A protective carrier to hold a loaded spare magazine in a position of readiness for immediate insertion into operative engagement with a firearm. A latch release mechanism is operable wholly independent of the operation of the magazine release mechanism of the firearm, so that a spare magazine will remain in the protective carrier despite release of a magazine from the firearm. The spare magazine can be released from the carrier by pressing a latch release lever located for convenient use by either a left-handed or a right-handed rifleman.