Ben Dover said:
...I suppose you have a link to some valid statistics about how often normal citizens need to do a tactical reload in a SD/HD situation????
Only statistic I worry about is the one involving me. I would hazard a guess that searching through all of the Armed Citizen columns might reveal one or two times a person had to reload out of thousands of encounters. Or it might reveal how poorly maintained magazines failed, clogged with dust bunnies and cat hair, and the firearm then ceased to function, requiring a magazine change, but then again, probably as few as the previous list.
I chose to attempt to alter as many factors in my favor as possible within reason. While, as you mentioned, uparmoring my vehicle might help me if driving through downtown Chicago, it is impractical for me to do so with the expense and weight. However, I can watch where I travel and take as many appropriate precautions as I can, like full gas tanks, emergency equipment, as well as a professionally maintained vehicle, and not planning night time excursions onto The Tenderloin, for example, or hanging out in Hells Kitchen overnight. I know my house may burn down before I need to use my defensive sidearm, but I have fire extinguishers, without having installed a full piped fire fighting sprinkler system, due to cost and the fact that my landlord might not be amused. Also getting into a running gun battle is exactly what happened in Texas with one man with AR15 vs madman. IS that likely to happen to me? Hardly, but he thought it wouldn't happen to him, either, before he stood up to defend his fellow men and women.
I make my decisions based on my perceived needs and wants, not on the usual statistics of others. Many millions of Americans have gone their whole life without ever carrying a defensive weapon more potent than an umbrella, but I made that conscious choice to do so myself, to carry spare magazines, to use quality defensive ammunition, to get as much professional training as my wallet will allow, (not much!), and practice as often as I can, while always following THEIR rules of behavior to reduce my possible chances of being in such a confrontation as I can, within reason. As always, your mileage may vary.