How Many Rounds for SELF DEFENSE?

[txinvestigator]

I carry a Kimber 1911 with a full 8 round mag and one in the pipe, with 2 extra mags. To back that up I carry a Beretta .380 with a 13 round mag, 1 in the pipe and an extra mag.

I also have a Kel-Tec .32 in a "wallet" holster as a last ditch firearm. I also carry two tactical folding knives, one in each front pocket. Add to that pepper spray and a kubaton.

All of that is to get to my trunk where I keep an AR 15 with a 30 round mag and a bandoleer with 5 additional 30 round mags, as well as a 18" shotgun with extended tube, 8 rounds of Federal Tactical 00 buck loaded and a side saddle with 6 slugs. And the Level III body armor with rifle plate installed is there too.

Of course I carry a surefire 200 Lumen flashlight, and a cell phone with 911 in speed dial position 1.





















NOT REALLY!

[mr surveyor]

funny

[Skiprr]

I knew txi was joking as soon as he said he carries two spare mags for his 1911. Snarf! He has 8+1 in condition one, and two of these as spare mags:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=564303

That's 89 rounds of +P .45 hollow points at the ready. Gets a little heavy, though. And I remember the time he had to do a tacticool shoulder roll right on top of those 40-round drums. Bruised ribs for a week...

[mr surveyor]

I'm wondering where the canteen and MRE's are carried

[Renegade]

Well, I am in the REAL minority. I guess I need to rethink my carry habits.

I carry in the front pocket a S&W 642 a total of 5 rounds. I have a speed strip with 5 more rounds, but have gotten sloppy and have not been putting it in my pocket. I do carry a pocket knife, but no flashlight or notebook or pen.

I'm dead meat.

JRG

Two of us. MP340 for me and good pair of running shoes for when I am out.

[pastor1]

I carry an XP 45 and two extra mags. That makes a total of 40 rounds. The mags in my left pocket seem to offset the weight of the weapon on my right hip.

[Isimanica]

Agree with you there. Actually any knife that you can get open with one hand will do nicely. Just like the guy on the Metro bus in Houston. He told the guy he was sorry he bumped him getting on. The guy started threatening him and moving towards him. He then pulled a knife out of his pocket and told him to back off. Guy kept coming and talking about beating him into a pile of pulp. So the guy used the needed force to stop the guys threat.

I my self would keep one spare just in case I would ever have to have it. God forbid I would have to use it but I would rather have the extras if I did need them.

[Operators Edge]

I don't carry for a gunfight...

I carry just enough to deal with a threat...

If you pull it and engage, it's a gunfight.

[oilman]

Depends on the situation.

For deep cover I carry my Pm9 with 1 or two spare magazines. (16-21 rounds)

For less deep cover I carry my XD 40 with 2 spare mags (30 rounds) and my PM9 as a backup.

[govnor]

Blades are contact weapons, guns are not. Blades, unless you are well trained, cause lots of bleeding but seldom incapcitate quickly.

From my minimal experience with this, this statement was true. A friend of mine was in a fight and I didn't know he got stabbed until it was over. He knew he got stabbed, but kept on fighting so it wouldn't happen again. I never even saw a blade and I was right there watching it. It did collapse his lung and he would have gone down pretty soon.

Judging from that experience, it takes more than a knife to get someone to stop. I'd say pepper spray would even be a better first line of defense. Luckily he lived after this experience. I don't think the guy that stabbed him did any jail time for it. We both knew the other guy too, that's why I would have never thought of him using a knife and that's why I didn't stop the fight to begin with.

[carlson1]

I was thinking of this post while out today. I had 19 rounds of .357 mag on me with two revolvers. It was a good health day so I changed out the .38 to the .357's. Some times depending on which revolver I have on me (Always have the 340PD) I will have either 19 rounds or 21. I guess in a serious situation 2 rounds would make a difference

[Xander]

... I'd say pepper spray would even be a better first line of defense. Luckily he lived after this experience. ...

Agreed. I would *much* rather pepper spray someone, then pull out a knife and have to go (essentially) hands-on. That doesn't sounds like a good time at all, IMO.

-Xander

[govnor]

... I'd say pepper spray would even be a better first line of defense. Luckily he lived after this experience. ...

Agreed. I would *much* rather pepper spray someone, then pull out a knife and have to go (essentially) hands-on. That doesn't sounds like a good time at all, IMO.

-Xander

Well, you can always follow my wife's motto: "Spray, stab, spray again!"

[Isimanica]

I figure if a knife ain't detering them any, then it is time to bring out the gun.

[stevie_d_64]

I don't carry for a gunfight...

I carry just enough to deal with a threat...

If you pull it and engage, it's a gunfight.

Only if the threat has a gun...

I can think of a lot of things that would be reasonable and justified to "pull it" and "engage" (as you state) that have nothing to do with a gun...