Is 6 Shots Really Enough?

[tomrkba]

BTW, what's the one shot percentage for your cartridge?

The science behind those figures has been shown to be faulty. I completely discount those numbers when choosing caliber. I stay with the common ones from 38 Special through 44 Magnum. I do have something in 380 Auto, but I do not carry it as a primary gun.

[Youngster]

I've seen PLENTY of people fumble and drop mags for Semi-Auto's while trying to reload quickly. Reloading under stress is HARD no matter what platform you are using.

It all comes down to training and muscle-memory.

It's that much more likely to happen with a revolver though, and harder to do when your eyes need to be elsewhere. It's not for nothing that even folks like Jim Cirillo prefered the NY reload.

[marcclarke]

No, six shots is not enough in today's world of multiple assailant attacks.

[Warp]

Is 6 shots enough?

Probably.

[tuj]

It's not for nothing that even folks like Jim Cirillo prefered the NY reload.

Also worth noting that according to Cirillo's book, he only saw two one-shot stops ever, one was with a 30-carbine and the other a 12ga IIRC.

[jad0110]

Quote:
Yeah, gangs do exist.
But carrying a carbine isn't going to save you if they decide to target you.

Can't hurt. Beats doing nothing.

While I agree it can't hurt, as long as you don't become fixated on getting to your vehicle and that fixation gets you killed, I do agree with easyg. Also, in my state a CCW is only good for carrying handguns, not long guns, and I think that even includes your vehicle (long guns must be stored unloaded, but now that I think of it I need to double check that).

According to friends and coworkers that have moved to my location from places like Chicago, LA, Oakland, Baltimore, etc ... the gangs in my area typically fall more into the wannabee spectrum.

[mljdeckard]

It is a bad idea to say any number of shots is enough, especially from a handgun. There are no guarantees. What I would PREFER to carry for self-defense would be a platoon of Marine infantry. If that isn't available, a crew-served machine gun. Then a battle rifle. Then an assault rifle. Then a civilian-legal defensive rifle. If none of these things are available or practical, I guess I'll settle for a handgun. six may or may not be enough. 17 plus a reload in a G-17 may or may not be enough.

One well-placed shot is enough. Whether or not the real world lets that shot be your first is another question entirely. For the vast majority of armed encounters, yes, six will probably be enough. But I'm still carrying at least one reload for my 1911. If I carried a revolver regularly, I would use either speedloaders or moon clips, and carry at least one extra.

[Godsgunman]

6 "should" be enough but definitely NOT if the gubment is trying to say so. Plus every situation is not the same, may need just 2, may need 10, who knows. Seems to me if most people still only needed 6 the police wouldn't be using 17 round Glocks now would they.

[22-rimfire]

Just remember, if you encounter a sitution where your life is in danger and 6-shots aren't enough, I hope you have the sense to get the heck out of dodge really fast in the confusion.

[JRH6856]

Know the threat level, yes, but also know yourself. What level of threat are you capable of dealing with? If you are over 65, overweight and out of shape, you may not be able to handle an unarmed altercation with an in-shape 20yo. in this case, having a 5 shot revolver or a 2 shot derringer may be an equalizer and also save your bacon if the assailant is armed, but faced with multiple armed attackers, especially determined ones, your physical limitations may render more than 5 rounds useless because you may never get to use them.

OTOH, if you are that in-shape 20yo, practice and compete regularly, and have the proper mindset, you may be able to handle multiple attackers just fine (or at least until you can get to your carbine), IWC, multiple mags and a BUG might be more useful.

A man's got to know his limitations.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by 22-rimfire

Just remember, if you encounter a sitution where your life is in danger and 6-shots aren't enough, I hope you have the sense to get the heck out of dodge really fast in the confusion.

I hope that you have the sense to realize that if you can get the heck out of dodge really fast, safely, you do it, no matter how many shots in how effective of a firearm you may have available.

When I talk about self defense in threads like this I operate under the preposition that everybody knows avoidance is always preferred, whenever possible.

So please, make sure you do everything you possibly can to avoid having shoot somebody. 'get the heck out of dodge really fast', if you can...right from the get-go.

[steve s]

5 rounds may not be enough 30 rounds may not be enough????? How many people have we shot in self defense in the last 8 months? IMO more is better but I carry 5 shot J frame and 1 speed strip.

[Kiln]

I have several revolvers and enjoy them a lot. The revolver has a few benefits over an automatic and vice versa.

The only problem with revolvers is that there are now so many guns available that are similar in size to a .38sp revolver that have more than double the capacity.

I just can't justify carrying a revolver with six shots when I own a compact semi auto with 13 shots. Honestly you're unlikely to ever need to fire a single shot from a carry gun but you never know. All I know is that if I were in a situation where I was facing a mass shooter or multiple assailants, I want more than six shots.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by Kiln

I have several revolvers and enjoy them a lot. The revolver has a few benefits over an automatic and vice versa.

The only problem with revolvers is that there are now so many guns available that are similar in size to a .38sp revolver that have more than double the capacity.

I just can't justify carrying a revolver with six shots when I own a compact semi auto with 13 shots. Honestly you're unlikely to ever need to fire a single shot from a carry gun but you never know. All I know is that if I were in a situation where I was facing a mass shooter or multiple assailants, I want more than six shots.

Except there isn't really a 13 round semi auto that will go/fit everywhere a snub nose .38 will.

[Kiln]

Originally Posted by Warp

Except there isn't really a 13 round semi auto that will go/fit everywhere a snub nose .38 will.

Alright how about ten rounds from the Kel Tec P11? It is smaller, lighter, and slimmer than a .38sp snub nose.

[barnbwt]

Science has shown that, ideally, 8 rounds are two more than 6 rounds.

TCB

[Warp]

Originally Posted by Kiln

Alright how about ten rounds from the Kel Tec P11? It is smaller, lighter, and slimmer than a .38sp snub nose.

What we get into now is my personal opinion, and experience, that Kel Tec's are cheap and I will not voluntarily trust my life to one. So, personally, I say no to a P11 over a 642, no questions asked.

But that's just me.

[Kiln]

Originally Posted by Warp

What we get into now is my personal opinion, and experience, that Kel Tec's are cheap and I will not voluntarily trust my life to one. So, personally, I say no to a P11 over a 642, no questions asked.

But that's just me.

My P40 works great. I'd trust it any day. I've also seen quality revolvers locked up so there is no guaranteed gun out there whether revolver or semi.

[22-rimfire]

Shooting is always the last resort. But if you begin shooting and you are still standing after 6-rounds, there will be some confusion and you need to bug out quick. A reload would be nice, but I seldom carry a reload.

[smle41]

This note is in two parts, and both to affirm my thought that 6 rounds is enough.
First, while noting the likelihood of facing several attackers, we must let, at least, these two considerations enter our calculations. "A" is that if they are determined, no capacity can be brought to bear that would matter. In two local instances, a lone citizen was attacked by a group of 10 or more gang members. The citizen was unable to fire more than two rounds into no more than one attacker before the mob was on them and beat them severely. At a range competition where I was derided by a Glock enthusiast, we practiced drawing and firing into rapidly approaching paper, I was able to fire one round to score one hit before the paper was "on me" ( the Glock shooter in question was able to fire twice, neither round hit "the black". A "bum rush" is concerning because of the speed the bums can rush. "B" is more likely, and that is that the mob is less determined to attack than they are to not get shot. Contrary to the movies, there is little honor or devotion among thieves. In my limited experiences, the group did not analyze the capacity of my handgun, they fled at the sight or even perception of it. Let's face it, if they were industrious, they'd have jobs and be flipping burgers with the rest of us rather than seeking "easy money", which explains the preponderance of instances where the mere display of resistance deters.
Perhaps the most underrated attraction to a revolver may be its resistance to a user-induced malfunction under duress. Time and again , when one reads, converses, learns of, witnesses, autoloading pistol "jams", it is because the weapon was unintentionally made to not work by circumstances involving the user running, operatng one-handed, off-handed, taken a face full of mace, having had the wind punched from them, the list is disquietingly long where controlling an autoloading in it's operating cycle can be more difficult than standing erect, in good position, facing a target on a static range. Even so, with weapon malfunctions, in the majority of cases, the enemy did not stop to analyze or deduce, the attackers in the "jam" situations, numbering from 2 or 4 or more, did not stop to "exchange" fire, they got out as fast as they could to seek easier prey elsewhere, or remembered they were late for their group meeting with the college admissions office.
I think that when we consider these factors, in researching and considering threat and course of action responses, "just 6" may not be a cause for such worry.
Heck, I for one am glad you are carrying and so adding to the "good guy" rolls.
Thank you.

[shafter]

If you want to carry something with more capacity then do it. I don't think anyone here is going to try to talk you out of your 19 though.

[22-rimfire]

NY state believes "7" is enough.

From a rights standpoint, I don't think 6 (or 7) is enough, nor do I think 30 is enough. From a practical perspective, I think 6 is enough for most situations. Gang members aren't trying to win the medal of honor. The scenario that I believe a reload may be critical is in a pursuit situation where the bad guys are after the intended victim; the victim is on the move; and the gang is chasing. I have no idea how often this happens. But I think Smle41 has it about right and the gang will seek an easier target who will not be defending themselves.

[farm23]

For those who carry 9's high cap mag are available but I carry big hole weapons and double stack mag do not fit my hand. I carry 44/45 revolvers or 45 pistols [1911 style]. I have never needed more than 3 [now days my main concern is rapid animals, & coyote] but I have also never served in big city high crime areas.

I expect most of us carry to protect self and family and the most important factor is to practice - practice - practice.

[SharpsDressedMan]

We need to re-establish that a citizen IS the government. Any argument made to arm the police, in our behalf (and in ADDITION to an armed people), should be the same argument for the armed citizen. If the police need more than six, the necessity of an armed citizen needing more than six might even be greater, as they do not have radioed backup readily avaiable in most shooting circuimstances.

[The Lone Haranguer]

Those six shots are most likely enough, but I wouldn't want any less than that, either.