Is 8 Rounds Enough?

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Well posted MLEAKE, especially the first two.

Having more rounds does mean mean you subscribe to spray and pray nor does it mean you are any less skilled, just more prepared.

There is not a scenario out there where having more rounds would be a disadvantage. However there are scenarios, admittedly unlikely but still possible, where having fewer rounds could be a huge disadvantage. I'd hate to get caught in one of those scenarios.
 
Eight is one more than I carry. If 50 rounds fit into the space of 8, I would carry that many. Of course I hope never to need a single round.
 
It depends on the caliber.

One hit of .45 ACP will ALWAYS be enough. It will cast men to the Earth.

One hit of .357 magnum... break out the steam cleaner as a body bag will not be needed. Instant vaporization.

But if its a 9mm? GOOD LUCK. They sell 33 round Glock 9mm magazines for a reason. ;)

Honestly, if you a comfortable with even a 5 shot J-frame, have learned to load it in your sleep and quickly, and have confidence, it will do nicely in all but the most extraordinary situations imaginable. But that being said, if you can get good with a gun that has more capacity that is only a benefit, but it simply isn't the most important thing to me in a defensive handgun. I really like my Glock 19, but consider the capacity secondary to other reasons for trusting it so.

Shot placement, reliability, accuracy to some point, and above all the shooter's skill and confidence are much more important! JMHO.
 
Posted by Rifleman1952: As for the probability of a criminal's response to deadly force; yes there is always the possibility that a drug crazed or mentally disturbed individual will continue his attack after being hit. But the vast majority of criminals are cowards, who seek easy prey. I am retired now, but have many years of experience working with criminals, trust me on this one.
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The question is how soon after being hit he will discontinue his attack. Where you hit him, how many times, at what distance, how fast he is moving, his physical makeup, his psychological condition, and other things will all figure in.

Cowards? Maybe, but if you are shooting, he has already decided to attack you.

What about his accomplice? Do you want to bet your life on his cowardice? If he is already in slashing range when you shoot the other one, would increasing the distance be his best bet? Suppose he thinks your shots were those of his partner; that has happened. And there is the possibility that your car represents his only means of escape.

The response, to two rounds fired by a 65 year old woman, by these five would be robbers, is typical of the vast majority of bad guys I have dealt with over the years.
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"Typical" is not something to prepare for.

Most criminals are only brave when they believe they hold the upper hand.
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That's irrelevant.
 
Posted by Model12Win: Honestly, if you a comfortable with even a 5 shot J-frame, have learned to load it in your sleep and quickly, and have confidence, it will do nicely in all but the most extraordinary situations imaginable.
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Do you consider a fast attack by two violent criminal actors "most extraordinary?" that seem to be the norm around here.

Consider this, carefully.
 
What if threads are always amusing to read.

If you add up all the odds, you're a winner if you can make a bang sound. Criminals think they are invincible when they employ a gun, when you make a gun sound, they typically run. Then you practice and they don't, the odds of a fatal shot to you is under 5% if I am remembering a public TV program from many years ago.

Cary a gun with reasonable capacity and practice. I practice draw and fire and work to keep a double tap to 2.5 seconds or less. And drill into your head to take the extra half second to make the shot count, nothing is more important than hitting your target. Also I'd say carry a pistol rather than a revolver, if a criminal is thinking (which they obviously aren't) and they see a revolver, they know you have a limited capacity and a long time reloading verses a pistol where they don't know if you have 15 shots or not because there are so many variations.
 
Posted by TylerDog: Criminals think they are invincible when they employ a gun, when you make a gun sound, they typically run.
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Basis for that assertion?

Then you practice and they don't, ...
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A study some time ago showed that many of them are very skilled indeed. I'm not going to look for it right now.

...the odds of a fatal shot to you is under 5% if I am remembering a public TV program from many years ago.
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Five percent? That's terrible.
 
Oldmarksman: if there was a way for me to carry a high capacity full auto AR-15 in my hip pocket, I would. But that just is not feasible for most civilians. Most CCW permit holders are going to carry a small revolver or semi-auto pistol, with some of them carrying an extra mag of speed loader. Is that going to prepare you for every possible scenario imaginable? Of course not. We carry, train and practice in preparation for the most likely cases. In my area, that would be a mugging by one or two perps. In other words what is practical and appropriate for the average person. Perhaps you think those five fellows trying to rob the jewelry store were some brave young men. Believe me, they are par for the course.
 
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Posted by Rifleman1952: Most CCW permit holders are going to carry a small revolver or semi-auto pistol, with some of them carrying an extra mag of speed loader.
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I carried a J Frame, but upon careful reflection, went to pistols that hold eight to twelve rounds. I know I probably should carry an extra magazine, but currently I do not.

We carry, train and practice in preparation for the most likely cases. In my area, that would be a mugging by one or two perps. In other words what is practical and appropriate for the average person.
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I think one should prepare for two and add a safety margin.
 
If I'm wandering around in territory where I need more than 8 rounds I shouldn't even bother carrying a handgun. If you need more than 8 rounds you should have packed a sub gun.
 
If I'm wandering around in territory where I need more than 8 rounds I shouldn't even bother carrying a handgun. If you need more than 8 rounds you should have packed a sub gun.
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That's kind of how I feel but "What if" threads go in funny directions.
 
Why settle for less?

I would recommend an MG42 machine gun with a lightweight bolt at about 1500 rounds a minute. Why settle for less if you live in a rough neighborhood?
 
Is 8 enough?

Nobody here goes looking for trouble, but you can, for instance, be detoured into a bad neighborhood and your car break down. It happens.

8 should be enough for 1 or 2 assailants.

Three, four, five or more assailants is big trouble and calls for superior fighting skills and a handgun that can deliver overwhelming force. For me, its a snubby, a S&W 44 Mag. Only 6 shots but if the bad guys haven't quit by the time its empty, there is usually 1 or 2 New York reloads on hand.

"Of course there is a situation where a Glock 17 with several 33 round magazines wouldn't be enough." [fallingrock71]

couple = 2 mags
few = 3 mags
several = 4 or more mags

That means carrying a Glock 17 with 34 rounds on board plus 4 - 33 rd mags, for a total of 166 rounds on hand.

Can't imagine a threat that would require more than 166 rounds to stop.

Is 8 good enough? Most of the time yes. But 20 is best.
 
Nobody here goes looking for trouble, but you can, for instance, be detoured into a bad neighborhood and your car break down. It happens.
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Or if your tour bus gets lost 5+ times in the ghetto on a trip to 'Nawlins, like what happened to me in High School...there is some weird and scary stuff back in those areas

I subscribe to the theory of preparing for what is likely and possible from me (since I can't predict what might happen to me). We carry weapons (well, I do) as a pragmatic measure against potential attack; it follows we should approach the problem from that perspective as well, and not simply choose based on what is instinctivly comforting for us (denying the potential of attack at all is far more comfortable, after all)

If confronted by more than 3 (probably 2 in reality) goons at a close defensive distance (since I see no reason I would ever draw a gun on someone from across the street, as opposed to running), I'd be able to get 2, maybe 3 shots off before being jumped (if not shot) provided; the gun was already in my hand, and pointed at them, and all the goons were in front of me). Even that scenario is hopelessly optimistic if any of those conditions aren't met (I'd most likely be shot/bludgeoned while drawing) and if the baddies don't run when they detect "gun".

In reality, I'm simply weighing myself down if I even load my TRR8 to its full 8 shot capacity (but a half-filled revolver is unbalanced :p).

Personally, I don't carry to give myself a 1:1,000,000 chance in a 1:1,000,000,000+ scenario; but a 1:2 chance at survival in a 1:10,000 scenario.

"Your boys may get me in a rush, but not before I turn your head into a canoe."
-Wyatt Earp in Tombstone (admittedly not an authority on CCW, but matches my sensibilities on the matter)

TCB

(I also carry two moonclips of 8 when in the backwoods (more a bulk/balance issue, though) so I never understand why "revolver" tends to be equated with "no reloading allowed." Clips/speedloaders are every bit as fast as magazines, and strips fast enough for a reload after-action)
 
A handgun is not the optimum HD gun, if you can get barricaded. I would prefer a rifle (AR) or a shotgun (pump or Semi 12 Gauge) If I were concerned about mobs of 5.

I keep an 870 by my bedside.

There is not much I can say bad about a good revolver. Learn to run it so that it is second nature. Carry reloads and learn to reload. You can look at all of the stats you want about shots fired, hits, misses, how many it takes at what distance and it tells you nothing. The fact that you are in a gunfight is in itself a mathematically anomaly.

I love my Smith 357's but I carry an auto these days, in case I do get in a fight with a gun I want every advantage I can get. Can you do it with 5? With 8? I don't know my luck is so good I carry spare parts and a tool box in my truck.
 
You can look at all of the stats you want about shots fired, hits, misses, how many it takes at what distance and it tells you nothing. The fact that you are in a gunfight is in itself a mathematically anomaly.
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Excellent point!
 
Posted by barnbwt: If confronted by more than 3 (probably 2 in reality) goons at a close defensive distance (since I see no reason I would ever draw a gun on someone from across the street, as opposed to running), I'd be able to get 2, maybe 3 shots off before being jumped (if not shot) provided; the gun was already in my hand, and pointed at them, and all the goons were in front of me).
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You need to learn to shoot a lot faster.
 
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