Is Nine Rounds of .45 ACP Enough?

Is 9 rounds of .45 ACP Enough for Defense?

  • Yes

    Votes: 112 91.1%

  • No

    Votes: 11 8.9%
  • Total voters
    123
  • Poll closed .
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M

Model12Win

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For personal defense, be it home defense or concealed carry, do you think nine rounds of .45 ACP from a 1911 or Sig P220 (both using 8 round magazines with 1 in the chamber) is enough?
 
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I use 8 round flush fit mags for my 1911 but I load it up and then chamber one. I don't top the mag off afterwards.
 
I'd say it pretty much depends on how good a shot you are. That or how many people you expect to pick a fight with you.
 
One of my big CC guns is 4566 so 9 was enough but now I CC a G23 because if 9 was “enough” 14 and 1/2lb lighter is better.


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My XD Mod 2 subcompact in .45 ACP has 9 rounds in the flush mag and 13 in the extended. I carry with the flush installed and the extended in my pocket. I just never know what might come my way.

Joe
 
duty gun

The SIG P220,, was my duty gun for about 20 yrs. I felt well armed, and a step ahead of the S&W 586 .357/125gr that we carried previously. Initially we were issued 7 rd mags. With 8 rds on board, and two 7 rd mags, I was carrying 22 rds. That was two cartridges less than I carried all up with the revolver ( 6 in the gun, 2 speed loaders, and a 2x2x2 pouch for 24). Therefore I acquired a quad mag pouch, which brought my carry load up to 36 rds.
Eventually we were issued the excellent MecGar 8 rd mag, which bumped the total higher to 41. The quad added some weight to the duty belt, but I did not want to the ranger that ran out of ammo, so it was acceptable. It also put my carry load in the range of the .40 and 9mm shooters with two mags and one in the gun.
 
One is enough if you put it in the right spot. :D. Seriously, my EDC is a 6+1 9mm or even a 5 shot J frame (yes, I carry a spare magazine or speed strip). If you carry another mag, 17 rounds of .45acp ought to be enough for most "social situations".
 
8+1 is enough to deal with a lot of threats, but the more important question of 9 rounds of .45 is what gun are you using? A .45 that holds 9 rounds is going to be a big pistol and you could have 9 rounds of 9mm in a smaller pistol that's easier to carry and conceal.
 
The pistol I carry holds 15+1 rounds of 9mm and I still carry a backup magazine. No reason you can't too.

As for how many rounds is enough, I can't guarantee that. If I remember correctly the FBI statistic is that the average self defense shooting involves 3 shots at 3 yards in 3 seconds. So 9 is certainly more than that. Of course exceptions occur.
Edit: I've been reminded that the above statistic likely refers to LE shootings as there is no database that we know of for civilian shootings. So caveat emptor.

https://www.policeone.com/police-heroes/articles/6199620-Why-one-cop-carries-145-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job/
 
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TruthTellers said:
8+1 is enough to deal with a lot of threats, but the more important question of 9 rounds of .45 is what gun are you using? A .45 that holds 9 rounds is going to be a big pistol and you could have 9 rounds of 9mm in a smaller pistol that's easier to carry and conceal.
Click to expand...

Benefit of being older is you remember SMALL .45acp pistols...
like the Star PD & Star Firestar 45...which can use 8-rd mags...
Standard is 6+1 for the Firestar, but had optional larger mags holding 8 or 10...
gedc0002-2-jpg.80058


And the S&W CS45...6+1 also, & could use any of the 4500-series 8 & 10-rd mags.
And oddly enough, Star M45 mags & CS45 mags can switch as well...if you add
the proper mag catch hole.
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