I’ve never heard anyone say they didn’t want more ammo. Ever since I started learning about guns and defensive shooting, I’ve always been told to carry at least one reload, and more if possible. I think that traditionally we did this because that was the standard loadout for the 1911 — the gun and two spare magazines — and gun people are nothing if not traditional.
Today though, with the advent of modern service pistols such as the Glock, the Smith & Wesson M&P series, the Walther PDP series, SIG P320, and the like, we have incredibly reliable sidearms that hold a significant amount of ammunition. When we look at the dynamics of violent encounters in the civilian sector, it is a rare incident that requires the shooter to reload at any time during the fight. Also, for a great many people, the ability to carry anything more than the gun and what’s in it is nullified by where they work or other personal circumstances. So, with a gun that carries 15 rounds or more, is it really that important to carry a spare magazine?
Priorities
In order to defend ourselves and our families, we must be armed. Have the gun with you all the time, that’s the number one priority. We also must be mentally prepared to use that gun, so getting our heads right is pretty important, as well.
In terms of equipment, what would come next? For most of us, a good high-quality flashlight such as one made by Surefire or Streamlight would be next, and a blade of some type from Cold Steel, Spyderco, or Ka-Bar would follow. Pepper spray is a great non-lethal option since we can’t shoot everybody. Along with that, there is a large contingent of folks who advocate carrying some sort of medical gear, such as a tourniquet and pressure dressing, because you’ll be more apt to be involved in some sort of accident or medical emergency than a gunfight.
With all this stuff on us, how do we fit in something we’ll probably need even less, like an extra magazine? In training beginning students, I find that most of them will barely carry a gun on a regular basis, much less anything else! So, how important is it, really?
The usual arguments against carrying a spare magazine range from “It’s too inconvenient,” to “I carry enough s— as it is,” and, “What are you, some kind of mall ninja?” More rational arguments would be, “Since most engagements are over in a few rounds, and I’ve got 18 or more, it’s gonna be done, one way or the other, before my magazine is empty.”
To try and come up with a reasoned answer, I went to some well-versed gun people for their opinion. They ranged from the gun people I hang out with of various experience levels, to the braintrust of one of my normal online forums, to two of the most trusted and respected names in the firearms training industry. What I got was a wide divergence of opinion!
Nobody Agrees 100%
One of my local associates, who is an all-around gun guy, a gunsmith, and has attended training classes, was of the opinion that in the case of a gun that holds a lot of ammo, such as the Glock 17 9mm or his Springfield Armory XD .45ACP, the onboard capacity of the gun would probably suffice for much of what the average person will encounter. Considering the environment most folks are in, that would be a reasonable assumption.
Another one, a deputy sheriff who has trained with Massad Ayoob, and has worked in the firearms industry for many years stated that one should ALWAYS have at least one extra reload with you, and preferably more. His reason was fairly succinct: you simply don’t know what kind of fight you’ll be involved in. It may be a simple one-on-one affair; then again you may find yourself in the middle of the next Mumbai, India, or Westgate Mall mass shooting. He has also been involved in two officer-involved shootings, so his recommendations are colored by his experiences, as they are by most people.
In getting information from the smart folks on one of the online forums I frequent, several of them are active and former law enforcement and some are nationally known trainers with deep databases to draw from. One of them, who has over 4,000 civilian shooting incidents to look at, found that only a handful required a reload somewhere in the process. The rest of them were able to finish with whatever they had in the gun, whether it was a five-shot revolver or a multi-shot semi-auto. That’s pretty telling information! A few felt that most problems would better be solved if people had better verbal disengagement skills, and could pick up on cues from the bad guys before the fight even started. Being able to do this was, in their minds, much more important than more ammo.
What Do the Instructors Think?
I contacted two of the most well-known instructors in the industry, whom I have trained with and have immense respect for, to get their opinions on the matter.
John Farnam, who runs Defense Training, International, has been in the training business for longer than many of us have been alive! He is truly a legend in the firearms community and one of the finest and most humble trainers I’ve had the privilege to study under. He answered my question thus:
“I think you can make the argument that a 14-17 shooter is “already reloaded!”
“On the other hand, 5-8 shooters are going to run out pretty quick.
We teach reloading as an emergency procedure in any event, but I know many people who carry G19s and no spare magazine. I still recommend a spare, but it may not always be possible, as you noted.”
So, are you going to die a horrible, flaming death if you don’t have spare ammo? Possibly not, but more rounds never hurt!
Massad Ayoob had a different take on it. As the lead instructor for Lethal Force Institute and now the Massad Ayoob Group, Ayoob is also one of the “elder statesmen” in the training world. His depth of knowledge of the legal system and the aftermath of violent encounters, plus his shooting skill and firearms knowledge, still make him one of the most sought-after trainers around.
He made special mention of the gunfights of Los Angeles jeweler Lance Thomas, who survived multiple gunfights against multiple assailants, killing five. He fired 10 rounds or more in his three final gunfights, learning after his first one that the five shots in his Smith & Wesson Model 36 .38 Special weren’t enough. He went to semi-autos with more rounds in them and had several guns stashed throughout his store. If there were ever an argument for having more ammo, this would be it. Remember, Lance Thomas wasn’t a police officer or a Special Operations soldier; he was a businessman, a jeweler. An average person, like most of us.
Ayoob also mentioned the fact that in a struggle for the gun, sometimes the magazine catch gets pushed, releasing the magazine in the gun. It’d be kind of nice to have another magazine to put into it when we get the chance! The times I’ve trained with either man, I’ve noticed they each have at least one spare magazine on them, along with a second gun.
Final Thoughts
I had a somewhat difficult time writing this article. How do I make sure I don’t come off sounding like a condescending jerk? Or worse, a politician?
I think that your own personal situation and training will dictate what you do. The more you train, the more prepared physically and mentally you will want to be. That may mean having a spare magazine, spare gun, medical equipment, etc., or having nothing but the gun and what’s in it while maintaining a high state of Situational Awareness as much as humanly possible.
Having the necessary equipment is important. But, as the gunfights of Lance Thomas pointed out, having the will to win the fight is even more important. In the end, you’ll have to live, or not, with your decision.
