Is 6 Shots Really Enough?

[smle41]

In the interest of full disclosure, I admit to being a former 'tacticool' goober, and, when I was young, would not have thought a revolver, let alone a single action revolver was in any way suitable for protection in the era of dozens of AK-47 wielding assassins out to exterminate me.
Twice I have used a gun, due to poor mindset / skillset of my own (Edit, putting myself in the wrong place at the wrong time, if that makes sense), and, looking back, I was not using my tiny brain prior to each incident, and no shots fired, no 'high capacity semi auto toting' gang members fired on me.
Having now seen a couple of people outshoot myself (and shooters with Glocks, etc) with single action revolvers, I am more now of the thought that is the user that matters, less so, the tool.
Having asked poor marksmen to try shooting a single six and watching them learn to make their shots count, watching their groups go from 'most rounds on the paper sillhouette' to 'all hits in the paper plate', I think there is some detriment to the 'high capacity mentality'...
I am also more of a fan of layering defense, and, personally, prefer a K frame and a J frame, and, tipoc, a knife, and pepper spray, etc, (rather than 17-18 of my old Glock, or 13 of the High-Power I shot till it's frame cracked... ) But we are all different, and have different likes / dislikes, lifestyles, favorite foods...
Be safe, and have fun..

[Armchair Warrior]

I am not sure what everyone is talking about. We just need Hollywood firearms. I never see revolvers or semi autos run out of bullets in the movies.

[tomrkba]

Tom, I love ya, man. I think we agree that more puzzle pieces in place is a good thing. There's a time for practice and there's a time for training.

No worries David E. We're both mostly in agreement and I can see we both know training and practice increase the odds of success, but do not guarantee success.

I certain nobody in this thread would turn down help from a guy or gal shooting a revolver at the bad guy!!

[Lj1941]

Nobody needs to feel under-protected with a model 19/125Gr HP. A couple of speed-loaders are good and the G-26 BUG is icing on the cake.

[sixgunner455]

^ And there you have it, amen, /thread.

[Thaddeus Jones]

I'm glad we didn't have the internet back when we were on the street armed only with a six shot revolver, two speed loaders and maybe a 2X2X2 pouch.

We wouldn't have ventured out of doors! Much less gone out into bad areas hunting worse people.

Course, we did have the shotgun in the car.

[floydster]

If you can't do it in six, seven won't help you.

Smokeyloads

[Warp]

Originally Posted by floydster

If you can't do it in six, seven won't help you.

Smokeyloads

This absolute statement is patently false.

[X-Rap]

When working with nails and screws in which I can be pretty sure of the amount required to do the job I grab a hand full. When I travel and fuel my truck I never put in just the amount needed even though I know the distance I must travel and regretably even though I know the calories I need to sustain me I also carry a little more than I need.
Same with guns I would use for protection.

[gatorjames85]

I feel extremely well armed with my gp100 stoked with 6 rounds of .357.

[doc2rn]

Just remember every bullet launched has a lawyer attached! Yeah 6 is plenty, and accuracy is king!

[Certaindeaf]

Originally Posted by doc2rn

Just remember every bullet launched has a lawyer attached! Yeah 6 is plenty, and accuracy is king!

But I heard that it's been a particularly rich breeding season for lawyers as of late..
again with the jokes

[Kleanbore]

Posted by doc2rn: Just remember every bullet launched has a lawyer attached!

Yes indeed, which means:

• Firing only when it is immediately necessary to do so---there is no other alternative
• Firing only when you know what the target is and what is behind it
• Firing only as many rounds as you reasonably and prudently need to fire
• Firing in a controlled manner

Yeah 6 is plenty,

There's really no possible way to judge that in advance. Six will be plenty if and only if all of the attackers are dissuaded or stopped.

And, of course, it would be nice to not end up with an empty gun.

....and accuracy is king!

Well, sort of. No one should confuse target accuracy or group size with the ability to rapidly place a sufficient number of bullets--however many that may turn out to be--on a rapidly moving attacker in such a manner that they stop him timely, either by physical means or through psychological impact.

[Certaindeaf]

I guess some people are still confusing six shots with a six shooter. Stoke six in a mini-gun and guess what.? You still gots six! wow. You can reload a six-shooter all day to Sunday.. capice?

[Warp]

[QUOTE=Certaindeaf;8821519]I guess some people are still confusing six shots with a six shooter. [/QUOTE

I have a thought. Bear with me, it's just a thought, I don't know how legitimate it is.

But do you think that, maybe, just maybe, the fact that this is in the Handguns: Revolvers section, is a factor here?

[SharpsDressedMan]

Damn, I think your on to something!

[SwissArmyDad]

I'm lucky in this conversation, as my state doesn't allow for CCW in general. That removes me from the act of predicting how many rounds are needed when out and about during your day, and that's advantageous because it's somewhat of a fools errand. Can't be done, IMO. Just like trying to predict the weather. That's why they're called forecasts.

For my specific uses, other guns will always be available, just not necessarily in hand at the time.

At home - other guns are loaded but locked in several locations. My LCR will be in my pocket, and if possible, if I see something happening I can unlock my longarms, with the LCR remaining in my pocket available if I have a malfunction on my AR or shotgun.

If I'm in a place, out in the yard, etc, where I can't get to my other firearms, I'd say I'm at the mercy of the situation, but at the very least I'll still be bringing a solid, reliable firearm to the fight, and hopefully should have at least one speedstrip reload in my other pocket. (Situations I'm prepared for and are common in my area are stray dogs, coyote's, rattlesnakes, etc. Every once in a while we have reports of single individuals who roam in from the nearby city center seemingly with little reason to be there) None of these situations, in my reckoning, warrant more than 5 shots, if any at all, hopefully. On the other hand, a handgun would certainly be a useful tool the way these types of situations have gone for some folks, which is one of many reasons I choose to carry. More of a last resort type of solution.

In a hotel setting - This is one situation where I definitely always carry when we travel. I've got a very well defined space that I'm protecting with one main way in or out. if someone is breaking in it's likely going to be via the main door. (or possibly the sliding glass door) Both of these entry points can be covered effectively with 5 shots. Simply put, I doubt highly someone trying to make a dynamic entry into our room that doesn't have to do with someone being inebriated and thinking that it's their room. A loaded .38" caliber hole pointed at them has been more than enough to dissuade, in my experience.

Campsite - i don't go camping without a longgun. Usually a 12g. The 5-shot revolver would be backing up this rig in camp when the longgun is stowed for convenience. 5-shots should be more than enough to hold someone at bay while the longgun is retreived by someone in my party. It's been my experience, though, that a strong/firm tone, and no-b.s. attitude is a very strong deterrant for stupidity in the backcountry. I don't travel where tweakers/growers have illegal plots, and therefore remove the 5-shot vs. AK scenario using simple geography.

So yeah, that's my "extended" take.

[David E]

Originally Posted by SwissArmyDad

.
Campsite - i don't go camping without a longgun. Usually a 12g.

I'm curious how this is stored or carried and what you load it with.

I don't travel where tweakers/growers have illegal plots, and therefore remove the 5-shot vs. AK scenario using simple geography.

Sounds like you have access to a pretty handy map, telling you where all of those are....

[Certaindeaf]

Originally Posted by David E

.Sounds like you have access to a pretty handy map, telling you where all of those are....

Malls and schools are pretty well marked. lolz

[Warp]

Originally Posted by Certaindeaf

Malls and schools are pretty well marked. lolz

He was quoting SwissArmyDad, who said "I don't travel where tweakers/growers have illegal plots"

What David E is getting at is that it seems unlikely SwissArmyDad knows where every single tweakers/growers illegal plots are (as well as every location those tweakers/growers might be, and their routes of ingress and egress to said plots)

I don't see how malls or schools play into this at all.

[Certaindeaf]

It was a joke..

[Warp]

Originally Posted by Certaindeaf

It was a joke..

Maybe if the topic had been pot smokers that would have fit, but growers/fields at schools and malls?

[SwissArmyDad]

David E - Sounds like you have access to a pretty handy map, telling you where all of those are....
__________________

haha. Yes, VERY handy. Of course I can't predict where they'll be 100% but where we camp is mostly desert, and not an area prone to growing unlike national forests and national park land.

Could they irrigate and setup shop? Sure, but where we go is easy to scout from a long distance off, so I feel like the chances are fairly low.

Now trafficking of humans and drugs over the border? That runs rampant. Whole 'nother issue there.

btw, love your sig.

[SwissArmyDad]

Malls and schools are pretty well marked. lolz

LOL..I got it.

[glider1]

You guys still beatin on this ?