Is 6 Shots enough?

M

M1Rifle30-06

New member
I got a buddy offering me a S&W 625-4 in .45 ACP, 6 shots of course.

If I get it and start keeping it as a self defense weapon, would I be undergunned? What if I'm facing multiple attackers and I miss a shot or two under stress or in the dark and there's not enough time to pop another moon clip in? Is drawing a backup feasible? I do like the simplicity of operation and reliability of the revolver, and I could load up some nice loads that wouldn't do in a semi.

I don't know, I don't see me feeling undergunned, but I'm also a firm believer (and experiencer) of Murphy's Law.
 
Life is full of what-ifs.
If you want to go with six, go with six.
If not, go with something else.
YOU have to answer your questions for yourself.
Denis
 
For a defensive handgun, once I go past the size of the J frame I am going to a semi. Comparable sized sem-autos to the J frame typically carry maybe 6+1 or 7+1 rounds, where as the J frame carries 5. Ill take the trouble free J frame which is what I usually carry when I need ultra concealment. But when you start comparing full to mid sized autos to full to mid sized revolvers, your looking at 10 to close to 20 rounds compared to only 6 in the revolver.
 
One shot is enough, unless of course you believe in " spray and pray ":) All joking aside, if you can't do it in six , time to go home., unless of course you are already dead.
 
If you actually face multiple assailants you'd better hit well every time or you're toast. Take one of those targets that has 5 targets on it and practice hitting 2 as quickly as you can accurately. Once you can accurately hit all 5 quickly and accurately, you are good to go with a revolver.

If you have an empty hicap auto and you are dead those extra rounds really didn't help you did it.
 
The false comfort of having 14 shts available might cause carelessness with your accuracy. Practice with strong hand, weak hand and both hands and be able to hit what you shoot at and you should be OK.

Doug
 
How much is enough?
24-barrel_pepperbox.jpg
 
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There are situations where even something belt fed isn't going to save you. In my house, I have a revolver right next to a semi.
 
I currently switch between a Khar and Guardian for EDC, both are 6+1 and I do not feel I am out gunned. Whether you go with the revolver or a 13 round Glock 21 (just as a hi-cap. example in your mentioned caliber) is a matter of preference and peace of mind. If you like the gun, then get it but if you have doubts then you may regret the purchase later. Like a few here mentioned practice is key and being able to pump out double digit rounds is not a guarantee for coming out on top.
 
All joking aside, if you can't do it in six , time to go home., unless of course you are already dead.
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Take one of those targets that has 5 targets on it and practice hitting 2 as quickly as you can accurately. Once you can accurately hit all 5 quickly and accurately, you are good to go with a revolver.
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One shot just might suffice, BUT reflect upon these questions:

  • Do you want to accept the risk that there will be two or more assailants without mitigating it? The risk is well over 50%.
  • Do you really think that, in a situation involving imminent danger and lawful justification of deadly force, your assailants will be stationary?
  • How well can you place your shots, when firing fast at a dangerous, rapidly moving target?
  • Where do you expcect your shots to strike your assailants under those circumstances?
  • How many such hits do you think it will take to reliably stop each attacker?

Consider these things:

  • Unless you hit something vital, you cannot count on stopping the attacker.
  • Handguns are not effctive one stop stoppers.
  • Shooting a fast moving target that is attacking you before he gets to you is quite unlike shooting at a target at the range.

Step One before deciding is to avail yourself of some good defensive pistol shooting that addresses the realities of self defense.
 
Handguns suck for stopping power. You need an semi-automatic rifle with at least a 7mm bullet and at least a 20 round magazine. Preferably, you should also be armed with a knife, and a hi-capacity 10mm handgun (45acp doesn't have enough penetration to do the job, and a 40S&W has too many compromises to be effective). A bayonet for the rifle would be nice too. Finally, make sure you have a j-frame backup clenched firmly in your butt cheeks--you may need it when the zombies take you prisoner.
 
There's something that bothers me in imaginary multiple assailant scenarios: that nobody seems to take into account that all of them will attack at the same time. So no, you won't have time to take four-five shots at every one of them under a volley of fire. Unless you have ideal cover, having a 100 shot magazine won't help you if you can't get instant stops, as you'll get shot by the second assailant while you neutralize the first.

IMHO, there's no really acceptable solution to the multiple assailant problem, much less with a handgun. But I know that if I face 3 bad guys that want to kill me, which I hope never comes to happen, I want to have a very powerful and accurate gun to increase my possibilities of quick stops, and will shot twice at each one oif them. So I deem six shots enough- given a major caliber and the ability to place them well.
 
I dont understand why people keep responding to these threads. He is obviously troll bating, when the search function could reveal a number of threads on a similar vein to this one..

That being said, statisticly most fights are 1-2 shot affairs. Do you really think the other baddies are going to stick around after you just ventilated one of there friends? I felt that way for a long time, needing 17 rounds and a back up mag for edc. Guess what, i found my self at my range firing off a excessive number of rounds during a string. (when i was in self defense practice that is) So when i switched to my revolver, every aspect of my shooting got better, from trigger controll to sight alignment, i just got better.

I dont really think a normal civilian needs a highcap, were not taking on armies for gods sake.
 
Practice, and only one assailant...
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OTOH, if you have multiple assailants, you better hope it's like the movies where they wait for you to get off those 15+ rounds before you're dead.

I take my chances with five. To each his own.

Oops! After reading the rest of the posts, it looks like micromontenegro beat me to the punch.:cool:
 
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