If you are planning on spending more than one magazine of ammo, you will definitely need an ammo/magazine pouch.
There are a wide variety of ammo holders on the market, with some carrying thousands of rounds, and some carrying just one magazine.
They vary from the traditional WW2 style ammo container to a fabric pouch that attaches to your belt.
Which type you will need will very much depend on what type of hunting/shooting you plan on doing.
Our Top Pick
Condor Elite MA44-498 Triple Stacker M4 Mag Pouch
- Dynamic, durable, and most importantly, reliable
- Abrasion resistant
- Durable lightweight construction
Why is it better?
- Holds up to six separate magazines
- String-protected open draw pockets
- Heavy duty multicam design for uniformity and durability
5 Best Ammo Magazine Pouches
With that in mind, let’s now take a closer look at our top picks.
Let’s dive into the specifics and review each ammo pouch individually. You can use the list below to jump and review specific models, or you can read along and go through all the information.
Best Overall: Condor Elite MA44-498 Triple Stacker M4 Mag Pouch
- Dynamic, durable, and most importantly, reliable
- Abrasion resistant
- Durable lightweight construction
Condort is known to make some of the best tactical gear on the planet, and their Triple Stacker is a testament to this fact.
Whichever way you want to look at it, the bungee straps that hold the magazines in are extremely tight.
That can be difficult depending on the length of your mag, but it’s better to have it close by (and feel a tension release if it were to snap or drop) than not have it secured enough. One major factor to consider with a magazine pouch is mobility.
Yeah, it’s not going to go anywhere, but Condor made sure that this fits appropriately to 1.5” and 2” tactical belts with about as much eae as you’re going to get. The heavy duty design is meant to carry you to hell and back.
Condor is reliable; you won’t feel your pouch moving around too much while running, and the string closure allows you to do a full roll without dropping a single mag.
Quite simply, for the cost and the control, it’s the top of the food chain.
Pros
- Holds up to six separate magazines
- String-protected open draw pockets
- Heavy duty multicam design for uniformity and durability
Cons
- Camo pattern is not suitable for white colors
TEGE Universal Double Magazine Pouch
- Double Mag. Belt Holder fits most 9mm .40 caliber dual stack...
- Adjustable Retention - Secure Retention of polymer holster is achieved...
- Adjustable Carry Angle - Easily set paddle cant from 0-60 degrees to...
Versatility is the name of the game here. Usually, you can either expect high volume or extremely versatile designs, but TEGE gives you a healthy balance of both.
You can equip two magazines in the plastic slots. Plastic may not be your first pick for a magazine holster, but it gets the job done.
Part of the reason that it works so well is the plastic clip, visible in the exterior sides of each slot.
These clips offer excellent retention so you can fit more narrow magazines inside, and you won’t have to worry about them banging around while you’re in mid movement. It holds them steady.
Using an allen key, you can adjust the tension for your belt. Speaking of the belt, the clip here is, dare we say, revolutionary.
Instead of slipping it on your tactical belt and figuring out the harness system for your vest, you’re able to just clasp it over the belt and clamp it shut. Remove or replace it quickly without having to dismantle your entire vest, and get back to the fight.
Pros
- Fits most pistol clips with ease
- Adjustable design keeps more narrow clips in place without jangling
- Open belt clip is easier to drop or swap out than traditional belt-driven pouches
Cons
- Not suitable for larger magazines
Blackhawk Double Mag Pouch
- MAGAZINES NOT INCLUDED
- Fits 9 mm, 10mm, .40 Cal, .45 Cal
- Built-in tension springs keep your magazine secure
Blackhawk is an iconic brand. They’re known for inexpensive tactical solutions, and this double mag pouch delivers on all that they’re known for.
Slip two magazines into this pouch that fits easily on your belt. Unlike other, larger mag pouches, this will fit on a standard dress belt or a tactical belt. Whatever you need.
Your magazines stay in place without any issue, but from applying the right amount of pressure from the right angle, they’ll come right out.
It’s a unique solution that won’t let your mags slip out during a roll or a jump. With this pouch, you can fit up to .45 caliber bullet magazines.
The tension spring works well, but keep in mind since we’re partway down this list, it’s not the ultimate pick for durability.
It’s going to last you for a damn long time, but enough in-and-out with the magazines and you’re going to notice deterioration on the lips of the pouch. It works well, it lasts for a long time, just keep an eye on it after a few years.
Pros
- Tension spring system holds smaller mags in place
- Fits up to .45 cal bullet magazines
- Stays in place, but clips come easy when you apply the right pressure
Cons
- Deterioration on the lips is visible after a lot of use
Federal Six Pack Magazine Pouch
A magazine pouch is what it is: the taxi service for your fully loaded gun mags. Some do a bit more, but Federal wanted to recreate the old classic, simple pouch with more to offer.
They bulked this up so you can bring up to six packed magazines along for the ride, each in their own easy access pouch.
Every pouch is separated by stitched fabric, and features a full velcro cover strap (it goes almost to the bottom of the pouch line, which is more than you need).
Your mags aren’t going anywhere. The only issue with this is making sure the velcro holds up over time, but that shouldn’t be an issue for five to six years after your purchase date.
Federal gives you all that storage for a ridiculously low price. Think about the power in six mags, and how easily it slides onto your tactical belt.
It’s the most lightweight, effective magazine pouch that you’ll buy for years. Some of us on a budget, and Federal makes it easy to stay on track.
Pros
- You’re completely loaded for bear, no matter what the situation is
- Durable velcro grips are reliable
- Easy to slip on and off of your tactical belt
Cons
- A bit too large
FSDC Caretaker 10 Magazine Storage Pouch
- [Durable] Constructed with 600 Denier PET Shell material
- [Double-Stack Magazine Design] Will fit standard-length magazines...
- [Easy Carry] Ammo pouch designed to sit flat in a range bag
Federal was great, but for less, you can get up to ten total mag storage slots .There are some picadillos with this one though, so strap in.
Stashing ten double stack mags is no joke, but it’s a tight fit. As you can see from the photographs, the mags are squeezed in there. That makes them slightly less accessible. Accessibility is also an issue with the velcro.
It’s great that it has a receiver on each individual magazine pouch, but the strip on the flap-down is actually pretty tough to pull up and open.
Access to the mags are slightly difficult since they all share the same opening.
Does that mean this should be discredited? Absolutely not. High capacity, high durability is no laughing matter.
Your pouch is made out of 600D PET shell material, so it’s not going down without a fight.
Between that and the easy application to your tactical belt or vest, the overall storage capacity is worth it, you should just have a few other mags in easier-to-reach spots.
Pros
- Total of ten slots for double stack magazines
- Durable 600D PET shell material construction
- Velcro receiver on each individual mag slot
Cons
- Velcro could be a problem with heavier rounds
What You Need To Consider
Ammo Pouch Types
Shoulder Bags – These are like ammo boxes on-the-go and fit like a satchel over your shoulder. Useful for large ammunition and transportation.
9mm Belt Clip – Generally two to ten different slots for 9mm magazines. These clip onto your belt for easy access.
Vest Mounted Clip – You’ll see these on tactical vests already. They usually hold onto shotgun shells on the exterior of a breast pocket side, but they may also hold .50 cal bullets as well.
Cartridge Wallet – Looks like a wallet, but when you unfold it, it’s flooded with ammunition. Usually useful for holding onto twelve bullets at a time, rarely more.
The Legality of Ammo Pouches
If you can conceal carry a firearm, then you can bring an extra magazine along. That being said, excessive amounts of ammunition are generally not allowed.
It’s a tough question to answer, as it depends on local municipality law and can be greatly misconstrued.
We wish to provide accurate and truthful information.
In most instances, you can carry one or two extra magazines for practical purposes, but nobody is going into a gas station as John Rambo with .50 cal strips of bullets over their shoulders.
Contact your local police to determine if this is legal and/or ethical to conceal carry an ammo pouch.
Hunting With Ammo Pouches
Now, here is an instance where ammo pouches greatly come in handy. Not everyone hunts for food. It’s the 21st century, after all.
Many of us hunt simply for sport, for the love of hunting. For that, you’re not going to be satisfied after a single takedown. You want to proceed and see how many targets you can take down before you leave.
Ammo pouches, in this case, are justified. You aren’t going to carry a 9mm to shoot whitetail, but ammo pouches can be used for other types of ammo as well.
Determine if your gun can load enough ammunition to not require an extra mag, since it’s more carry weight. Personally, do I bring an extra mag when hunting?
No, I don’t. It’s more fun to try and stick to the one shot, one kill mentality. Firearms can sometimes make a hunt seem dull or easy, but narrowing your sights like this can revive the fun.
Magazine pouches are not required to bring hunting unless it’s a multi-day trip where you’ll be camping in the woods.
Ammo Magazine Pouch FAQ
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MAG POUCHES?
Carrying extra ammunition while keeping it accessible. An ammo box isn’t easy to pull a mag out of, but pouches offer quicker reloading times for most standard 9mm firearms (and some up to .45 cal).
Magazine pouches are all about access and mobility. The faster you reload, the less likely you are to be taken down by an assailant or target. Split second decisions can last a lifetime.
Mag pouches are also ways to improve your tactical vest’s overall storage capabilities. You can fit other items, such as tactical flashlights, into a mag slot on most magazine pouches.
WHAT IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR MAG POUCH?
Anything that’s high in a denier rating. Denier dictates the number of grams of mass per nine-thousand meters. If that sounds confusing, it is; think of the higher a denier count is, the sturdier the material is.
High denier polyester, nylon, and cordura all make excellent materials for mag pouches. They’re rigid and tough, and mostly abrasion resistant. Higher denier materials are also less likely to tear or fray with age.
That being said ,they’re also harder to clean. Less water travels in between each individual thread and layer of fabric. For most mag pouches, it’s recommended to clean them with a dry cleaning powder and vacuum it out.
ARE THERE UNIVERSAL MAG POUCHES?
There are, but they’re not considered truly tactical. If you’re going to carry multiple magazines into a tactical situation, you need to have designated spots. Otherwise, it’s like fumbling around in the dark.
A universal magazine pouch will allow you to load multiple magazine types into a single compartment. The reason this isn’t good, is because you can load just about any type of mag in here and combine it with others: an AK magazine with a 9mm pistol mag isn’t a good combination.
The point is, nothing is in a designated space. With tactical mag pouches, each magazine has its own spot so you can quickly retrieve it and already have it in the perfect position to reload before your enemy gets the upper hand. That’s what it means to be tactical.
HOW TO SECURE YOUR MAG POUCHES?
Most mag pouches are going to come with a way to slip onto a tactical belt (usually 1.5” up to 2”). These belt mounts are either channels to run your belt through, which can be a bit of a hassle, or a belt clip.
These clips can slip down over the top of your belt, and the tension in the plastic or metal clip will keep it in place. Either that, or you can have clamp style clips. You open the clamp up, lay the belt material inside of it like a track, and close it. Presto; you’re equipped.
If neither of those apply to your setup or appeal to you, inspect your tactical vest and determine if you can attach it somewhere on the pouches there. Just be sure to keep it accessible at all times.
A Better Way To Carry
If you’re bringing extra mags for the ride, you need to ensure you can reach them effectively and efficiently.
These magazine pouches position you for faster reloads, and more confidence in your shots knowing that there’s quick access to additional ammunition at the flick of your wrist.
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