3 BG 1 GG and a choice...?

E

Esco

New member
I was wondering....What makes people feel safe when caring a revolver compared to caring a semi-auto? In most instances of an incident happening where you need to use your firearm, there are more than just one BG attacking you. What do you do when you only have 5 shots and there are a lot of BG's? Wouldn't having the semi be a better choice for SD in case of a situation like that where the odds are against you?

I'm just curious to see why people choose to carry what they carry when they know something like this can happen. I like both. Just hard for me to choose a revolver because of this. I know that if you have good aim and only use 1 bullet per person your good, but not everyone is a marksman(or can shoot perfectly under pressure/scared) and not everyone stops attacking after being shot just once.


Thanks for the input!
 
If there are a lot of BG's, a 30 round mag won't help you. By the time you hit BG 3, you'll already be shot yourself.
 
Airweight J frames are small, light and relatively inexpensive. So, why carry just one? :D

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With a 442 in my pocket and a 638 crossdraw on my belt, I have alot of flexability in how to respond. I can have my hand discreetly on the 442 while walking through a dark parking lot, or I can easily access the 638 with either hand, even when seated and seat belted, if needed.

Of course there's nothing to say you can't have the best of both worlds, and I often carry a Glock in place of the Bodyguard. That way I have the option of either the reliability of a revolver or the capacity of an auto.
 
But, Esco, . . . that is the premier option afforded our citizens in the USA: freedom of choice.

Driving a single axle dump truck is probably safer than driving a Ford Escort.

Drinking skim milk is probably safer than drinking Vit D, whole milk.

Electric heat pump heating is probably safer than an open fire place.

We choose, . . . because we can, . . . and I'm glad.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Are you sure of this?
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Tanzer,Well not nation wide, but here in Florida what I mostly here of is a group of guys not just one doing the crime.

Also Dwight, I see your point...I guess it's just choice. I was just curious what makes people feel safe with just a few shots. Maybe when I get a lot more target practice Ill feel much safer with 5 or 6 shots.

Oh and ATW, I guess I could carry 2. But, I dunno how comfortable that would be. I would feel like I was a walking arsenal doing that.:D Maybe I would just need to get used to it and then I wouldn't think of it as overkill.

Thanks for the input! :)
 
If there are more BG's than I can take care of with 5, then I'm in BIG trouble, and should be running...

PLUS: WHERE did you get the premise that there arwe always 20 BG's waiting...

I believe you'll find more 1:1 encounters than 20 BG to 1 GG...
 
What makes people feel safe when caring a revolver compared to caring a semi-auto? In most instances of an incident happening where you need to use your firearm, there are more than just one BG attacking you.
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Actually the majority of personal violent crime incidents are single attacker. But even if there are multiple attckers, usually they go away when being shot at.
What do you do when you only have 5 shots and there are a lot of BG's?
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Shoot 5 of them one time each?
I'm just curious to see why people choose to carry what they carry when they know something like this can happen.
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For the same reason we don't carry rifles, shotguns, etc. Everybody makes compromises. The only question is where the compromise line is drawn.
 
Esco,

It's the size.

That's why something like the J-frame is so popular. The reliability of revolvers also figures into the equation, but with superb modern autos like Glocks and Sigs I really don't think reliability is a question in most people's minds, including mine; I have almost :) as much confidence in those guns as I do in S&W wheelguns.

Believe me, even though my affection for small revolvers is deep-seated, I'm not so sentimental that I would give up the advantage of the auto's extra capacity just for the "cuteness" factor of the the revolver. I would love to be able to pack a Glock 26 or 27 instead of the J-frame. But these guns, while still small and with an amazing firepower-to-size ratio, are still much bigger.

Despite the cylinder of the revolver, which at its thickest point (diameter) is always more than an auto, the wheelgun simply takes up a lot less space overall because of how thin the frame is. That "thick" cylinder is only "thick" for a very small area. Otherwise, the gun is very svelte.

About the multiply BGs/single BG issue:

I'm surprised to see how many people questioned your original assertion about the prevalence of incidents involving multiple attackers. From what I have seen/heard and experienced, this is very true and I agree with you.

To my mind, there is really only one viable strategy for facing multiple adversaries with a small-capacity firearm, and it's the same approach that applies for a firearm of any capacity in such a situation: Force yourself to remain calm, identify the biggest threat and (provided the appropriate force "threshold" has been crossed, i.e., deadly force is warranted to protect life or limb) let the rest of the goon squad see what happens when a bullet at 1000 fps enters someone's skull or chest. Repeat as necessary, or until resources are expended.

Five rounds may not be many, but, wisely used, they will be sufficient to demonstrate to someone threatening your life that the stakes are high. If your attackers are inclined towards self-preservation, they will retire after a display of this sort, provided you have the time and composure to execute it.

If they are so numerous, suicidal or stupid that the termination of one of their own has no effect, then I guess your number is up. Please note that I'm not saying that I think a higher-capacity gun would be of little effect in such as situation. Quite the opposite; I'm pointing out that selecting a carry gun that is realistic in terms of its concealability involves playing the odds. It's often impossible to base your equipment selection on the worst-case scenario.

More rounds are always better. There's nothing comforting about limiting oneself to five rounds between reloads. For me to do this, there has to be a compelling reason, which there is - concealment.
 
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Another point for semis is the ability to carry a spare mag. Funny, but nearby MA has a ten round limit on mag capacity, making that 17+ Glock/Taurus a big no-no, and you can't simply underload the mag. Remarkably, there's no limit to the number of mags you can carry. Not to take anything away from revolvers. I think you'll find that statistics show the number of shots fired in the average SD encounter to be within the limit of just about anything you carry. If you're in a situation where 5+ shots are fired, you're in more trouble than a squirrel on an eight lane highway.
 
Another point for semis is the ability to carry a spare mag.
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Though that's a valid point, two Airweight J frames weigh less than most semi-autos with a spare mag. Of course you still wouldn't have the same capacity, but you'd have complete redundancy in your weapon system with the dual J frame approach. If you lost one (for whatever reason), you could continue the fight with the second.
 
I think you'll find that statistics show the number of shots fired in the average SD encounter to be within the limit of just about anything you carry. If you're in a situation where 5+ shots are fired, you're in more trouble than a squirrel on an eight lane highway.
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+1 with Tanzer on this.

Statistically, from what I've read, most encounters are usually one thug to one or two citizens (i.e. man & wife). A much smaller percentage is 2 attackers and 3 or more attackers is in the realm of < 2.5%.

I've carried 5 and 6 shot revolvers mostly and semi-autos with 7, 8 or 9 round capacities and don't really feel under-gunned. I figure that the most likely "worst case" would be two thugs in a parking garage and ending up in a hide & seek or peek-a-boom situation.

With rare exception, there are some advantages on our side. The BG's don't want to be caught, shot or killed. They don't want to be recognized because that means capture. When performing their illegal activities, they dislike loud noises as it means people look or it attracts the cops.

Thus, when the shootin' starts, they have a very good set of incentives to "be somewhere else" in rather a hurry. This doesn't mean they won't fire back, however. But engaging in a protracted firefight is not something they want to do because they're more likely to end up in jail or the morgue.

Of course, the 2-3 minute response time of many agencies is several lifetimes in a gunfight.
 
In the past I have carried an N frame S&W .357 Magnum. Experience tells me that one or two com torso hits will put an attacker out of action very rapidly indeed.
 
Are you sure of this?
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According to stats from my CHL class and from Thunder Ranch, this is true about 60+% of the time. Your singular attacker will usually have a partner. That partner may be a participant, a backup, or just a lookout, but there will be at least one other person most of the time.
 
Even with 2 people, I have 5 in the Smitty, another 6 in a Bianchi speed-strip, and USUALLY, when the lead starts flying, the "lookout" will "bug-out"... (just read Armed Citizen if you want proof)
 
Career criminals, that is, those who derive their total income from robbing people, learn who to approach, and how to make their approach such that all available advantages are on their side. Their goal is (and it would make Sun Tzu proud) to mkae you comply with their demands without putting up a fight. Like most predators, they prefer easy prey. They tend to believe in the adage about running away, and living to rob another day. Therefore, ashas been mentioned, when their target shows the willingness and ability to fight back they do tend to want to retreat, unless they see the prize as being worth the contest.

That said, while I prefer a firearm that holds more than five rounds, I wouldn't feel unprotected if all I had was a dead-reliable five-shot revolver in a decent caliber.
 
Train for two!

I usually set up multiple attacker targets. When I go shoot, I don't shoot single action to see how well I can stay in the little red circle. I draw from my concealed position and fire quickly one shot each to center mass and hit within two inches of the red circle, which is still a shot to the heart.

After that, listen to the Art Of War. Attack with momentum. After shooting the attacker will at the very least flinch and his brain will take a second or two to register what just happened. This is your opportunity to move forward and knock them off balance. Move the right of both of them and use the first as a shield from the second. From here many things can happen, but it gives you an idea of how to get into a good position.
 
Here in California, 10 rounds is the maximum. I chose an 8 round .357 magnum revolver over an 8 round .45 auto, or 10 round 9mm. I feel more comfortable with it.
 
Well, depending on your state laws, bring a knife. at the most it would be about the same size as a spare mag anyway, unless your carrying a fixed blade. Knives dont run out of ammo, and they can be devastating at close ranges.
 
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