Perspectives On Capacity

[TFOGGER]

My edc is 15+1. Maybe 3 rounds per threat, but threats often come in groups of 3 or 4. I would rather finish the fight with more rounds in the magazine than find myself with more threats than ammo to deal with them...

[Ronin13]

At one time the Sheriff and I were discussing what duty handguns we should authorize for
carry. He asked me "when was the last time you ran out of ammo?" I replied that I wasn't worried about the last time, I'm worried about the next time.

THIS!

The FBI says that the average self-defense shooting is 2 rounds, if I recall correctly. That being said, I always have at LEAST 22 rounds of .45 on me. It would really suck to be in a situation where you need ammo and don't have enough. I know through my training scenarios in the military that my reaction to a close range threat popping up is an automatic 3 rounds in the chest. Given what I know about how I react under stress, I am already above that "average" after putting down the first dude. Hope that there aren't more and I decided to carry the "average" of 2 rounds...

My pistol training in the military taught me, and this drill is still hammered in every time I go to the range, 2 to the chest, one to the head, eliminates the threat 85% of the time without need for any more rounds fired at a single threat. Granted, that 85% factors in ammo choice, penetration, body armor, and if the target is on drugs or not (sometimes a person can survive a headshot and still be combat effective). Carry what you're comfortable with and assume it's never enough.

[josh7328]

THIS!


My pistol training in the military taught me, and this drill is still hammered in every time I go to the range, 2 to the chest, one to the head, eliminates the threat 85% of the time without need for any more rounds fired at a single threat. Granted, that 85% factors in ammo choice, penetration, body armor, and if the target is on drugs or not (sometimes a person can survive a headshot and still be combat effective). Carry what you're comfortable with and assume it's never enough.

I need to train to get that failure drill to become my automatic reaction. During force on force stuff though, it seemed that my automatic reaction was three to the chest.

[Ronin13]

I need to train to get that failure drill to become my automatic reaction. During force on force stuff though, it seemed that my automatic reaction was three to the chest.

Believe me, it took about 20 straight misses to get it so that the transition for chest to head was smooth... Not to mention that little factor known as "Paper doesn't move, but people do."
Muscle memory is a very cool thing! I've trained in transitions from primary to secondary, speed reloads (both with rifle and pistol), and the like and I'm still no where close to where I want to be... what's that recurring theme we tend to have on here? Train, train, train!

[Chad4000]

I need to train to get that failure drill to become my automatic reaction. During force on force stuff though, it seemed that my automatic reaction was three to the chest.

ive wondered about that myself.. everyone says 2 to the chest, 1 to the computer is the way to go.

I have kind of thought that it might actually be hard to get a head shot in the rush of action. I mean hard as compared to putting another one center mass.

[JoeT]

But the fact is you need extra rounds and mags to deal with malfunctions more then actually having to deploy them. One mag with six rounds could easily turn into a gun that doesn't work and no way to fix it.

I use to just carry with 7 rounds (full mag and 1 in the pipe), an acquaintance of mine (a friend of a friend) was found stabbed to death. In his hand was his pistol with the mag floor plate missing and ammo and spring on the floor.

would a second mag have saved his life? I don't know...but it might have

I now carry an extra mag, and in my car are 2 more (extended) mags

[Ronin13]

ive wondered about that myself.. everyone says 2 to the chest, 1 to the computer is the way to go.

I have kind of thought that it might actually be hard to get a head shot in the rush of action. I mean hard as compared to putting another one center mass.

You are right, under pressure and speed take a lot of practice, but also remember in trained hands and at the average distance you would engage a hostile a headshot is not as hard as one would think (video games are to blame as they give extra points for the oh-so-difficult headshot). Within a few hours we had young privates who barely made a 27/40 on their M4 marksmanship putting holes in the paper heads with an M9 Beretta at 5-10M.

[Chad4000]

You are right, under pressure and speed take a lot of practice, but also remember in trained hands and at the average distance you would engage a hostile a headshot is not as hard as one would think (video games are to blame as they give extra points for the oh-so-difficult headshot). Within a few hours we had young privates who barely made a 27/40 on their M4 marksmanship putting holes in the paper heads with an M9 Beretta at 5-10M.

I suppose thats true.. how should the normal everyday person think about it do you think? Im not military myself, but have shot for a very long time. I could get up to speed on triple taps or 2+1 really quick..

like in a home defense situation, should I be looking to the 2+1 idea? or just put as many in the bad guy that I can? I know that these are all extremely hard judgement calls.

[SouthPaw]

Better to have it and not need it; than not have it and need it.

[josh7328]

I recently bought some body armor on amazon. A couple clicks, and bam, you have armor at your door. I really should start practicing the failure drill. Body armor isn't just for the cops anymore.