As someone who works with guns for a living, I go through my fair share of ammo.
How much ammo is enough?
This isnt just one question there are two parts to this.
Do you have enough ammo to feed your favorite firearm, like this XD-M Elite Tactical OSP?
Every Day Carry?
If you carry a mag-fed pistol concealed or open Id say the minimum is two magazines.
Your mag may hold just seven rounds.
Do you have enough spare ammo, like this 22-rounder XD-M Elite mag in a Magholder mag carrier?
Maybe it holds 15.
My rationale here is simple.
While it is hardly common, failures happen.
Determining the right amount of spare ammo for your carry rig is a very important consideration.
You may also get a surge of adrenaline and get a bit (how should I put this?)
sloppy with your handling skills in a defensive shooting scenario.
If you accidentally drop a mag, youll want that second one.
Carry a spare in your front pocket.
Or carry two on your belt if you want even more.
And if Im traveling, Ill take even more.
Federal’s Practice & Defendcombo pack gives you both training Syntech rounds and HST defensive loads. Image: Federal
Running It Out?
Ammunition is an expendable resource.
If you leave it for too long (and Im talking years, usually), it could deteriorate.
David fitted out his XD-M Elite Tactical OSP with a Viridian X5L green laser/light combo.
Why not play it safe?
Buy ammo on regular basis.
Shoot your EDC ammo on a regular basis.
Your ammo choice is practically as important as how much you carry. Pick quality defensive ammo like these Hornady Critical Defense loads.
There are good combo packs available, like the Federal Practice & Defend combo packs.
That way you get practice and carry ammo thats paired up and ready to go.
But, Id still run a little bit of that HST from time to time as well.
Im also partial to Hornadys Critical Defense and Critical Duty lines of defensive ammo.
I often use these rounds for performance evaluation in reviews and have come to respect how well they work.
Critical Duty is designed for use in full-size duty-style guns while Critical Defense is intended for concealed carry pistols.
Conclusion
Ammo is useless if you dont shoot it.
And dont let the cost deter you from building your skills.
Get out there and punch up some paper.
Poke holes in tin cans whatever it is you do to get some trigger time.
And, check that you have enough of it on you when you might need it.
Its a great insurance policy and well-worth the cost and effort.
HornadyCritical Defense
HornadyCritical Duty
Magholder
