How much ammo?

[@shaynecharlesworth4420]

Iraq, Afghanistan I carried 12 x 30 rd mags. And 400 rds 762 for my gunners as a sqd ldr and psg. Only needed that much a couple times but was glad I had it. I like your three rd to a kill ratio. It’s about right. Just stumbled on your stuff, thank you.

[@ninjadave1970]

@@HWG-wm8ld CHT Comments Hound Troll, you can change your name to it.

[@Beavereaver]

That’s the philosophy I live by, better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

[@spazemfathemcazemmeleggymi272]

@@HWG-wm8ld how on earth is that tmi?!

[@handroids1981]

Wow. Solid reccomendation. I appreciate it. If its three per kill for 556, what are your thoughts on 7.62X39 and 308? Can I ask what your home defense choice is?

[@spazemfathemcazemmeleggymi272]

@@handroids1981 I know you asked him and not me but I'd say probably most than one regardless of caliber, you don't want anyone coming back to bite you in the ass.

[@childoftruth1738]

I had Vietnam veteran (1st calv, m60) tell me of getting in a fire fight and coming upon a Marine that only had three mags and was in serious trouble. Said it wasn't uncommon to drop water to carry more ammo. He was one of the best friends a man could ask for, i didn't ask many questions out of respect. Basham was his name, he'll be sorely missed. Thank all veterans for their sacrifice and courage!

[@bmphil3400]

A lot of times in the jungle you can find water if you have tabs to purify. If you are in a highland water would be fairly precious.

[@rogerray7820]

Carried a Pig back in '68. Every other guy carried 2 bandoliers and the others carried 1. My kill ratio is unknown because my main job was to keep Charlie penned down so our people could advance or retreat. I haven't picked up a Pig in over 50 years untill a few years ago. Seen one at a gun show and picked it up, with owners permission. Damn thing still weighs a ton. Love your videos, keep them coming!!!!.

[@Gmar69]

Semper Fi 3/4 Marines

[@silvermediastudio]

Fire & Maneuver is as relevant today as it was then.

[@GeorgeVeneno]

@@HWG-wm8ldin the video Paul mentions he used to carry in his back when he was in Somalia, that mustve sparked memories of Vietnam for him. Give benefit of doubt, not everyone is bullshitting on the internet. If hes lying and you say nothing, nothing is lost. If hes recounting his actual memory then you disrespected a veteran. Think about it.

[@rogerray7820]

Pretty much gone.

[@quietobserver4636]

​@@HWG-wm8ldKZbin comments stepping on your ego Little Man? Do you need a hug?😂😂😂😂😂😘😘😘😘😘

[@teamja1088]

I was just a regular MEU & MEF Marine in OIF & OEF. I am not a SOG/SOF/Raider/tier-1 guy by any means. But I always humped as much ammo as I could physically carry. My personal load out was 6 mags on the front my my carrier, one in my rifle, and 10 in my pack. I never ran out of ammo and I always had plenty of mags to give to other Marines who occasionally ran out of ammo. It helped that I was a 300PFT Marine and was strong as an ox. Carrying more than you need in my opinion is always a win-win.

[@rohawaha]

Son , You Were , You Are , and you Always be a Tier One Combat Proven American Marine ! . R.E. Walter Gy Sgt U.S.M.C rte.

[@knightmare2135]

Absolutely correct, when you figure the minimum combat load is 7 mags or 210 rounds. Now consider a SHTF scenario and there is no resupply. I read the books about LRRPS and they carried a whole lot more in their backpacks as they knew they were pretty much on their own. Ammo is more important than underwear or a change of clothes. The important part is to survive from point A to point B

[@Marine-wj4jv]

I carried three pistol mags on the belt and three M4 mags on the plate. My bag had another eight mags of each with about 100 loose rounds of each. We operated in a different environment in vehicles. Lots of water and energy bars for three days. My opinion, ammo is all about the environment.

[@lennyj2080]

Absolutely true...you'd be hard pressed carrying that ammo in a 100 degree jungle rather than the water you need to survive with.

[@elgoogsucks9005]

Take your filthy up-vote and get out! : )

[@civisparatus3295]

Were you actually using your pistol enough to need 11 pistol mags? I have always thought of the pistol as a weapon of last resort.

[@lennyj2080]

@@civisparatus3295 very good point. many of my teammates would not carry a sidearm due to weight and the ROI.

[@tonywood3660]

So you think murdering people is acceptable?

[@Postal0311]

While I served, I was taught that 180 rounds (6 mags) should last a 15 minute firefight. When I deployed, we carried 7 mags. Ammo is a funny thing. Often, I've felt that a single 20 round mag in the gun should be able to handle the majority of situations with well-placed shots. But when you are shooting at moving targets those 20 rounds can certainly disappear very quickly.

[@Postal0311]

@@HWG-wm8ld I wish, would have been more fun, higher pay, and I might have been treated like a human being occasionally.

[@MylesKillis]

The doctrine sustain rate for 556 rifles is 13 rounds a MINUTE. So yeah

[@frankortiz5008]

Thank you Paul! You are the real deal. God bless you my brother.

[@robertbraden461]

Typical SeaBee convoy ops in Iraq for M16A2 was 7 mags each, plus extra can of 5.56 and 7.62 in the lead vehicle and middle vehicle. Our plan was carry enough ammo for driving thru 2 ambush attempts, plus some reserve ammo for the trip back to homebase. If running low, we could always get extra ammo from Marine FOBs. The Marines were always running short on everything except ammo. We would carry extra MRE and cases of soda on our trucks to trade for ammo, and would dig sump pits for the Marines and line with wet burlap to make field coolers to keep the sodas cool.

[@jklop7841]

I once heard Travis Haley say, "3 magazines should get you out of most situations." I thought about this a lot because as a civilian, I'm most likely trying to get to safety and avoid a fight. If I need more than 3 mags, I'm probably really screwed.

[@infantryski11b64]

If you're really screwed then a few more mags might have gotten you out of that situation instead of the 3-4 you brought. Very much civilian thinking. Stay dirty.

[@XX-fq8kp]

YUP! 😢😂😮

[@m118lr]

..”MOST” makes sense, as the operative word here.

[@Beavereaver]

Just think of how fast it takes you to go through 3 mags on the range. Now imagine you’re in a firefight, you’ll go through 3 mags in 3 minutes maybe even less if you’re in panic.

[@miguelrojas1686]

Most guys like that have a whole team around them.

[@Alaska610ish]

Excellent info from the man who’s done it all. Thank you.

[@geeccc5674]

I appreciate you articulating the concept that wise use of ammunition is a key skill in making it last.

[@HarborSite-7]

It's interesting to to look at the pictures shown in this video and see the evolution of the weapons and other gear that guys like Paul were using over the years, from Panama to Somalia.

[@sombra6153]

Back in 1992 I regularly went on duty with a Glock 17 and two extra mags and a Spyderco folding knife. BUGs were not authorized. In May 1992, LA blew up and I was one of the ones deployed from my sector in San Diego. I left home with three extra G17 mags. When I arrived at the station, I was issued the last M16A1 and the last 30-round mag. It had been sitting on the shelf loaded for who knows how long and likely hadn’t been maintained prior to that. M16s were not priority. Anyway, as we headed north, I tried to do some PCMS on the weapon and found that the follower or Spring were hung up and would have had quite the stoppage if I’d had to use it. One of the guys with me had been issued two mags and gave me one. So I spend the next few days patrolling in a massive riot with an M16 and one 30-round mag loaded to 28. When I returned home, I bought some 30s of my own to have for any future events.

[@lizzapaolia959]

Another outstanding video of yours. We appreciate your honesty. Thank you again for sharing your expertise. God bless you and your family 🙏

[@tacticalhyvecadre1049]

Thx for these videos Paul. We put out a Black Hawk Down lessons learned video on 3 October discussing how what you went through set us up for success in GWOT. You’ve got a great channel, I really like the delivery.

[@JackManiacky]

What channel is that video on?

[@tacticalhyvecadre1049]

@@JackManiacky tactical hyve. Black Hawk Down lessons learned.

[@JackManiacky]

@@tacticalhyvecadre1049 thank you. I will check this out

[@rfinisd]

I have been in law enforcement for 32 years. I wish your videos were required for all officers. Please keep making videos.

[@mjolnirdynamics8789]

I was an Infantryman in the 101st in WW First Gulf War and we were way too heavy. There was nothing light about us, me especially as a SAW gunner. I think perhaps we lost our experience in small unit logistics post-Vietnam or had some severe knee jerks as a result of Panama and Somalia? No clue but it was not sustainable. Fast forward two decades and I was in Afghanistan as an advisor to an ANA Infantry company. In this role I had much more flexibility in my own load out choices. Day one at 6500' ASL and day 365 were quite a bit different, LOL. I learned how to cut unnecessary crap quick fast and in a hurry. Such as my side arm. We were mounted a fair amount and that does obviously change the dynamics, so I was able to just leave my side arm and ammo in the truck whenever I needed to lead an element to high ground. There are a whole lot of non-combatants cringing and crying right now about me ditching my M9 but I've heard many an operator say the same thing. It's a nice to have item, especially in vehicles or static at night but when your base altitude is 6500' ASL and you're an Indiana boy, breathing is hard work. Fast forward again to 2011 and I'm back in Afghanistan doing static work for the "Client". It didn't matter which site I worked at, we had so much prepo'd ammo everywhere that I typically only carried four rifle mags on my body and a magazine bandoleer in my pack that I carried on shift. I did retain my side arm since the furthest I might typically move is a couple hundred meters.

[@mjolnirdynamics8789]

@@paulhowe5863 Yes Sir! Thanks for the reply!

[@ericklozada2440]

Amount of mags/ammo in my opinion is mission dependent and dependent on the weapon system. In the army and currently in my civilian employment,the amount of ammo I've carried has obviously varied. When it comes to rifle and pistol set up, if you have double stacked pistol mags then carry or try to carry more rifle mags. But if you're running let say a 1911 single stack carry extra pistol mags.

[@alandipert]

Thank you Paul for the great information. I hope people learn from you to "let the mission dictate" and iterate and evolve their techniques as they gain experience, instead of blindly following advice even when it doesn't make sense. Brain is the weapon and all that. Not that I can claim to have a fully functional one. I started in Iraq with a plate carrier over my IBA and 8+ mags because I saw some SF guys run it. I wore a CVC helmet because I saw other guys do it. The problem was I spent most of my time in a Humvee turret and burning up or drowning were much likelier to happen to me than running out of ammo. Also, the CVC had no ballistic protection. I had a close call during a night operation where I got hung up in the turret hole and couldn't get down behind armor when I needed to. Way too much crap on my person. Fortunately I survived and learned my lesson, but if I'd just used my brain more, I wouldn't have been in that position. No substitute for experience, but critical independent thinking and introspection are pretty freaking good and WAY more affordable. By the end of my second tour my turret setup was full IBA (shoulder, neck flaps) and ran slick except for a chest pistol holster to direct traffic with. Much easier in and out of the vehicle. Much easier on my frame all day and night. I kept an M4 mag bandolier and other goodies in a go-bag I could grab if we needed to leave the vehicle.

[@whatsmolly5741]

I like making my own mistakes too but if you have no experience then imitating the people who have experience is always a good place to start. Though experience doesn't necessarily translate to self reflection or adaptability and there's plenty of experienced people who can't tell you why they do what they do. I think you hit the nail on the head, you need to have the mind set where you are willing to adjust the truths other people sell you to fit your own environment and needs as those needs become apparent.

[@RWebster325]

What kind of CVC helmet did you have?

[@alandipert]

@@RWebster325 I googled and found a "Gentex" that looks just like it, and the shell is listed as IIIA so it looks like they were more protective than I thought. I was told the shell was fiberglass but maybe it was kevlar. In any case my MICH helmet was thicker and offered more coverage

[@ericm0612]

Excellent video. Brief, informative and to the point. Not unnecessarily long

[@stickfighter1038]

Sound perspective on ammo. If you have never been in full kit for an extended amount of time, you don't fully appreciate how weight slows and wears you down.

[@MerihemXx]

Using a firearm for self defense regardless of the situation from a mugger, burglar, active shooter, or terrorist, they're all things that few people ever personally experienced and lived to talk about it. So, you have a lot of people in the community who run their brains ragged going over a million different hypothetical scenarios and spend thousands on things that they're very, very unlikely to use. That said, it's not a zero chance, so I don't discourage being prepared, but not if you bankrupt yourself!

[@JeepCherokeeful]

Regular practice is the bare minimum

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I'm a security officer, D-G Florida. Since 2000. G/armed since 2002. I'd say for a pistol, carry around 15-30rd total or if practical, 3 magazines. Depending on the caliber, a min of 18rd. A REAL armed citizen or ccw event, not police or security; would be like 3rd, in around 3sec, at roughly 3yd(or less). You won't need 10-50 30rd mags.

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

Love the claymore bag...I use the cheap (like 2-5 dollar) AK mag bags and have them stored all over the house (they hold AR mags too). Great way to grab ammo on the go or resupply if you're pinned down in a room.

[@a-t5380]

​@@HWG-wm8ldsometimes I read a comment and I just can't help but bust out laughing! Thanks for that 😂

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

@@HWG-wm8ld 🤣🤣🤣

[@apstech4618]

@@HWG-wm8ld No the Deep State silly. MAGA!

[@splithoof9567]

As a civilian who uses a Ruger Mini-30 Tac, I keep a shoulder magazine bag with five spare mags, each with eighteen rounds, in addition to the 18 rounds in the carbine. In the bag is a small med kit, ear plugs, flashlight, water bottle, and a cloth gun case made of denim from a pant leg with a strap. The case is for blending in without it being so obvious to what it is. My goal is to avoid fights, and slip away if I can.

[@dvig3261]

Perp in st. Paul, Mn., back in the 90's gets on the city bus with a Chinese rifle slung on his back..no one notices until they're well down the road. So the bus driver makes an emergency call on the DL and is told to go to the airport where LEO will be waiting. 87 rounds exchanged and nobody is hurt. (thank the lord). Perp runs out and surrenders. Yeeah....true story. I lived there at the time and just shook my head.

[@joecamel328]

A counter point to this idea is that while people like Delta have tons of the best training most of us just don't. Your average combatant doesn't have the skill level of a top level gunfighter. What works for an expert may not be a good plan for someone with less than 1% of the training time and experience. Skill levels tend to drop under stress which means your average guy probably shouldn't be planning on being terribly effective.

[@instupitious]

Tier 1 operator in airsoft gear > bubba with HK and 100,000 rds in “battle packs” 😂

[@leiferikson1278]

This is moronic thinking

[@garrettzkool63]

training is everywhere now tho, theres a million different dry fire drills you can practice at home, small unit maneuvering classes, CQB classes, fitness levels, and so much more that can sharpen a civilian warrior (citizen). the dudes who buy an AR, and throw some cheap amazon junk on it, arent even going to fight when shit goes south, so i wouldnt even include them in this argument. this is for serious people

[@5jjt]

​​@@garrettzkool63Do you mean Airsoft junk? Asking because amazon sells Teijicon, Eotech, Surefire, plus much more.

[@s0nnyburnett]

@@garrettzkool63 ain't much up here in new england and these classes cost thousands and last for days and most people don't have the extra time or cash to keep going to these things annually to maintain these skills. I have to drive an hour just to get my club which is the only damn club in the state with a rifle range further than 100yds.

[@JakeSpader]

Thanks for the effective and concise presentation. The pictures are great. More please.

[@acar3615]

I always found ergonomics as important as amounts. With my old Paraclete rack I used a single horizontal utility pouch in front with pistol mag pouches attached to it. 2 double mag pouches on either side was just right.

[@sumeshkuriakose]

Thank you Paul, very helpful 👍

[@scottromans3708]

Paul, thank you for sound, practical advice for civilians. It's always good to get commonsense from someone who's been there and done that in worst case scenarios.

[@garymitchell5899]

How many civilians are on active patrol in Syria and need this advice?

[@RWebster325]

@@garymitchell5899 Did you listen or at least have CC turned on for this video? If you did, you were not paying attention. Not paying attention will get you into trouble no matter the situation. A language clarification for you - no matter what you and many other people believe, most "law enforcement" are civilians. Even those that went into combat zones at the behest of their governments to teach "law enforcement" were and are civilians for the most part. No matter what current dictionaries state police are civilians. In accordance to the "Rules of Land Warfare" and/or the "Law of Land Warfare" (whichever name your prefer) police (in other words - law enforcement) are non-combatants, therefor civilians. Period.

[@garymitchell5899]

@@RWebster325 Most people wouldn't class the police as civilians, and the OP seems to be referencing non-police. We don't know. But either way, this guys experience in "worst case" war zones overseas isn't really relevant to police or non-police in a domestic country situation, which is what I'm saying.

[@RWebster325]

@@garymitchell5899 That tells me that you did not listen to what he said, it was distinct enough that the average lay person should have understood. There is a CC (closed caption) option available.

[@garymitchell5899]

@@RWebster325 If you're just going to repeat this stupid statement then either explain what you mean or sod off. What the guy said was useless for civilians, police or otherwise.

[@CallofWar5]

Always saying the most sensible things. Would love to hear your opinions of how citizens should train in small teams, and what are the most valuable team based skills to learn and practice.

[@mx500a4]

"1 kill for every 3 rounds", thats pretty idealistic, we aren't all SEAL's. Even regular Marine/Army infantry is not gonna get anywhere near that.

[@Cardbordboxonfire]

That’s what I’m saying. It’s better to carry more ammo, for one, most people (vets& civilians) don’t have that kind of marksmanship And to me the big one is resupply, troops in deployment have the US government for logistical support. A civilian doesn’t have the luxury to have an on sight ammo and water top off from a black hawk while fighting in the mountains. So they have to be able to supply themselves and prepare for potentially zero resupply.

[@mx500a4]

@Cardbordboxonfire Exactly! Not only that this guy has probably shot 100,000 rounds through his rifle, maybe more. Normal people don't have that kind of time or resources, shit even regular Army and Marines don't have that kind of resources.

[@guynoir4733]

In Vietnam a lot of the time you stuck your gun above the cover you laid behind and fired wherever you thought shots were coming from . If you took time to spot your target you'd be dead .

[@Valkyrie1911]

Then you need to train more.

[@Valkyrie1911]

@@Cardbordboxonfire I shoot more as a civilian than I ever did in the Army as an infantryman. Sure we might spend all day at the range, but not only is that maybe once a quarter, every person isn't shooting all day. There's a lot of wasted time. I can get more done in 3 hours at the range every month and dryfire practice at home throughout the week as a civilian. Also, civilians aren't dealing with large enemy forces so you're not likely to be engaged in long drawn out gun battles.

[@nomad155]

Thank you for making sure we grounded ourselves in reality and not the overtly tactical they can make us forget the likelihood of situations. 3 the very least and don't go looking for trouble.

[@randyfulbright3554]

My M-4 is equipped with a double coupled magazine. And a stock pouch that contains a single mag. When I grab that weapon to use, I have 90 rounds ready to go. I have 3 spare mags on my battle belt, and 6 magazines on my chest rig. I carry at least 10 spare pistol mags as well. 11B forever!

[@xjetpilot]

Thanks Paul, appreciate the perspective.

[@soonerfrac4611]

Instead of the old claymore bag when I was an MP/DACP we ran the 5.11 Bailout bags because I was also a police patrol medic. The saying was “break them on the outside and fix them on the inside.” Think we only had 2-3 mags is all the arms room would issue us but the BOB will hold 6, and the middle of the bag holds plenty of TCCC gear for active shooter response.

[@gregbailleul8828]

Always good to have you providing guidance and ground truth

[@TheReckoningBeginsToday]

Esstac has a nice shoulderable Mag Bag 300 (10 mags), Mag Bag 180 (6 mags). Metal or plastic. Really nice bags.

[@mallninjarising]

those are neat photos, it is cool to see your preferences and see how when its time to go how you set things up to meet the requirements for the situation.

[@politicalsheepdog]

In my PLS truck in Iraq I had a 30 rnd mag on the butstock on in the mag well, 4 mags on my vest, 4 mags in my bailout bag with water, two mags up on the ring mount in case the .50 cal went down or ran out of ammo. I also had a .50 cal can with 9 mags held in place by foam. After that it was whatever my assistant driver brought. Bullets and water were my main concern in Iraq.

[@hateferlife]

@@HWG-wm8ld I enjoyed it.

[@Cruiser777]

Thanks for the insight, And thank you for your service

[@kv1293]

"lethal hit every 3 rounds" - lmao ok, maybe for devgru or seal team 6. In combat, its closer to 300 rounds for every lethal hit. In LE its probably more like 10-15 since things happen much closer.

[@philliplopez1501]

Look at any LEO responding to a callout...on average you will see a rifle and one to three mags. Look at any soldier who has bèen in combat for a while and we see 7 to 14 mags on thier person, a go bag with 7 to 14 more mags, a case or two of bulk 5.56 just in case. And as many guns as we could get/mount to the vehicle. Oh, and some food,water, medical, etc. The question isn't realy how much ammo do you want to carry.... It's how much ammo is your opponent bringing. Best of luck, Phil

[@philliplopez1501]

@@HWG-wm8ld No sir, just my experience. FWIW, I did play that game once or twice after I retired from the service. I wanted to see what the kids were talking about.

[@tbucks1980]

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@whiteskyflyer]

Just wanted to say thank you for being a guardian of a way of life. When I first started flying helicopters I really searched for your generation of soldier/pilot. I still value any lesson I can learn from them. Despite being directly involved in the IRQ/AFG conflicts, I know this doesn’t make me an master of a trade but still a student of learning. I truly mean this when I say it, thank you for bringing common sense to this part of the make believe world known as KZbin.

[@garymitchell5899]

If soldiers don't already know what to carry then they're in serious trouble and a danger to their buddies.

[@whiteskyflyer]

@@garymitchell5899 yeah that’s been my thought this whole time when watching stuff on the tube. I don’t get onto this place and make content, simply on the principle of not everyone does things the same way. When you have a gee wiz idea it’s probably already been tried before, and often less is more when it comes to soldiering skill (more skills=less items needed). Your personal ability and decision making allows you to not have to substitute technology or unnecessary equipment into your kit.

[@skydivingcomrade1648]

More water...and more ammo... pretending to not need more when you have little opportunities later, remember you will not have major supply line for refil later. I agree that running with only what is necessary to accomplish the mission is important, but what is "NECESSARY", changes with time, opposition, terrain, etc.

[@_NKBD]

I keep a spare mag in my drivers door that I can grab and drop in my left back pocket when I'm exiting my car. Also have a bag similar to Paul's with a medkit/TQ, 4 mags, a bit of water and a power bar. For my plate carrier 2 mags up front 2 mags on my back. Bag is for if there is no time to put on plates... Of course Additional handcuffs + magazines on the back makes the plate carrier balance way better. I ended up with that loadout after attending CSAT advanced SWAT. And its been serving me well for the last 10 years.

[@centurionstrategic578]

Always good to see and hear different perspectives. I like that this information is coming from someone who actually has been in the heat of battle. Much respect for the Somalia missions you worked and made it out of. Thanks for your service and instruction!

[@markjohnis1872]

Excellent information derived from reality … combat experience tends to refine techniques to be more efficient and effective … and while various methods and systems can work, each combat situation will likely dictate the plan … I think it’s good to have all realistic options ready to go … become proficient in each one … select the one that’s appropriate when it’s go time …

[@scottmcclean2349]

Better to have more mags and not need them than to need them and not have them...

[@mx500a4]

It's really depends on the situation.

[@westpsmity]

I'll just drop some statistics here: In WWII, about 5,000 to 25,000 rounds of ammunition were fired by US troops per kill. In Vietnam, that was about 50,000 rounds per kill. In Iraq and Afgahnistan that estimate is as high as 250,000 rounds per killed insurgent. You estimate 3 rounds per kill. Hmm...

[@Mounty621]

Retired LE. . . In patrol, I had four pistol mags, one 20-round in the gun and three three 15-round mags on my belt. For my rifle, I had three 30-round mags on my plate carrier (when used) or a clip on thigh pouch with two 30-round magazines and one in my rifle. For SWAT, I carried six 30-round magazines between my armor, rifle and thigh pouch and five 20-round magazines for my pistol. I was very glad I never got in a situation where all of it was needed, like one SWAT team I read about in the south, who got pinned down on a porch.

[@Magilla_Gorilla7.62x39]

I appreciate this video. Contrarian but much appreciated

[@gillbrown8520]

Another great info drop, thanks

[@ccsmith2937]

Thanks Paul. 👍

[@heatherburger1666]

Thank you. This makes a lot of sense.

[@timgarlischsr8944]

Great seeing ya Paul. Miss training with ya my brother

[@bmphil3400]

As a civilian I have a sidearm with a reload. I have a rifle with a mag in it and a go bag with IFAK and three extra mags. Look at things like Rittenhouse....he was in a bad situation as a civilian (arguably he shouldn't have been there). He still didn't do a reload. With the small amount of ground fighting he had to do I could see a malfunction happening and needing a reload for that. My point is that as a civilian if I have to empty 4 rifle mags and 2 pistol mags then something extremely terrible is going down. I just can't justify the extra weight for anything more than that.....

[@bmphil3400]

@@HWG-wm8ld most of the time you will fight with what is in or on the gun. You don't have time in a home invasion to put on a plate carrier, thigh rig and a camel back. My dad got into a lethal force encounter in the late 60s. Two drunk men with knives attacked a block mason that had been working on my dad's house. The neighbor called and my dad grabbed a straight pull steyr. One guy ran off....the other guy refused to drop the knife and started walking toward my Dad. Dad shot him in the leg racked another round and had the rifle aimed on his center of mass when he screamed to not be shot anymore.... apparently getting shot with an old military center-fire hurts a lot. They loaded the block mason and the perp up and hauled them off in ambulances. Dad answered a couple of questions from police but no problem. When they saw how bad the guy was cut up they knew it was self defense.

[@MrJlpzjr]

Good info from someone who has real world experience. I like the no BS from Paul Howe, just keeps it simple. IMO

[@ferebeefamily]

Thank you for the video. It makes you think.

[@rc-pm1fe]

My quick ready to go chest rig has 4 mags then of course 1 in the rifle, the chest rig has wings if i want to add 1 or 2 more, my plate carrier has a 6 mag holder on the front. Both the chest rig and plate carrier are on placards so i can change them out, plus can always carry extra mags in a go bag or ruck. Can put them in the bag or have mag pouches attached to the molle on the outside of the pack.

[@ninjadave1970]

I have a buddy of mine, going into Fallujah carried 12 magazines! In one video he can be seen loading empty magazines during the firefight from a rooftop from extra ammo he carried in his backpack!

[@ninjadave1970]

@@HWG-wm8ld go back and eat your cornflakes, Muffin. Where not talking about Ramadi in 2006, we're talking about Fallujah in 2004 with Task Force 626! But nice try

[@BLVRZ]

Thank for your service and channel

[@CajunMarine33445]

Thank you for your wealth of great information and knowledge

[@muzien87]

Infantry marine who served in iraq in the city of fallujah and some of the ECPs thst ran into the west side of the city, i carried the radio most od the time (the big green monster but the one with the telephone number panel on it) i had my rifle loaded with 29+1 snd carried 4 mags up front and some extra in my pack with the radio. The one thing we learned as an infa try unit was having a battle belt to put maga on your side or setting mags on your vest to the was vetter because we all started off by carrying 8 up front well what that does is when you are trying to get as low as you can...those stacks of magazines up front boost your upper bosy off the ground a good 4 or 5 inchest plates included. From all yhat experience now as a civilian i keep the front of my plate carrier fairly slick, maybe 3 mags up front never double stacked but like you i have a big old bandolier thats is basically like a purse for ar15 magazines that can hold 16 mags and all i gotta do is throw it over my head/shoulder and i can keep it off to the side or more on my back and out of the way. Its amazing how weve learned what works what doesnt and the new little tricks of the trade that have been learned over the course of history. Speed reload from thr plate carrier, tac reload from the magazine bandolier or i cann use thr bandolier to replenish the mags used from the plate carrier

[@KS_Penetrator]

Carried 8+1 in Afghanistan along with demo, a drum for my saw gunner and metal detector

[@PunkN_JTM]

I was a signal Chief working task force neighborhood Baghdad in 03... I carried my basic plus a few while pulling security for our Engineers to clean up.... No way was I going to get stuck without extra .. a lesson learned from Black Hawk Down....

[@RH03111BFOUR]

Got called a weirdo for packing 15 and 10 40MM mags on patrols in Afghanistan but i never ran out of ammo.my grenadiers never ran out of ammo. Spread the wealth. Support your guys and help them when its a shitshow and resupply is gonna take a while or wont happen at all.

[@AVGN1774]

Very important channel, instant subscribe.

[@jkrjhn8]

Great information!

[@racer14glr91]

During Desert Storm, I had four mag pouches on my LBE. 13 mags total. Luckily i was in a mech division.

[@Crackshotsteph]

As a civilian living and working in the Caribbean armed robberies are common where I live and just carrying a pistol isn't enough so I carry my shotgun along with a shotgun/pistol bandolier for extra ammo and if the situation gets a hell of a lot worse then I can always run to my plate carrier or chest rig.

[@andrewcarlson2178]

Where in the Caribbean could you own guns ? I know a lot of places they're all over but legally owning one is more difficult

[@Crackshotsteph]

@@andrewcarlson2178In Jamaica you can own firearms, we have a very long list of firearms plus ammunition types that are heavily restricted from owning and yes its very difficult down here.

[@Chevydude1982]

That's cqb or up close fighting.what if ur in Afghanistan and ur fighting enemy u can't see 300 m away? I carried a standard combat load out but also carried 6 mags in my pack.when ur in a small team element u have to carry that extra ammo cause u don't have the personal to put down massive amounts of fire. Whoever has the most ammo generally wins the fight but he is right,u need to be able to hit ur target and should be able to kill with 3 rounds. Great video brotha. Hope ur doing well.

[@lsubeast13]

@@HWG-wm8lddamn son. Different perspective hurt your feelings?

[@danielmarshall4587]

The photo @4:01 NO SHIT.... beware the sharp dressed man. Smashing video many thanks.

[@irafowlerjr.7492]

Fantastic, good info, thanks

[@jackland454]

Good info. Thank you sir.

[@jameslang1354]

Paul Howe doesn’t miss. Truth.

[@roninky8012]

In a video Clint Smith said he learned in Vietnam to carry one mag for every minute the helo flew away from base. He knew it would take that long for help to arrive if they came under heavy contact.

[@incidentalpatriot2667]

As a civilian, I always felt comfortable with 3 mags for my carry pistol and 3 mags for my truck rifle. After 10/7 and the possibility that there are terrorists in the U.S. looking to do the same, I have decided to carry more and you have confirmed and validated the way I chose. I carry a thirty rounder in the rifle and 8 more in a sling bag. I also have a couple extra pistol mags in it. it's heavy but it will get me to my family and then home! I once heard a very experienced combat vet say that in a fire fight, you will never want LESS ammo😅

[@bradbarley6639]

As a civilian with what I would call better than average marksmanship skills... Yes I can put lethal hits on a target at 100 yards cold bore with my rifle... My opinion is 1 extra mag. If I can't get myself out of a self defense situation with 28 rounds of 5.56, I have really messed up and put myself in a situation I should have stayed out of to behind with. I did not practice ADD. Avoidance, Deterrence and De-escalation. Always great videos with sound/proven advice. 👍👍

[@mikefranklin1253]

Except that target is not shooting back.

[@bradbarley6639]

@@mikefranklin1253 Show me a civilian training scenario where they are...

[@rogerwhiteway971]

thank you for your service

[@silverwings21]

5:58 "If you don't know, ask." Thanks, some other KZbinrs hate when people ask questions, or as one KZbinr would call them: "The What-If Brigade".

[@bikeracerdude]

The number of _world star Karens_ in this comment section is astounding!

[@cancer5895]

the throw back photos are the best im a 20 something that couldn't be further from an operator but damn "buck up son, we goin to Naaaaam"

[@shadetreewelding]

Good info, thanks.

[@Sam-et3bv]

Thanks for another good video.

[@archangel20031]

Every pistol I own has 4 magazines, except the G17 clone, that one has 10 as it's intended for fighting. For my AK, I got a chest rig only because I'm getting older and it makes carrying 360 rounds worth of magazines easier.

[@jayblemsin4226]

You didnt run out in mogadishu ? Granted thats not something anyone would have to deal with outside of special operators

[@jeffcokenour3459]

Thank you!

[@amerikhan8507]

My rig consists of 10 mags for my rifle. 8 on the plate carrier, 1 in my belt rig, and one in the rifle. Fully loaded its 300 rounds for the rifle. In my backpack, I keep an additional 300 rounds in stripper clips to fully reload all the mags if necessary. 3 ten round mags for my pistol 30 loose rounds to reload them fully again. If it's SHTF and I can't drive to the gunshop to get more, what will I do?

[@christophers5664]

Great video!!!

[@davehanes7871]

Thanks for the education.

[@andrewcombe8907]

The Australians in Vietnam and the Brits in the Falklands discovered that you need twice of whatever you are carrying. They were carrying 3 x 20 round mags as frontline ammo then upped it to 6 plus one on the weapon. If you are infantry and doing suppressive fire as your battle buddy or mate moves you will go through 20 to 40 rounds in a firefight without any problems.

[@RWebster325]

I don't think that you are making the point that you are trying to make. First - Vietnam was a long time ago. Second - What was the basic load for the Australian Army with the L1A1? Basic load for a troop with the M1 Rifle was 88 rounds, and then for the M14 it was either 100 rounds or 140 rounds. This is evidenced by the cartridge belts and ammunition pouches that were issued at the time. For the M14 that would be the M1956 Type 1 Magazine pouch that held 2x 20 round magazines and the M1956 Type 2 Magazine pouch that held 3x 20 round magazines, besides the magazine in the weapon. Then again, the BAR ammunition belt held 12x 20 round magazines in six pockets (3 on each side). And then let us not forget the guys with the grenade launchers carrying anywhere from 18 to 20 40mm grenades.

[@Blackpowderdad]

Thank you!! People think you need a 1000 round combat load these days!

[@robertjackson1407]

Thank you 😊

[@BandGeek2210]

Just found this channel…immediately subscribed

[@echo_research_and_development]

I hope I saw this kind of attitude when I was in the military. I was in a regular unit. One day when my unit was leaving a range exercise, I heard one soldier brag about how he fired away all his combat load. I had to wonder, "Why is he so proud of how many shots he fired, not how many hits he got?" And, from what I saw in the media, that type of attitude remained in battle, and units were using a lot of ammo while not having tangible results. I saw a video of combat recorded by a solider in either Iraq or Afghanistan, and there was a whole lot of firepower doing towards somewhere. I was mostly thinking about "What the #### are they shooting at?" Too much fantasy about suppressive fire "keeping enemies heads down" while it was clearly not stopping the enemy from shooting seemed to be going on all too frequently. You suggested about 3 rouns per one incapacitated enemy. I would guess those infantry battles would have been over a lot faster with less casualties if those soldiers were getting even 10 rounds per one enemy incapacitaged. So, it seems like it is not just bad marksmanship, the "violence of action by suppressive fire" fantasy also needs to be addressed. I understand that there is a place for "violence of action", but it was too often implemented in a bad way.

[@natureb2267]

Thanks for your service to the Republic and the people. Great advice!

[@nickcole4517]

Your recommendation seems like the most reasonable for civilians. Don't want to stick out and scare people or confuse the LEOS.

[@Roger-il8iw]

I’m not a believer in shaving rounds for the closed bolt. Never had an issue. As police we always carried 3 30 round rifle mags and 3 pistol mags. I say always have well over a 100 rounds total is a good rule of thumb.

[@jmsmeier1113]

There’s no “ one size fits all” answer to the question. There are a lot of variables. 1. The mission 2. Individual ability to remain somewhat calm and focused in a firefight. 3. Individual marksmanship abilities. 4. Expected length of time on mission and wether resupply is an option. This is a basic list and by no means definitive, there is always a chance that you can resupply and rearm by stripping the enemy dead, but you can never assume this will be possible. In a combat environment I carried 5 thirty round mags + a bandolier, a minimum of 8 assorted 40mm grenades preferably 12, I’d have H.E., Flechette or buckshot, W.P, C.S. And smoke. In addition, every man in the squad carried a claymore, which in my humble opinion is one of the most effective weapons we had.

[@andrewmoore7586]

My LBE holds 8 mags, 2 in my belt, 1 in my AR, and 3 or 4 in my then empty Drop Bag = 14/15 5.56mm mags/ with 15 = 450-Rounds!! Can’t forget my H2O Bladder & other light-needs: IFAK, Tourniquets, and VITALLY CRUCIAL is my HUGE BAG of Skittles..!!! Ounces=Pounds, Pounds=PAIN… 🇺🇸 #2A 🇺🇸