Something to consider when selecting personal protection firearms..

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“Bullet Deficit Disorder”
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I reckon that's an argument, along with the "what if the primary dies", for carryng a back up. I do agree that "stopping power" is limited in any reasonable CCW and I believe in shot placement and I most surely agree that if you go spraying lead around the parking lot, you are endangering the public. I don't want to get “Bullet Deficit Disorder,” though. I carry reloads and I also carry back up. I'll be diving for cover first and foremost and I can top up from a Bianchi speed strip for my revolvers if and when I need it or do a tac reload if I'm auto armed. I won't shoot unless I absolutely have to and then I'm going to be very worried about the target's background. Maybe that's the hunter in me, don't know.

I have 9mms, a .45ACP, .357 magnums, .38 revolvers all that I can carry. Nine days out of ten I'll have an 11 shot 9mm in my pocket. Perhaps I'll have a .357 revolver or an 8 shot .45 on my hip, too. And, there's always the little hide out NAA if needed. I think I can figure out something if so armed. My primary concern is that I can hit what I'm shootin' at and that the gun is 100% functional. If I run low on ammo, I'll either go for a reload or grap a backup. If carrying a 50 round Tec 9 makes you warm and fuzzy, go for it. I hope I ain't coming out the store front when you get in a gunfight, though.:what:

Now, if I was in law enforcement, I think I might want max rounds, but we're talking armed civilian here. I simply cannot figure how a guy that's intent on robbing me is going to stick around when he catches a .357 magnum center mass. If he has any sense at all, he'll run when he sees the gun. I know how fast deer have died from a hit from one of my .357s. I reckon it's what I've tested and have confidence in. It might not be instant death, but the idea is to stop the fight. If the BG limps off to die in an ally, I won.

It is the once in a million gang bangers get it in for you scenario that makes my BUG/s feel comforting. When I go to the big city, I usually have two major caliber guns on me and one of 'em is an 11 shot 9mm in a pocket.
 
I once had the opportunity to talk to two men who had both killed multiple people with pistols in multiple gunfights. One was a police officer and the other was a military/security guy. Both had great respect for each other.

The military guy was a big fan of high-capacity and felt that 9mm was more than sufficient. He carried a 9mm 1911 with 22rd IPSC mags in it.

The police officer carried a .45 1911 with 7rd mags and favored the bigger round over more bullets.

Both of them had read all the wound ballistics studies and assorted debate and both of them are active firearms instructors teaching self-defense (at the same facility even). Despite that, they had reached different conclusions on this subject. What I took from that is that the difference must not be that obvious and that the type of environment you are using the weapon in probably plays a big role in what you prefer.
 
Interesting thread and debate.

Since my Department only allows us to qualify with 2 handguns and a shotgun I tend to go with a full size duty weapon for on duty carry and a similar mid sized for off duty (same manual of arms), can also be carried as a duty weapon if needed.

In my case it's a Glock 22 and Steyr M40A1. The Glock has about as much capacity as possible in a 40 caliber, and the Steyr holds 12 + 1.

On duty I carry 2 reloads and off duty I carry one.

I've had quite a few hours of firearms training over the years and have always been taught to shoot until the threat stops. To me this means if the perp is still vertical I'm pulling the trigger. If the slide locks back I'm dropping the magazine and reloading.

In the past I carried a Colt 1911 on duty with a quad magazine pouch.

Regardless of caliber chosen, it's better to have ammunition and not need it. Than to need it and not have it.
 
The November edition of "Concealed Carry" that i received yesterday, sez in a couple of places thet bigger is better. Go figure. By the way, I consider "Concealed Carry" to be the best gun magazine available today.
 
Given the choice between 7 (or 8, 1911) .45's or 17 (or 18, my Storm) 9x19's, I'll take more bullets over bigger ones any day even without a bunch of hot air from some magazine.

I realise that it is more 'balanced thinking' and 'politically correct' or some claptrap to point out that most self-defense scenarios are a matter of two or three rounds. Because as we all know, us gun owners have to preserve our rosy image above all else, including our own survival.

:rolleyes:

Personally, I don't care. Why don't you just pack a 1911 with two in the mag and one in the chamber? You can certainly think that you'll "only need" 2 or 3 rounds, but when you run up against a situation where you need more the criminal/foreign military/charging elk/JBT/whoever isn't going to think it "unfair" that you only brought or "needed" 3 rounds and change tactics accordingly. You dead, thanks for playing.

I'll play differently, thanks.
 
I agree with XavierBreath

XavierBreath wrote “There is one topic that all this debate ignores, however.........Some guns are inherently easier for some people to carry than others. If a person decides not to carry his gun because it is to heavy, or to uncomfortable, the capacity and caliber left behind means nothing. Thus, the first criteria for a carry gun is to get a gun you will carry. Caliber and capacity comes second to that.”

I agree….I have many CCW buddies whom disagreed with my carry choice (9mm) but over the last year when we got together I asked them if they were carrying (all of them subscribe to BIG Cal .45) it never fails most were not carrying that particular day…. I on the other hand; my 9mm was attached to my hip :neener:
 
A silly argument, in that it ignores the increase in overall area (which is what's relevant). A 45ACP has almost double the frontal area of 9mm. <sigh> Rocket scientists, these guys ain't.
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Thats quite a stretch. 9mm has a frontal area of .10 square inches and .45 has a frontal area of .16 square inches. Hardly "double". Even the mighty .50 cal doesn't quite have double the frontal area of 9mm.
 
At the most, I have 20 rounds on me when I travel. If I can't take the BG down with at least 3, then maybe a bat will do a better job.;)
 
If an intruder enters my house in the dead of the night, and the red lazer dot on his chest doesnt stop him and make him flee ,the 19 9mm rounds in my SPO1 will stop him GUARRANTEED! Quantity over caliber is better in my opinion.
 
good point

I've thought about that too- just have a bug possilby INSTEAD of a b/u mag. EIther pull object out and reload, or pull object out and shoot.
 
Geez, I sorta feel left out here talking about alot of 9mm's and not alot of .45ACP...

I suppose my daily carry weapon, a Para P16/40 (converted to 10mm) and holds 16+1, isn't good enough for either catagories...

Good Luck, Gentlemen -- let the words roll on:banghead:


Dead
 
Does anyone carry a back up? If you carry one of each you have it covered.
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I do but only when travelling through areas of high crime probability. My backup gun is more powerful though, not less. I figure if that 45 isnt enough to get the job done I need more gun, not less. Not quite what you had in mind? :D
 
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