Are Semi-Automatics Reliable Enough to Carry?

[Commander Crusty]

Only you can answer the reliability question using your semi-auto and your chosen ammunition.

If you and the gun can't shoot at LEAST 200-300 rounds of your self defense ammo without a hiccup, then it is NOT reliable and can't be trusted. My choice is to start with a .45 using ball because it's easy to get 300 rounds of ball to work in most any quality .45. THEN, I start working in the hollow points one box at a time till I get to at least 200 rounds. That should give me 500 trouble free rounds (300 ball, 200+ hollow points). If the pistol will do that, I feel pretty safe carrying it.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with a good revolver, BUT you should also run 200-300 rounds of your favorite carry load through your carry revolver. What? It hurts your hand to shoot +P hollow points in a 12 oz. J-frame. Hmm. Maybe that means you shouldn't carry a 12 oz. J-frame with +p ammo. If the goal is to hit your target, then maybe you need a little more gun or a little less bang. Maybe your "trusty" revolver will break a firing pin or fall out of time in 200-300 rounds. It's happened before.

So, my advice is to test it yourself and see.

 

[JShirley]

If you honestly believe that a 15 round magazine has advantages over a 6 shot revolver, then you definitely aren't reliable enough.

Which is why our military and police carry the 6 shot revolver, because large magazines have no advantages.

Wait, no they don't.

Of course more readily available ammunition is an advantage. I would say knowing that is a result of training, but honestly, it's just common sense.

J

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you honestly believe that a 15 round magazine has advantages over a 6 shot revolver, then you definitely aren't reliable enough.

I assume you carry a flintlock?