Some people carry two guns, but I’m pretty happy with just one: a Wilson Combat 1911. The only exception to my contentedness is the short supply of ammunition that my gun accommodates. Eight rounds might be enough for the statistically average gunfight, but I don’t plan for the statistical average. I plan for the outliers.
That’s why carrying an extra magazine is something I’ve intended to do for some time, but every option I’ve investigated so far sucks. Until I found the Snagmag, that is.
Traditional spare mag carry methods include either in a holster on your belt or buried deep in your pocket. The belt-based solution is easy to use and quick to access, but it’s uncomfortable and adds bulk to your belt.
The pocket solution is comfortable enough, but the mag can be damn near impossible to grab, extract and correctly orient for insertion quickly while under pressure. The folks behind the Snagmag have addressed all of that, designing a comfortable yet secure way to carry an extra mag with you every day.
The device itself is wonderfully simple. It’s just a bit of molded thermoplastic and a pocket clip. Your magazine slides into it comfortably and it’s secured to your pocket in the right orientation for a quick draw and load. With the clip, it looks to all the world like you’re carrying a pocket knife. The design isn’t exactly groundbreaking, it just works.
Here in Texas, damn near everyone carries a knife, so seeing someone with a silver clip on the outside their pocket goes completely un-noticed. Even my friends at the range thought I was asking them to take a picture of a knife when I handed them the camera and asked them to snap the above photo. It was only when they snapped the next one that they realized what it really was.
When you need to access your backup magazine, the Snagmag ensures it’s right there, easily accessible and in the same place every time. It makes training easier and gives me peace of mind that if I ever run dry, I know where my next magazine is coming from.
The Snagmag keeps your extra mag in place, but releases it easily and stays behind in your pocket as you draw the magazine. In addition to weighing almost nothing, the Snagmag has an Emerson wave-like “hook” (see above) that ensures that when you pull your magazine, the carrier stays put in your pocket.
A Snagmag isn’t a one-size-fits all deal. They’re molded to fit specific magazine types and will cost you between $22 and $35, depending on the model of your carry gun. You also need to designate right or left side carry (that determines the side the hook is on when it rides in your pocket).
I’m a fan. The only bad news: the Snagmag removes the objection most concealed carriers have to toting an extra magazine. For me, it’s the perfect way to carry a spare mag any time I’m carrying a firearm.