How much carry ammo is enough?

[ChadAmberg]

Reading through this post, and I can't say I agree at all, and looking to figure out what others think.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/02/ammo...-self-defense/

No survivor of a gunfight has ever said, “I wish I hadn’t carried those extra magazines.”
Should one really bother carrying spare ammunition? The simple – and only – answer is emphatically “Yes!” I have heard and read more people than I care to remember state that they only carry a small compact semi-auto or revolver, no spare ammunition, and laughingly say “if I can’t get it done in six rounds, something’s wrong” or “I deserve what I get” or something equally absurd.

They get into the one cop who now carries 145 rounds of ammo with him at all times. All because he shot a perp multiple times and he didn't die. Of course, I have a problem with that story for many reason. One: Concealed carry holders aren't cops. Two: The cop was complaining that the perp didn't die, so apparently he's an executioner, not a police officer. Maybe that's not what happened to the cop, but that is what I get from the story.

Another part of the story was where a woman shot her attacker 5 times before he stopped. Again, reading the story, she probably could have shot him 3 times and then asked if he would surrender, and she'd still have two more rounds. I understand that her adrenaline dump kept her pulling the trigger until empty. Again, the story basically said the guy didn't die, but that's irrelevant, you shoot to stop the threat.

Anyway, there's an unattributed "Gun magazines and police departments are full of tales where the bad guy was shot multiple times and was still able to seriously injure or kill the good guy."

I basically agree with one guys comment:
"I have never seen a actual instance where an armed citizen was unable to stop a threat due to running out of ammo. Police need more ammo because they go on offense against criminals, but armed citizens usually stop a threat just by being armed and do not get into sustained gunfights. Even in the Paul Slater Incident stated above the women stopped the threat. Even multiple attackers have shown in actual instances in the past that they all run in panic when one shot is fired towards them. So please, show actual instances where an armed citizen needed more than 5 shots to stop a threat. Police stories don’t count."

Most of the rest of the comments are more dick measuring than anything actually useful. Oooh I carry one more round than you do, I'm therefore more tacticool-mall-ninja than you.

There's reasonable and there's ridiculous. I'd say that carrying one extra mag is probably a good idea, although that's more for malfunctions than any chance of required reload. A single speedloader for a revolver makes sense, but I'd almost think that a NY reload would be better. This story reads like you're going up against mongol hordes of dedicated ninja warriors, not what actually has happened in real life.

So here's my question: Has anyone heard of a documented case where a reload was required in a non-police self defense incident? Am I off base?

[Rucker61]

I wouldn't feel comfortable without a small trailer load of ammo.

[Mick-Boy]

A little common sense, risk assessment, and honest introspection should be applied.

What's your background/experience? How well do you shoot? What kind of environment are you going to be in?

It could be pretty easy to "what if" yourself into ridiculous load outs. Why not carry your rifle and throw on some armor and a helmet? I mean, if there's trouble you want to be prepared right? If you're going out at night you should probably grab some NODs too right? It can get silly fast.

I usually carry a second magazine. I know several guys who don't.

Think it through and decide what you're willing to carry and what risk you're willing to accept. That balance is where you should be.

[TheBelly]

This may be a bit over-reaching the intent of this question, but here goes:

When time and occassion permits, I will reload.

The other part is that you never know if there will be a malfunction within the weapon system itself, which would then require using a different ammo source.

[SouthPaw]

I recently decided to add an extra mag to my EDC layout. It has a lot of pros and no cons.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Depends on the caliber. 9mm at least 200, 45 - 15, 10mm - 1.

Sorry I had to before someone else did.

[kawiracer14]

I don't carry any extra mags when I conceal carry.

[kidicarus13]

I wouldn't feel comfortable without a small trailer load of ammo.

Like an OD Green Supply trailer?

[Great-Kazoo]

Like an OD Green Supply trailer?

you haven't seen his CL ad, have you.




You going to the movies with your SO, friends, or driving through a known crime area ? The shit can drop at your church parking lot, or 15 items or less in safeway. What's your plan if it does, you in fight or flight? Do you have a choice ? Myself it depends on the area, occassion etc. It's usually a revolver, a 19 or 26. Then again almost everywhere i go, another person is CCW'ing too.

[rbeau30]

This may be a bit over-reaching the intent of this question, but here goes:

When time and occassion permits, I will reload.

The other part is that you never know if there will be a malfunction within the weapon system itself, which would then require using a different ammo source.

You never know when you have to go through S-P-O-R-T-S drill. Ohh wait that is when I carry the AR pistol.

You never know when you have a malfunction to the point where you have to: replace mag, charge, continue stopping threat. However at the point where I have to draw down is going to be the point at which I cannot flee or do anything other than stop the imminent threat. So possibly I may not have the ability to clear the malfunction.

Or carry a revolver, pull trigger/go bang.