It’s an age-old question. Should you or shouldn’t you carry an extra magazine along with your concealed weapon? There are plenty of people who advocate for either side of this debate. For one, carrying an extra magazine in a mag pouch has plenty of benefits. But it’s also not a perfect technique. That’s why we’re looking at concealed carrying extra magazines in this post. We’ll also answer some questions about the practice. That includes what direction bullets should face in a magazine pouch.

Concealed Carry: Should You Have an Extra Magazine?

If you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to carry an extra magazine with your holster rig, let’s just stop right there. The answer is an unequivocal “yes.” While there are definitely a few cons, the pros far outweigh them.

Don’t get us wrong. There are indeed some people out there who may say that carrying an extra magazine is a bad idea. They may say that it increases your likelihood of “printing,” or showing that you’re carrying a concealed weapon. That may be true. But as long as there are still loose-fitting t-shirts and cargo shorts in the world, you won’t need to worry about printing that much.

In contrast, carrying an extra magazine has a ton of benefits. The first one is a no-brainer. More bullets equals more firepower. This is especially important if your go-to concealed carry gun is some kind of 1911 variant, since they hold a maximum of 8 rounds in a standard magazine. It’s the same story if you carry some kind of super-sleek subcompact pistol.

Additionally, carrying an extra magazine makes clearing jams much easier. Many times, magazines are the reason your gun jams. And you don’t want to find yourself fumbling to fix a jam in a firefight when your life depends on it. “Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” as my dad once said. He may have been talking about insurance, but I think it’s even more applicable in this situation.

What Direction Should Bullets Face in a Concealed Carry Magazine Pouch?

It may seem like it’s not that big of a deal. But when it comes to concealed carrying, there’s definitely a “right” and a “wrong” way to carry your spare mags.

You always want to carry your extra magazine with the bullets facing forward. This means that you can smoothly draw your spare mag and load it into your pistol in one single motion. You don’t need to worry about turning the magazine around in your hand before you load it.

If you do decide to carry an extra magazine, you’re going to need to adjust your concealed carry rig. After all, you don’t want to just have a loaded magazine bouncing around in your pocket all day.

Fortunately, Southern Trapper has you covered. We carry specially-designed leather magazine pouches that you can modularly add to any concealed carry rig. Just attach them to your belt next to your holster for easy access.

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