to 10 round mags. So I carry a spare, pepper spray, a flashlight, knife and tourniquet. But, I'm a 200lbs guy and can easily conceal all of it.

2010: carry vs don’t carry 2015: 40 vs 9mm 2020: micro compact vs full size 2024: spare mag or nah? I’m okay with this progression

I really appreciate that you included a link to a counter opinion. That's EXACTLY how informed decisions are made. Excellent. This is why I keep watching.

I've had a glock oem mag baseplate come off when I entered my truck. Spring, follower, and all my ammo came out. Needless to say, I was happy I had a spare mag.

Carry a spare. To me, it's like driving a car without a spare tire. The likelihood of needing it is slim . But if you do need it, you'll thank God you did bring it. That being said. That's my opinion and not gospel. You do what you think is right . Honestly, I don't even get why people get butt hurt over topics like this. You do you.. Stay safe, and God Bless ..

I carry at least one spare but always two with my 1911s. I thoroughly respect how you explained your reasoning and it does make sense. Very well said. For me the spare ammo is the most important part.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness in weighing the options. I also appreciate your pov that this is what works for you, and that there are multiple pov’s. Thanks for bringing tge issue to your channel.

I appreciate you for diving into this topic. I wish the gun world would focus on the "Carry how you live" philosophy. It's natural way to have your firearm integrated in you're life rather than a "Live to carry" attitude about it.

My two reasons: 1) Malfunction possibility 2) I live in California and am limited to 10 rounds per mag. So I'm at a disadvantage already. . But carry how you are comfortable, so that you carry as often as you can 🙂

good question. The reason I would carry a spare is for malfunctions. That’s the only reason but when I think about how many times I’ve had a malfunction with any of my Glocks it’s zero. my training magazines are not treated very gently either and they just keep working after years and years and years. So likelihood that my carry magazines which are kept in immaculate shape, would have a malfunction are near zero. I can probably do without that magazine. however, I do carry a spare magazine, because I’m the one guy that will comment on here that got into a gunfight as a civilian to save my life. I did not need a spare magazine. I was actually using a revolver at that time, but I’m already such a statistical anomaly I figure let’s not chance it.

Each person must count the cost on what tools you have. You have thought it through for you and are comfortable with it. Carry on! Semper Fi!

In my opinion, carrying at least one spare mag is paramount. The magazine is the heart that keeps feeding your machine. If it gets damage, runs dry or gets a bunch of trash in it, it will no longer keep your gun running. There are also times where someone death grips a firearm and unintentionally drops their magazine from their pistol. It would be nice to have a spare magazine to correct the issue to keep the best tool in the fight. There are also times where if you screw up really bad, a perpetrator might take your gun from you. If you have a safety on your gun and it is engaged, there is a chance they drop the magazine while trying to figure out how to shoot you with your own gun. This would be a good time to use your close quarter combatives and take the firearm back. If you don't have a spare mag to reload your gun, it's just a brick or a fancy single shot pistol at best. The magazine and OC spray take up little amount of space. However, If I could only have one of those things, it would be the spare magazine 10 out of 10 times. Worst case, just throw the magazine in one of your pockets.

Tessa, I am 100% with you. As someone who also got into gun ownership in the recent years with some hesitation but now full heartedly decide to take responsibility to defend myself and having options to do so, in the unlikely but still possible event, I been watching your videos with grest relief to see someone of similar mindset and stances on safety, concealment, and not giving in to online Reddit or gun forum myths and fear. In general there is only so much I can conceal and comfortably carry. As such, I must prioritize. I also came to the conclusion that a spare magazine is of lower priority to carrying a less lethal weapon (i.e. POM pepper spray), a flashlight, and a tourniquet/trauma kit. Deadly force is a last resort and regardless of the stakes, I cant ignore there are scenarios where those tools are more likely to be of use before the firearm. Even if I get into a deadly encounter with a threat, there are plenty of stories where a defender still is injured with a traumatic wound and put in a critical condition or even die from their injuries before or even after getting into the ER. People talk about the hypothetical of a fight with deadly weapons and WWYD w/o a spare mag but don't think of the possibility where they could have that mag and still lose their life by being underprepared. Carry a spare mag if you wish, but consider these other tools as well. Your gun is more likely to fail due to poor technique or maintenance before a hiccup of the mag, its not more common than needing to diversify your self-defense options.

For the reason of the most common failure of semi autos is almost always magazine related, not because I don't think I'm carrying enough rounds in my edc

This is one of the most rational, reasonable, thought-provoking, and well-presented “talking head” videos on a gun-related topic that I’ve seen in 50 years of being a gun owner and 38 years of being a certified law enforcement officer. Well done!

I always carry 2 spare mags (17+1 in the chamber, and two 17 round mags). It's more of an absolute just in case type of situation. Most videos I've seen of self defense shooting do go fast, but I've seen those few where it's like five bad guys against one good guy and the bad guys don't run when shot at; they shoot back. I also remember two distinct videos where the good guy runs out of bullets, they have no spare mag, and the bad guys are still in the game... So yeah, I always carry 2 spares.

I occasionally carry a spare, but I always carry. See how that works. 😊

I have no problems carrying the gun, spare mag, hand held light and POM spray. Nice to have a spare mag. Sometimes mags fail. I've heard that Mr. Murphy can show up at the darndest times, like in the middle of a gunfight.

A man much smarter than me once told me: "It's better to have it and not need, than to need and not have it"

I carry a spare for two reasons: 1) The magazine is generally the weakest link in auto pistol reliability. You can get a follower stuck (I have, in a shooting course), you can get deformed lips on the mag that you wouldn't notice on visual inspection, and it is possible to accidentally release the mag while shooting. When any of those happen, the second mag is a lifesaver. 2) Nobody, ever, survived a gunfight and and thought, "Wow, I had way more ammo than I needed! Sgt. Tim Gramins of the Skokie PD is a master firearms instructor. He fired 33 rounds of .45 hollow points to take a bank robber down who was returning fire at him. He hit the guy 14 times, several in supposed kill zones, but the guy didn't go down until the 14th round. Sure, police shootings are a bit different, but it is an example where bad guys sometimes just don't go down with one mag. You go to all the trouble to carry and get training and then you die in a fight when you run out of ammo. Everyone has to decide where their limits are. I decided 12+1 in the gun and 12 in a spare mag. As to other stuff: A flashlight is a must, but if you have taken an intensive low light shooting course, you know that you don't need as big a flashlight as you might think. Medical: I plan on the other guy needing the medical aid, not me. And I was taught in the Navy to improvise serious casualty medical with everyday items. Pepper spray is great, but it should go on your keychain with a quick release.

I really respect your perspective because there's not a lot of level headed and women viewpoints available. As for me, I also choose not to carry an extra magazine...the hellcats are so small I just carry two! 😂

So many variables to consider, yet I agree that each individual situation is unique and one has to choose what works best for them. Kudos for including the link to Massad Ayoob’s presentation. He also did one on pepper spray as being an alternate way of responding to a situation, somewhere between harsh words and using lethal force.

I carry a spare I think it helps with the concealment and balance of my rig. Plus I like my woobie.

You make solid points and I appreciate you giving your opinions versus telling others what they should do. I recently dropped a holstered Glock. The base plate came off (broken) and out pops the spring. If this had been a hot situation not having a spare magazine would have been a big problem.

All about figuring out what works for you. Extra magazines aren't always about more ammunition, but, they can also fail. It's a complex issue, and all up to the individual. Carry on.

"Two is one, one is none" is a very true statement, but let's narrow that down a little... when your mag fails, or is accidentally (or intentionally) ejected, or any number of other scenarios... it could be the last regret you ever have in a deadly situation.

I admire your list of edc. Also love your use of advising people, not telling them what to do. I used to carry a spare mag (two actually), but you're right I've other priorities for my limited edc space. Thanks for the video.

Interesting perspective. I personally carry an extra magazine but my needs are different than most. I respect your decision and your reasoning.

Thanks so much for the insightful answer. Many items to consider and I will watch those other videos as well. Keep up the good work and videos

I carry a spare, but I also don't carry pepper spray. Where I live pepper-spray is JUST the slightest bit below a gun in terms of how much trouble you can get into. Also prosecutors in my county have argued in the past that if you carry pepperspray but use your gun you "were looking to kill him!". I talked to a 2A defense attorney and he said from the standpoint of an attorney trying to defend someone it makes his job easier for them to NOT have pepper-spray. I picked make my defense attorneies job easier over extra options. I need to survive to provide for my family, and I can't do that from jail.

It always comes to personal choice and comfort level. Thank you for the video. 2 is one, one is none 😂

I live in Washington State and my G19 they have reduced the capacity to 10 rounds so I carry two spare magazines for a total of 30 rounds. I do carry tourniquet and flashlight as well but I am a man. I appreciate your honesty.

I like the extra stability that sidecar style holsters offer and they obviously have a mag caddy so I carry a spare mag. I definitely wouldn’t feel under equipped with just the mag in the gun, but at the same time it doesn’t hurt to have more ammo. At the end of the day it’s just personal preference and no one should care what others do…you’re responsible for you own safety and what you carry to keep yourself safe is up to you. Great video Tessah!

Props to you for referencing sources from both perspectives. That's just good research and very considerate of you toward your viewers. Respect.

Good reasoning, for sure. I carry a spare, no pepper spray, and only a small keychain light (a 150 lumen Olight I1R 2 EOS rechargeable for that survival situation). Pepper spray seems like poking the bull when I should be running away, which I won't hesitate to do. Everyone's different.

An outstanding explanation of your choice and such a respectful acknowledgement that others can and may hold a different view. Tye reasonable respect you show is much needed these days but not often seen. Well done.

I'm used to going into danger in an M-113A1 armored personnel carrier. It has plenty of backup, guns and ammo, for 7 to 10 guys. When things go bad, go big!

I say, do what you want! I carry a spare for malfunctions. I’m an okish enough shot that if one or two attackers…attack me, one should be fine. I’ve found new ways to carry a spare where it’s not even noticeable. It’s like you said. Prioritize what you need. I also keep spares in my vehicle along with a larger IFAK, and other kit. And at work I don’t keep my IFAK on me, it’s in my backpack.

There's more cost for a woman. Because of clothing choices. I wear cargo pants and have plenty of pockets. I carry a multi tool with a bunch of extra attachments and they come in handy almost every day. I also carry a bright flashlight that I use every day. And I carry a stun gun and my handgun, that I've never needed to use in self defense. So adding a spare mag wasn't such a big deal. What really convinced me was seeing a body can video of a cop shooting a man 13 times before he stopped advancing with his knife. He got his hand on the cop's gun causing it to malfunction so she had to clear the malfunction costing another round. I'm in California where we are only allowed 10 rounds. Also, the point that you may need to drop your mag to clear a malfunction, it's easier to drop it on the ground and replace it with a fresh one. However if I were a woman who is wearing yoga pants or a dress carrying all that stuff would be a higher cost. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hsCopsufttuZeYE.htmlsi=mkeedqaSlNKqDP6C

I always carry an extra magazine. I do it for malfunctions. If a tap and rack does not get the firearm up and running then I drop or rip the mag out and use my "spare" magazine to get back running. I practice this by loading snap caps randomly. 99% of the time a tap and rack works. I do "set up" other malfunctions that require magazine removal. It's much faster to grab a magazine from a known location than taking my eyes off of what's in front of me to look down to find the magazine I just dumped or ripped out. That's my 2 cents. Thanks for your video.

A spare mag can serve more than one purpose, not just for having more rounds. My mentality is, if the mag in my firearm malfunctions for whatever reason, at least I can drop that mag and replace with my spare to get the firearm up and running as quickly as possible.

Great video. I agree with the assessment. My choices are uniquely personal given my activities at any given time. In general, I choose not to carry extra ammo, but there are some situations I find myself in when I will.

For 38 years I daily went into the belly of the beast. Early on I carried a 6-shot revolver and two speed loaders. Later I switched to semiauto and two spare mags. Still later I switched to different semiauto and two mags (52 rounds total). Still later I went to the semiauto and one mag. The one consistent thing is that outside of practice and training, I never needed any of them. Good luck (mostly) and tactics. But I know people who did need theirs and some who actually needed a spare mag or two. I very much like your analysis. You can't carry everything you would like so carry what you are most likely to need or would be the most important if you needed it. One thing to consider: These days it is fairly easy to get 10 to 12 rounds in CC or EDC sized handgun, so having a spare mag may be less important.

Thank you for your common sense comments about personal choice. I SELDOM carry an extra magazine as part of my everyday carry. When I’m camping remote (mountains, off grid) I carry extra magazines (large cats, bear, etc).

Great discussion Tessah

I’m 70 years old. Got my CHL when I was in my late 20’s when Oregon first allowed it. So for a little over 40 years I have carried a J-frame in an ankle holster - never have carried extra rounds. The ankle holster is because I sat a lot in my work-life. I was in a car or in an office. If someone jumped out of a tree or came out of an alley and attacked me, there is no way I am going to get to my ankle in time for my revolver to be of use. But I have also used strong-side OWB carry and if someone jumped out of the bushes and grabbed me then a firearm carried that way isn’t a great option either. I have trained other ways to deal with being grabbed or knocked to the ground. And my ankle is always a lot closer to me than my truck or the safe at home. If I’m in a situation where I see something bad about to happen I can access my ankle in about 3 seconds. Or if walking into a parking garage I can place the revolver in my hand inside my pocket BEFORE I enter the parking garage. There are options. I have kept myself in shape throughout my life so I don’t have a beer gut to deal with. But I’m still not parking a gun in appendix position because I just find it really uncomfortable. (yes, I know what Clint Smith says about comfort and packing a gun) So if I carried a semi-auto, which I have at times, I leave the spare mag at home. Great video, thank you!

"But a mag failure is the most common malfunction" - guy who never had a mag fail but loves to parrot things to sound smart

1 gun, spare mag,a fighting knife, a razor knife I don’t like to sharpen knife’s anymore, pepper spray, flashlight. Things I will be starting to carry a tourniquet , ankle gun, and an ankle med kit because I can and it’s not that hard. If you don’t want to carry a spare mag maybe at least keep one in your vehicle so that you can have an extra at least there. I have had an ar, and two pistol mags become none reliable. None even during hard use. So carrying a spare even if just in your car is not a bad idea. Especially while traveling or if you have a Long commute. If a SHTF type of situation. Most of my family and a couple friends have the same gun as mine so if I need to give them one then I also would have one to give them. I am a just under 6 foot guy, 200, pound guy that wears looser closes with pockets so I have space and it’s not as uncomfortable to carry this much as it would be on a smaller frame. So i wouldn’t expect others especially smaller frames to do so.

my reason for carrying a reload is that it costs me basically nothing. I already keep a light, knife, medical, and OC spray on me in various pockets, and dedicating space for another mag doesn't compromise any of that, so if my wardrobe allows for it, why not? Having thigh pockets is the only reason this works for me, though, and if my pants didn't have them I probably wouldn't carry extra ammo.

First off, this is the first time I've seen you or your channel. Your plain-spoken, hyperbole-free style is appreciated. Your production style is also professional and "just right". Finally, your logical, pragmatic analysis is something we need more of. Thanks for putting it out there. You've earned my sub, comment and like.

I have had mags fail in training courses and at matches. I carry two spares. I’m an old guy from the days when shooting in matches many of use had at least 10 mags in our range bags. We would number each mag so if one acted up we knew which one it was and take it out of service. I have had the base plate on the mag of my carry gun come off leaving me with just one round in the gun. Clint Smith who owns Thunder Ranch talks about the same thing happening to him when he was a cop. Having taken three of Ayoob’s courses his take is to have two of everything. Two gun, two lights, two knives and so on with his mindset that anything mechanical can fail and it will do so at the worst possible time.

I'm 100% in favor of prioritizing a flashlight and OC spray over a spare mag. Those are items I can use to preclude the use of the gun in the first place, a much preferred outcome. I'm only carrying a spare mag if I expect to get into a *gunfight* not just a run of the mill self defense encounter. My risk of gunfight also happens to be nearly zero. Are you an LEO or have a similarly dangerous occupation? Go carry a spare mag. But the rest of us normies need to be honest about the kinds of situations we are likely to encounter.

I’ve never understood why so few people grasp the simple fact that different people need different tools to solve different problems.

Personal choice. Your logic is sound though . Blessed be

I carry all of the above, including a spare magazine and karambit, mainly in the event of multiple assailants. I've watch the ASP channel as well and generally agree that it's very rare to reload a high capacity handgun. My DTFS and speed reloads are significantly above average @ 25 yards, practicing every weekend for hours, so carrying all of it is just a matter of daily routine and training discipline. In the winter, I even wear my soft bullet proof vest with my hoodie and winter coats for fun. It's also an extra layer of warmth. Using a gun is already highly unlikely, so at a minimum I carry my IFAK and OC spray. But since I almost always have my backpack/attache with me, I try to bring as much as I can and stow my tools in there, especially when wearing a suit or preppy clothes. However, when dressed casually, I prefer bringing everything to the party and wear them on my person. While everything seems very safe in suburbia, I'm sure people used to feel the same way at parades, shopping, and during road rage incidents, and other seemingly innocuous transition spaces. The choice of tools enables force modulation, depending on the threat level, so I like the optionality, especially since the cost is de minimus. As I become older, I'm not as fast or strong or flexible as I used to be, and more injury prone, so I am not as likely to go mano-a-mano anymore, especially if my tools can be used as force equalizers. I am not dependent on my tools, but I definitely feel more secure having at least an IFAK on me - if not for me, then my family during an outing. While I can improvise, it's better to have purpose-built tools that I can easily carry and conceal - just in case whatever is lying around is not sufficient.

I mean it's just math, statistics, and probability - the chance of you needing a firearm is already really really small (for most people), let's say like 1 in 10,000 (probably even less). That's 0.0001. Now the probability of you needing a spare let's say is 1 in 1,000 (probably less with a reliable gun. SO the probability of both A) needing a gun AND B) Needing a spare is 0.0001 x 0.001 = 1e-7 = 0.0000001...which is like 1 in 10 million (if I'm right)? Which is ridiculously low. Now, the probabilities I've used here are obviously not exactly correct, but you get the point. When you have two already improbable events, you have to multiply the chances to find out the chance of BOTH happening at the same time and that's how the number gets super super low.

I carry a stock 43x and I want more than 11. No hate though, everyone has to do what's best for them.

As a guy, I've found it difficult to carry an effective trauma kit on my person. I usually have an off-body sling bag with trauma gear in my car, but wish I could have one more readily available when I'm out of the car. Tried ankle rigs, but haven't been able to get them to work for me. I have a small, but very effective, O-light clipped in my pocket, and a knife. I gave up carrying less lethal options a while ago. Otherwise, I carry a 10+1 P365, but always have a 15 round spare mag. During some range drills, I felt like I still felt like I ran out of rounds (26) too quickly and am not willing to drop below that amount. If it was just a case of defending myself and family from a lone thug, 11 may seem sufficient, but I'm seeing more and more instances of multiple assailants and active shooter situations where I just don't want to be caught short.

Why is it a hot button issue? Everyone can decide for themselves and allow others to do likewise. Personally I always carry a spare mag

You do you. Just glad to hear you carry and are not out violating people. Setting a good example for "others" to follow. Next topic: Empty Chamber or Carrying HOT?

I carry based on risk profile: Iraq/Afghanistan, 6 extra 5.56 mags. Downtown ATL at night, extended mag or spare + pepper spray. Around my low crime city, no spare mag + pepper spray.

Believe it or not, but I currently daily carry five spare mags. The reason why I do so is NOT because I feel the need for five spare mags, but because I can do so comfortably, AND if I don't, the weight of my gear is not balanced on both sides, resulting in discomfort. However, there was a time in my past when I did not carry ANY spare magazines. Again, the rationale was the same, where it was simply because I could not do so comfortably when you add all the other gear that I was already daily carrying. I say all this to illustrate that, having been on both extreme ends, I do understand both sides of this "debate", and in the end, I also fully agree it is up to each individual to decide what works best for them for daily carry. At the same time though, I would also say that the journey continues as we explore and further evolve our daily carry process, and perhaps to continue to pursue methods of carry that is both more practical as well as comfortable. I'm already working on what I hope is the next iteration of my daily carry, but only time will tell if things work out or not.

Good video! I'm an engineer and a scientist. I learned a valuable decision making tool many years ago. Don't only consider the probability (likelihood) of an event, consider the cost of the event. The combination (weighted likelihood) will help comparing two options. You're much more likely to need a flashlight, pepper spray, or a med kit than a second magazine. You're rarely if ever going to need a second magazine.

I think it should be a matter of personal choice. Pick what you think is your most likely scenario and decide.

Outstanding video & very well presented. I'm on the 'not carry a spare' team, primarily based on all the research I've done. Yes, it could be a mistake, but the odds of A) a civilian needing to use a gun (miniscule) and then, B) using a gun and needing to employ a spare for a civilian self defense episode (even more miniscule). That's simply not the way the vast majority (talking 99% plus here) of civilian self-defense encounters play out. In fact (and this is just my best guess based on lots of reading), it's highly unlikely that a civilian in a self-defense encounter will ever need or use more than 3 shots. Are there exceptions to that assumption? Absolutely, but, again, the odds are almost infinitesimal! And I carry a Glock, so I really don't worry about malfunctions 😉

Im trying to remember the last failure I've had that required a different mag that wasn't expected. My carry mags are all OEM but I've got some third party for range capacity & a ftf or stovepipe are not uncommon. Or its due to cheaper ammo at the range, which is why my carry ammo is always HST or Gold Dot as those have never failed me at the range but I still use blazer & even cheaper if budget demands for target practice. Lucky enough to always have a mag or 4 of the good stuff with me. Everyone has their reasons for carrying whatever.

Carrying a spare magazine depends on where I'm going

Thanks! When measuring/determining risk, you must consider 2 parts - the cost and the probability. If the cost (impact) is very high and the probability moderate, it is still a high risk. But if the probability is quite low, the risk is only moderate. Example, a meteor fall only is fatal, but what ii the probability - AND what could you do about it? As such, the risk of needing a tourniquet, etc is more likely.

Your reasons make sense and I agree with John Correia that what you have in your gun is what you're going to use at your gunfight. I still carry a spare magazine because I like having it to balance out my waistline but I could be persuaded to swap it out for a med kit, particularly since I never have less than 11 rounds on tap thanks to modern micro-compacts. If I'm going to need a spare, I 1) shouldn't be there in the first place or 2) should have brought a bigger gun with a bigger magazine.

I'm 77 years old. I have been an army officer and a career LEO. In every training session that I have had since 1968, the instructors said "always carry a spare magazine (or two)". So I will continue to carry a spare (or two).

Clearly and thoughtfully stated. Well done!

It depends on the person. The less bulk the better, for most. TRAINING properly, chances are, you will not need to reload. Remember, if something happens, you are not there to get into an all out war, you are in survival mode. Shoot your way out of harms way and escape!! Don't be a hero!! It's hard enough for some people to pick a ccw that is comfortable enough to carry every day. Some are just fine with it and are good with having extras like another mag, flashlight, etc.. but most people will not want to carry all of that every day.

I don't see a spare magazine as practical for me. I'm not opposed to people doing it, but I find myself in total agreement with Mrs. Booth.

My adult daughter and I have been having this very conversation. I'd much rather she have a pistol with only 6 rounds in it, then nothing at all. Men's size and clothing styles is more conducive to carrying more and larger weapons. Agreed on the usefulness of the flashlight and pepper spray! A knife is just so darn useful that it's hard to leave it behind. We train to carry a knife on our support side just in case we get into a tussle over the firearm. Women frequently carry a purse. While their pistol should be on their person, they could have a spare mag or two in their purse. In the very infrequent instance when they need a reload, and had the time, it would be nice to have one. The spare mag debate gets more interesting when one is discussing a firearm that holds 5 or 6 rounds versus 15 to 17. IMO, there's a very real and growing danger of US civilians facing attacks similar to what Israeli civilians just faced, i.e. groups of active shooters going door to door in residences or workplaces in order to create fear, unrest and disruption. The threat level from middle eastern terrorists, central American drug gangs, and Chinese subversive groups is increasingly quickly. 50,000 to 100,000 military aged single males crossing the border within the last few months can't bode well for law and order. Any of those groups, operating in small to moderate groups, could easily overwhelm most initial local police responses. Learning from the the experiences of others is useful. However, one must also consider the danger from new, emerging threats. While I don't expect to out fight a trained group of insurgents working together, I do hope to present a stiff enough defense that they move on to softer targets. In the aftermath of some kind of new attack, I don't want folks to say "Well, if he'd only had one more mag..."

I appreciate your take on this and your EDC loadout video. For me I stopped carrying a spare for a time but have since started carrying one again. As one person pointed out in another thread, it kind of balances the load. One thing I did want to ask is with so many good lights out there from reputable makers in a smaller footprint why you choose to carry such a large one considering your size and usually smaller carry bag/purse/etc.

I carry a spare mag, sometimes 2. But I am 5'10", 250 lbs, fairly muscular. I carry pepper spray, a flashlight, and at least 2 knives, and a small pocket multitool. I have a complete trauma kit in my EDC backpack. I do change my EDC depending on the weather, clothing choices, eetc. I'll go as small as a LCP Max in the summer to a Glock 21 with 2 spare 13 round mags if Im going to a more dangerous location like a movie theatre. Bottom line: I'm in the " carry whatever you want to carry" camp. 😊

The ccw permit holder that was attacked in the entryway of his household reported that his biggest regret was not having a spare magazine.

I like your highly analytical approach to this subject. I too follow Wilson combat and ASP. I take what they say with great respect. However, James Yeager with Tactical Tesponse has a very practical and well thought out reason you should carry a spare. Accounting for Hicks law and OODA, combined with the “in the moment” need to perform remedial, vs immediate action for a stoppage, we carry a spare mag to FIX the gun, not because we need more ammo. James has trained tens of thousands of people and has a stirling resume of training schools he gone to himself. Just food for thought.

I love your argument about it being a cost to benefit analysis that you have to choose for yourself. Every argument on all these topics is. I’m an outlier in the CC group. I choose a small caliber gun in 22lr or 380 over 9mm. I have all of them but I tend to like to shoot the 22s and 380s more and I definitely prefer to carry the 22 over all others. The shooting world has become further and further down my list of priorities for my time and I can still be very accurate and consistent with smaller calibers than I can with larger calibers even 9mm. I personally need to consistently train with a micro 9 to be any good with it. I also hate carrying that brick (even the micros). Mouseguns serve me better and I am good with them with minimal training. I also prefer to spend my time and resources in medical training and learning how to be better at situational awareness and de escalation techniques as I feel those are better tools than a gun is in saving my life. Either way you slice it, we all have to choose where to sacrifice our time and we really shouldn’t argue about who does what or what might be better. All bullets kill and it’s better to have a gun then to not have one. If you feel better carrying an extra mag, you do you. If she feels better carrying pepper spray and medical, cool. At least she still has her gun and she knows how to use it effectively. That’s a win imo. And I wish more people would do the same even if everyone just used mouseguns.

Reading many of the comments. Thanks to everyone for being respectful, polite and honest. It would seem to be upon each individual as to their own level of comfort, mentally, physicality, skills. The same could be said about the spare tire your vehicle comes with. In this day and age they provide a spare that only meets the requirement of safe driving at a certain speed to get one to a location to have the flat replaced or repaired, not for normal use as an alternative. Therefore it is to get one out of a fix. To myself, the magazine is like the tires on the vehicle, if it goes flat, (empty) there is no spare. If one cannot remove themselves from harms way with the now almost norm of at least 10 rounds, then one may be hopelessly involved in a situation of true life or death after the initial confrontation. Maybe another point that can be made is should it becomes a courtroom case, the prosecutor may be looking at the reason for carrying so many rounds when in most cases they go after excessive force scenarios. Many things one might consider but bottom line should be, your comfort level, not anothers.

I carry a spare when I go out of town. I have a belly band holster perfect for driving and I can fit an extra into it. Any time I am in my car I have a full trauma jump kit (Israeli bandage, tourniquet, chest seals, Coban, and a BVM resuscitator). Any time I am not in my truck I have a smaller med kit with quick clot and a tourniquet. If I am in my truck I also have a Glock 21 and 4 spare mags accessible. So most of the time I just carry my P365 in a kydex holster sans reload when I am out somewhere like the mall. Enjoyed your balanced take on this.

If I’m going anywhere that I think something might pop off then I carry a spare. If not then I don’t

I have been in LE for 34 years and an instructor for 25 years. I am going to play your video next time I teach a basic class. In 34 years I have never needed lethal off duty but have used non-lethal. I wish I could get it through cops heads the importance of carrying non-lethal off duty. Side note: When I started in LE, full duty load was 18 rounds, six in the revolver and 12 in two speed loaders. Now I have almost that many just in my duty pistol and one of my off duty pistols. I refuse to allow my off duty weapon to dictate my life...but if I'm in shorts and no shirt I have a concealed gun...may not be the biggest bang, but if bang is needed, bang is better than no bang. Also, if you're that worried your weapon is going to malfunction, get another weapon or a revolver. Disclaimer: This advice is not applicable to John Wick.

I really appreciate this post. Thanks for sharing. I'm thinking of adding POM pepper spray to my EDC (thanks to ASP).

I think active self protection has the correct data and experience and they repeatedly say that there is almost never a change of magazines in civilian gunfights. You only really see this in LEO involved shootings. I practice clearing malfunctions and feel fine with one mag too. Thanks for the video.

I carry a spare mag but I totally understand wanting to limit how much you have to weigh yourself down with. If what you carry makes you uncomfortable then you won't carry it. I say at least you carry so that's good. Let others carry 40lbs of gear if they want.

I don't currently live in a state with restrictions on magazine capacity; but I'd imagine those that do would disagree and insist that a spare magazine is an absolute must.

You are correct that choice is yours. Weighing pluses and minuses. Just remember that majority of pistol malfunctions are magazine related, and having a spare is the only way to correct a problem of that nature. Once again, what are the odds? I choose to always have at least one spare.

Reasons for ME to carry a spare mag. 1. The magazine is the weakest link in a quality firearm. If something goes wrong, it is most likely the magazine. Not just magazine failure, but also an inadvertent mag drop. 2. A far far distant second reason is for administrative reloading post confrontation. I'm a big advocate of having "something between a harsh word and a firearm", thus also carry a high candela torch 🔦, as well as POM pepper spray 👍 One is much more likely to be indirectly involved in a "shooting", as opposed to directly, which is why a tourniquet and an IFAK are high on my list (I have basic medical background as a CNA, and am comfortable administering first aid.)

I was with you until you said " I leave my spare magazine at home" I rather leave a couple spares in the car

It’s your choice do what you want but I’ve never heard anyone say “geez I wish I had less rounds” during a gunfight

John at ASP is right, a civilian reload in a gunfight COULD happen, but it's so unlikely as to be statistically irrelevant. I don't yet carry but am considering carrying two pistols, one waist and one ankle backup. That covers the unlikely reload/malfunction scenario, it spreads the weight, and it makes defending from certain positions (seated, on back) easier. But just one gun without a reload is totally reasonable and way better than the gun you left at home.

I carry a spare. Mag failures are one of the most common reasons stoppages occur with auto-loading tools. But as you rightfully said, it's really a cost benefit analysis for the individual person to decide what works for them.

I regularly watch the ASP channel. And you laid out some very reasonable arguments. My EDC combination isn't strictly EDC. Don't get me wrong, I am carrying something any time I leave the house. But, there will be variations that depend on: What I'm wearing, where I'm going, what kind of situations I'm likely to find myself in. I work on an Air Force base, and personal carry is restricted. This means I have no choice but to switch to my non-lethal EDC config--which will be pretty light since I'm on a military installation during the day. In stark contrast, if I'm going to a nighttime event somewhere, I'm more likely to have my full lethal+non-lethal EDC in play. If, however, that event is one where I might be wearing not-so-loose clothing my carry config may very well be scaled down to not include a spare mag, for example. Ultimately, it makes no sense for most people who regularly carry to be uber-strict in their configuration. Make smart choices and be prepared to function in any configuration you're running with.

I carry a spare primarily for malfunctions I may encounter, rather than "going to war". However, I often carry a J frame, and with that I will definitely carry a speed strip or 2 for peace of mind. They take up almost no room, and weigh little. You may want to consider the same set up.

I always used to carry a spare mag, but it had fallen by the wayside. (Lazyness, and too much stuff) I know I should for my own risk tolerance though. Very well thought out video. I like hearing perspectives I dont agree with, and I can see and appreciate your conclusions.

If your handgun uses a double stack mag, and you can clear a double feed quickly, while retaining the mag in one hand and racking the slide with the other and then gassing it up to get back in the fight, then it’s worth considering not taking along a second double stack mag. However, if your handgun will only take a single stack mag you may be biting off more than you can chew. People have been shot 6 times or more and have ran off or continued to attack. Not to mention people under stress also miss when shooting. And if you are facing multiple attackers, well it won’t be a good day if all you have is one single stack mag. I would recommend that you get rid of the pepper spray and the beefy flashlight, as neither one will stop someone from overpowering you. Slim flashlight is better to see if someone is hiding or to move to a more secure place. Self defense strikes can run off a half way committed attacker just looking for an easy target. For a woman I would suggest a fixed blade knife, which will be more effective if a few kicks or strikes doesn’t work to create distance. Or at least until you can draw your firearm. And if you need to, to shoot till he breaks off the attack. A woman can use lethal force in fear of her life from a determined attacker as the Law recognizes that she is at a physical disadvantage. Then draw your phone and be the first to report what happened. Your chances of being shot are low and if you are shot it won’t likely be to an artery on a limb. It will be most likely to your chest or abdomen. Somebody else would have to put on your chest seals front and back if you had them with you and only surgery will help an abdomen shot. If I was going to take anything medical it would be two Hyfin seals as the first responders might not have any. I keep a robust IFAK in my truck, not on my person as I live in a small city and rural area. I’m never far from my vehicle or EMS. Just my two cents.