How many rounds minimum are borderline sufficient in your semi auto pistol?

[verb0s]

I'm comfortable with a revolver or a semiauto. my revolvers only hold 5 or 6 rounds, if that is enough capacity for me then a semiauto with 6+1 is fine.

Most situation only last a mag, only in movies would there be a gunfight that involves reloads and putting dozens of rounds at threat(s).

 

[fastbolt]

How many rounds minimum are borderline sufficient in your semi auto pistol?

I prefer not to go below 6 round magazine capacity for a pistol. (I didn't feel under-equipped when I carried a 6-shot service revolver, FWIW.)

That's a minimum, though. Several of my retirement CCW pistols (formally off-duty weapons) have 7-8 round mags, which I tend to prefer, all things considered. (I spent enough years carrying my 70's vintage Commander with 7-rd mags, after all.)

Then, there are my higher capacity pistols that have 9-10 round mags.

I even have a hi-cap pistol similar to an issued one I used to carry on-duty, which has a 12-rd mag.

All of that said, as a long time revolver owner & user (on & off-duty) I'm certainly comfortable carrying one or another of my 5-shot snubs.

I've carried a weapon with a badge & ID for over 30 years, and I spent a good portion of my career working in the capacity of a firearms instructor and armorer. I have a passing familiarity with firearms and the need to develop & maintain proficiency with them. I'm not unaware of the potential for unexpected dangerous circumstances to arise in the course of our otherwise normal lives.

I focus more on training, practice, awareness of the laws, experience, awareness and mindset than I do on how many rounds any particular handgun may carry before it has to be loaded again.

I once reflected on the fact that I began my LE career carrying a 6-shot revolver ... and then went through that whole hi-cap phase where we were carrying issued pistols with mag capacities 12, 14 & 15 rounds ... and I finished my career carrying an issued pistol with a 7-rd mag capacity. Full circle, so to speak.

 

[el Godfather]

For RICEBOY

It did happen so did 18 Cz Auto and many.

I dont usually show pics on someone insinuating that I am a liar. Isnt there a rule regarding that as well- may be.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I carry 1911s, P226, USP, 92fs, etc.
I usually carry a higher capacity pistol, but a 1911 with an extra mag works just fine.

 

[riceboy72]

Relax, Godfather. I am not calling you a liar whatsoever. It's a catch phrase and I'd assume you'd be familiar with the phrase considering how long you've been on this board.

I just wanted to see the big boy. Not too many of those floating around and I think it's cool you have one. Always wanted to shoot one, but never have.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Thanks, Godfather. Now you know the rules: Pic of your MK23 or it didn't happen!

Holy cow.... You got him to post a picture.

 

[NEAL39]

When on patrol, I carried a six round revolver and never felt I needed more. Of course, I had a very large partner with the same side arm, a 12 gauge shotgun, and his dog that helped ease my feeling of being under armed. Neal39

 

[lpsharp88]

I voted 10+1. My G26 Gen 4 with a spare mag is my EDC, and I'm very comfortable with that.
When in the woods, I prefer my M9 with a reload. I like the added weight and capacity that it offers.

 

[el Godfather]

Yea its a great shooter. My bad on misconstruing tour statement, but it sure sounded like that.

Its not that rare. Lots of boys here have it. Now g18 stichken and Cz Auto they are rare. Working desperately to get 93r. One is locally available in my part of the woods but demand is 22000$. My offer was 12000$. Lets see where is going to happen.

Back to the subject.
Carry on.

 

[el Godfather]

Holy cow.... You got him to post a picture.

Why do you sound so surprised?

 

[allaroundhunter]

Why do you sound so surprised?

Because of all the talk we get of your collection of this and that without ever a single picture to show off...

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I think he's referring to the cost of 9mm vs. .45, not capacity issues. Might be a state law limiting him to 10-round mags? (Doesn't New York limit mags to 10 rounds?)

Seven rounds, now.

 

[tomrkba]

You forgot 7+1, so I voted 8+1.

However, the real question is "What is the minimum semi-auto capacity for the purpose?" I'm willing to put up with 5+1 or 6+1 in a pocket pistol, but not in a semi-auto carried on the belt.

 

[JohnBiltz]

But I wanted to post if 7+1 is good enough for JMB, it's good enough for me.

You do realize he is also the guy who designed the BHP?

 

[OilyPablo]

You do realize he is also the guy who designed the BHP?

Of course I am.

I also wanted to post that I only need one round and I am a good shot.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

A lot of good points. "Risk assessment" is a dicey proposition; if we merely looked at the odds most of us wouldn't CCW at all. There are very few armed robberies or carjackings where I live, but as another pointed out a mall shooting is a true "Black Swan". The gun is a lot like the parachute- if you need one and don't have one you'll probably never need one again. I expect that the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting had never experienced a mass shooting in their area. Predicting the next is problematic at best.

Years ago when first started to CCW I would often have just my BHP and no spare mag. Mag carriers weren't as common as they are now and they cost money. Heck, I often carried in a $10 Uncle Mike's back then!

I tend to think that a spare mag might be more important than mag capacity. From what I've read people in gunfights tend to shoot the gun dry no matter how many rounds it holds. So 15 or 5 you better have a spare. What if you shoot it out with a BG in a stop-and-rob and he goes down only to have his accomplice walk in with a shotgun a few seconds after? You need a reload.

Many people have survived gunfights with just a J-frame, and of course we've all read about the gunfight where the cop nearly exhausted the 45-40 rounds of .45 ACP he had for his Glock. The point is you never know.

There's no magic formula to be sure. Simply having a loaded gun on your person puts you in 'rare air' and gives you an edge that most people don't have.

I will confess to a small amount of...trepidation is probably too strong a word...but maybe 'unease' when strapping on my Nano with just the 6 round mag carried +1. I shoot the gun well, even with the flush mag, but I'm acutely aware that seven rounds from a 3" auto is not a lot of firepower. In those circumstances I always have an 8 round mag as backup. With the 8 round mag in the gun (carried +1) I feel like I have a few more options.

But I won't lie- I feel better carrying the P30S with 16 rounds in the gun.

 

[Mikhail Weiss]

My criteria seem dictated by the role the firearm, first, and the number of rounds, second. That is, if the primary purpose is utmost concealability, then I'm fine with fewer rounds. If that is not the primary purpose, then a greater number of rounds proves more appealing.

In the first instance, utmost concealability, five rounds is the number sported by a number of popular pistols I'd carry. In the latter, as many as 19 rounds are carried by pistols I'd be happy to tote. Day-do-day, however, I carry a Glock 19, with 15+1 rounds.

 

[F-111 John]

I carry a Glock 26 with a Pearce +1 baseplate, that is actually +1 in .40, but +2 in 9mm. However, I also feel just fine carrying a 5 shot J-Frame, so I wouldn't feel any differently with a 6+1 semiauto.

 

[browningguy]

Some days I carry a 6+1 .32 ACP, some days a 19+1 9mm, just depends on where I'm going and what I'm wearing.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

So in NY, the previous magazines are collected and destroyed? What's the penalty for this law?

If you want a soda, then you have to turn in a magazine-coupon to get it. Otherwise, you don't get to have soda at all, regardless of whether or not it's over 16 ounces.

This way Bloomberg gets to kill two birds with one stone.

 

[NewGuy1911]

In the 9mm Compact, I would like 14 rds. Seen right and the pistol was designed around that.

In the 45 acp, now that a problem. 7 rds maybe more reliable, at least 8 rds, 10 rds may not function.

 

[Suburban Redneck]

rounds?

ok, so I started counting. 2 mags on me, one rd. in the pipe, and 30 rds in the mags. So that's 31. (P95) It takes me about 3 sec to swap mags.

 

[savanahsdad]

he asked for the minimum but starts the pole at 6+1 hummm ? I think a 2 shot O/U Derringer would be better than nothing , and there are a lot of pocket revolvers out there with 5 rounds

I voted 6+1 as most of us did but I carry a full size 1911 8+1 but when it is cold out and I can wear a heavy coat I carry a S&W K-frame 357
























=

 

[Old Guy]

When the Clinton ban first went in to force, I was at a match (USPSA) asked what would happen if you picked up an "ILLEGAL" magazine off the ground?

The Competitor (LEO) said he would hand it over to the guy who dropped it!

Looked at me like I had two heads! Him American, me visiting Canadian.

Fixed that, I am now an American Citizen, living in Florida, still carry Glock19. Plus a spare G17 magazine. Again why? Because I can.

 

[David E]

My logic may be flawed as I am no expert, but it works for me. However, I think your reasoning is also not quite spot on as well because I rather have second pistol ready to go than figuring out if malfunction is due to magazine and change it to clear it- no thank you Sir.

So your plan in case of a jam or running your gun dry is to run back to the car for Gun #2?

.