Capacity. How much does it matter to you?

[Trey Veston]

We all know the various studies that tell us that "most" defensive situations involve around 2-3 shots fired to neutralize the threat. Also, "most" situations involving self-defense involve 1-2 aggressors at distances of 3-5 yards or less.

Hence the popular belief that a small pistol with a capacity of six rounds and minute of bad guy was adequate for self defense.

Numerous 9mm pistols have been popular the past couple of decades with a capacity of seven rounds or so for CCW.

Then Sig came out with the P365 which offered 10 rounds in the same size or less than similar pistols with 7 rounds of capacity. It sold like hot cakes. Then Springfield Armory came along with the Hellcat with 11 rounds. It is now in great demand.

But, I still see people saying that six, or seven, or eight rounds is plenty for self defense. The Shield, Glock 43, Walther PPS, etc. still sell well.

Heck, lots of folks still carry 5-shot J-frames and feel completely confident.

I have always liked to be prepared for the "what if" scenarios and was uncomfortable with less than 10 rounds of ammo capacity. Hence, I now carry a P365 with a 12-round magazine in the same space formerly occupied by a 6-shot XDS 40.

So, capacity matters to me. I am confident in the weapon platform and the comfort it offers.

Since there is much clamor for Glock, S&W, and Ruger to come out with pistols similar to the P365 and Hellcat in terms of size and capacity, it seems that there is a substantial demand for increased capacity.

My question is, how much does capacity figure into your decision for a carry weapon?

 

[kidneyboy]

Being capable and accurate with your ccw trumps capacity, IMO.

 

[wagonburner]

I prefer caliber over capacity.

 

[Navy87Guy]

For me, capacity is one of several factors:
- Capacity
- Concealability
- Accuracy
- Stopping power

The first and last are kind of fixed based in the gun. The middle two are very personal and vary based on body type, carry environment, hand size, and personal preference.

When it comes to capacity specifically, there are two considerations: inherent capacity and reloads. To some extent, the impact of reloads can be minimized through training. I've seen Jerry Miculek reload a revolver and fire 12 rounds faster than I could unload a 12 round magazine! I consider my own ability to reload and the ability to carry a more ammo (spare magazine, speed loader, speed strips) as another factor.

Personally, I don't want to be a statistic: that one encounter that took 15 rounds to end, instead of 2 or 3. I'm comfortable with 12 in my gun (my M&P 9C) or 5 plus a reload (Charter Arms Undercover and a spare speed loader). When I carry each one depends on the circumstances - summer/winter, permissive/restricted carry environment, low/high threat area.

Regardless of capacity and caliber, the ability to hit your target still takes priority!!

 

[Daveboone]

As previously mentioned, being capable and competent with your CCW is more important than capacity...and in my opinion, being wise enough to not put yourself in the compromising position (not going where you shouldn't be) goes a long way. Caliber and mag. size means nothing if you cant hit with it,

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Bottom line, my direct personal experience is that tweakers hunt in packs.

I don't care if it prints or not I'm not walking out my door with less than 10 rounds on board.

ETA: Most frequently it's a Glock 26 with a factory 12 round magazine and a G19 magazine as a reload.

 

[Fiv3r]

I'm a realist about my wuss-ness. I won't carry a heavy and bulky gun. My work dictates a discrete carry piece that can be moved to and from a pocket as I go in and out of homes or something that is so flat and concealable that it is invisible under an untucked but fitted work polo made out of that clingy Under Armor type spandex material.

Today I am wearing a flannel, unbuttoned over a tee shirt. Partly because my sense if style did not progress past the 1990s. Partly because I dont have a heavy work load today and can go in to the office comfy. I'm going to pack what I pack every day. A Shield .45 with 7 rounds in it.

I don't carry an extra magazine and opt to have a NAA Black Widow in my front opposite pocket. It's less of a reload and more of a back up gun if I can't reach the Shield. If it weren't so easy to just keep on my person, I could live without it and you could easily put me in the 7 round camp.

However, to much internet lament and gnashing of teeth, I am more likely to leave the Shield at home and roll out to my room with nothing more than 5 shots of single action rim fire on my person than the other way around. There are many days that even a Shiled is too much to dress around due to a lot of bbn physical activity at work. The NAA is completely invisible but still there if in need it.

 

[huntsman]

My minimum is 7 rounds plus that better, over 13 and I stop counting.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

being wise enough to not put yourself in the compromising position (not going where you shouldn't be) goes a long way.

I'm a firm believer in obeying the rule of stupids but I also know that lightning strikes everywhere.

Staying away from stupid places is great I do it as much as I possibly can I still walked out my front door and right into an attempted robbery one night. Didn't even make it to my car. Lightning strikes everywhere

 

[LNK]

3 shots is probably all anybody would need. Are you willing to trust your life to that theory? Most will never need any. Most will never file a homeowners insurance claim. Carry what you are comfortable carrying.

We all know the various studies that tell us that "most" defensive situations involve around 2-3 shots fired to neutralize the threat. Also, "most" situations involving self-defense involve 1-2 aggressors at distances of 3-5 yards or less.

Hence the popular belief that a small pistol with a capacity of six rounds and minute of bad guy was adequate for self defense.

Numerous 9mm pistols have been popular the past couple of decades with a capacity of seven rounds or so for CCW.

Then Sig came out with the P365 which offered 10 rounds in the same size or less than similar pistols with 7 rounds of capacity. It sold like hot cakes. Then Springfield Armory came along with the Hellcat with 11 rounds. It is now in great demand.

But, I still see people saying that six, or seven, or eight rounds is plenty for self defense. The Shield, Glock 43, Walther PPS, etc. still sell well.

Heck, lots of folks still carry 5-shot J-frames and feel completely confident.

I have always liked to be prepared for the "what if" scenarios and was uncomfortable with less than 10 rounds of ammo capacity. Hence, I now carry a P365 with a 12-round magazine in the same space formerly occupied by a 6-shot XDS 40.

So, capacity matters to me. I am confident in the weapon platform and the comfort it offers.

Since there is much clamor for Glock, S&W, and Ruger to come out with pistols similar to the P365 and Hellcat in terms of size and capacity, it seems that there is a substantial demand for increased capacity.

My question is, how much does capacity figure into your decision for a carry weapon?

 

[chicharrones]

Bottom line, my direct personal experience is that tweakers hunt in packs.

I don't care if it prints or not I'm not walking out my door with less than 10 rounds on board

Three per pack is what I've experienced on two occasions. One "pack" wasn't even tweakers, but that number three sure breeds confidence in young aggressors.

Time to reflect on what I carry.

 

[jar]

About 12% of my semi-automatics even have magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Of the semi-automatics I regularly carry the capacity is either 8 + 1 or 6 + 1.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Trouble very rarely flies solo.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Three per pack is what I've experienced on two occasions. One "pack" wasn't even tweakers, but that number three sure breeds confidence in young aggressors.

Time to reflect on what I carry.

Watch, the responses to this poll are going to be split. Everybody who's actually been in the poop is going to say 10 or more

 

[mcb]

 

[JR24]

I generally am fine with 8 or 9, but can conceal double stacks fine and usually opt for 15+1

 

[BearBrimstone]

I tend to lean more towards ease to carry over capacity. Extra rounds are nice but something like a Shield is just so easy to pick up and go.

 

[URIT]

When I started carrying more than a half-century ago there was a saying, "If you can't get the job done with 4 or 5 rounds... run!". The department's range master repeatedly hammered that point home and it became fixed in my mind. Fortunately for me, there was never a situation where circumstances overwhelmed round count.
Today, I have the luxury of not feeling obligated to run toward trouble and insert myself into the chaos, so I've modified my personal rules of engagement to limit my firearm use to life-threatening situations only. My current EDC capacity is 7-9 rounds, but my comfort zone remains back to those 3 decades when I was carrying revolvers only on and off duty so I cast my vote for 5-6 rounds.

 

[Charlie98]

It's funny, the 'more caliber' guys (read: 1911 .45ACP...) maintain 7 or 8 rounds of .45 is plenty, the 'more bullet' guys (read: stacked 9mm...) believe the more the merrier. I'm in between... I carry a 7+1 9mm... mostly because it's compact and I can conceal it. I have confidence in my shooting ability, and in the 9mm cartridge I'm shooting... but this isn't Hollywood and anything can happen. Further, 8 rounds of 9mm under my shirt is way better than 13 rounds of 9mm... or 8 rounds of .45... back in the truck console, or at home on the dresser, left there because I can't carry it effectively.

 

[film495]

5-6 is fine, but I usually have 8. I'll probably statistically speaking never use 1, so - satisfied with just not being completely defenseless should the situation arise to need something, hopefully I can just run away first - or fire, then run.

 

[TonyAngel]

I’ve always been comfortable with a 5 or 6 shot revolver or a single stack auto. I handle a lot of cases involving shootings and unless there’s a spray and pray scenario that went down, there have usually been few rounds fired, so I’m not too worried about capacity. I’ll take it, but don’t feel like I need it.

 

[FFGColorado]

For ME..capacity is not in the 'top 3' of what I consider when choosing what I carry.
For ME-
Reliability-EDC..GOTTA be 100% reliable
Concealability-a tradeoff..yup, I really like my Glock 17, but ain't gonna carry it
FTS-Fun TO Shoot-if it isn't, you won't shoot it, if you don't shoot it, you don't know if it's reliable..PLUS, if you don't shoot it, a LOT, you won't get good with it.

As a guy that's 'recoil sensitive'(arthritic wrist plus poorly repaired, dislocated RH thumb(thanks USN docs)), the G42 and G26(with G19 15R magazine)..fill the above 3 squares. G43 hurt too much. Yes, 15R magazine for G26..'capacity' but I do that mostly for comfort in my hand..15R is a added 'benefit'..

Are there others that may fill the above, with less capacity? Perhaps..I've carried a S&W 642(not FTS), a Ruger LC-9S(not reliable nor FTS) and a Glock 43(again, for ME, not FTS)...so the above, for me..

 

[FL-NC]

I'm happy with 8 rounds. In light of that, I am confident with my shield 9. For me, this balances conceal-ability, reliability, accuracy, and power. Also, what most people consider "summer wear" is "every day wear" here, most of the time.

 

[IdaD]

Capacity is pretty far down the list of considerations for me. Reliable, accurate and concealable/comfortable are much bigger considerations. The lightest thing I carry is 6+1 in 380 and I'm comfortable with that, if I'm not wanting or able to carry something bigger for whatever reason.

 

[jmohme]

3 shots is probably all anybody would need. Are you willing to trust your life to that theory? Most will never need any. Most will never file a homeowners insurance claim. Carry what you are comfortable carrying.

That is probably a very accurate statement.
The ideal situation is not to ever have to draw or fire a weapon, but in the event that it ever happens, I hope that no more than three shots are needed, leaving me with 12 and one in the chamber.

Has anyone ever had to use their weapon and afterwards said. "I wish I had less ammo capacity"?