TTU Bass Angler wrote:Hey guys I'm new to carrying so maybe it might sound dumb but...
Is it a bad idea to have regular rounds for the first two bullets in the magazine and then after that loaded with hollow points? I was just thinking that if two regular bullets hit their mark and the guy still won't stop then there's a need for hollow points. Do I really need a full magazine with hollow points?
It's not a dumb question at all, and one that many folks have.
This is the "let's just try to hurt him a little bit first" line of thinking. I understand that it comes from a good person's commendable reluctance to hurt anyone. It's usually heard from very well intentioned and gentle folks who have come to realize that they are responsible for their own and their family's protection, but have been fortunate enough never to have dealt with asocial violence up close and personal enough to know just how vicious and unforgiving it is. This is not a criticism of any kind. Without the emotional reference point of seeing violence and its results closely enough to hear, see, and smell its effects, it's very difficult to understand how blindingly quick, brutal and unforgiving it truly is. The "don't hurt him too much at first" concept is usually a transitional thought position between "I'd never hurt anyone" and "I'll do what I know I need to to protect myself and my family."
Staying alive by using deadly force during a life threatening attack very often requires hurting someone to the point where he doesn't have a choice about stopping from hurting you. It's ugly, violent, and often over in a couple of seconds. Anyone who plans to carry a lethal weapon for defense should come to grips with those realities before taking on the responsibility of carrying it in public.
With that being said, here's a bit of perspective on handgun ammunition:
If you don't absolutely need to stop an attacker from doing what he's trying to do right now, you have no business shooting him at all.
If you do absolutely need to stop him right now, you've got a serious problem because, despite the fictitious effects seen in the movies, handguns are far from reliable in that department. It often takes multiple well placed rounds to stop a serious threat. Using bullets that create the widest wound channel possible and deliver all of their energy into the target body gives you the best chance of success in an uncertain business. Hollowpoints are the best generally available ammunition type for this purpose at this moment in time, but if you have to use them, understand that you should be prepared to continue firing continuously until the threat is ended. This may take a full magazine or more.
With that as background, there is no logical reason I can think of to sharply diminish the chances that your first couple of shots will result in disabling injury to your adversary. That first or second shot may very well be all you get.