How many rounds do you carry for self-defense purposes? I was thinking about this, and how I seem to carry different amounts with different guns, but how it sort of comes out the same.
With my revolvers, I generally carry one speedloader of premium JHPs, which gives me either 10 rds (J frame) or 12 rounds. I carry the extra rounds with a revolver because I recognize a possibility that, under stress, I may not shoot quite as accurately as on the range, and confronted with 3-4 assailants, would need more than 5 or 6 shots.
With my autos, I carry an extra mag. In this case, it is not so much for the extra rounds (I already have 15 with the HP, 13 with the Beretta 96, and 9 with the 1911), but because the most likely failure will be with the magazine itself.
But like I said, it sorta comes out to the same thing, as I have 9 rounds with the 1911 and 10 with the J-frame, 12 with the six-shooters and 13 with the Beretta. And that fits my original thought, that I might need a few more shots if the first ones don't get the desired affect.
If I need more than 10 with a revolver, I also have another speedloader with non-premium, non-JHP, target rounds -- such as 158 gr. round nose over 3.0 gr. Bullseye, for the J-frame -- which I really carry in case a chance to do some plinking just pops up. Same sort of thing with the .357 and the .44 spl. I don't expect to need more than the original load-out with the autos, but if I do, there is that other magazine.
I am just thinking out loud here. I wonder how you folks think about the same issue.
With my revolvers, I generally carry one speedloader of premium JHPs, which gives me either 10 rds (J frame) or 12 rounds. I carry the extra rounds with a revolver because I recognize a possibility that, under stress, I may not shoot quite as accurately as on the range, and confronted with 3-4 assailants, would need more than 5 or 6 shots.
With my autos, I carry an extra mag. In this case, it is not so much for the extra rounds (I already have 15 with the HP, 13 with the Beretta 96, and 9 with the 1911), but because the most likely failure will be with the magazine itself.
But like I said, it sorta comes out to the same thing, as I have 9 rounds with the 1911 and 10 with the J-frame, 12 with the six-shooters and 13 with the Beretta. And that fits my original thought, that I might need a few more shots if the first ones don't get the desired affect.
If I need more than 10 with a revolver, I also have another speedloader with non-premium, non-JHP, target rounds -- such as 158 gr. round nose over 3.0 gr. Bullseye, for the J-frame -- which I really carry in case a chance to do some plinking just pops up. Same sort of thing with the .357 and the .44 spl. I don't expect to need more than the original load-out with the autos, but if I do, there is that other magazine.
I am just thinking out loud here. I wonder how you folks think about the same issue.