SSP/ESP guys. how often do you use the 3rd mag?

[Racinready300ex]

BBBB

Your probably right, I doubt it's applied much, as it would be difficult to enforce. Will the SO know how many mags you carried in the last bay? Or will he know weather or not you just forgot one mag or not.

I think your example is a little different too, in a stage like that I would only pick up what I need too. But the stage is forcing you to start with a different carry method.

I think if you are doing what is stated above and leaving one mag to reduce the risk of dropping it and getting a PE, you are trying to gain a advantage and that would warrent a PE in my mind. Even though you may never get called on it.

My luck I would get called on it.

[BBBB]

I'm curious now and I posted it over on the official IDPA forum to see what kind of response it gets there. http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/10146

[ProGunGuy]

I'm curious now and I posted it over on the official IDPA forum to see what kind of response it gets there. http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/10146

Me, and my big mouth!!!! LOL

[M1911]

I suggest you fix or replace your mag pouch. If you get a double feed, you will really want that other mag.

Edited March 26, 2013 by M1911

[eliminator]

I'm sure this will be fixed in the...... nevermind.

[reichebrown]

Not very often, unless you get a diabolical stage designer that gives you 12 18rnd stages for a match (like at EFGA thank you KO! ). You'll want that extra reload on your belt incase you do a couple extra shots. Always good for a malfunction, of course. Or if the stage description requires it.

^^^ THIS!

I had to go to my 3rd mag on one stage in this match. 12 stages all with an 18 round minimum... It is the second time outside of a jam situation I have needed my third mag. I think the first time was my first match.

[PROBIKE101]

bug gun nationals ar smith and wesson in november ..........practice up.....

[JunotFranco]

If I have a malfunction with the gun like a nose dive or something. Not having that problem anymore but I used to.

[hkguy]

Racinready300ex

I see your point based on how the rule is worded but I suspect the rule is not often applied in this manner. I have been to plenty of matches where ESP/SSP competitors chose to only use only one spare mag on a particular stage without penalty. At last years nationals there was a stage where you had to pick your loaded mags up from a coffee table and pretty much all the ESP & SSP shooters on my squad started with one mag even though they definitely needed two for other stages. In fact some of them put both mags on the coffee table and only picked up one without penalty. Perhaps there has been some sort of ruling on this particular issue on IDPAforum.com.

in this case the CoF dictates how the shooter stages the mags prior to starting the CoF. The shooter still technically started the stage loaded to division capacity. Ill bet the CoF did not specify that the shooters stow ALL loading devices prior to leaving P1.

[19852]

To answer the original question, rarely do I use the 3rd mag when shooting SSP or ESP [the two div I shoot in most often]. If your mags are falling out I suggest getting a better mag pouch. I like having two separate pouches so I can separate them and not risk grabbing two at once leading to a fumble of one. I put the third behind the hip. Now shooting SSR is completely different.....

19852

[Mike21STI]

Very rarely have I gone to a 3rd reload and I shoot 9+1.

[euanga]

Whether the different mags per stage is interpreted to exclude this or not there is still a problem. If the 3rd mag is coming out on stages where you don't need it then it's still going to come out on stages when you do. This is a dislodge, not a drop unless it's part of a reload when this happens. If its dislodged it's because it was not secured correctly, hence a PE. Fix the retention, problem addressed.

[TerryT]

Only once in a year. Happened on a bad jam.

[Roscoe09292010]

It's not required to carry a 3rd mag as far as I know. Although there is a rule that says you must carry the same way for the entire match. This means if you start with only 2 mags, then you can only use 2 mags all day. If you switch to 3 mags for one stage because it will work out better for you that should be a FTDR.

Carrying the same way doesn't really mean carrying the same number of mags for the entire match, does it?

e.g. Carrying 3 mags vs. carrying mags in a pocket vs. a mag pouch

I've shot IDPA matches where 3 mags were needed for a stage, but no one was carrying 3 mags for any other stage; it wasn't even implied.

I think BBBB is stating the same

[Stician]

I use my 3rd mag as a barney mag to feed 1 in the chamber using 10rd mags. I haven't seen a course of fire more than 18rds.

[sirveyr]

I Barney off the second mag on my belt. Someone may ding me for it but I'm not going to hold up the match while I put another round in. There is no competitive advantage.

2 on the belt or one on the belt in different stages is not addressed in the rule pamphlet. I say it's fine.

Is it difficult to overcome the 3 second PE that you incur on each stage for not loading all of your magazines to the same capacity?

What other rules are ignored in your area of the country?

[eliminator]

Is the SO going to stick his head under my vest and count the rounds?

[Shokr21]

What other rules do you deem unnecessary to follow?

Just because something isn't checked at every turnaround doesn't mean you shouldn't follow the rules. Or is your integrity that questionable?

If I shot with someone on a regular basis there's a pretty good chance I would catch on if something wasn't right, if there's smoke there's fire so I'd start being a little more critical of him and everyone else. No sense in letting things slide, even if it is just a "local match".

[eliminator]

When I go to slide lock after the 7th round in my 3rd mag instead of the 8th, I'll take the PE. No big deal.

[solaritx]

I rather frequently have a "officer down" (pick up the gun from the fallen officer) or "your in the middle of a fight" (start with gun at low ready) scenario where everyone starts with the gun loaded with 6 rounds and all other loading devices to div. capacity. In an 18 round scenario, everyone has to do two reloads. This puts everyone on a more even playing field and it is often interesting to see how things shake out when everyone is shooting the same number of rounds.....AND having to do the same number of reloads. Sure....everyone is JUST shooting against those with the same division and classification.....but we all look at how we compare to "others" and this style of scenario can be a good evalulation of abilty.

Garry N

[euanga]

I must be missing something because I don't understand why you put a mag on your belt that is short one round, sure its the 3rd mag but what if you screw up the reload or have a stoppage or ... Why even take the risk?

I have one way of doing things that works for Production, Limited, L10, Single Stack, ESP, CDP, SSP.

Mag in front pocket with one round in it, start mag in back pocket with div capacity/fully loaded depending on state and division.

On make ready/load and make ready take mag from front pocket chamber the single round by inspecting the mag I know whether it chambered or not.

Remove mag put in back pocket, retrieve start mag from back pocket insert and double check it seated correctly

done.

Same procedure, 7 different divisions, 4 different guns, 2 different sports.

[M1911]

I must be missing something because I don't understand why you put a mag on your belt that is short one round, sure its the 3rd mag but what if you screw up the reload or have a stoppage or ... Why even take the risk?

I have one way of doing things that works for Production, Limited, L10, Single Stack, ESP, CDP, SSP.

Mag in front pocket with one round in it, start mag in back pocket with div capacity/fully loaded depending on state and division.

On make ready/load and make ready take mag from front pocket chamber the single round by inspecting the mag I know whether it chambered or not.

Remove mag put in back pocket, retrieve start mag from back pocket insert and double check it seated correctly

done.

Same procedure, 7 different divisions, 4 different guns, 2 different sports.

I do the same thing, except that my barney mag is in my back pocket and my full mag is in my front pocket.

[robertbank]

To answer the original question....I can't recall ever other than for Standard Exercises invokving 3 strings of fire.

Take Care

Bob

[Eyefly]

I don't think I have ever used the third mag. Just never thought of it. But it's a nice insurance policy. I figure its good to have just in case.

[NC Buckeye]

I think I have used it once on a 18 round stage with a plate rack at about 15 yards. If there is no steel it never gets used.