Do you really need more than 5?

4

.40cal

New member
I have been carrying my wife's Off Duty 38 Special off and on for sometime now. ( I just love this little revolver! :D) I take only one speed loader with me when I go places and often times I end up leaving it in the car.

My question is this . . .

How many extra rounds do you carry with your snubbies, if any at all? And, am I paranoid to prepare for a situation that may require several reloads?
 
Well, I carry an extra six rounds, because that fills out my cartridge carrier.

I fugure if I am involved in a shooting, I'd want to reload before going home.

The carrier is a Galco and holds six .44 Special rounds, though I only load five:

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Bob Wright
 
I read an excellent article last year by a well-know gun writer, though now can't recall who. I'll likely think of it later and if so will repost here. He looked at a large set of self defense statistics and concluded that 5 rounds was enough for nearly all situations. My nephew is a prison guard and I asked him about this recently. He agreed.

That said, I carry either a Ruger LCR in .357 Mag (5 rounds) with one speed strip reload, or a Dan Wesson Guardian 1911 in .45 acp with 1 extra mag. The chances of ever needing more than one reload is much lower than getting struck by lightening...during the gunfight. Ok, I made that up but it's probably fairly close.
 
Well, I'd definitely prefer more in the cylinder, but that's a different matter. I will bet that having the time (and freedom) to successfully use a speedloader isn't real common, since these events are normally up close and personal affairs.
 
I will bet that having the time (and freedom) to successfully use a speedloader isn't real common, since these events are normally up close and personal affairs.
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My thoughts exactly . . . but then I think, what if I find my self behind cover, trying to fight my way to safety. I know the likely hood of this happening is pretty slim, but what if??
 
Never known anyone who has been in a gun fight that complained they had too many bullets on hand.

Except for maybe some M60 gunners, but those rounds are heavy!
 
My habit is 2 reloads for a revolver, unless it is my BUG, then 1 reload. With a 38 special, count on it taking 5 or 6 hits to encourage a determined attacker to go elsewhere and a 357 mag maybe 1-2 hits. I do not own a 38, only 357 and thats what they hold. With my nifty 640 Pro, I have a moon clip with DPX in it and one in each front pocket.
 

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I have a 5rnd speed loader close buy but not always on me, I may regret that some day.
I guess it is better to have and not need than to need and not have.
 
Typical for us, was to carry a minimum of 2 speed loaders with us. We learned that was often not enough.

When I'm carrying a revovler, it's a 7 shot with 2 speed loaders.
Same on mags, 2 extra ... at all times.....
 
I don't carry if weight is too much

I carry a Ruger LCR with no reloads. Sure would be good to have more but if I got involved in a shooting I figure there would be no time for reloading. I like to carry revolvers for their simplicity when compared to semi autos. I own a 7 shot S&W 686+ but could never comfortably carry it concealed. A snubby is just about right for me.
Bob Wright, you are aware that if you were involved in a shooting your gun would probably be confiscated so having the extra rounds for a reload would do you no good. I think it was Massad Ayoob that suggested you have a duplicate of your EDC handgun so you can continue to carry what you are used to until the police return your gun when you are cleared.
 
I have been comfortable with the idea that 5 rounds will cover just about any situation I would need a defensive handgun for going on 13 years now. Barring the extreme. I often carry my J frame with no speed loader. I do carry an extra 5 more often now since I have gotten Tuffs Quick Strips. I am proficient with my 5 rounder and it is loaded with high quality ammo. I am looking at defense not a long drawn out gunfight. Draw, fire what I need to and get the hell out of there. If I have unloaded 5 point blank heavy .38 Special +P's and what I was forced to shoot is still a threat I will either hit em with the gun or run like hell. 5 is enough to make me feel more then comfortable. Alot of people I think put to much worry into multiple attackers. If I have more then 1 assailant approach me and force me to defend myself it is 99.9 out of 100 that when the others see their partner catch a quick couple rounds to the chest they will scatter like roaches with the light on. Robbers dont want gunfights for the most part they want the path of least resistance. Long story short I am fine with 5.
 
The gun I usually carry for CCW is a Ruger SP101 in 357. I can carry magnum or 38 spl in this gun. I usually carry a reload in a Bianchi Speedstrip because it lies flat in my front pocket as opposed to a speedloader. Depending on where you go I feel that five is enough. Lets make that "five for sure". I have several semiauto pistols that have given me many more malfunctions than any revolver I have owned and thats in 10 years LEO and 30 in private corporate armed security.
 
One of the reasons I don't carry a revolver is capacity. I carry a gun for the rarest of circumstances, not the average statistical situation. If I was going to base all my decisions on averages alone, I probably wouldn't carry at all.

Sure, the average defensive shooting may involve 5 or less rounds, but what about all the ones that aren't close to the average or less? Why half-assedly prepare for the unexpected? I can carry a reliable semi auto with 19+1 capacity and I carry at least 1 extra mag. Malfunctions happen, and an extra mag is easy to carry. Same principal as my carry gun, better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

If 5 is enough to make you comfortable, then more power to you. I'm glad you're carrying those 5 as it may be me or my family you save with those 5.
 
Well if I was arming myself for the rarest of circumstances I'd carry a Howitzer and wear Kevlar every day. I also wouldn't drive (too dangerous) and I would play the lottery incessantly. To each his own but this logic escapes me...
 
Unless you have a more exciting life than I do, you won't likely need more than 5 rounds or a reload. With that, if you want to carry some reloads, that is fine too. I prefer to use a dump pouch or speed strips. They are both easy to conceal and easy enough to use.
 
Well, I sometimes carry in the deep woods, which is different than a typical urban situation.

I generally use my Redhawk in 44 mag with one speedloader. I have a sturdy pair of stumps, so the weight isn't a big deal. That should cover about any situation I can conceive of. Maybe should carry another for a pack of wild dogs........

I do carry a Sig P229 occasionally in urbanity, but 1 extra clip is enough. It's not very exciting around here - but I'm not complaining.
 
I carry a pocket revolver because it's always there.

For me, it's either carry it or carry no gun at all. Pocket autos don't offer much of a capcity advantage, maybe a couple of rounds, so I default to a j-frame...which has advantages in adminstrative handling.

Since it's a matter of conveience, I usually don't bother with a reload. When I think about all of the other things that have to go into my other pocket, there just isn't enough space!

Sure, I'll carry a bigger auto when I can, but 9 times out of 10, I'm not wearing anything that can accomodate anytihng that big. Try wearing a 19+ round auto to a business casual event (no jacket, tucked in shirt, no baggy clothes) and you'll know exactly what I mean.
 
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