At times it seems that our society is obsessed with one question regarding almost every aspect of modern life—is it convenient? This is invariably the case whether you’re referring to travel, communication, shopping or just about anything else. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy convenience, too.
When it comes to shooters and shooting, the convenience idea applies, as well. I’m all about making things easier when it involves any aspect of the shooting sports, whether reloading, gun/ammunition storage and in particular carrying a firearm.
Packing a gun in the field, whether hunting, carrying for personal protection or just knocking around in the country, sometimes poses a question regarding the carry of extra ammunition. Those carrying concealed everyday often carry spare ammunition on a belt, a particularly easy task when carrying an semi-automatic pistol, as the extra ammo is obviously contained in spare magazines. If not carried on a belt in a mag pouch, an extra magazine can be easily tucked in a back-pants pocket or a jacket pocket.
A different set of circumstances must be considered when the shooter carries a revolver. The issue of carrying extra rounds on one’s person is a pertinent one. Clearly, if the shooter is carrying a full belt and holster rig it’s not an issue. Most full-belt outfits sport cartridge loops that accommodate anywhere from six to 24 cartridges, depending on caliber. It’s not always suitable to carry a full belt and holster rig, especially if the shooter is using a revolver for concealed carry or is just casually poking around in the field.
Having lived in the desert southwest all my life, I’ve generally carried some sort of a six-gun with me when knocking around, and not always in a belt and holster rig. I’ve strapped my holstered revolver to my pants belt, or sometimes just stuck it in a waistband holster. In the past, I’ve usually just packed six or so extra rounds loose in my pants pocket. If I put them in my right-front pants pocket, they’d get mixed up with a pocket knife, keys and spare change, if I had any. If I put the extra rounds in my left pants pocket, I’d inevitably have to switch the gun from hand to hand to retrieve the rounds and then load. Not a very quick method to retrieve extra cartridges either way. Pretty much the same is true when wearing a jacket and putting loose rounds in the pockets.
Mike “Doc” Barranti, head-honcho at Barranti Leather, has come up with an outstanding product to help revolver shooters carry a few extra rounds. The idea is quite simple, and based on a suggestion from a law enforcement friend some time back. The concept consists of a small, leather pouch with a fold-over flap that snaps down. The pouch carries six rounds of .44 Mag. or .44 Spl., or six rounds of .45 Colt. It can also carry five rounds of .500 Linebaugh, seven rounds of .357 Mag./.38 Spl., or a couple dozen .22 LR rounds. The big-bore stuff stacks neatly in the pouch, side-by-side, for easy removal. The pouch has no belt loop—it was designed to be carried in a pocket, a bag, in a vehicle console or just about anywhere else the carrier might find handy. They’re lightweight and extremely well-made.
I have several of the pouches, which Mike has dubbed the “Six-Pack Pocket Companion”. Mike stamped mine with “.44” and “.45” in order to differentiate them easily. I’ve carried the pouches extensively in the field and have found them to be a must-have for any revolver shooter. I’ve carried them in my pants pocket, jacket and my field bag. Carrying a few extra revolver rounds has never been more, well, convenient.
The Six-Pack Pocket Companion idea isn’t necessarily new. Leather makers have been making similar ammo pouches for some time, but most of them I’ve seen are designed to be carried on the belt. Dick Murray of Murray Leather from Aledo, TX, builds a great ammo pouch for rifle cartridges, designed to be carried on the belt.
The Barranti pouch is a great grab-and-go method for handgun cartridges that every revolver enthusiast should consider. Check them out at barrantileather.com.
