How many rounds are adequate capacity for DEFENSE?

[TheActor]

As many as you can carry comfortably.

 

[makdaddy03]

10+ prefer 15 or 20rds.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

5

 

[Brian Williams]

5 JHP gold dots 124's with 3 more 5 rnd moonclips in my pocket 10 124's JHP' and 5 FMJ.

probably to many but not enough.

 

[russlate]

I'd WANT 5 rounds in my J frame 38 ( plus a reload in case I dont make it to my hi-cap auto in the truck ).

On the other hand, I woudn't feel I had to roll over and die if I were armed with a Berreta 950 25 with 4" barrel, and 3 8- round magazines.

That's the nice thing about having 38spl/380's as your carry guns. You tend to stop and ask yourself "If this isn't enough gun, why not wait and go later instead. "

If on the other hand you really do have to make the trip, then take an ak and a shotgun with you. Or an uzi.

 

[Frohickey]

17 rounds.

One for me, and each of my 16 other friends.

But since I can't fit 17 people into my SUV, I would have to settle for a pistol with one in the pipe, and a full magazine, and a spare.

 

[Admiral Thrawn]

A Glock 17 with a spare mag is 34 rounds.

A 1911-A1 with a spare mag is 14 rounds, 21 if I can manage to carry 2 spare mags.

A Glock 21 with a spare mag is 24 rounds.

A SIG-Sauer P228 with a spare mag is also 24 rounds.

So my point is that I find any of the above combinations reasonably comfortable, and the ammo quantity sufficient; I try to aim for a minimum of 20 rounds total.

 

[JPM70535]

I agree that in a perfect world we would all carry Hi Cap pistols plus 3 or 4 spares. however, it really is not practical to walk around in Florida in July, wearing shorts and T-Shirts, and packing all that armament, ( Lets not forget the Tactical knife, and OC spray, and possibly a collapsable baton.)

If that is what gives you a sense of security, good for you. As for me, I feel adequately armed carrying my 8 shot 45, or my 5 shot 357 snub with maybe a spare mag or strip loader. If the problem is too big to be handled with that, then color me gone as in haul ***


GOD MADE MAN, SAM COLT MADE THEM ALL EQUAL!!!!

 

[Admiral Thrawn]

Well I don't have to worry about the OC spray or the baton (they're illegal here... )

 

[gtd]

I'm not a cop or a soldier, so the number of rounds to carry is not my first priority. However, most of you will be free of concerns of terrorism years before I am (I just won't believe it until it's proven to my satisfaction -- witness Saudi Arabia today), so . . .

When reasonably possible, one CCW pistol with 7 rounds. Nearby, two spare mags plus a box of ammo , total about 70 rounds. Also a couple of useful tools. Pocket knife, flashlight, etc. Enough to bug out to a nearby safe harbour.

By the same token, it's not an obsession. If I have to go somewhere, and I do not have, or must not have, a weapon, so be it. The unwritten part of the Boy Scout motto is, "make do". Just try to have enough basic skills to improvise when you have to.

Having said that, if it's convenient I might have 2 spare mags in my pocket.

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

I lean towards more is better.

I found a horizontal pouch for single stack magazines and it allows me to carry 4 1911 mags (8 round) and isn't a whole lot bigger than most knife pouches and even when it is occasionally seen, that is what it is mistaken for.

Will I need 41 rounds of 45 acp to resolve a dispute? I hope not, but if I by chance do need it, I have it.

Along with a flashlight, knife and keys occasional pepper spray, I am prepared for most social occasion's and those that are less than social.

It boils down to your comfort level and situation.

 

[Tamara]

Well, let's see...

My belt gun carries 8, my pocket gun carries 7, and my purse gun carries 5. Is that considered "high capacity"?

 

[BerettaNut92]

I like two magazines to balance out my heavy guns--P7M8 and Beretta 92....

The more the merrier, if I'm going to carry that much gun like a 92G, having 10-round mags is like driving a Ford F350 with 1/3 of the bed blocked off.

 

[WonderNine]

Well......I can get by with one spare Mec-Gar mag for the Hi-Power on a horizontal belt pouch. That's 15+1 and 15 extra.

31 rounds is about where my comfort level is. If you need more than that, then you're probably fighting terrorists with Ak's and you can pull a weapon off of one of the dead ones if need be

 

[Nightcrawler]

Recently, though, I attended the same school and the thought has changed, to my surprise. With domestic terror attacks and active shooters galore, the recommendation is to carry as many spare magazines as you can. Number is largely unspecified but three or four extras is a number that was thrown around a lot.

Unless I'm mistaken, each and every domestic terrorism incident in the United States in the last decade has involved placing of bombs (or something similar).

We haven't yet had a situation like they do in Israel, with heavily armed suicide squads going on rampages through crowded areas. It might happen, but thankfully it hasn't yet.

Ergo, using terrorism as a reason to carry four extra magazines is flawed logic.

I'm wondering how you folks manage to conceal a full sized 1911 and two, three, four extra magazines. You have your pants, your belt, and your shirt. Do you wear a vest or a jacket all the time the cover these items up? Doesn't that get hot in the summer? Come summertime, I'm usually in a T-shirt and pants, or shorts. Anything bigger than a small automatic or revolver in the pocket and I'm going to have trouble hiding it.

See, that's the tradeoff. The more stuff you carry the harder it is to conceal. If concealment isn't an issue, heck, I got you all beat. I have an LBE harness with mag pouches for four FAL mags (80 rounds .308), three pistol mags (30 rounds .45ACP), and a large combat knife. One 20-rd mag in the FAL and a 10-rd mag in the CZ-97 gives me 100 .308 rounds and 40 .45ACP rounds. I can stuff MREs in the buttpack and fill the canteen with water and I'll be set for all sorts of contingencies.

But then, I'll get some odd looks walking into Perkins, Wal-Mart, or the Gas Station like that, won't I? Not to mention the SWAT team that'll be waiting for me when I get come out...LOL

I really gotta wonder about you guys that carry the batons and OC spray as well. How do your pants stay up with all of that stuff?

 

[WonderNine]

I really gotta wonder about you guys that carry the batons and OC spray as well.

I don't understand why anyone carries that crap who isn't a LEO.....

If there's a certain self defense situation in which you think pulling a gun or a knife is an overreaction....use your kung-fu skills....

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I don't understand why anyone carries that crap who isn't a LEO.....

Well, I am of the opinion that there is never option one or option two. Nothing in life is ever black or white. There are always several options. The more options, the better.

I would hate to be in a situation that OC or a baton would handle, and only have a gun.

I was eating dinner with some friends one night, and as we left the restaurant, a man soaking wet wearing nothing but boxers came up to us. The temperature was 40*F and he was begging for money for Jesus. He was obviously unarmed, but we had no idea what he was going to do. He was high on *something* and some OC may or may not have been helpful had he tried something. We were certainly not going to shoot him, but a little spice would have been acceptable.

I just think the more options you have available, the better. Another non-obvious option is a good flashlight like a SureFire. the P60 lamp assembly WILL temporarily blind you.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[Nightcrawler]

So, let's see here. If you'll all allow me to stereotype the typical uber-tactical gun owner (let us laugh at ourselves for a minute, and no this is not directed at Skunkabilly). He has on his belt:

1-each either full sized Glock or 1911.

1-each triple magazine pouch for said sidearm.

1-each Kel-Tec P11, Subcompact Glock, or other pocket rocket for backup.

1-each $200 super-tactical folding pocket knife.

1-each big-brand-name collapsing baton.

1-each cansiter of OC spray (choose your size).

1-each $90 SureFire-brand flashlight.

1-each $100 Gerber or Leatherman brand multitool.

1-each GOOD pair of Cordura(R) suspenders to hold your pants up.

And let's not forget the usual things the modern person likes to lug around these days; cell phone, pager, PDA, and a huge water bottle.

Even without the backup gun, that's a lot to carry around.

 

[Feanaro]

However many you are comfortable with. I personally think 10 rounds of .40 SW is adequate. Seven+one rounds of .45 is also adequate. Below that and I think you are gambling.

 

[WonderNine]

Nightcrawler, you forgot the wallet, checkbook & pen, coinbag and keys

I usually only carry that stuff along with a pocket gun & reloads in an Uncle Mike's #4 pocket holster (Usually a .357 with four extra cartridges in an uber-tactical Eddie Bauer belt pouch made for a mini-leatherman *my pocket rocket only holds four rounds anyways*) and a cell phone. I have a mini-maglite on my keychain....

Forget the tactical folder....

IMO, if you need a knife, you need it NOW, not in as much time as it takes to pull it out of your pocket and unfold it. That's why if I'm going to carry a real fighting knife it must be a "tactical dagger". I'll still carry my swiss army though because it's so useful.

In *full carry mode* I nix the .357 for a 9mm derringer in pocket holster and a Browning Hi-Power IWB or OWB (depending on dress and expected social situations) with spare 15 round mag in a horizontal belt pouch loaded with yet another uber-tactical choice=NATO 9mm FMJ.

 

[WonderNine]

Well, I am of the opinion that there is never option one or option two. Nothing in life is ever black or white. There are always several options. The more options, the better.

I'm of the opinion that sometimes simple is better. And hesitation is deadly.

I would hate to be in a situation that OC or a baton would handle, and only have a gun.

A knuckle sandwich will handle those situations just as well

 

[Aikibiker]

For a normal street confrontation I think the ammo in the gun should be sufficient. However I would feel a lot more comfortable waiting for the cops (in the dangerous area I am obviously in if I had to shoot someone) to show up if I had a fully reloaded handgun with me. Personal preference, YMMV.

If a riot is your concern then yes a shotgun/rifle is your best bet. If there is a riot in Daytona and I am at home at the time it occurs I want to have long gun at my side as I watch the city burn on TV.

If the mythical riot occurs while I am out and about on my motorcycle I am not likely to have a long gun with me and I will have to rely on what I am carrying to fight my way home. (Or to the nearest gunstore for more ammo/heavier weapons.)

As for what can be concealed during normal day to day life, check out what this narcotics officer totes with him to go to the store.
http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?t=152&sid=4399b103aee27dc1689f68b851bce5ef

 

[gunsmith]

3 15 round clips!

I am from NY City and have seen,on more then one occasin
gangs of 30 or more attacking 1 person,if all you have is 6
you are up a creek if attacked by 30.

 

[WonderNine]

I see this narcotics officer has decided to ignore the first rule of carry.

#1: Never have a loaded gun pointing at the family jewels.

With all that crap on his belt it's a wonder he could draw his gun in time if he really needed it

 

[gunsmith]

also oc spray and baton

is much better then a knucle sandwich in these days
of hepatitus,aids,sars,tb,scabies and everything else
the homeless creeps here in SF CA have.
you DO NOT want to touch these guys with your bare hands!
and if you shoot them,it's alot of "splaining"
to people on the jury who will wonder why you do not
love mike moore as much as they do.
hose them with oc spray and wash your hands later...problem
solved