Is a single stack enough?

A well carried Glock 19 4th Gen. With TruGlo night sights, carried every day! Gives me 16 rounds, of 147g Ranger T. Not too worried by statistics, as there are no rules of probability.

The only time I was faced with shooting two Youths, who had followed my Wife around a Publix Store for half an hour... They were about 10 yards away. When it dawned on them, their RIDE! My Wife and cart had passed by me, I was leaning against my marked Security Jeep.

My Wife and I had used our Cell phones to take me away from my Library Book, in the parking lot.

My shirt was undone, I focused on their hands, they ran across the parking lot. No car, what a surprise. Only one saw me, the other young chap was focused on my wife. Black tee shirts, beltless pants. No holding pants when they ran? No weapons? When they were aware of this old chap, they were alongside a good backstop. No glass doors, a solid wall, we planned that.

They did not look back. The store was robbed at closing, a year later?
Handguns were brandished.
 
If I use my pistol in a fight, it'll most likely be a way to cover myself until I can get back to my rifle. I can't be sure that my Glock 23 with a spare 15-round magazine will do it, but I believe it will in almost all reasonable cases. The SIG 716 in my truck is a much better fight stopper, but it's awkward to carry into meetings, coffee shops, and the like.
 
Stats are a little old from the NYPD with regards to hit factors, distance
 

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First mistake the shooter made was waiting until they were on top of him before he fired. Advice given by many is carry extra magazine or speed loader with you
 
Is a single stack enough?


It was for me in 1968 and still is to date, same style of gun and same caliber.
Proved itself then so I see no need to change.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
 
If I use my pistol in a fight, it'll most likely be a way to cover myself until I can get back to my rifle.

I really don't find that old chestnut useful in discussing civilian self-defense usages.

1. It assumes the rifle is close enough to get to.

2. It assumes that you lack the ability to hit your opponents with a handgun. That should be remedied, don't you think?

Is the handgun for suppressing fire as you run? Sound like a great plan for missing the opponents and hosing the general environment. Maybe folks should aim the handgun.

3. It assumes your opponents are incompetent and won't shoot you while you are running around and messing with the rifle.

How does this cliche work in the convenience store parking lot? It doesn't.

The binomial expansion - isn't that when you shoot both barrels out of shotgun?

(p+q)**n

I didn't know you needed math to discuss guns. I thought you only needed to know that 45 .GT. 9 mm
 
CDW thanks for posting those videos, They're a good illustration of the limitations of smaller guns, especially with no fast reload available.

Im sure someone will eventually talk about shot placement in the India video and if the shooter had just taken head shots he would have had enough bullets :p

Everthing is a trade off though.. I think you need to carry enough to be comfortable (confident).
If you're asking your self.. Do I have enough?.. Then you probably don't.
 
If I use my pistol in a fight, it'll most likely be a way to cover myself until I can get back to my rifle.
Glenn pointed out some issues with that silly slogan.

That is another--the assumption that if a civilian were in fact able to escape from a serious use of force situation, he or she would then have a justifiable reason for using that rifle.
 
Well guys, how many people have you met, who carry handguns, that they have never fired?

My G19 feels like it is part of me. Holster, unholster, a quick peep, see extractor proud.

But still, meeting an adult, who says "It is brand new, why would it not work?"

And "I took the course at the gun show!"

The one that to me is mind boggling, they have never had a fight as an adult.

And they think they are set for a gunfight?

OK Shower time, then gun up. Watch your six, smile, and have a great day.
 
This discussion is so very similar to the caliber discussion. Everyone has an opinion on what is right. How about this, carry the pistol, in the caliber, and quantity of rounds that you feel confident, comfortable, and accurate with. Carry the number of spare magazines that you feel comfortable carrying. Because no matter what you do someone will tell you you are undergunned, under capacity in ammo, and anything else they can think of. Or they will tell you you have too much gun, too many rounds, and anything else they can think of. Be happy!
 
How about this, carry the pistol, in the caliber, and quantity of rounds that you feel confident, comfortable, and accurate with.
If your only objective is to "feel comfortable", etc. that's okay.

But if your objective is to train and equip yourself adequately to respond effectively in the gravest extreme, there is mush more to it than that.

Carry the number of spare magazines that you feel comfortable carrying.
If you like. How would you intend to use tham?

Because no matter what you do someone will tell you you are undergunned, under capacity in ammo, and anything else they can think of. Or they will tell you you have too much gun, too many rounds, and anything else they can think of.
It really doesn't matter.
 
@Brit, Is that the average conversation you have with someone you meet that carries?

I gotta be honest.. Unless someone asks me a direct question about something gun related I generally do not talk to strangers about guns unless im in a situation where that's the topic or reason for being there.

Even when I've ran into situations where I see someone open carrying (rare but happens) or there are several talking in the vicinity, I don't get involved.
I don't go over and give them the thumbs up or anything.

And I have never had a conversation with a fellow carrier where I questioned them on their training or have they ever fired the gun on their hip.
.. Although I will admit the classes to get license/permit are a joke.. at least here in Ohio they're generally teaching a NRA basic handgun class.. Although We did have some people who never shot a gun before and it was very helpful for them.

That's not to say I think they classes should be more involved, I disagree with the entire process of permit/licensing to start with.

But I digress, In my experience those who would fit your criteria of having new guns on their hip are probably the ones that will eventually quit carrying.

It's the same people who complain about size, weight, only carry in "bad neighborhoods", Those people get tried of hauling around a gun and eventually just quit.

What's almost worse is the women who throw a gun in their purse and think they're prepared.. I swear and this is way more common then it should be.

@OldMarksmen.
I agree, You gotta carry what makes your comfortable.
If a 5 shot revolver gives you peace of mind then so be it.
If it takes 15 rounds of .40 S&W have at it.

We never know what we'll encounter, There's no point arguing on what's best because it will never be resolved.

More is more, but for one reason or another some just can't or won't carry a larger gun and I'd rather them carry something then nothing.

If they're happy let it be.
I like 9mm but before the .380 micro guns hit the market 9mm was often considered a girly round, It never deterred me.. now people dog the .40 and thing 9mm is the new Hotnesss.. don't get sucked into trends make up your own mind and go with it.
 
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But if your objective is to train and equip yourself adequately to respond effectively in the gravest extreme, there is mush more to it than that.

Can you define that gravest extreme? As it is likely to vary from person to person how does one define it? I mean is it 15 terrorist extremists (pick your terrorist) armed with rifles and body armor intentionally targeting you as an individual in an area that offers no retreat? Did I recently upset some (pick your terrorist) organization who have now put a vendetta on me and are organizing such a group to come after me?

If it is the 15 terrorist extremists how exactly does one prepare for that? If it isn't why isn't it?
 
If I run into 15 people with rifles and body armor and all I have is my pistol which holds 18+1?

Im going to fire bindly towards them for covering fire and run my ass outta there till my shoes catch fire.

Only way I'd take on numbers like that is with a m2 in a machine gun nest.
 
Can you define that gravest extreme?
I was using the term to describe situations in which the use of deadly force is immediately necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm.

That would involve persons with the ability and opportunity to cause such harm, and indications that they will do so at that moment, when there is no reasonable way to avoid the harm by means other than deadly force.

As it is likely to vary from person to person how does one define it?
It may vary somewhat. For example, in some cases, the fact of ability may not require that the attackers be armed with weapons.

Also in some rare circumstances in some jurisdictions, usually involving spouses, prior actions may sometimes indicate that a threat is imminent.

Other than that, it is the same for just about everyone.

I mean is it 15 terrorist extremists (pick your terrorist) armed with rifles and body armor intentionally targeting you as an individual in an area that offers no retreat? Did I recently upset some (pick your terrorist) organization who have now put a vendetta on me and are organizing such a group to come after me?
Imminence? Alternatives?

If it is the 15 terrorist extremists how exactly does one prepare for that?
That will depend upon the situation.

If it isn't why isn't it?
If it isn't what?
 
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