spare_magazine_450
Acquiring concealed carry gear sometimes follows a predictable progression: one or two handguns, a dozen or more holsters, and then a real gun belt. Once you’re settled on those three pieces of gear, the next one you consider adding is a means to carry a reload. For those with auto-loading pistols, spare magazines usually find their way into a weak-side pocket, a briefcase, or a glove compartment. Carrying a spare magazine is always a good idea. An even better idea: carrying it in a case such as the Galco Concealable Magazine Case or Single Magazine Case. These lines from Galco can handle virtually all sizes of magazines, keeping a reload at the ready — just in case.
Concealable Magazine Case
The largest of the four pictured here, this Concealable Magazine Case is carrying a Glock 17 Gen 4 magazine — a size of magazine that rides better on belt than in pocket. The case is made of premium saddle leather and although it will fit up to a 1-¾-inch wide belt, it fit perfectly on this 1-½-inch American Holster Company gun belt. Installing the case requires removing your belt to the point between belt loops where you want it to ride and then sliding your belt through the case’s loop and then back through your belt loops. It rides as tight as you draw in your belt and holds the magazine with just the right amount of friction. The Concealable Magazine Case retails for $49.95 and comes in tan, black, or havana brown.
Single Magazine Cases
The other three magazine cases shown here are Galco’s Single Magazine Case. These are also made of premium saddle leather (black or tan finish) and retail for $38.95. I wanted you to see the various sizes of this particular case and how they handle magazines for different handguns.
A CZ-P07 magazine is the next largest of this lot and rides in a tan case. It wouldn’t be horrible to carry the P07 magazine in a pocket but with 15 rounds of 9mm on board it’s far superior when carried on a belt.
A Ruger LC9 magazine follows the P07 magazine in a black case. With a capacity of seven rounds, this magazine has no trouble, weight or size-wise, being carried in a pocket. This is also true for the Colt Mustang XSP magazine with its six rounds of .380 on board. Still, carrying both of these smaller magazines in a case on a belt yielded several advantages: the reload is always in the same place, ready to be accessed; there’s no fidgeting in a pocket for proper hand placement; and, worn weak-side, the weight of the magazine and case provides a bit of balance for the weight of a gun worn strong-side. Plus, each of the single magazine cases has a tension adjustment and employs a robust snap loop which makes installation and removal of the case very easy.
Do you carry a reload? If so, how?
— Mark Kakkuri
Learn more about Galco at the American Handgunner Product Index.
