Is 6 Shots enough?

If you're a dope dealer, dope user, frequent bars in high crime areas, frequent houses of prostitution, advertise that you have high value items at home, advertise that you carry a lot of money/cash or if anyone in your family does such things then you likely need to carry several hi-cap handguns, at least. If you don't do these things then very likely not.
I retired with 35 years in Law Enforcement. I carry a S&W M65 and one speedloader. I consider myself well armed.
 
In most self-defense situations where firearms are used as self defense, only 2-3 shots tend to be fired. So, in regards to that, yes, 6 shots should be adequate.

In shootouts though, those using firearms for self-defense tend to empty their entire magazine. So, if it comes to a shootout, more likely than not, 6 shots isn't going to suffice.

In order to get around this lack of rounds, you could carry 1 or 2 speed loaders, giving you access to 12-18 rounds.

But again, in most self defense situations, your 6 shots will more than suffice. Many of the people I know that carry tend to prefer to carry revolvers.
 
We're back to the revolver's superior reliability and ease of use debate yet again.
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Do you mean the misconception that revolvers are easier to operate?

Operating the revolver at speed is much more difficult. The long double action takes more time and practice to master. The manually operated action makes accurate rapid fire more difficult. Speed of fire is also slower without extensive practice and physical ability.

Reloading the revolver involves more steps that require fine manual dexterity. Try doing it on the move and avoid dumping rounds. All's well standing on the range shooting paper, but I found things fall apart quickly when the circumstances become dynamic. Obviously, this means the shooter needs to do some extensive practice.

I dedicated a bunch of time to the revolver and went back to semi-autos. I plan upon going back to carrying a revolver full time, but will have to do some serious training before I feel confident with the platform on the street. None of this is impossible for a dedicated shooter, but it's far beyond the skills of the average person who owns a revolver.
 
Miyamoto Musashi killed his last 30 men with wooden swords in one-to-one duels.

James Butler Hickok used a pair of Navy Colts (.36 dia ball) and I bet he only loaded 5 chambers in each gun (that's 10 shots, each weaker in power than a .38 Spl. RNL.)

Jacob Aldolphus Bryce carried but one revolver, and he was in 19 gunfights.

Charles Askins carried but one revolver and was in many gunfights (and in WW2 he used is .38 revolver to stop a fleeing German soldier with one shot.)

What did they all have in common? All highly skilled (and I do mean HIGHLY, as in gifted.)

Yes six shots can be enough (or even a wooden sword) if YOU are good enough.

Deaf
 
What we should all be doing is looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each platform, examine our own lives, and choose the platform which best fits our own individual needs. Remember, however, that my needs and your needs might not be the same, this is a decision that no one can make for you.
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Exactly.... And I might add your 'comfort' level. Some people I think wouldn't be comfortable unless loaded down with crossed bandoliers, two guns in holsters and several stuffed elsewhere with a few knifes mixes in.... Others 4,5, or 6 in one gun is plenty and then only carried on 'occasion'. Some still live in areas where they don't lock doors.... and don't think about it.... Others have bars on windows with 20 locks on the door...... So it is 'individual' needs and comfort level that dictates what you carry. Simple as that.
 
Old Marksman said:
Perhaps you can explain that to me so I can understand it. The fact is, I am not less inclined to run away, nor will I avoid with any less urgency or try to de-escalate any differently if I am carrying my larger cap firearm rather than my Centennial.
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OM,

Those are decisions you have already made. My point is that if three cats with shotguns come in to rob a bank, are you going to present and fire? If you are put on the floor and have trouble reaching your holster are you going to flop around trying to reach your weapon? Those decisions are best made, to the extent possible, before the incident occurs.

My example was intended to state that the type of threat should help you decide which type of gun (obviously only one of several factors), where as your own abilities, SA etc should help you make the shoot no shoot decision.

Clear as mud?

rclark,

Well said.
 
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Don't forget about reliability and durability... we go on and on about semi-auto's that never jam... but with revolvers we don't seem to ask the question in the first place.
 
Don't forget about reliability and durability... we go on and on about semi-auto's that never jam... but with revolvers we don't seem to ask the question in the first place.
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I would go as far to say that a well made auto is more durable than a revolver, revolvers don't seem to hold up as well to abuse you might put them through in the field. Revolvers can go out of time pretty easily, bent or loose ejector rods which are pretty common can seriously affect the way the revolver functions. They are far less forgiving of dirt and built up residue, just enough crud under the ejector star can cause you more problems than you realize. Worn out springs for autos to me are a moot point, keeping extras along with some other spare parts will keep your auto running in top shape long after you are around.

As far as reliability, the revolver takes the cake in that it will shoot any round you put in it without trouble, some autos can be picky especially with certain hollow points. Although I have owned and shot semi-autos that have just as many rounds if not more than my revolvers that have never had a failure to feed or eject, nor have they had any part breakages. I had the pin that holds the hammer in place on my old model 60 that broke after 500 rounds. So with a quality tested auto these days it's tough to say one is more reliable than the other.
 
Skadoosh, your claim about the infallibility of the small revolver ignores some things I've already mentioned - bullets jumping crimp or cases sliding too far rearward - due to poor choice of ammo make or bullet weight for small, lightweight revolvers. These things do happen.

Another issue is, for all the wailing and gnashing of teeth with regard to the ILS on Smith&Wesson, the revolvers that have really had issues with lock failures have been light (airweight or scandium) revolvers firing magnum loads. There haven't been all that many, but those types are where the trend has been.

I've known people whose pocket revolver cylinders have bound due to lint or thread. Some people place so much faith in the reliability of the platform that they don't use proper holsters, or consider maintaining their garment in addition to the weapon.

Defensive revolvers to me do have two (not ammo related) possible advantages over small autos: As others have noted, they can be fired from odd angles and positions without fear of limp-wristing (although accuracy might be a challenge, or for some just keeping the weapon in hand during recoil). Also, they can be jammed right into the body of the attacker without fear of being pushed out of battery.

Shotgun693, since you carry a speedloader, apparently you missed the premise of the original question - as you don't feel that six is enough.
 
Posted by rclark: Exactly.... And I might add your 'comfort' level. Some people I think wouldn't be comfortable unless loaded down with crossed bandoliers, two guns in holsters and several stuffed elsewhere with a few knifes mixes in.... Others 4,5, or 6 in one gun is plenty and then only carried on 'occasion'. Some still live in areas where they don't lock doors.... and don't think about it.... Others have bars on windows with 20 locks on the door...... So it is 'individual' needs and comfort level that dictates what you carry. Simple as that.
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One's "comfort level" may influence what one chooses to carry, but it will have nothing at all to do with the original question, which was whether or not six shots would prove to be "enough" should the need to fire arise.
 
I've known people whose pocket revolver cylinders have bound due to lint or thread
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I find this claim extremely unlikely.

When I switched from carrying a semi-auto to a snubby revolver more than a decade and a half ago, I have carried virtually every day...for the better part of the day. My S&W M36, and later my Colt DS, is usually carried in the pocket and after a week or so gets quite covered in a significant amount pocket lint debris...even the occasional errant thread. Lint accumlates despite my snubby being oil free and dry as a bone. More than anything else, I would be more worried about coins, gun wrappers or keys getting stuck or jammed bewteen the cylinder and frame. But I dont carry such things in the same pocket as my snubby.

Since 2001, with the exception of deployments, I shoot every week a local range as a paid range member. I always shoot my carry gun and I always shoot what I load for carry. Long, long ago I quit cleaning before range time. And with hand on heart I can say that I have never experienced a single stoppage or bobble from either the Smith or the Colt. Ever.

I have never heard of or read a documented revolver stoppage caused by pocket lint.

Interestingly enough, I have personally observed during my range time many subcompact carry pistols such as Keltec's, Rugers LCPs, PPKs, Kahrs and even Glocks all experience some kind of stoppage. I am fairly well aquainted with most the shooters that frequent my range, but even if it is a stranger who is having problems, and I am close enough to his/her lane, I will usually inquire about the particular ammo they were using when the stoppage occured. 9 times out of 10 the stoppage occured not with "range ammo"... but usually their "carry ammo". And usually it happens within the first magazine worth.
 
... which was whether or not six shots would prove to be "enough" should the need to fire arise.
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Well, It does to me, because I am comfortable with my six-shooters and the area where I roam, work and play.... 4, 5, 6 is plenty.... From varmits, to humans, to Moose, to Bear....
 
Posted by rclark: ....I am comfortable with my six-shooters and the area where I roam, work and play.... 4, 5, 6 is plenty...
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Regardless of how "comfortable" one may be with his or her six-shooters and the area in which he or she roams, works, and plays, that comfort level cannot have one iota of influence on how many shots he or she may ultimately need.

The question was how many are enough, not how many will make one comfortable. And four, five, or six may well be enough. Or not.

One cannot know in advance.
 
I think how comfortable you feel is a huge part of what gun you opt to carry.

Statistically speaking, comparing the odds of being in a gunfight and only needing 5 to being in a gunfight and needing more than 5 is like comparing the odds of being attacked by a poodle to the odds of being attacked by a white poodle.

Unless you live in Mogadishu, the number of shots you're likely to need is 0. The maximum number of shots you might need is practically infinite.

So, we're pretty much left with what makes you comfortable.
 
Posted by dayman: I think how comfortable you feel is a huge part of what gun you opt to carry.
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It is. It just doesn't have anything at all to do with how many shots are "enough". Nothing.

Statistically speaking, comparing the odds of being in a gunfight and only needing 5 to being in a gunfight and needing more than 5 is like comparing the odds of being attacked by a poodle to the odds of being attacked by a white poodle.
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Do not confuse the lielihoof of ever needing a firearm with the probabilities that three, five, or seven shots may be needed if one does need to fire.

The chance of a fire in your home or car is very remote, but you would not use that assessment to accept a shoddy or ineffective fire extinguisher.

One has to address them separately. It has to do with conditional probability.

So, we're pretty much left with what makes you comfortable.
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Actually, we are left with the task of making an informed decision. Factors to be considered include the following:

  • Whether one wants to accept or to mitigate the very real risk that more than one attacker would be engaged.
  • How many hits it is likely to take to effectively and quickly stop an attacker.
  • How many shots it is likely to take to effect those hits.

We can inform ourselves about the first item by reading or talking to experts; many people have completely unrealistic ideas about handgun effectiveness.

For the second, some really good training can help.

The questions of what kind of firearm to carry, and possibly how many, have been discussed ad nauseam here and we do not need to go over them again.
 
Is 6 shots enough?

You can carry all the reloads you want but if that weapon goes down, you are out of the fight. Do revolvers go down? YES. I had a S&W Model 13. Great weapon. Love the weapon. Trained my wife on it and she took it to her CCW class. During the first string of fire, a spring broke and she was down. Murphy was showing his colors that day. As much as I love my weapons, and try to purchase the best I can afford, I always try to have an New York reload because I don't want to be out of the fight. My bug is an LCP.
 
There will always be what ifs, we can always wonder what if, We just never know. 1round can be enough sometimes, 15 rounds could not be enough. I carry either a model 60 or 642 and 3 reloads. If I run out then it's time to haul by rear end out of the fight or prepare to defend myself with my knife. Carry a gun you feel comfortable with,with the what you consider the right amount of reloads. I have been known to go to the store late at night with just the pistol in my pocket. For some people 100 rounds is never enough. When I was in combat I carried as much ammo as I could carry and not slow down the squad. I never wanted to be caught running out of ammo. And old NCO reminded me to make each round count and that way i wouldn't have to weight my self down. The reason the M-16/ M4 of todays military only fire 3 round bursts is to reduce the spray and pray that was so popular in Viet Nam.
 
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