How would mag capacity restrictions change your SD handgun selection?

It wouldn't.

The minimum size for my primary pistol is decided by sight radius and grip size than ammo capacity. That size would be something like a Sig Sauer P229 or Glock 19.

Even pistols that does not meet the mimimum size for primary pistol can fit 10 or more rounds of 40S&W in it. So, I won't be carrying anything smaller, just because there is a capacity restriction.

I do have pistols smaller than that, but those are secondary pistols, and the smaller size is to deal with restrictive concealment requirements, not lower capacity.

Since 40S&W is already at the limit of what I can control at speed, I am not going to carry anything more powerful, even if there is a capacity restriction.

I'm another who wouldn't lose much sleep over it. My carry weapon holds, with one in the chamber, eight rounds of 9mm ammo. It often serves as my bedside as well, alongside a rimfire carbine (though that would probably change, as it holds 25 rounds in its magazine; do the mag limits there apply to rimfire calibers, also?)

I do sometimes put my P95 to bedside duty, with its sixteen rounds, but it's not because of its capacity. It's simply because it's easier to hold and shoot than my PF9, and the need for such a small pistol doesn't exist in the home.

It wouldn't matter to me a bit.
I currently carry a single stack 9mm with 7 rounds. We have no mag restrictions here.

If OC were allowed I could see carrying a XDM that held 19+1 but for concealment in the warmer months it isn't feasible.

rcmodel said:

It wouldn't.

I have carried 5 and 6 shot revolvers, and single stack pistols my whole life.

If you can't get it done with that number of rounds you probably should't have been there unless ordered to be.

rc

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I am in the same mindset as RC. Even when I leave the J-Frames at home and carry the 1911, I only have 7.

ACP said:

Shot placement.

You are likely going to be facing a single adversary 6-9 feet away, and will fire about 3 rounds in a second or two. After that you or he will either be dead, wounded, or fleeing.

Capacity, caliber and bullet selection is vastly overrated. Having a gun, getting a gun into play, using cover and making accurate first shots is vastly underrated.

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Amen, brother.

My two carry hold 5 rounds. Sig P238 and Springfield XDs 45. My XDs case says not legal in California, though. So...that one's out for you.

Good luck with your new place in CA.

I live in a CA county that allows 10 guns on a CCW permit, many only allow three. My HD guns include a 12ga pump and a M&P Sport with a stack of 10-round mags. Carry guns include 2 1911s in 45, a 9mm 1911, a 9mm Shield, and Glocks 20 (10mm), 26 (9mm), 30 (.45acp), and 36 (.45acp). The Glock 26 and 30 each hold 10+1.

I am most likely to be carrying the Shield, 26, or 36, with the 30 in close proximity in I'm driving.

These were choices I had to make when I moved to MA. I stuck with my favorite caliber (9mm) and platform (Glock), but moved to a subcompact 26 instead of a 19 as a preferred EDC. My thinking was that:

• It felt utterly wrong to re-buy neutered 10 round magazines at inflated prices for pistols intended to hold more.

• I felt that if I had to go to something with 10 rounds, I may as well go with a package easier to conceal and no larger than necessary.

The general belief has always been that you should carry the largest caliber that you can control.

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Probably still true for many shooters, but a lot of us (including you, 9mmEpiphany, if I understand your post correctly) have also changed our thinking on this thanks to the late Paul Gomez and others in the last 10 years. If shot placement is king and the service calibers have negligible differences in ballistic performance, there's a good case for going to something easier to shoot generally and quicker on follow-up shots. I own and enjoy shooting .40, .45, and .357 magnum, but can practice more, and more effectively, with 9mm. More practice equals better performance and familiarity, which all comes back around to superior and more numerous shot placement.

Long way of saying that restrictions have not impacted my choice of caliber.

If PA got one I'd start carrying a Desert Eagle in .44 just to piss people off. I OC so the size doesn't matter.

I like 1911 form factor guns too much to be overly concerned about mag capacity. With mag capacity restrictions you need to carry more mags & practice your tactical mag changes, which isn't a bad thing.

I am personally not concerned with mag capacity. I don't currently own any high cap handguns, and when I carry a semi auto pistol it's an 8+1 .45ACP. I plan to spend next year in stock service revolver class in IDPA and since it has been a long standing practice of mine to carry and compete with the same gun, I am now carrying a S&W Mod. 64, a six shot .38 spl. As a civilian CCW holder, and a person who carries everyday, and have for years, I firmly believe that if you use your brain you will most likely never use your pistol, and that is the best thing you could hope for. In the unlikely event you actually need a gun, your skill with it will be a bigger factor to your success than how many rds it holds. I think a lot of people prepare for the hypothetical multi shooter gunfight scenario and your odds of that are about as high as getting struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark. My advice to new prospective gun owners is, buy a quality gun you like, and learn how to use it.

Aww. shucks. Too bad you had to liquidate your collection. If I am recalling, correctly, you may have been able to bring some firearms in your move which you will no longer legally be able to purchase, after? And you might have even been able to legally sell them after the move for more money?

The effect of mag capacity limitation on SD gun? Well, if CCW is not an option, then it has very little effect to me, personally. I suppose I would scratch the Keltec PMR off the (very bottom) of the list.

But I'm not going to suddenly choose a revolver or a 1911. I will go with the same handgun and spare mags I keep by my beside, now, only the mags will hold a few less rounds. But I happen to choose a 40SW handgun with very little felt recoil and which I shoot very well. And I don't think it gets much better than that for an HD handgun.

I might actually end up going with a good single action revolver.

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No problem there. The Ruger Blackhawk/Vaquero series are outstanding multipurpose guns. I have a .44 special Sheriff with the 3.75" barrel that is my current "walkabout" on the property gun. It shoots a bit high with 240-246 gr ammo, right on with 180 gr xtp/200 gr Gold Dot, and a bit low with the hot 165 gr Cor-bon stuff.

For me: in two words...

Single stack.

Or four words: single stack extra mag.

A Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt is always hanging in holster on the head post on my side of the bed. Since I have shot many thousands of rounds through them in CAS and CMSA they are a natural extension of my arm.

p.s. I have a identical pair. The clean one is the one hanging in the holster.

Well, considering the fact that I don't currently own a handgun that holds more than 8+1, my guess is that it would not affect me in the slightest.

Okay, it might cause me to not buy the G-20 that I kinda want but haven't bought for the last five years or so...

If I've lived without it this long, I'll probably be okay without it.

P.S.: Don't get me wrong, I'd bitch about it. But that has no affect on my actual purchase selections...

It would be hard, but I supposed if forced to I could plug up a cylinder on the revolver...but I doubt they go lower than 6 shot max.

I've been been carrying a Kel Tec PF9, XDS 9mm or Ruger Sp 101 5 shot for the last 6 years and always felt comfortably armed with 5-7 rounds. Don't see a likely scenario where I even use all 5.

My first buy is going to be a good 12 ga. pump action. I feel naked without one. Unless there is a mechanical failure of some sort, I can't imagine dropping a shotgun in favor of a handgun.

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Handgun for hd is nice because you get an "extra" hand to use when you need to open a door, grab a loved one, or use a light (unless you mount one to the shotgun).

With a shotgun on you, and a 1911, I would think you'd be straight. 1911s can hold 10 round mags, especially if you're not concealing. Maybe go nutz and get tritium sights?

Well some have said that being in Northern California that getting a concealed carry permit might still be possible. I don't know I'm originally from Southern California, might be something to check into at the very least though.

If that's not an option I would focus on whatever's going to make you a better pistol/revolver shot. You were saying that you you aren't a good or even decent pistol shot. What's going to make you better is training and constant practice. So whatever platform you decide on should revolve around that.

Going up in power won't help much if you aren't very good with it. Will actually make your accuracy problem worse. If it's not going to be carried (depending on what you find out about permits) reducing the size of the pistol won't help you much if it's going to be limited to being a house gun.

If you do get something for concealed carry it shouldn't be so small you can't effectively fight with it either. Needs to be something a little more in the middle.

If you do better with a revolver, get a revolver. However whatever you get should be in a common caliber so that training ammo is cheap and affordable. That means you'll shoot more and become more proficient. Then get some professional training. Go to IDPA competitions, whatever. Go over the border if you have to although I'm betting you won't need to do that if you look on Calguns and start asking questions.

Limited to 10 rd mags isn't too bad if you decide on a semi though. Get good at reloads, but once the shooting starts most people scatter like roaches. Better to have that skill and not need it though.

Jason,

First, I'll echo what other posters advised in that you should get whatever quality gun you're most comfortable shooting, among the common calibers. With quality ammunition they should all be good self defense guns.

Second, the SD situation you find yourself in, if any, is not determined by you but by the attacker or attackers. Unfortunately there's no way to know if or when it may occur, and if it does by how many people. It's better to be prepared for multiple attackers and face one than assume there'll be one and be unprepared for several.

I'm not a big guy so I can't really hide a double stack. If One could CC in my state, I'd be carrying either my PPK (reliable over 2,500 rounds) and shoots great for me, or a PPS in 9mm.

As others have said, the gun is the least of it.
There's plenty of folks who don't think they are at a disadvantage with a short barreled five shot revolver.