Internet Calibre Posts

[regal]

Internet Caliber Posts

Caliber wars have gotten so crazy that people forget that these factors are just a little more important than a few thousands of an inch:

1. Placement
2. Capacity
3. Accessibility
4. Reliability

I can't think of a better concealed carry gun than a G26 IWB with a G17+2 mag in the back pocket. Thats 29 rounds of fire power with good access and reliability. How could anything compete in CCW?

What am I missing ?

And don't tell me you don't need 29 rounds. Times are going to get bad real fast. Gangs are going to literally be taking over cities as the economy keeps falling.

I am trying to justify buying a G26.

 

[Shadan7]

What's to justify?

You want a G26, go buy one. I don't see the problem.

7

 

[regal]

Can't wait till Pay-day!

Does a G26 conceal well enough IWB on a thinner person ?

 

[Floppy_D]

Does a G26 conceal well enough IWB on a thinner person ?

If it doesn't, eat more.

 

[Marcus L.]

1. Placement
2. Capacity
3. Accessibility
4. Reliability

1. Yes, this is top priority. A 2mm bullet that hits something important is better than a 20mm bullet that doesn't. However, in the heat of a conflict shot placement is a difficult thing to achieve and a larger diameter bullet requires less precision than a smaller one to hit something vital. A torso shot with a smaller caliber might be just shy of hitting the aorta, while a larger diameter bullet with the exact same placement will give you a wider wounding area and hit the aorta. Larger calibers have a greater possibility of hitting important structures.

2. Somewhat. Provided that you think tactically, fire accurately, and fire intelligently capacity isn't that important. Seek cover and be smart when you expose for purposeful shots. Spraying the general area of where the bad guy is doesn't really work and you blow through your ammo.

3. Yes, a .22lr in your pocket is better than an AR-15 in your gun safe 10 miles away.

4. Yes, it must operate with a reasonable level of performance expectations.


Lastly, yes, the G26 9mm is a good pistol and should work well for you. I carry a Sig P239 9mm(8+1 rounds) off duty with one additional 8rd magazine and am perfectly content in my carry situation.

 

[Mad Magyar]

And don't tell me you don't need 29 rounds. Times are going to get bad real fast. Gangs are going to literally be taking over cities as the economy keeps falling.

I am trying to justify buying a G26.

How you going to keep your pants-up! Seriously, how much does it weigh fully-loaded? If you are involved in a shoot-out that requires more than a few rds, you probably won't make it....You know, "cover--Calvary coming, etc."!

 

[regal]

Its mainly that with the G26 you can fairly easily have 29 rounds at your disposal.

Who knows what a trip to the grocery will be like in 5 years. In the Detroit slums of the early 90's I can tell you that you did need a lot of capacity. This could happen anywhere in the next few years.

 

[FoMoGo]

I have 6 shot .44 that I carry daily with 2 speedloaders.
I dont feel undergunned with it.
I dont feel undergunned with a 1911 and 2 spare 8 round mags.
I will be getting a high capacity 1911 and carrying it with 2 mags.
In general, if you are in a situation where you need to reload... there is a damn good chance you are leaving that situation feet first anyways.
I honestly feel that carrying a huge supply of ammo, I always carry 2 reloads... with the revolver because it only holds 6... with an auto its as much in case of magazine malfunction as it is for the firepower, it promotes less careful shot selection.
Peace thru superior rounds put out.
Choose each shot and more than likely you will never empty the first magazine.
If you live in an area that is that bad... the solution is simple... move.
If it gets as bad as you are promoting, then a 12" 12 gauge is a viable carry option.
That being said... I still carry 2 reloads.


Jim

 

[Marcus L.]

If you need that level of firepower, you would be better off changing zip codes. A handgun is a tool, and it's most intended purpose is for situations where you do not expect armed trouble. A shotgun or rifle gives you a considerable combat advantage over any handgun you can own and that is what you should be grabbing if you expect trouble.

In a gun fight, increasing ammunition capacity in a pistol isn't very much of an advantage. Colonel Jeff Cooper commented in one of his books that the biggest one sided event that he knew of was someone on the Ivory Coast who was jumped by 4 bandits and he took them all down with his 1911 .45acp with a total of 3 7rd magazines. He didn't spray and pray, he used cover and concealment effectively, kept moving from position to position, and took aimed and purposeful shots. It's rarely about who has the most powerful gun with the most ammo, it's the guy who knows how to fight well that wins whether it be hand to hand, with blades, or with firearms.

 

[conw]

Well said Marcus.

 

[mavracer]

What am I missing ?

If you think hardware is the answer then you need to upgrade your software.

 

[regal]

As far as moving, the hand writing is on the wall. Safe surburbia will become gang infested war zones in a few years as the economy falls. I moved out of Detroit into rural PA years ago. But what I saw was how bad things can get.

As far as capacity, I just can't understand the argument gainst it. Maybe not today, but in 5, 10 years we all may wish we had bought a hi capcity pistol.

 

[jbauch357]

Get the G26, you're going to love it. It takes a while to break in and smooth the internals to give it a buttery smooth trigger feel, but it's an excuse to practice.

When I carry (of course, a G26) I don't have a spare mag, just the 10+1 - but I do have a spare 17rd mag and box of 50 in my bug-out bag for if things get real rough for some reason.

 

[Marcus L.]

As far as capacity, I just can't understand the argument gainst it. Maybe not today, but in 5, 10 years we all may wish we had bought a hi capcity pistol.

Having a lot of ammo to work with is a good thing, don't get me wrong. However depending on it for your game plan is a bad thing. For a concealed weapon, high capacity makes your pistol more bulky(less concealable), increases carry weight, and can effect shooting ergonomics. All characteristics that can discourage you from carrying it at all times....cold, hot, rain, snow...etc. The same applies to military rifles. Carrying 2 100rd drum magazines on your M4 instead of carrying 6 30rd magazines means that if one of those drums malfunctions, half your ammunition is useless unless you clear the drum problem. Then of course your M4 will weigh about double what it should and the balance will be way off. Even though higher capacity magazines exist for the M4 and H&K MP-5, the military doesn't like to use them for those reasons among others. High capacity is not always a good thing......it depends on what tool is best needed. If you are "needing" to throw that much lead, then you have probably received that much lead in return are are likely already dead. When you have effectively taken good cover and concealment you really don't need to throw out a lot of lead.

If you are talking about some sort of civil crisis, a handgun is a pretty weak tool for such a thing. Pistols are virtually never used on the modern battlefield as they are a very unstable shooting platform and have limited effective range. Save an AK-47, AR-15, or some other battle-type rifle for such an event. At ranges up to 15yrds however, a shotgun is king of the battlefield.

 

[mgregg85]

Opinions vary, I can't think of a better carry gun than an XD45 compact(11 rounds in the gun) and a 13 round mag in my back pocket. Sure I've got 5 less rounds than your glock rig, but I prefer a wider, heavier bullet for self defense.

 

[jfh]

There's nothing wrong with your argument, regal--but I don't think it covers all the bases.

For example, an older, retired, somewhat-reclusive male (that's me) doesn't really have the lifestyle that might create the need to weather a real firefight. OTOH, I want to be prepared.

Fifteen years ago, early on in my carry days, I typically carried a Glock 19, and a backup mag--with a laser. At that time I was a family man, and we were exposed much more to possible threats--so, to me, that made sense.

Today, I now carry a S&W j-frame and a speedstrip--and I sometimes even pare that back to a P3AT with a spare mag.

Both of these are true pocket guns--and not lumpy, so to speak. I think they will do the job--and they are light enough that there is never a question about carrying them--they are never "inconvenient."

Then, if I am out-and-about a lot--I also have the SHTF package in the trunk: That's a Keltec SU-16C with spare magazines--and, IMO, matches up with the carry gun(s) pretty well if a confrontation is possibly extended.

Jim H.

 

[conw]

regal, here is an interesting article (you may have read it) that in some ways confirms your predictions/suspicions.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/subprime

The subprime crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. Fundamental changes in American life may turn today’s McMansions into tomorrow’s tenements.

 

[tipoc]

Seems like two questions here. One should a fella buy a G26? Sure if you want one. They are good guns and nothing wrong with them if they suit you.

Two; will that gun protect you during the crisis? Nope it won't. When you are laid off work it won't stop that. When the day to day motions of capitalism make your new subdivision into a ghost town (as has been happening over the last couple of years and will accelerate) will that gun help? Not much. When your health care costs go up and your hours of work are cut, will it help? Nope. The incoming administration is considering stationing 20,000 U.S. troops on U.S. soil to be used inside the borders in case of civil unrest, etc. If they come to collect your guns will that G26 help? No not really.

Political action can help you and others on all that.

For personal defense a G26 is as good as many other tools.

Keep stuff in perspective. If you live in a ghost town move out already and into a decent working class neighborhood. My neighbors have always watched my back as I do theirs. I know no threats from them or their kids. Only from my employer, the likelihood of gangs of do-gooders of one stripe or another and the government do I see a threat coming.

tipoc

 

[RyanM]

Uh... are there any countries in which the spelling is "calibre," which allow concealed carry?

Oh, wait, I read through the thread more. He's a fellow Pennsylvanian, currently.

British or Canadian expat?

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with 9mm at all. Personally, I carry a .40, but 9mm is a very close second in my book. They're close enough that I occasionally wish I had a 9mm instead, when pricing ammo and reloading components.