Since most on this forum would carry a Revolver

What does round count have to do with anything? If you can get a well aimed shot off all you will need is one or two rounds to stop the fight. If you can not get a well aimed shot off all the ammo in the world will do you no good.

AND, getting shot will do no one any good, especially you. IMO, if even in a situation like that, take cover and wait for the opportunity to squeeze of a well aimed shot and stop the killing.

The odds of you ending up facing a spree killer are FAR...galactically far... below the odds of you facing a mugging or other violent assault. Picking a weapon because you're concerned about that is probably not very logical.

Nothing at all -- even your own semi-auto rifle and body armor -- is going to be "enough" if such a thing were to, against all the odds, materialize in your presence. But we practice to be able to respond as best as possible with whatever tools we CAN and WILL carry, every single day.

Having said that, carry the "mostest and the bestest" that you can -- and make sure that whatever weapon you're carrying is the one you can make the fastest and most accurate hits with. A micro auto that you can't run a clean Mozambique drill with in under 5 seconds is a whole lot less useful than a revolver that you CAN.

I moved to an auto. I finally came to the conclusion that I was pretty likely, if I got into an encounter at all, that it could be an active shooter with an assault rifle. It was becoming more likely.

Until we address mental illness in this country I think people have two motives, robbery from the economic downturn, and a desire to become an infamous villain.

Revolvers are still very effective weapons though.

I also agree about the accurate shot issue. Clearly appropriate cover will be a high priority.

I don't feel more gunned than before though, simply because I carry more rounds. I had 10 before, 5 + 5. And I have 15 now, 8 + 7. But, having not felt less armed with a revolver, I don't now feel more armed. I think the ability to reload quickly is important, so my revolver never felt like just a five shot.

I sometimes carry a second gun now too, though. I feel a tad silly about it.

I carry a 6 shot S&W or a S&W 40 If I go to a large town I carry my 40.

I don't feel out gunned with my revolver, but its an 8 shot 357 and I carry two speed loaders.

You're not outgunned if you kill or incapacitate the attacker with one or two shots.

The problem is the short barrel and low capacity. The short sight radius means you must have excellent trigger control and practice constantly if you want to score solid hits on a moving target. The low capacity only comes into play if you keep missing, get peripheral hits, or your bullets do not cause the enough damage (or proper type of damage). Reloads are slow. Again, frequent practice is necessary.

However, we also know spree killers tend to kill themselves or give up when confronted. Some give up or commit suicide as soon as resistance occurs. Others will move away before trying to fight it out.

As Sam mentioned, your odds of encountering this are very low. This does not mean you shouldn't prepare for it. Doing so can be very challenging, especially if you include distance shooting in your practice regimen. The red dot optic on a pistol does have some advantages in this area (I dislike them for other reasons). However, you can train yourself to perform well with a snub-nosed revolver.

I've pointed out before that "getting off one or two well-aimed shots" in an actual combat situation is likely to be illusory.

Well-trained police officers have historically only scored about 25% hits in combat. That's hits, not X-ring centerpunches.

Even centerpunch hits with small calibers are not reliable fight-stoppers. No one says that you will be confronted by only one attacker....

It's a decision everyone has to make. Ease of carry as opposed to effectiveness. Come down to the crunch, I'd druther have my duty gun, the Glock 23 with the 12-round magazine.
However, I wouldn't want to stuff same in my shorts on a hot Summer day.

I do, in fact, still have a 2-inch J-frame and a couple of speed strips. I've never been overly comfortable with the little guy, and I'm planning on replacing it with a compact auto as my "retirement" gun.

There was a really good thread some time back that dealt with the problem of capacity: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=665883

My duty gun is the XDm40 compact, off duty is a XD9subcompact, but I've been known to drop my Bond Arms .410 derriger with 000 Buck in a front pocket when I run down to the corner for a big gulp to mix my rum in.

Until I got a J-Frame, that is.

SAM 1911 said it all

This is all you need to understand in a nutshell.great understanding of the K.I.S.S. principle





The odds of you ending up facing a spree killer are FAR...galactically far... below the odds of you facing a mugging or other violent assault. Picking a weapon because you're concerned about that is probably not very logical.

Nothing at all -- even your own semi-auto rifle and body armor -- is going to be "enough" if such a thing were to, against all the odds, materialize in your presence. But we practice to be able to respond as best as possible with whatever tools we CAN and WILL carry, every single day.

Having said that, carry the "mostest and the bestest" that you can -- and make sure that whatever weapon you're carrying is the one you can make the fastest and most accurate hits with. A micro auto that you can't run a clean Mozambique drill with in under 5 seconds is a whole lot less useful than a revolver that you CAN.

History indicates that these mass shooters tend to off themselves at the first sign of actual resistance, so I wouldn't be too concerned about getting in a sustained firefight with one.

That said, I carry always, and it's a revolver at home and on the farm, so I can change loads easily for the threat at hand (copperhead gets a .38 shotload, rabid skunk gets a .38 LSWCHP, two legged critter might get 145gr .357), in the paved world I carry a full-size 9mm with a 17rd mag, since the environmental conditions aren't as hard on the weapon and the potential threat is not as variable.

afdavis11 said:

I finally came to the conclusion that I was pretty likely, if I got into an encounter at all, that it could be an active shooter with an assault rifle.

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How exactly did you come to that conclusion?

Last crime I can remember committed with an assault rifle (a fully automatic weapon) was the North Hollywood shootout in 1997.

About 1% of gun crimes (all of the latest mass killings) are committed with assault weapons (which are semi-auto only).

That means that 99% of gun crimes are NOT committed with assault weapons. Yet you choose to believe that if you do get into an armed encounter, it will pretty likely be with that 1% group?

You should carry the gun you shoot the best - regardless of capacity....whether its a 6 shot revolver in .357 mag, ..... a 1911 with 8+1 ....or a big double stack with 15 + .....it probably won't matter.

I hang out on the revolver forum, because I collect and shoot a lot of S&W revolvers...not because I exclusively carry a 6 shot revolver...-- although I do once in a while ( K frame S&W a 4" in .357 mag )....my primary carry gun is a 1911 with 8 +1 rds of .45 acp. I rarely carry an extra mag or any reloads for my revolver.

But if you're really worried about it ....you can just drop some loose rounds for your revolver in your pocket...or speed strips or whatever you like.

I still carry my Lcr with 158 lhp's. 2 speed loaders and a .22 mag mini in an ankle holster in addition to the lcr. ( Speer gold dots). I'm fine. I do practice the Mozambique and a double tap followed by a quick reload. It's good with me.

I carry Two 357 Five Shooters daily. If I was in that situation I plan to seek cover, take aim, and fire. Well, that's what I say I would do. I have never had to shoot at another person and have never been in combat. If the time comes I hope to have the guts to do what needs to be done. I think I can.

I carry Two 357 Five Shooters daily.

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At the same time?

I need only a single bullet, so most anything will work for me.

Of late been carrying an older Colt Agent 6 shot. Light powerful and hides easily in my jeans pocket. But have also started carrying a 4" 686 maggie in a Fobus holster covered by a shirttail.

Loves me some .38 and 357 maggie revolvers!

Speed strips hold extra ammo.

To Answer Ken W,
One AIWB and One in the off hand pocket. Reloads for both, Flashlight, Knife, Pepper Spray, Phone, Money Clip Wallet, extra Batteries for light, earplugs, and Keys. T-Shirt and Shorts in hot Summer I carry the same thing. The only time I travel a little lighter is If I have to ware Dress Clothes for a Wedding or what ever.

KenW. said:

At the same time?

Click to expand...

I frequently do carry two .357 fiveguns at the same time. When I do not, it is usually one .357 fivegun and a .357 sixgun or .45 1911.

As for the OP's question on thinking about changing to an automatic, well, I already carry automatics when it suits me. In a crowded venue, I cannot justify a bunch of misses, so I had better place my shots well, regardless of how many or few shots. I strong believe that the first shot is the most important shot, revolver or auto.

I must live in Nirvana compared to you fellas. I'm a cop, and don't carry two handguns. On the rare occasion I decide to carry a BUG to my XDM40 comapct, I strap my J-Frame to an ankle.

When off-duty and I need to go into the big city I carry an XD9 subcompact and not the 5-shooter.

You can't plan and prepare for every senario.If you did you'd have to carry a primary hand gun, a B.U.G, a tactical shotgun, an EBR, a sniper rifle, and enough ammo for a short war. As was stated above, carry what you can conceal, and what you can shoot the best.

too much telervishun

Almost all sd/hd shootings are resolved (win or lose) in 0 to 2 shots.
Ergo, hit your target.