CCW Ammo Capacity - How Many Is "Enough?"

Number of rounds you think "enough" for CCW without a reload:

  • 5 is plenty for social work

    Votes: 51 28.0%

  • 6 - 7 feels right

    Votes: 28 15.4%

  • 8 - 9 is perfect

    Votes: 23 12.6%

  • 10 - 11 gives me plenty confidence

    Votes: 29 15.9%

  • 12 - 14 a little extra weight is comforting

    Votes: 18 9.9%

  • 15 - 17 and I'm totally prepared

    Votes: 28 15.4%

  • Other - Derringer? Extended Mag?

    Votes: 5 2.7%
  • Total voters
    182
  • Poll closed .
I have no idea how much ammo is enough. So far, 0 rounds has been enough.

For right now, every day carry, I feel comfortable with a subcompact 45 loaded with 6 rounds.
 
Although my normal EDC is a Glock 17, the 17 rounds afforded me (I do not "top off" the mag) is more than enough. If I had to go with a .45 that gave me "only" 7 rounds to work with, I'd be fine with that, too.

I split the difference of the two extremes on the high side and voted 10-11 rounds.
 
How much?

20 rounds.

If one suffers the misfortune of having defend oneself against 2 or 3 determined perps, a minimum of 20 rounds should be available. For revolver CC this means New York reloads or moon-clips or buy a hi-cap handgun.

Check your 6.
 
Posted by Seaman: If one suffers the misfortune of having defend oneself against 2 or 3 determined perps, a minimum of 20 rounds should be available.
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I cannot reasonably dispute that assessment, and I do not discount the possibility of an attack by multiple assailants, but I do not currently carry 20 rounds. Maybe I should, though it does seem a little high to me.

For revolver CC this means New York reloads or moon-clips or buy a hi-cap handgun.
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I can understand the New York reload to provide ten or twelve rounds, but I cannot imagine carrying four revolvers.

I am beginning to think that a backup revolver might be a better idea than an extra magazine. I'm not sure.
 
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"I can understand the New York reload to provide ten or twelve rounds, but I cannot imagine carrying four revolvers." [OldMarksman]

You are right.

After suffering a first shot dud in a auto-pistol (not the pistol's fault), I now carry revolvers.

The solution is moon-clips. Truly amazing and simple devices...to think they were used in WW1 and they have never really caught on (like why?), except with competition shooters.

A 6-shot moon-clip revolver on the hip, a 5-shot BUG on the ankle, and a couple of S&W sturdy, fast, moon-clips provide a fighting chance.

Check your 6.
 
Depends upon how fast you can reload. For me, I don't think the question is that relevant. It's more, how many total I have with me ready to go (e.g. extra mags).
 
Two things to consider:

1: The fight of your life may well be at bad breath distance. Try reloading with a speed strip while grappling.
2: With loss of fine motor skills an auto is easier, simpler and faster to reload but also more susceptible to malfunctions fired from odd angles.

You may never need a gun to protect yourself, that is not what this discussion is about. Assume that its game on and go from there. The ever increasing number of posts seems to be driven by people that have never been in a fight. I would think you would want the opinion of those who have been there, done that, IF that is what you are truly preparing for.

I will probably offend a lot of you here, but, if you have never been at the pointy end of things, nor have you trained to be at the pointy end your opinion on what will or will not work there is less than useless, it is dangerous.
 
Posted by Nanuk: Two things to consider:

1: The fight of your life may well be at bad breath distance. Try reloading with a speed strip while grappling.
2: With loss of fine motor skills an auto is easier, simpler and faster to reload but also more susceptible to malfunctions fired from odd angles.

You may never need a gun to protect yourself, that is not what this discussion is about. Assume that its game on and go from there. The ever increasing number of posts seems to be driven by people that have never been in a fight. I would think you would want the opinion of those who have been there, done that, IF that is what you are truly preparing for.

I will probably offend a lot of you here, but, if you have never been at the pointy end of things, nor have you trained to be at the pointy end your opinion on what will or will not work there is less than useless, it is dangerous.
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Very valuable input. Very valuable indeed. Actually, there are more than two important things to consider here.

  • ...reloading with a speed strip while grappling
  • an auto is easier, simpler and faster to reload
  • ...but also more susceptible to malfunctions fired from odd angles
  • Assume that its game on and go from there.
  • if you have never ...trained to be at the pointy end...
 
When I carry my 1911 I l have 10+1 in the gun and have one ten rounder on me. Before I got the 10 rounders i would carry 7 +1 with two seven round mags. Just made me feel better. If I carry say a glock 19 or sig p 226/9 I usually only carry one extra mag. Now and then I will pack a Kel Tec p3at. Then I will scrap the second mag most times.
 
Years ago in South Florida, I whitnesed live an armed robery...3 fellas armed with guns, one had a sawed-off mini shotgun, bashed into a crowded restaurant killing immediatly one innocent civilian.

One armed person that was legaly carring concealed, found the opening, he was fast. Multiple shots were exchanged, and he killed 2, while one fled away, But was found dead afterwards....The armed civilian was crowned a local hero by the Police, local media and society.
The CCW used was a Beretta 92 9mm, with 15 shot magazine.

I seriously believe if he had a 5/7 shot handgun...he and other innocent would be dead.

Oh Yeah.....The police showed up in approx 4-5 minutes...after it all happened. Seemed forever.
 
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^^^ bingo

SIG 1911 XO / SA 1911 custom / Colt Gold Cup / SIG P226 e2 / Browning High-power / Beretta PX4 Storm / G34 / G19 / G21 / G22 / G30 / S&W M-19 / Hk USP 40 / Rem 870 / Rock R. AR-15

sent from my Android
 
I voted 15. My usual carry is the M37 Smith plus 2 speed loaders. Hopefully that should be sufficient.
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One armed person that was legaly carring concealed, found the opening, he was fast. Multiple shots were exchanged, .... The CCW used was a Beretta 92 9mm, with 15 shot magazine.
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There is a difference between a fifteen round capacity and a five round capacity plus two reloads. Just how quickly can one fire five shots, reload, and start firing again while under attack?
 
I picked 6-7, since my EDC is a Kahr PM9 ... I don't feel under-ammoed with the gun's capacity, but I never leave home without the extended 7-rd mag in my weakside pocket ... that gives me 14 rds total -- and the ability to actually use the gun if the 6-rd mag fails for any reason ... seems like plenty ...
 
There is a difference between a fifteen round capacity and a five round capacity plus two reloads. Just how quickly can one fire five shots, reload, and start firing again while under attack?
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Exactly.

I'll venture to say that the loss of fine motor skills has been discussed with every single one of us in the last CCW permit class we've taken. If not, it should have been.
 
Five must be my magic number, I seem to always be carrying my M60 with no reload. Now I try to have good situational awareness and don't go looking for trouble.
 
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