Thoughts on capacity

[WWalker]

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[WWalker]

When I'm out and abound it's my CZ P01 with a spare mag, if I'm knocking around the house or out in the yard it's usually my LCR in 22 mag. maybe because I know I have other options close at hand

 

[Tactically Fat]

Spring issue: OLDER springs, constructed with poorer steel, certainly can "take a set" and then not be as springy.

Even modern spring steels can take a set if they're overcompressed. But a fully loaded magazine isn't going to overcompress a spring in a modern magazine.

Only loading 3-4 rounds in an 8 round magazine is, frankly, goofy. I'd hate for someone I dearly love to be harmed due to it.

But, hey, your life. You do you.

 

[rhino]

I would not depend life on your theory.
Compress anything for an extended amount of time and it will lose it strength.
The more you compress it the faster it will weaken.
YES even 2/3 mag capacity.

I might retract my statement.
I was not with the understanding the question was about going to war.
I thought it was about personal protection carry.

Why?

 

[jagee]

Why?

...

Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk

 

[nakinate]

With a degree in Mechanical engineering. It is FACT that dynamic loading fatigues springs NOT static loading.

IF you really want the long version proof, I can but I feel I’d need to be paid for the amount of time, research, math, physics, and work I would have to do to fully prove a law of physics and metallurgy. LAW not THEORY.

But I FEEL differently. Your supposed facts are irrelevant.

 

[chezuki]

But I FEEL differently. Your supposed facts are irrelevant.

You have to consider the source... he historically believes nonsense simply because he wants to.

 

[Latewatch]

My usual EDC is a Glock 19 but sometimes I will carry other pistols. Regardless of what I'm carrying, I always carry a reload or two. A wise man once told me that "the only time you can have too much ammo is when you're swimming". Having been in the ocean with a large quantity of ammo, I can attest to the validity of that statement.

 

[KJW]

"The most important decisions in life are often a matter of probability." Pierre-Simon Laplace (mathematician).

Individuals differ in terms of what level of uncertainty they are comfortable living with. As others have said, the fact is that you are very, very unlikely to ever have to shoot your gun in self defense. And among that tiny fraction of people who do have to shoot their gun in self defense a tiny fraction will need more than a few rounds. The probability that YOU will have to BOTH shoot your gun in self defense AND need more than a few rounds is the product of the individual probabilities. Just picking random probabilities to illustrate this point, let's say there's a 1 in 10,000 chance that you will have to shoot your gun in self defense and that among those who have to shoot their gun in self defense 3% need more than a few rounds. That means there's a 0.000003 percent chance that you'll need to shoot your gun in a defensive shooting and need more than a few rounds. (0.0001 x 0.03= 0.000003). A similar probability could be calculated for the likelihood of a magazine induced malfunction occurring. Again, I just made up those probabilities, but the point would still remain even if you made the probabilities much higher, the product is a FREAKING SMALL number.

Those of you who espouse high capacity and multiple magazines are seriously risk averse, which is fine, but I just hope you all have life insurance, because that probability is 100%.

 

[bwframe]

I have never, pushing 60 years, used my fire extinguishers, yet I have them in numbers higher than recommended...

I have never needed my seatbelt, yet...

I spend a lot of silly foolish money on insurance for my property, vehicles, etc. Never made a claim...

 

[bwframe]

My usual EDC is a Glock 19 but sometimes I will carry other pistols. Regardless of what I'm carrying, I always carry a reload or two. A wise man once told me that "the only time you can have too much ammo is when you're swimming". Having been in the ocean with a large quantity of ammo, I can attest to the validity of that statement.

I back off to only one extra mag for the G19, while I'm paddling the kayak or canoe.

 

[rhino]

"The most important decisions in life are often a matter of probability." Pierre-Simon Laplace (mathematician).

Individuals differ in terms of what level of uncertainty they are comfortable living with. As others have said, the fact is that you are very, very unlikely to ever have to shoot your gun in self defense. And among that tiny fraction of people who do have to shoot their gun in self defense a tiny fraction will need more than a few rounds. The probability that YOU will have to BOTH shoot your gun in self defense AND need more than a few rounds is the product of the individual probabilities. Just picking random probabilities to illustrate this point, let's say there's a 1 in 10,000 chance that you will have to shoot your gun in self defense and that among those who have to shoot their gun in self defense 3% need more than a few rounds. That means there's a 0.000003 percent chance that you'll need to shoot your gun in a defensive shooting and need more than a few rounds. (0.0001 x 0.03= 0.000003). A similar probability could be calculated for the likelihood of a magazine induced malfunction occurring. Again, I just made up those probabilities, but the point would still remain even if you made the probabilities much higher, the product is a FREAKING SMALL number.

Those of you who espouse high capacity and multiple magazines are seriously risk averse, which is fine, but I just hope you all have life insurance, because that probability is 100%.

Probabilities are only one aspect of risk analysis. You have to also include the cost/penalty of each possible outcome. When the cost for an unlikely outcome is high, the overall value of the risk can be high.

 

[Ndavid45]

11+1 in my beretta 96 and a spare mag if I'm doing the "lazy conceal" or 8+1 of 9x18 in my makarov without a spare mag if I'm actually carrying concealed.

 

[Amishman44]

Over the last couple of years, I’ve found that my desire to carry higher capacity guns has diminished a lot. I used to sometimes carry a compact 15+1 gun and a pair of spare mags when out and about. Lately, I’ll most likely be found with much less. I’m not trying to convince anyone to carry less ammo, but am more interested in what this body of shooters thinks and what they see as their own minimum.
My thinking lately is that a Glock 30 with 10+1 rounds of .45 should get me out of anything I’m likely to step in. I will admit though, when heading into the city, there is still a spare mag on my hip.
What drives your choice in carry capacity and spares?

I used to be that way...originally I was a 5-shot revolver guy, CC'ing an SP101 in .357 for over 10 years...and picked up my first semi-auto, a Glock 23, on 9/11/01 (it arrived the day before, the timing was just ironic.) For the next 12+ years, I wanted something that had at least 10-15 rounds in it at all times. In 2013, I picked-up a Glock 36 in .45 acp, shot it a few times, and it quickly became my EDC...mainly because of how well it shoots for me. Now, I CC it with 2 spare magazines, giving me 18+1 rounds of .45 acp, of which Remington's 185 grain JHP Golden Saber's are my preferred choice.

While working in an office environment, l carried a S&W J-frame 5 shot revolver in strong hand front pocket with a speed strip in opposite pocket. I would have preferred more rounds in the pistol. Something is better than nothing. Now that I am retired, I carry a semi-automatic IWB with minimum 10 rounds and a spare magazine on my hip. Untucked polo shirts work well for me.

I'm with ya, as a former teacher, I could not carry while on the job, but would have been comfortable with a 5-shot revolver all day long, along with a speed-loader or 2 as back-up.

 

[gregkl]

I have never, pushing 60 years, used my fire extinguishers, yet I have them in numbers higher than recommended...

I have never needed my seatbelt, yet...

I spend a lot of silly foolish money on insurance for my property, vehicles, etc. Never made a claim...

That's pretty good bw.

I have needed my seatbelt many times in my life. Three times rear ended and when I owned my CJ it held me tight so I didn't fall out the side during my crazy 3 wheel maneuvers, lol. Times racing both off road and on road, my seatbelt aided in maintaining control.

Using insurance? Yup, I've used it to. Kitchen flood and a motorcycle wreck.

Even broke a helmet in a bicycle wreck.

Geez, now that I think about it, I should have been more careful.

 

[88E30M50]

Probability is an interesting area of study. On one hand, you can mitigate a lot of risk buy just carrying a gun but there will still be risk remaining if you don’t also practice, train, maintain and carry spares and backups. You’ll never eliminate all risk, even if you wear body armor and drive around in a Bradley.

It’s all in your comfort level in what amount of risk you are willing to allow. Among the most dangerous places in America are the roads that most of use drive every day. To help mitigate that risk, I try to do most of my driving in a car with modern safety equipment, use a seat belt, carry a cell phone and car insurance. That gets me to the point where I’m comfortable with the residual risk remaining. I could wear a racing helmet, fire suit and have a roll cage installed but at that point, the cost becomes greater than I’m willing to bear when heading out to the grocery store.

Carry is no different. We all carry what makes us comfortable and it’s been interesting in hearing the different perspectives offered in this. I appreciate the civility in this thread in that nobody has called anyone else an idiot for their beliefs and habits. There’s been some discourse on some points but good info has been passed along.

 

[tcause17]

It's always great to have more. But if you get into a situation where you need more than 5-8 rounds you're already pretty screwed and much more ammo probably won't make a difference.

 

[Hohn]

I have had to remind myself from time to time that if I find myself in a shooting situation, then I am already on the outside of the ‘what to expect’ odds for that day. If I’m already that far out of the norm, who’s to say that it won’t go even more sideways at the situation progresses.

Yes, but not as far as you think. Think of conditional odds. Yes, the odds of having to draw are slim. But GIVEN that you've drawn, NOW what are the odds of needing to fire? Give you've fired, what are the odds you need to fire again? Odds of missing? Etc etc etc etc.

I've not carried in a long while and I'm regretting that decision to get lazy. A situation arose at a restaurant this last week involving some loud meth head wannabe tough punk loudly and profanely yelling at his baby momma. It looked like it was going to get violent at any moment.

Now, I've had situations like that occur before I even owned a firearm. And I never felt as vulnerable then as I did this time. Why?

Because once you experience the peace and assurance of having your sidearm ready, potentially needing it and being without is far more nerve racking than before when you were ignorant of that reassurance.


I'm holster shopping again so I can get back to carrying.


JH

 

[Hohn]

With a degree in Mechanical engineering. It is FACT that dynamic loading fatigues springs NOT static loading.

IF you really want the long version proof, I can but I feel I’d need to be paid for the amount of time, research, math, physics, and work I would have to do to fully prove a law of physics and metallurgy. LAW not THEORY.

Truth^^. I'll assume you don't want my CV, but it happens to be a fact. Fatigue is always and everywhere a dynamic phenomenon.

 

[bwframe]

It's always great to have more. But if you get into a situation where you need more than 5-8 rounds you're already pretty screwed and much more ammo probably won't make a difference.

Why would you assume this?

All it would take is to be corned in a convenient or drug store with a couple nothing to lose thug robbers carrying normal capacity modern polymer guns.