Do you really need more than 5?

I carry a full cylinder in my Chief plus two full speed strips. Yea, I just might need to do a 3rd reload of just 2 shells...
I carry either 158 or 140 gr Factory bullets though someday, I would like to find a softer recoiling bullet.
ZVP
 
Regardless of what side of this debate one is on; I'll say this:

Each and every one of us can create an endless amount of scenarios to make our point.

If you're comfortable with 5, then you're comfortable with 5. If you need 4 extra 17 round magazines to feel comfortable in your environment, than that's fine too, to each his own.

Be aware of your environment at all times and don't take uneccessary risks if you don't have to. Whatever you use for defense, train with it until it becomes part of you.

Lee
 
"If you're comfortable with 5, then you're comfortable with 5. If you need 4 extra 17 round magazines to feel comfortable in your environment, than that's fine too, to each his own.

Be aware of your environment at all times and don't take uneccessary risks if you don't have to. Whatever you use for defense, train with it until it becomes part of you."


Words of wisdom.....yes indeed.
 
That's a great set up there Bob. I do the same but I have six cartridge loops that are exposed. I'd bet you a doughnut that's a Mernickle holster.

The single actions are good natural pointers and it's hard to carelessly spray bullets all over the place with such a weapon.

What kind of ammo do you carry?
 
Posted by wpsdlrg: The fact that those of us who choose not to go forth equipped for all-out battle every day seem to survive, might tend to indicate that we aren't complete idiots - and that we aren't completely wrong, in our particular circumstances.
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It would not be at all correct to conclude that because a need has not arisen, the preparation that had been put in place had been adequate.

Posted by Leejack: If you're comfortable with 5, then you're comfortable with 5.
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That is true by definition. It is also meaningless.

Be aware of your environment at all times and don't take uneccessary risks if you don't have to. Whatever you use for defense, train with it until it becomes part of you.
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Excellent advice.
 
Be aware of your environment at all times
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It is poor advice because it is impossible. Distractions, such as looking down to unlock the car or control a child, create opportunities for criminal attack. Better advice is to develop the habit of periodic scans for hands and intent. Accept that something is happening and act early.
 
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I fugure if I am involved in a shooting, I'd want to reload before going home.
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Real good chance that If you are involved in a shooting the police will be relieving you of your side arm before going home.
 
It is poor advice because it is impossible. Distractions, such as looking down to unlock the car or control a child, create opportunities for criminal attack. Better advice is to develop the habit of periodic scans for hands and intent. Accept that something is happening and act early.
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Your advice was covered under the umbrella of my great advice.
 
A lot of the history of firearms development is about increasing the speed that a firearm can be fired and the number of rounds it can hold. That's why most police army and civilians use high cap handguns. If some think 5 is enough then they are going against the thinking of the firearms industry for the last few hundred years.

PS That's why the revolver is going down the same route as the Dodo.
 
If I was going out armed for battle, it would be 2 Glocks, 4 happy sticks, a knife, An AR with 7 Mags, Kevlar, and friends armed the same way.
 
This thread got me thinking. I'll still pocket carry the BG38, as nothing presents faster, but for bug, maybe the G17L or even the USP 45 in deeper concealment. I'll probably set it down, or take it off every chance i get. I guess that's why I like pocket pistols. They're never a PITA.
 
I would rather have more and not need them than need them and not have them. When I carry my j-frame I carry it with at least 1 speed loader.
 
This thread got me thinking. I'll still pocket carry the BG38, as nothing presents faster, but for bug, maybe the G17L or even the USP 45 in deeper concealment. I'll probably set it down, or take it off every chance i get. I guess that's why I like pocket pistols. They're never a PITA.
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You are not the only one to have come to that conclusion.
 
A lot of the history of firearms development is about increasing the speed that a firearm can be fired and the number of rounds it can hold. That's why most police army and civilians use high cap handguns. If some think 5 is enough then they are going against the thinking of the firearms industry for the last few hundred years.

PS That's why the revolver is going down the same route as the Dodo.
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I'm a pretty hardcore semiauto guy, but I can't agree with that statement.

Overall, I'm disappointed that revolvers don't seem to be evolving as much. Then again, the design has been around so long it may be tough to do more than incremental improvements, and we are seeing polymer designs so maybe progress does march on.

That said, revolvers have their place. A gun is better then no gun and it would be foolish to overlook the difference in caliber selection between revolvers and semiautomatics. It is very difficult to get something with the power of a .357 magnum in the size of a snubbie for a semiauto carrier.

In short, I won't criticize someone's firearm choices so long as they have a weapon they believe will perform when they really need it. To me, reliability trumps all other factors. If you pull the trigger and nothing happens, it won't matter how big the bullets are, how accurate the weapon is, or what your capacity is.

If 5 shots in a cylinder buys you peace of mind, so bet it. I know from my readings here and looking at different data since I re-entered firearms ownership I am now challenging a lot of my assumptions.

I was only half-kidding with my initial post though. I've known a few people who have been in gunfights, mostly police officers but not all. No one ever complained they had too many bullets on them.
 
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Posted by Botswana: In short, I won't criticize someone's firearm choices so long as they have a weapon they believe will perform when they really need it.
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I do not understand why anyone would think that what someone believes has anything to do with it, unless that belief is based on pertinent information.

It's a personal decision, but it should be an informed one.

I once believed that five shots would serve me, and for that matter, that Colt's old ads about that "all important sixth shot" meant very little.

A little thought about how many rounds one would likely expend on a man charging with a knife should give one pause, however. Add in the risk of an accomplice and one should start thinking seriously. John did that, and the results are eye-opening, not matter what one might use in the way of assumptions.

That said, revolvers have their place. A gun is better then no gun and it would be foolish to overlook the difference in caliber selection between revolvers and semiautomatics. It is very difficult to get something with the power of a .357 magnum in the size of a snubbie for a semiauto carrier.
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Revolvers do have their place. for SD, they are easy to pocket carry and to draw quickly, and they make fine back-up guns. And then there's the New York Reload.

For SD, however, I would never choose a .357 in a snubbie.

To me, reliability trumps all other factors. If you pull the trigger and nothing happens, it won't matter how big the bullets are, how accurate the weapon is, or what your capacity is.
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I couldn't agree more.

If 5 shots in a cylinder buys you peace of mind, so bet it.
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Peace of mind is one objective---but only one.
 
If you ever DO need more than 5, your going to find out the hard way.

I'm no hand to hand master. I also can't guarantee I'll be faced with only one badguy or that he/they will go down with a 'reasonable' number of rounds fired. So for myself, I'd rather have 10+1 on tap with my Glock 26 in a package thats only a little larger than a 5 shot snubby. Anyone with some trigger time on a G26 knows it is also much easier to shoot accurately than any snubby, with faster follow up shots to boot. Whats not to like?

I am a big fan of snubbys though, but really just because of aesthetics, design, history, and a general love for revolvers.
 
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