Rangerrich99
New member
I agree with the OP and the other posters on that side of the proverbial fence. I honestly don't understand the mind set of EDC carrying a full-size "combat" weapon with two or even three extra mags, a back-up firearm with two mags, two edged weapons, mace, nunchucks, telescoping police baton, plasma rifle in the 40-watt range, etc. If I really felt that I needed all of that, I honestly would move and/or get a different job. For the basic purpose of defending my life or the lives of loved ones in what would be a 'typical mugging' scenario, in my limited experience, five rounds will do, and over 10 rounds is likely unnecessary.
Heck, even when I lived in some bad areas I never felt it was necessary to carry all that stuff. When my job was located in East St. Louis (when I worked there it was the "murder capitol of the U.S."), I carried either a Para-Ordnance P13 (13-rd double-stack 1911 pattern) or a S&W model 19 (6-shot .357 mag DA revolver), most of the time without a spare mag or extra rounds for the .357. And while I felt it was necessary to draw my weapon a couple times (never had to fire, thank god), I never felt under-gunned with whatever I had in hand at that moment. And apparently bad guys have a healthy respect for either sidearm. Curiously, not one sneered, "no extra mag? No speedloader?" In fact, every one suddenly remembered a pressing engagement that they were extremely late for.
Today, meaning right now, I have a S&W shield in 9mm in my holster, with a spare mag. Definitely not a "combat" sidearm, but it's easily concealable, accurate, and 100% reliable, at least through 1,500+ rounds to date. With the 8-rd mag in it, plus the one in the chamber, I have no misgivings about my sidearm du jour.
Are there handguns in my safe that are more accurate, that I can shoot faster or carry more rounds? Naturally. And two of them are probably "combat" handguns. But it's over 110 degrees here in Phoenix, and will be for weeks to come. I don't know about anyone else, but carrying full-size handguns in a full-size holster in 110 degree heat with more than 25% humidity makes for a very sweaty combination.
So until the OAT drops down to something under 100, and the humidity drops back down to 8%, I'll be carrying either this "non-combat ready" Shield, or my equally inadequate S&W j-frame and just take my chances.
Heck, even when I lived in some bad areas I never felt it was necessary to carry all that stuff. When my job was located in East St. Louis (when I worked there it was the "murder capitol of the U.S."), I carried either a Para-Ordnance P13 (13-rd double-stack 1911 pattern) or a S&W model 19 (6-shot .357 mag DA revolver), most of the time without a spare mag or extra rounds for the .357. And while I felt it was necessary to draw my weapon a couple times (never had to fire, thank god), I never felt under-gunned with whatever I had in hand at that moment. And apparently bad guys have a healthy respect for either sidearm. Curiously, not one sneered, "no extra mag? No speedloader?" In fact, every one suddenly remembered a pressing engagement that they were extremely late for.
Today, meaning right now, I have a S&W shield in 9mm in my holster, with a spare mag. Definitely not a "combat" sidearm, but it's easily concealable, accurate, and 100% reliable, at least through 1,500+ rounds to date. With the 8-rd mag in it, plus the one in the chamber, I have no misgivings about my sidearm du jour.
Are there handguns in my safe that are more accurate, that I can shoot faster or carry more rounds? Naturally. And two of them are probably "combat" handguns. But it's over 110 degrees here in Phoenix, and will be for weeks to come. I don't know about anyone else, but carrying full-size handguns in a full-size holster in 110 degree heat with more than 25% humidity makes for a very sweaty combination.
So until the OAT drops down to something under 100, and the humidity drops back down to 8%, I'll be carrying either this "non-combat ready" Shield, or my equally inadequate S&W j-frame and just take my chances.