My wife bought a S&W M&P9 today and it has 2 X 17 round magazines. I have a S&W 642 with 5 shots. After spending many months with my 642 and thinking about various situations, I have trouble envisioning needing another 12 rounds. Do any of you fine folks know of or have heard tell of a civilian needing 17 shots? Geez that seems like a lot. I know some knock the J frames with scenarios about 6 attackers, but 18?
too much magazine capacity?
- Thread starter Harvster
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Some folks feel the only time you can have too much ammo is if
you are On Fire, or Drowning.
Myself, I feel very adequately armed with a 5-shot S&W .38 Spl., or a 7-shot 1911, or 8-shot S&W or SIG 9mm.
However, my lifestyle makes it very unlikely I will run into Atilla the Hun & his hordes.
I do always carry an extra mag though.
I would much rather have 14 or 16 rounds in two mags, then 17 rounds in one mag.
Because a mag failure, or lost / dropped mag is far more likely then running out of ammo.
My personal feeling is that far too many folks rely on lots of ammo to somehow make up for bad shooting.
And it won't!
rcmodel
you are On Fire, or Drowning.
Myself, I feel very adequately armed with a 5-shot S&W .38 Spl., or a 7-shot 1911, or 8-shot S&W or SIG 9mm.
However, my lifestyle makes it very unlikely I will run into Atilla the Hun & his hordes.
I do always carry an extra mag though.
I would much rather have 14 or 16 rounds in two mags, then 17 rounds in one mag.
Because a mag failure, or lost / dropped mag is far more likely then running out of ammo.
My personal feeling is that far too many folks rely on lots of ammo to somehow make up for bad shooting.
And it won't!
rcmodel
blackcash88
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Well, it's like carrying a gun in the first place. Better to have and not need than the other way around.
Think of the extra ammo like a parachute. If you really need one or the other and don't have it? You're never going to need it again.
Think of the extra ammo like a parachute. If you really need one or the other and don't have it? You're never going to need it again.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have.
I know movies are BS but there is one scene that always makes me put a gun with a hi-cap mag on the night stand. In the film "A Man Apart" with Vin Diesel ( I know, I know, just stay with me) two guys break into his house and he grabs his Glock and is shooting it out with them. He burns through a bunch of rounds but doesn't run dry (it's realistic, like a G17 or something). Every time I see that scene I think "what if?" and my M9 ends up next to the bed instead of one of my revolvers.
Anyway, if you figure you can get by, I suppose you could always just load 4 or 5 rounds in your mags but that seems kind of silly, doesn't it?
I know movies are BS but there is one scene that always makes me put a gun with a hi-cap mag on the night stand. In the film "A Man Apart" with Vin Diesel ( I know, I know, just stay with me) two guys break into his house and he grabs his Glock and is shooting it out with them. He burns through a bunch of rounds but doesn't run dry (it's realistic, like a G17 or something). Every time I see that scene I think "what if?" and my M9 ends up next to the bed instead of one of my revolvers.
Anyway, if you figure you can get by, I suppose you could always just load 4 or 5 rounds in your mags but that seems kind of silly, doesn't it?
Vern Humphrey
Member
As the late Colonel Cooper said, "There is such a thing as enough ammunition. And there is such a thing as not enough ammunition. There is no such thing as too much ammunition."
I do know (that is, I have read first hand accounts) of people having to reload 5- and 6-shot revolvers under fire, so I'm sure such situations occur.
I do know (that is, I have read first hand accounts) of people having to reload 5- and 6-shot revolvers under fire, so I'm sure such situations occur.
MEH
Member
Need??? This is America I don't need a reason to carry 19 rounds in my gun if I choose...
But to answer your question, suppose you miss or the guy is wearing body armor or he is high on drugs and the first round doesn't stop him?
brighamr
Member
"a civilian needing 17 shots" as opposed to a LEO needing 17 shots?
My XD has 16 round mags. I carry them fullup. Why? In the event that I'm attacked by several people at once, or that the BG on PCP doesn't stop advancing, or in the event I'm attacked by a pack of wolves
I can think of more scenarios but you get my point. Will the mere "civilian" or "commoner" or "serf" ever need 17 shots? Maybe, maybe not.
then again, that question could be asked about guns in general...
My XD has 16 round mags. I carry them fullup. Why? In the event that I'm attacked by several people at once, or that the BG on PCP doesn't stop advancing, or in the event I'm attacked by a pack of wolves
I can think of more scenarios but you get my point. Will the mere "civilian" or "commoner" or "serf" ever need 17 shots? Maybe, maybe not.
then again, that question could be asked about guns in general...
I could go out and buy 10 round magazines for my Beretta 92 really cheap, but I would never do it...I would always buy the 15 or 17. If I'm actually slow firing at a target, I will often take a break after a few shots and refill my mag before it's even half empty...the weight in a full mag just balances most autos better and makes for better accuracy.
A suggestion though, you could just load 5 or 6 rounds in the mag if you thought 17 was too many. That would actually give an attacker somewhat of a sporting chance, and it would be easier on your thumbs.
A suggestion though, you could just load 5 or 6 rounds in the mag if you thought 17 was too many. That would actually give an attacker somewhat of a sporting chance, and it would be easier on your thumbs.
MTMilitiaman
Member
Nobody ever lost a gunfight because they had a few more rounds in the magazine.
I am not one who thinks magazine capacity is the most vital concern in a defensive handgun. I'd rather have shootability and a decent amount of power. Eight or nine rounds of .45 ACP in a 1911 works because I feel I can hit better with it than most higher capacity handguns. But if there was a handgun that could combine the balance, pointing, ergonomics, control placement, sights, and trigger of the 1911 with more capacity, while not giving up those fat 230 gr JHPs, I probably wouldn't say "no."
So I am with those who say there is no such thing as too much ammunition or too high a capacity, but don't think it is a substitute for other more important factors, like skill and "shootability." Make any sense?
If you are confident in your ability to place rounds under pressure with your six-shooter, then by all means, stick with it. But don't confuse yourself into thinking 17 rounds in a magazine is a bad thing, as long as she can do the same with hers...
I am not one who thinks magazine capacity is the most vital concern in a defensive handgun. I'd rather have shootability and a decent amount of power. Eight or nine rounds of .45 ACP in a 1911 works because I feel I can hit better with it than most higher capacity handguns. But if there was a handgun that could combine the balance, pointing, ergonomics, control placement, sights, and trigger of the 1911 with more capacity, while not giving up those fat 230 gr JHPs, I probably wouldn't say "no."
So I am with those who say there is no such thing as too much ammunition or too high a capacity, but don't think it is a substitute for other more important factors, like skill and "shootability." Make any sense?
If you are confident in your ability to place rounds under pressure with your six-shooter, then by all means, stick with it. But don't confuse yourself into thinking 17 rounds in a magazine is a bad thing, as long as she can do the same with hers...
MrAnteater
Member
If given the choice between too much and too little I'm going to error on the side of too much.
Not to mention I would much rather live in a country that allows magazines of any capacity and not just limit them to the Clinton 10 rounders. Or worse yet no handguns whatsoever.
Not to mention I would much rather live in a country that allows magazines of any capacity and not just limit them to the Clinton 10 rounders. Or worse yet no handguns whatsoever.
Well, I've seen several cases in which an LEO needed every shot and them some (N. Hollywood for example), just haven't seen cases with a CCW needing such amounts. And for some of the other responses, don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with anyone carrying 20 rounds in their gun and 6 spare mags, hey free country, and I think we all carry what we think we need. When the last of those six guys picks up my empty five shot revolver and walks away with it I guess I'll know I was wrong.
BackCountry
Member
I feel 5 rounds should be plenty in most situations. I used to carry a J-frame revolver all the time. Now I carry a Glock 20 (10 mm) with 16 rounds full time. I hope I never have to use either. If I ever did, I know I would rather have ammo left over after the incident than run out...
blackcash88
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MTMilitiaman said:
There is such a gun. Look at the Kimber BP Pro Ten II. 13+1 of .45 ACP goodness. I've had one for years and it's been reliable and very accurate. I shoot it as well as any other of my single stack 1911s. In fact, due to the polymer grip, it is no heavier fully loaded than an all steel single stack due to the offset in weight. The grip is no wider than a single stack grip at the widest point with standard wood grips, either. Great pistol!
This is the exact one I have, but there are other models.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/ten/probpten.php
VARifleman
Member
I carry 19+1 in my 34, with 2 23 round mags for reloads.
orionengnr
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Just wait till November...or January.
Barack will take care of all of those nasty 17-round mags.
If he gets his way he'll take care of all those nasty semi-autos, too.
And those pesky CHL permits...
Barack will take care of all of those nasty 17-round mags.
If he gets his way he'll take care of all those nasty semi-autos, too.
And those pesky CHL permits...
The Lone Haranguer
Member
While you do hit a point of diminishing returns eventually, within reason there is no such thing as too much ammunition. Every time I wonder if a single five-shot revolver is "enough," I think of Lance Thomas.
RNB65
Member
No such critter.
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siglite
Member
It's possible to have too much ammo. Sorta. For a while. Or so the a-gunner on the pig said. While he was humping it. But I noted his complaints about too much ammo kind of evaporated the farther north (and closer to the need to use it) we got.
wally
Member
There are 12 plates in our rack, if I'm having a really bad day 17 rounds ain't enough but when I'm going good twelve is just right.
So vote me as no such critter too!
--wally.
but when I'm going good twelve is just right.So vote me as no such critter too!
--wally.
MEH
Member
I think I can already feel a tingling sensation of... hope... and change... and :banghead:
goalie
Member
Nobody has ever been in the middle of a gunfight and wished that they had LESS ammo.
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