Anyone ever bring a backup magazine?

[rcb2000]

Had a random thought, if for some reason the magazine unknowingly dropped out of my Tikka during a hunt, how could I keep hunting?
A spare mag is $40, and doesn't weigh more than a few ounces, and could stay at the truck.

Not sure if this is a completely irrational fear, or if anyone else has had something happen that made them rethink that option.

 

[Kenn]

Not too concerned about losing a magazine, but I keep an extra loaded one in my pack in case I need extra ammo.

 

[ElPollo]

I had the same irrational fear when I got my first Tikka so I bought an extra mag. It’s still in the package in my gun safe. I’ve never had a Tikka mag drop out on its own. It’s a darned good design all around.

 

[Cannonball]

I do but couldnt you also carry a couple loose rounds and hand feed singles? I dont think there is mag safety on them

 

[t_carlson]

Yes.

Murphy's law.

 

[Maki35]

Yes. Carry my extra rounds in it.
Back-up: better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. imo

 

[pwdrski]

Yes, I carry an extra loaded mag in my pack for my Browning Hells Canyon X Bolt. I also have an extremely handy cartridge "wallet" that clips on my KUIU bino harness and drops open exposing 6, .300 Win Mag shells in their own tight loops.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I carried loose rounds in botom zippered pouch on Alaska bino harness for ease of access. Extra mag not a bad idea though.

 

[dmoto]

Yes, as stated above, in the zippered pouch of my bino harness. Better safe than sorry and it's not a ton of weight.

 

[BradArnett]

I carry a 3rnd mag in the rifle, seekins element, and throw a loaded 5 round mag in the pack. I have 3 loose rounds in my bino harness as well.

 

[MallardSX2]

I keep a spare magazine in the gun case. I have never had to use it.

 

[nobody]

Always. I keep one in the cargo pocket of my pants. After a shot or 2 at an animal, rather than re-loading my first mag, I just toss in the new one for my approach to the downed animal.

This will be the first year doing it with a Tikka (jumped on the Tikka train back in November and haven't looked back), but I've done it in the past with my previous rifles as well. I plan to hunt with my 5 round mag in the gun and a 3 round mag in my pocket. To me, it's a no brainer to have extra mags if the rifle has a detachable box mag. Multiple extras is even better.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Lots of talk in this thread:

How many rounds do you pack in with you on a hunt?

How many rounds do you take with you on a hunt? Whether it’s pack in or day trip, and how do you carry them?

rokslide.com

 

[slowelk]

I shoot tikkas and I keep a secondary, loaded mag in my bino harness. A loaded mag is way faster to swap out than single feeding rounds after your first 3-5 are gone. Obviously not an ideal scenario where shots 1-3 don’t seal the deal, so in that event I want to be as efficient as possible with getting additional rounds down range.

 

[BugleMeTimber]

Yes, one extra loaded mag in the pack lid or bino harness.

 

[Macintosh]

100% yes. Its why detachable mags exist in the first place, why not take advantage?

 

[Sandstrom]

I always keep a spare in my pack. Has come in handy a few times….
Ryan

 

[maya]

There's a difference between fear & awareness. I'm fully aware that shit happens. Practical & sensible redundancy is wise.

 

[KHNC]

It can happen on a HOWA . They have a huge POS mag release on the 1500. I dumped mine on a post once while setting up to shoot an antelope in wyoming once. It was at one of those public to public corner crossing doodads. It fell over on the private. I reached over and picked it up after I killed the goat with my one bullet. Nobody tried to arrest me but i kept a closer eye on the mag after that.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I carry a loaded extra for my 788 .308win in my pocket