A compeling reason to carry lots of ammo.

[denfoote]

I've seen several threads with the general subject of how much ammo to carry/do you carry.
I've always been of the opinion that you should carry as much spare ammo as is practicle!!

Personally, I carry no less than 25 rounds, both in the gun and as spares.

This is why!!!

Deadly mob beating unnerves Cleveland neighborhood

CLEVELAND (AP) — Even by tough, urban-crime standards it was a grisly attack: Up to 15 people chased a man, then kicked and beat him to death on the street. Before police arrived, one attacker urinated on the victim's head.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYndpW6cS3ZgCtGkwPyH26d_N3CAD90KDLK03

Even the little gangpunks in my old neighborHOOD traveled in groups of not less than five!!

 

[rgs1975]

Put a bullet in one head and the rest will likely scatter.


ps. You're right though, carry ammo.

 

[putteral]

I agree no less than 25, which is why I carry Hi-Capacitys P95(17rd mag) and 24/7 Pro 45(12rd mag). Always carry an extra mag.

 

[Trisha]

So, hypothetically speaking, let's say this nightmarish scenario occurs again, even within clear coverage of several security cameras. This time, the gang's targeted victim is of the crunchy variety, and even in a clear and unarguable case of being unable to escape and/or evade, deadly force is used to effect multiple fatalities before the gang disperses.

"Good job!" we'd probably say.

But I can't quite get my head around the second and third order consequences. Escalation. Retaliation. The media. The politicians. The courts. Spin.

If I had to guess, I'd say that against multiple assailants (+12 and up), the odds would be less than roulette - but it's better than being the ignored, disarmed screaming victim.

Your brain is your best weapon.

YMMV

 

[Illuminaughty]

I'm a big guy; towering at six foot six and weighing in at around 300 pounds. Every time someone has decided to screw with me to prove how big his cojones are, it's not been one or two or three people, it's been five or six. This is why I carry my carry gun, a Glock 30 in 45 acp with two full size magazines from my G-21 as reloads. That gives me 10+1 in the gun plus two 13 round reloads for a grand total of 37 rounds.

When I carried a Glock 26 in 9mm instead, I did the same, only it was 12+1 in the gun and two 19 round magazines (Glock 17 full size with +2 extensions on them) for a grand total of 51 rounds.

I keep 2-3 spare mags in my center console, and will not hesitate to grab them and stick them in a spare pocket if I absolutely have to get out where it looks trouble may be brewing.

I also push the law about concealed handguns to the limit, and keep a loaded AK pistol in the trunk. It's nice living in a state that doesn't put restrictions on the number or type of pistols you're legally allowed to carry loaded on your person/ in your car. I take advantage of that and replace my trunk rifle (used to be an sks) with an AK pistol. If you know how to brace yourself, it can shoot very straight and very fast.

 

[BlackJackal]

I believe the more ammo you carry the better, and a back up rifle shotgun in your trunk would be great too, you should always prepare for the worst, then when the worst happens you are prepared

 

[Albatross]

I don't live in a war zone and I have no intention of ever running towards gunfire.

7 rounds of .380 fills my needs.

I'd feel pretty damn good about a 5 shot revolver too.

/extra magazines are good for autos, but primarily for recovering from a failure to fire.

 

[Illuminaughty]

I don't live in a war zone and I have no intention of ever running towards gunfire.

7 rounds of .380 fills my needs.

I'd feel pretty damn good about a 5 shot revolver too.

/extra magazines are good for autos, but primarily for recovering from a failure to fire.

You'd be amazed how quickly your friendly downtown bank can turn into a warzone.

I know an older fellow that insists he'll never need anything more than a two shot derringer, because he never misses and that's enough to scare the bad guys away. He says he has yet to be underarmed, so he doesn't need anything more.

He's also never been in a firefight.

I just know I cannot imagine getting into a gunfight and being sorry for having too much ammunition.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I usually carry at least one spare magazine, if not two. How many rounds depends on the gun. The minimum is 14 and the maximum is 37.

 

[ashtxsniper]

I will not be under gunned. Maybe its my LEO training but I carry anywhere from 40 - 110 rds of ammo including what in my main carry piece and my bug. Today was 70 rds.

 

[jlpskydive]

I carry 10+1 .40 and another 12 in a spare. The spare is for escape and evasion. If I'm in any deeper than that I'm pretty sure that I shouldn't have been there or there is nothing I could have done to prepare any better.

 

[mljdeckard]

If you are taking on 15 people with a handgun, you are underarmed. If you are taking on 15 people with a rifle, you are underarmed. If you are facing 15 people with anything less than an infantry platoon, you are underarmed.

If you take on ONE aggressive attacker with a handgun, you are underarmed. (You should be fighting your way back to your rifle.)

There comes a point at which it doesn't matter how many rounds you are carrying. It only matters how many you can fire before before you are overwhelmed.

 

[wristtwister]

You can never have too much money or ammo...

If I've got my .40 with me, I've got 55 rounds... 4 spare clips +11 in the gun and one in the pipe. If it's my SR-9... I've got 69 rounds with me...3 17 round spares, plus 18 in the gun.

Then, there's my backup gun... sometimes 6 shots, sometimes 7 or 8... depending on what I've got with me.

I just bought a Beretta 92, and only have 2 clips for it... but that's 35 shots.

I'd rather be apologizing for having too much ammo than running short in the "more needed" mode.

I'm a firm believer that gunfights go to the person with the most ammo if he's a decent shot, and practices more than just standing and slow-firing at paper targets. Accuracy counts, but I'd settle for being a couple of inches off and putting 10 rounds in the guy, rather than being very accurate and wounding him in the shoulder. If I'm shooting at somebody, I'm not interested in his welfare. FWIW ...otherwise, we'd practice with "target holders"...

WT

 

[ants]

You should always carry whatever you want

I hope you always carry whatever you want. It's a very personal choice, and I know you make your decisions seriously.
No animosity intended, But an extremely interesting question is this:


How many times in the last 50 years has a citizen with a concealed weapon actually discharged more than 30 rounds in an act of self defense?



[I'm not talking about New York City cops, I'm talking about a regular average guy like you and me.]

 

[Siaharok]

How many times in the last 50 years has a citizen with a concealed weapon actually discharged more than 30 rounds in an act of self defense?

Harry Beckwith, whose shop is down the road from me, fired 105 rounds defending his gun shop. So we should all carry an AR-15, a semi-automatic shotgun, AND a submachine gun.

But seriously, I'd like to hear of any cases where a civilian fired more than 10 rounds in self defense. Or perhaps some cases where a civilian ran out of ammo and was killed as a result?

 

[PTK]

I carry 60 rounds, usually.

No real extra trouble (1 mag in the gun, two more mags offside) and it's sure comforting sometimes.

 

[Matt-J2]

If it's 15 people chasing me, I'd be comforted more by my running shoes than any amount of ammo.

 

[MetalMan52]

number

I would much rather have 'em and not need 'em than need 'em and not have 'em.
Just my opinion.
Pat

 

[PTK]

If it's 15 people chasing me, I'd be comforted more by my running shoes than any amount of ammo.

Not all of us have that option.

 

[Monkeybear]

Hey! Its that same five page thread in the General area all over again.

Carry what you want. People with 5 rounds are not naive and those with 20+ are not delusional. We all make a compromise when we carry. Punks travel in groups and you really shouldn't be out at 2:30 am. In the end I hope nothing bad happens to any of us and the reality is that the most aware and best trained of us will likely fair the best in an emergency situation regardless of how many bullets they have.

Personally all other things equal, I'd rather have 46 rounds of 9mm on me when I am out and about. When I am not going to be leaving my car, checking the mail or at home and within reach of a rifle a Sp101 will be just fine and much more comfortable.

 

[blkbrd666]

If you're being chased by a street gang of 10-15 people and you only brought 5 rounds of ammo, just call a "time-out"! Geez, it's not that difficult. Tell them to close their eyes and play Marco-Polo while you go get more ammo. Everyone seems to have grown up and forgotten the awesome power of a good "time-out".

 

[Dksimon]

I agree that you should carry what you are comfortable with.

If you think you need 4 extra mags then carry that many and if you think you need a 5 shot revolver with no reloads then that is what you should carry.

 

[R12GS]

I only carry one........one handgrenade when rolling through less than desirable parts of town.

 

[Matt-J2]

Not all of us have that option.

True, but we're talking our own preferences here, yes?
If you prefer/need to stand and fight, then prepare accordingly. Me, I'm running, most likely. Not that I carry anyway, of course.

 

[Levan9X19]

thats why i always stick to 9mm hi capacity handguns.

I shoot them quicker, more accurately and 15+1 rounds inside my handgun can be considered as enough.

double stack higher caliber handguns are too bulky for CC (imho)