Oh, don't start, Frank. Don't you know, "It's a well known fact!"
Considering that most gunfights take place at ten feet or less and with 2.5 rounds expended
Averages, averages, what are they good for? Well, not much, unless you understand what averages are and how
a particular average was derived. Consider:
There is a factory in town that is hiring. You need a better job, so you look into it. You find that the average annual income there is $59,541!! Wow! You are only making $32,000 now, and that's after working at your present factory job for 3 years. This looks like a good deal!
Is it?
Well, here's what people earn at this factory:
700 line workers making $30,000
30 first level supervisors making $60,000
8 mid level managers making $90,000
1 vice president making $200,000
1 president making $400,000
1 owner making $20,000,000
Yep, the average is $59k, but you aren't going to make anything close to that.
The more relevant fact you should have asked about is the MODE, which is what MOST people are making. In this case, that's $30k.
So what does 2.5 rounds in a gunfight mean? Unless you know what went into that figure, the only correct answer is, "I don't know."
57 rounds is the right amount of ammo, if that's what it takes to get you out of a gunfight alive. 1 round is enough, if that's what it takes. An unloaded weapon is enough, if just the sight of your weapon stops the fight.
The problem is, you never know til it's over. That leaves us trying to balance some competing needs.
- The need for enough ammunition. How much? See above. You don't know.
- The need to be able to walk around normally. Carrying 1000 rounds and an M-60 is not practical.
- In some cases, the need for concealability.
Since we are doing a balancing act, different people are going to come up with different answers. But the point is, we can never know how much will be enough for the gun fight WE will be in, and averages are not useful in making that decision.