Don't get high capacity

[Jeremiah/Az]

I'm not condemning anyone that wants to carry large capacity guns or 2-3 extra mags, but I don't understand why. I can't really think of a defense situation where you would need or be able to use all that ammo. More than one attacker & you will probably only get off 2 or 3 shots. I can see a mag malfunction where you might need another, but 15-16 shot guns I just don't get. Your thoughts?

[RogerP9fan]

You should run for CA State Assembly.

[steve666]

I've never heard anyone who has ever been in a firefight complain about having TOO MUCH ammo.:7:

[Popeye]

I guess it depends on where you live, and where you go on just how much is to much. I very rarely carry more ammo then what's in the pistol. I don't ever remember carring and extra mag with me. Most of the time it's 6+1 but there are times when I carry my XD9sc where it's 13+1.. That is mostly in the winter months though when it's easier to carry and people are wearing heavier clothing. Most SD situations last for only a couple of shots if that. The way you hear some of these guys talk on some of these sites they carry a ton of ammo with them but really only need one to get the job done because they're such crack shots. Always found that to be interesting.

[jlottmc]

When I was a young devil dog, I got sent to Bosnia. I never once wished I had less gun or less ammo.

[Popeye]

When I was a young devil dog, I got sent to Bosnia. I never once wished I had less gun or less ammo.

Yup like I said depends where you go. I'll bet you didn't rely on a pistol to get the job done in Bosnia.

[jlottmc]

I had one, but since I was an armorer...I also had things like a pile of M16A2's, M249 SAW's and such as well. Even the street fights I've been in and seen never once wished for less. I've also done a lot of work with PD's, and some habits are hard to break, I still carry two reloads for whichever piece I'm carrying that day.

[cw45fan]

It's a very personal thing that has a lot to do with your circumstances and range of activity, eh? A person who frequents dangerous areas or, perhaps, has a security-related job... dealing with a lot of cash every day, for example... or a LEO... is going to be more interested in packing a higher-cap weapon... maybe even wearing a body armor vest. I used to have a friend who often said: "If you're not paranoid, you're not very well informed."

[Popeye]

"If you're not paranoid, you're not very well informed."

Well I must not be well informed, because I'm sure not paraniod about anything, never have been. Living in fear of everything just isn't in my make up. Being Paranoid is a state of mind often considered a personallity disorder.

[slowpoke]

I live in a small town in SE Texas where the weather is hot and sweaty most of the time. The police do a good job of keeping the pecker heads pinned down so I don't bother with big guns with lots of extra mags. I find a small single stack 40 suits my needs rather well. On those rare occasions when I do carry a mag, I carry it in a back pocket carrier. I found that with the Firestar I used to carry as well as with the CW40 I now carry, the mags can start to unload themselves if not secured.

[rholmes69]

In the extreme event of an encounter where shots are fired, I think I recall reading that most people don't recall how many shots that they fired. Clearly evidence that when the adrenaline is pumping and you are taking cover, the last thing on your mind is keeping track of your rounds fired.

I just think of the one time I got jumped by a rattlesnake and how quickly I fired off three shots. Had their been two snakes or three, I would have been out of ammo. Switch that to two or three bad guys. I am no crack shot and have so much to still learn as far as becoming sufficient in protecting myself and my family and training with my SD pistols. My CCW instructor stressed two shots at BG's, one center mass and one head. Like I stated before, I can only imagine in a real life situation how my shooting might be negatively effected.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I'm no pessimist, but as others stated, I would sure hate for a grave marker to say "If he only had one more round...". I'll sacrifice the pain of carrying around something the size of a pack of gum for peace of mind. Just my two cents.

[unclenunzie]

A person goes with what they are comfortable with.

A person who lives in a nice area with no expected exposure to gangs, would probably do just fine with a 5-shot revolver or a small single-stack autoloader 6-8 rounds. If a person regularly travels through bad neighborhoods or lives in or near such places, they would probably do better and feel more secure with a higher round count, say 10-15. I don't think it's paranoid to carry more ammo in or near rough places, as the likelihood of any attack involving multiple assailants is higher.

If you drive lonely roads between nice places at night, and your car breaks down, you are exposed to whatever dangers make come along. Better more than fewer rounds.

If you get into a lethal force encounter you may need to drive an assailant to cover, you may miss due to extreme stress, you may want to fire three rounds as a mayday. That could be half your rounds gone.

Having said all this, in the tame circles where I travel and can be legally armed, I go small with a single reload. In my case it is enough, but I would not hesitate to go larger/more if I felt it was prudent.

[Frankhenrylee]

If I find myself in a gunfight I want to make darn sure that I've got enough bullets to finish the job or get away. I don't want to pull my gun in self defense and then find myself defenseless after 6 rounds. I don't want to feel like I've got to conserve ammunition when either me or my families life is on the line. I carry a PM40 with 2 spare mags. Its still only 18 rounds. Thats maybe 6-8 times I can send lead down range. Still not enough, just the minimum I'm willing to live with.

[wyntrout]

I don't want to be overloaded with a bunch of stuff, but I think that 5+1 or 6+1 could prove to be too few rounds, or that one magazine might malfunction or be dropped when you most need it. If you do need to draw your weapon and someone is shooting at you, you're probably going to have an adrenalin rush along with the "tunnel vision" that your body experiences as it tries to support the most needed faculties and physiological needs for survival... if you live long enough. The little things can really trip you up there and that's where practice and "muscle memory" are really needed. You have to consider the threat, available cover, and a lot of other things all at once and act on the most immediate so that you live long enough to even consider the other things, especially if someone else’s life depends on your being able to defend them.
I won’t get carried away here with everything that needs contemplation and consideration before leaving the house on any trip, but one thing I can do is carry at least one reload… a larger one if I have it. I only have 6-round mags for the P380, a 7-round for the PM9, and 6 or 7-round ones for the PM45. My choice there is a 7-round with extended grip. I’m going to break down and get some of those 8-round extended grip 9mm mags for the range and a reload for the PM9… or the K9, should I ever carry that.
I may never need a reload, just like I may never need insurance for some things, but I would rather have extra than not enough.
If you’ve never had an experience that triggers the adrenalin rush and tunnel vision, you’re going to be “rattled” and maybe wet yourself, but a lot of things can trigger that reaction… usually “life or death” imminent danger, even if it’s just perceived or imagined. Critter encounters, car accidents(or near ones), “things that go bump in the night”, injuries, and threats like muggers or robbers or assailants are just a few, not to mention actual combat experiences with high “pucker factors”.
I haven’t been robbed, and I’ve never been in a gunfight, but I’ve certainly experienced most of the other things and can remember a lot vividly… surreal and scared sh*tless at times. Sometimes the tunnel vision signals the onset of shock... been there a few times... injuries... once induced by an idiot volunteer worker trying to insert an IV needle in the back of my hand (for my first colonoscopy... good medications)... through a vein, pulled back a bit, and then was wiggling it around for an eternity while I kept gritting my teeth and thinking the pain would be over soon. Finally, I had the tunnel vision thingie and spoke up, whereupon the real staff rescued me from the idiot and treated me for shock.
If you're ever waiting to be stuck like that and there's some idiot that says "Let me! Let me!", don't let them touch you... unless it's a good-looking candy striper.

JMHO.

Dang! I just get carried away!
Wynn
Safe at home in my computer/office chair… as usual. Armchair tactician.

[Bawanna]

At the risk of scenting a big huge +1 on that good buddy.

It's just like when you say I'm just going a short distance and won't be gone long, I won't need my gun or my knife, or my flashlight or my flashbangs, or my smoke grenades, or my handcuffs, you get the flow of my river?

If I'm killed in the street I don't want it to be cause I ran out of projectiles.