Finding the Right Magazine Carrier or Holster
We take a look into the world of magazine carriers to see which method might be right for you, as well as a few recommendations for carriers.
PPT Editor. NRA & USCCA instructor. Hunter, former competitive shooter, collector (200+ firearms)
We review products independently. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission to help support our testing. Learn more.
Few things are as annoying as buying or considering a handgun, only to find it has no OEM or aftermarket support, even for the most basic necessities.
It absolutely blows my mind that companies will release pistols geared toward concealed carry and not have any holster support.
But the thing that gets even less attention are carriers for your magazines. It can be frustrating to finally hunt down a holster for that new or weird pistol you got, only to have no way to pack spare mags.
I am not sure if manufacturers think people still run those universal Uncle Mike’s nylon snap holsters that you see at the sporting goods store or what. But for most people, those are bulky, slow, and a poor fit for many magazines.
I have over a hundred handguns, many of which aren’t popular. Because of this, I have plenty of experience hitting brick walls when it comes to finding ways to carry them. But luckily, I have also found a few good workarounds.
Table of Contents
All-Purpose Universal Mag Carriers
The saving grace for me over the last 7 or 8 years has been the Pitbull Tactical Universal Mag Carrier. After searching high and low, I came across these carriers and saw they had pretty good reviews.
At $20 a piece and at my wit’s end, I took a shot at two of them. And holy hell, they were exactly what I needed.
They fit roughly 85% of the pistol mags I have. The same carrier can hold my thin 1911 mags and the girthy FN 510 mags equally well. No adjustment is needed either; just slide any mag in.
These mag carriers use what is essentially a large silicone rubber band to hold two clamshells together. While the retention may not be as tight as some people like, I find it to be the perfect draw for me.
I have never had a magazine unexpectedly fall out. The only mags that try to “push out” are my bulky and slippery Staccato 2011 magazines.
While they aren’t as slim as dedicated Kydex magazine carriers, the form factor is still well small enough for concealed carry usage. These are much smaller than my taco-style pistol mag pouches, which are way too big to conceal for someone my size.
I love that you can simply clip these on after your belt is already on; talk about easy. Another bonus is that you can run these OWB or IWB by simply flipping them around.
I have since bought a few more of the Pitbulls and have been using them almost daily for over half a decade. The elastic is still strong and the plastic has held up well. If you have a gun that isn’t mainstream, these are a lifesaver.
Single Stack Universal Mag Carriers
When I said that the Pitbulls work for about 85% of my pistols, most of that other 15% are single-stack mags that are just too thin or small to have proper retention.
Guns like my Kel-Tec P32, Sig P210 Carry, and a few others were left in the cold. Luckily, I found a decent solution for these as well.
This time it was a design that I first saw from Tulster with their Echo Mag Carrier.
These use a single Allen key adjustment to move a plastic tensioner forward and back to help you get the exact retention level you want.
The adjustment is simple, and these carriers are very slim and easy to conceal. They make ones for double-stack mags in addition to single-stack versions, so be sure to double-check before ordering.
There are generic knockoff versions of these carriers on Amazon sold under a bunch of different Chinese brands. I have tried these in addition to my Tulster Echo because I wanted to see if the cheaper option would work.
Luckily, they have performed as advertised and were affordable to boot (less than $20 for 2).
While I do have less time behind these particular carriers, they have been effective for me. I have not had to readjust them unless I am swapping to a magazine from a different gun.
Dedicated Mag Carriers
This section is a bit self-explanatory, but it should be included anyway.
If you are running a gun, like a Glock, M&P 2.0, 1911, or any other relatively common platform, there is likely to be a model-specific magazine carrier out there for you. If there is a good dedicated carrier for your gun, I always recommend that over a universal carrier.
Many holster companies also offer magazine carriers for standard guns. But whether you go leather or Kydex, I recommend trying to find a carrier with adjustable retention if you can.
Retention can vary widely from belt to belt and even on different body types. You don’t want to get stuck with a carrier where your mags are almost falling out. Even worse is a carrier where they are stuck in so tight that you may as well be trying to pick up Thor’s Hammer.
Custom Carriers
A third option is to have a carrier custom-made. These are usually molded Kydex or polymer but can be leather as well.
For those who want that dedicated, positive fit, but their gun isn’t on the menu at most places, going for a custom carrier may be a reasonable choice.
There is an outfit near me that presses custom holsters and carriers on the spot at the local gun shows. I have had them make a few carriers over the years for weird stuff like my Kel-Tec PMR 30, Browning BDM, and a few other oddballs.
I do like that the fitment is precise, but many custom Kydex carriers don’t have any provision for adjusting the retention. So keep in mind that if your draw preferences, belt setup, or body changes over time, you may find them less useable.
Also, if you order these online, you may need to ship your magazine to the manufacturer for them to get the fit right. There is also a potential for longer wait times to get everything back, so keep that in mind.
Single Vs. Double Carrier
Most carriers either have slots for two magazines or a single magazine.
Even if I want to carry two spare magazines, I often prefer to carry two single carriers. Having two singles allows me to have a bit more flexibility.
I can spread them further apart to allow more room for my hand to get in there. Also, it can be easier to get two singles in the exact right spot rather than having to compromise because a belt loop is in just the wrong spot.
Whether it is for comfort or concealment purposes, sometimes I just want to carry one mag instead of two. In that case, I simply leave one of the single carriers behind. It is also easier to slide the carrier back and forth on your belt if you need to adjust the position on the fly (sitting down, driving, etc.)
However, double carriers do have some advantages. The single-piece design feels a lot less clunky, and if your carrier shifts at all on your belt, both mags move relative to each other.
This means the magazines will always be a consistent distance from each other, giving you a repeatable and consistent motion for the draw.
These carriers also tend to flop around less and are more resistant to getting caught on small lips or objects. The Pitbull carriers I mentioned earlier do tend to hang up on objects if you aren't careful.
There is no wrong answer here; there are just a few considerations to make based on the way you carry.
Final Thoughts
Mag carriers, like holsters, are one of those things that are completely subjective. There is no right or wrong way answer for the most part.
This guide was merely to help those who don’t already have their carry situation figured out get pointed in the right direction.
What are your thoughts on magazine carriers/holsters? Let us know in the comments below! You got the carriers, but how many magazines do you need? We got the deets in our article dedicated to magazines!