Poll: How many rounds do you carry?

[USA1]

Again, being very new to CC...........can anyone please explain why you might have a need to carry (30+) so much ammunition? I feel like I might be missing something.

I think a lot of it has to do with just carrying a spare mag, two in some cases.
It has been said that most malfunctions are due to magazine failures so having a backup would be prudent.

[garcia946]

I usually have 12 on me and when Im in the truck I keep an extra magizine in reach with 11 in it if I ever need it ( which I hope I will never need )
Glock 27

[74novaman]

Again, being very new to CC...........can anyone please explain why you might have a need to carry (30+) so much ammunition? I feel like I might be missing something.

Are there any stats posted anywhere on the net that shows data detailing the number of shots fired by a civilian in a justified self defense shooting?

The old saying "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" applies here.

For MOST situations, whatever one magazine holds should probably be just fine.

However, if I'm confronted by a group of 4 thugs, that 5 shot J frame in my pocket isn't feeling as comforting anymore....

As well, with semi auto pistols, one of the biggest points of potential failure is the magazine. A magazine won't feed right? No problem, throw in another one.

Just my .02 on the subject.

[baldeagle]

Again, being very new to CC...........can anyone please explain why you might have a need to carry (30+) so much ammunition? I feel like I might be missing something.

Are there any stats posted anywhere on the net that shows data detailing the number of shots fired by a civilian in a justified self defense shooting?

From what I've read here, it's based on two things; tactical advantage and multiple assailants.

Say, for example, you go to the ATM, and you notice three guys in a car. Next thing you know one gets out and comes toward you. You, being alert, prepare to draw, if necessary. He keeps coming, so you draw and warn him, "Stop or I will shoot!". He draws his gun and you fire. Based on training, you shoot three times, to ensure you get good hits and stop his progress. HIs two buddies jump out of the car and come at you, guns blazing. You have assumed a crouch position, to make a smaller target. You fire three shots at each of them and stop them. You're in shock. You can't remember how many shots you've fired. What if there's a second vehicle? So you drop the magazine and insert the second one. Then you scan for additional threats.

The last thing you want to do is run out of ammunition before you've neutralized all the threats that face you.

What if there's four guys? Five? How many shots will you have fired? Now do you wish you had carried a second magazine?

You carry multiple magazines because you don't know what the future holds and because you won't remember how many rounds you've already fired if you ever get in a gun fight.

[The Annoyed Man]

Let's see...

There was no selection for 5-41.

I carry as little as 5 rounds (my .357 snubbie with no extra speedloaders) to as many as 41 (10=1 in my M&P 45 plus 3 extra 10 round mags).

But most of the time, 10-21 would cover it:

• 5 round snubbie + 1 5 round speedloader
• Kimber Ultra + 1 7 round magazine
• Springfield Loaded + 1 8 round magazine
• M&P 45 + 1 10 round magazine

[terryg]

Let's see...

There was no selection for 5-41.

I carry as little as 5 rounds (my .357 snubbie with no extra speedloaders) to as many as 41 (10=1 in my M&P 45 plus 3 extra 10 round mags).

But most of the time, 10-21 would cover it:

• 5 round snubbie + 1 5 round speedloader
• Kimber Ultra + 1 7 round magazine
• Springfield Loaded + 1 8 round magazine
• M&P 45 + 1 10 round magazine

So I guess you voted 21-25?

From your list it looks like you never carry more then 1 gun? A friend of mine says he perfers to carry a back up gun over a second mag. But usually he carries both.

[eddieconcarne]

I tend to carry a revolver and no back-up ammo. My thinking is along the lines of the old saying: "If you need more than six rounds, you don't need more ammo, you need a SWAT team."

Another good quote comes from the late Jeff Cooper: "What, pray, does one need all those rounds for? How many lethal antagonists do you think you are going to be able to handle? Once when Bruce Nelson was asked by a suspect if the thirteen-round magazine in the P35 was not a big advantage, Bruce's answer was, "Well, yes, if you plan to miss a lot." The highest score I know of at this time achieved by one man against a group of armed adversaries was recorded in (of all places) the Ivory Coast! There, some years ago, a graduate student of mine laid out five goblins, with four dead and one totaled for the hospital. Of course there is the episode of Alvin York and his eight, but there is some dispute about that tale. (If you read it over very carefully you will see what I mean.) Be that as it may, I see no real need for a double column magazine. It is all the rage, of course, and like dual air bags, it is a popular current sales gimmick.

[A-R]

I agree with the theory that it's the extra magazine(s) not necessarily the extra rounds that are necessary with a semi-auto. If you're carrying a gun that holds 10-15 rounds in a mag, then carrying two extra mags easily gets you into 30-50 round territory without a BUG. You don't necessarily need 50 rounds, but you need at least one and possibly two spare mags just in case - so might as well load em up.

In the past, I've occassionally carried what I've heard called "New York style" - which is two 5-shot snub-nose revolvers = 10 rounds + maybe a speed loader or speed strip or two.

Lots of ways to skin the cat. Just be sure you have a plan B and possibly even C, D, E etc.

[Excaliber]

I tend to carry a revolver and no back-up ammo. My thinking is along the lines of the old saying: "If you need more than six rounds, you don't need more ammo, you need a SWAT team."

Another good quote comes from the late Jeff Cooper: "What, pray, does one need all those rounds for? How many lethal antagonists do you think you are going to be able to handle? Once when Bruce Nelson was asked by a suspect if the thirteen-round magazine in the P35 was not a big advantage, Bruce's answer was, "Well, yes, if you plan to miss a lot." The highest score I know of at this time achieved by one man against a group of armed adversaries was recorded in (of all places) the Ivory Coast! There, some years ago, a graduate student of mine laid out five goblins, with four dead and one totaled for the hospital. Of course there is the episode of Alvin York and his eight, but there is some dispute about that tale. (If you read it over very carefully you will see what I mean.) Be that as it may, I see no real need for a double column magazine. It is all the rage, of course, and like dual air bags, it is a popular current sales gimmick.

When I was in law enforcement, it wasn't at all unusual for an officer to expend the entire load in his revolver on one determined individual, and the BG didn't always get the memo that he was really hurt or dead in time to do the officer any good.

Your statement has a lot of truth to it. However, if you don't routinely carry one of those SWAT teams with you and you do run out of ammo, what is your plan B?

[Excaliber]

Let's see...

There was no selection for 5-41.

I carry as little as 5 rounds (my .357 snubbie with no extra speedloaders) to as many as 41 (10=1 in my M&P 45 plus 3 extra 10 round mags).

But most of the time, 10-21 would cover it:

• 5 round snubbie + 1 5 round speedloader
• Kimber Ultra + 1 7 round magazine
• Springfield Loaded + 1 8 round magazine
• M&P 45 + 1 10 round magazine

So I guess you voted 21-25?

From your list it looks like you never carry more then 1 gun? A friend of mine says he perfers to carry a back up gun over a second mag. But usually he carries both.

Now there's a man who understands the need for plans A, B, C, D......

[Excaliber]

Again, being very new to CC...........can anyone please explain why you might have a need to carry (30+) so much ammunition? I feel like I might be missing something.

Are there any stats posted anywhere on the net that shows data detailing the number of shots fired by a civilian in a justified self defense shooting?

From what I've read here, it's based on two things; tactical advantage and multiple assailants.

Say, for example, you go to the ATM, and you notice three guys in a car. Next thing you know one gets out and comes toward you. You, being alert, prepare to draw, if necessary. He keeps coming, so you draw and warn him, "Stop or I will shoot!". He draws his gun and you fire. Based on training, you shoot three times, to ensure you get good hits and stop his progress. HIs two buddies jump out of the car and come at you, guns blazing. You have assumed a crouch position, to make a smaller target. You fire three shots at each of them and stop them. You're in shock. You can't remember how many shots you've fired. What if there's a second vehicle? So you drop the magazine and insert the second one. Then you scan for additional threats.

The last thing you want to do is run out of ammunition before you've neutralized all the threats that face you.

What if there's four guys? Five? How many shots will you have fired? Now do you wish you had carried a second magazine?

You carry multiple magazines because you don't know what the future holds and because you won't remember how many rounds you've already fired if you ever get in a gun fight.

[elwood blooz]

I carry two extra magazines which the weapon I'm carrying at that time.

1911- 24 rds

XD45- 40 rds

Since I'm currently carrying my 1911 I voted for that amount.

[cougartex]

14 rounds.

[maximus2161]

I have been carrying my Xdm 3.8. The mags hold 19. I have 2 spare mags and them one in the gun. So 3x19=1=58 Now sometimes I may just have one spare depending on the situation. Im just use to carrying a handgun and 2 mags on my belt.

If its my HK P30 its 46 rounds total.

[NTexas_V-Star]

I voted 21-25. As I sit, right now, with the 1911 on my hip, I have 22 rounds on me. One 7 round mag in the pistol with 1 in the pipe, and 2 seven round spare mags.

Sometimes, when going light, it'll just be the mag in the gun and the 1 in the pipe, 8 rounds.

But normally, 22 is my round count.