How many rounds are enough to carry....for YOU?

I usually carry a G19, 15+1, and a spare G17 17 round magazine. When I have to dress around the gun a bit more I carry a 9mm shield, 8+1 and a spare 7 rounder. So either 33 rounds or 16. I carry a spare not only for the extra ammo but also to deal with malfunctions.

But remember, the only times you can have too much ammo are if you're on fire or drowning.
 
And how often do any of you practice live fire close engagement from concealment with your actual carry gun,full house ammo, with reloads, strong hand only while moving, under a shot timer, and scored? You will be surprised how much harder it is to make good hits and reload a Kahr CW9 than a Glock 17. My answer is I only carry full size Glocks (G17/G31), and one magazine in a Safariland horizontal pouch, so more is always better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C1sPmsrtxc
 
Today is a good example of how I usually carry - I'm wearing a full size 1911 loaded with a flush fit 8rd mag (+1) and two spare 8rd mags.

If I can't carry a 1911 then it's a 5 shot S&W J frame in my pocket plus an 8rd speed strip.
 
You will be surprised how much harder it is to make good hits and reload a Kahr CW9 than a Glock 17.
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You'd be suprised how much easier it gets when you don't write it off as being that much harder and actually practice with a smaller gun.
 
Statistics are interesting...but often they can be manipulated any number of ways...to suppport whatever decision you want in the end.

Lifestyle, location, time of day, vocation, habits....are all risk factors - some low, some high.../ overall mine are pretty low ...
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When I carry, I'm comfortable with a single stack 1911, full sized, in 9mm....so its 10 + 1...and I will always carry an extra mag ( 10 rds ) ...because the mag is the weak link in any semi-auto for failure / not because I need 21 rounds. Different guns - I can or will carry sometimes ...would be a 4" 1911 in 9mm ( 9 +1 ) and a spare mag / a Sig 239 8+1 and a spare mag ( or 7 + 1 in .40 S&W ) / K frame revolver in .357 mag 6 rds and a speed strip with 6 rds in it.

But 90% of the time I will carry the full sized Wilson Combat 1911 in 9mm...its the gun I train with twice a week - and the gun I shoot the best day in and day out.
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In my opinion, the most likely confrontation ( is one in a gazillion anyway ) but if it happens, it will all be over in 4 or 5 sec...and probably less than 5 rounds fired so capacity is not the primary issue in my opinion / but mags fail too often in semi-autos ( even though mine don't even in weekly training ) so I carry an extra mag - and I practice my speed and tactical reloads often.

How many rounds are enough ...full capacity in whatever you choose to carry ...5, 6, 7. 8, 9 or 10 or 11...is enough.
 
How many round are enough to carry....for YOU?
So, we all know the statistics and all of this...

But for YOU... how many rounds are enough to carry in your gun? how many extra magazines/moon clips? why?
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Haven't settle on that yet. Very dependent on circumstances and my personal perception of my environment.
 
And how often do any of you practice live fire close engagement from concealment with your actual carry gun,full house ammo, with reloads, strong hand only while moving, under a shot timer, and scored?
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Boy...talk about a Murphy situation (Murphy's law). :eek:

I like how you think 9x45!!;)

Sound training, based around realistic skills is a HUGE part of the entire picture. Just having a gun is a nice FIRST step. Without the skills to deploy that weapon AND get solid hits...its not worth the weight you are carrying.

Same goes for a second mag or speedloader.

There is a youtube vid of a offduty LEO (in Brazil, i think). Gets into a shooting with a cpl armed robbers inside a bus terminal. Lots of teaching points in it

FiIRST, he fired a LOT more then 5 shots (J frame guys;))
SECOND, very early in the fight he is hit,FATALLY, but he keeps going like nothing happened. Handguns are POOR STOPPERS
THIRD, he doesnt have a spare magazine ON HIS BODY, he has to dig it out of his carryon baggage
FOURTH, he fumbles around trying to reload his pistol. Clearly not well trained or practiced in this manipulation/skill.


Now, some will say (see some of the above posts), that "he was a cop and im not...so i wont be involved in a situation like that". Ok, lets explore the line between offduty LEO's and the armed citizen. A lot of people think that because we have a badge in our wallet, that somehow makes the ACTUAL fighting different. It does not. It might change why and when we fight. But the skillsets are the same

You have no duty to intervene...neither does the off duty LEO. This officer CHOSE to get involved. BUT, lets make a minor change and see where you are at

These 2 thugs enter the bus station not with the intent of robbing it, but with the intent to kill a bunch of people to further whatever whackjob cause they beleive in.

So you are sitting in that lobby as these 2 enter. They pull guns and open fire on the counter staff. Maybe shoot another customer thats right in front of them. Its clear the day has gone terribly BAD.

SO... You chose your path.
A.. Sit there and be another victim?
B...Draw your 5 shot J frame with NO RELOAD? Trying to stop mtpl attackers with a small hard to shoot gun that only has 5 Rounds TOTAL
C...Draw your Glock/M&P/1911/any full sized FIGHTING handgun and use the skills you have honed thru diligent training and practice on the range.

You chose what you are ok with. I understand ANY gun is better then NO gun. But, to stick a 5 shot J frame in your pocket and think you are ready to defend yourself is a FALSE sense of security.

Against a single attacker trying to mug you in some ally...maybe it is enough gun. But, you dont get to pick your encounter. In todays world you are more likely to face mtpl attackers that are INTENT on doing you harm, not just taking your wallet. That is a 1950's, leave it to Beaver scenario. 1 guy with a switchblade trying to take my watch...

I applaud all the guys & Gals that carry daily, but there is WAY more to it then that.

Rant over....
 
How many?

Whatever the capacity of the firearm happens to be.

If I feel the need for more than that, I carry a different firearm.


The LCP is good for 7.
The LCR is good for 6.
The 9mm is good for 15 (I don't bother with the extra round).
The 1911 is good for 7 or 8.
And everything else ranges from 6 to 10 rounds.

I don't carry extra magazines, speed strips, or speed loaders, 99% of the time. (And if I do... I'm probably hunting; or trying to "wear-in" a new pouch or holster while at the range.)


More often than not, my decision about what to carry is influenced by possible defensive situations (distance and accuracy requirements) and the day's wardrobe, more than how many rounds I want to have on hand.
 
Whenever I see a video (such as the above described video which was posted in the first couple comments), it goes to show me how stress in the encounter can offset training ALOT. I remember seeing a video of two cops escorting someone out of a diner and he broke away, drawing what looked to be a pistol, and the two officers drew on him and unloaded maybe 9-12 shots at him until he was down.

Videos like that make me realize that no matter how "good I get", the situations where you need a gun will probably require at least twice as much as you think you need.

I carry a PPS with 7+1 and 8 in a second mag, but like the cop, usually that's in my backpack, glove box, etc., sometimes my back pocket. I need to get a IWB carrier for it and just carry it on me all the time. That way 16 shots total. I actually do feel comfortable with 8 shots, at least until I see real world scenarios.
 
But, to stick a 5 shot J frame in your pocket and think you are ready to defend yourself is a FALSE sense of security.

Against a single attacker trying to mug you in some ally...maybe it is enough gun. But, you dont get to pick your encounter. In todays world you are more likely to face mtpl attackers that are INTENT on doing you harm, not just taking your wallet. That is a 1950's, leave it to Beaver scenario. 1 guy with a switchblade trying to take my watch...
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Even in the 1950s, it was recognized that a Colt DS had some major advantages over a Chief's Special.

Reflect upon this.


Now, if you really like a J- Frame, consider one of Bell Charter Oak's New York Reload rigs.

I don;t like the gun. It's not just the capacity, it's the trigger. I am waiting to try the new Kimber K6.
 
Full capacity plus one reload with the caveat that the reload in my G29 is a G20 magazine (15+1). When carrying my SP101 that means one extra speed loader.
 
5.

A Smith's and Weson's J-frame revolver is a good defense gun, no doubt. I don't like any less than 5 though. Derringers or single shots, they're out. Just not enough for me.
 
I've alway been taught that the magazine is the component most likely to fail on a semiautomatic handgun.

Immediate action for just about everything is tap, rack, roll or change magazines.

I carry 2 reloads regardless of what gun I'm carrying.

M&P40FS (work) 46
M&P9FS 51
M&P9C 37
 
6 rounds in the SP101, .327 Federal.

5 rounds of .38 Special if I'm carrying my wife's J frame, complete with pink grips.


Whatever the gun holds, that's what I have. No speed loaders, speed strips, or loose ammo in a pocket.
 
When I'm carrying my Smith Model 36 J frame - 5 plus a drop pouch with a spare 7 rounds. When I'm carrying my Smith 9mm Shield - a 8 round magazine in the handgun and a spare 8 round mag.

And yes . . . I practice often . . . .
 
The firearms instructor at my local range told me there is no documented case of an American civilian involved in a gun fight who reloaded and continued shooting. I have no idea if that's true or not. Anyone have statistics on this?
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I read everywhere that in the US most of the times a gun has been drawn for self protection no fires well fired. I believe it was 60% of the time or something. When rounds are fired 3 to 5 is the AVERAGE.

The thing with averages, is that .... lets say you have documented 250,000 and in 10 of those cases 55 rounds where needed... that numbers gets just lost in the calculation...

I am not advocating that everyone should carry 55 rounds... I am just saying that the problem with averages is that number on both extremes can get lost... but it doesn't mean they never happen.

Also I don't live in the US...eeeeevery body carries full size guns here and 2 or even 4 reloads....I wonder what the statistics are here.... but I bet there is no record of that.
 
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