Concealed Carry Overkill?

[armoredman]

If you're happy with your baby Glock, be happy. Do't let anyone else tell you what you HAVE to carry; I'm glad you ARE carrying legally and responsibly. I recommend a spare mag just in case, but if you don't want to go to the expense and trouble, hey, it's YOUR life and YOUR money, nobody else's.
Just remember to CARRY it, a gun in the safe is the same as a gun in the store - zero defensive value.

 

[fastest45ever]

JohnSKA had an excellent article or post on this.

The problem is the following:70% of shootings take place in dim light.
At combat ranges the accuracy of the CCW shooter is generally 30-50%.
Your chance of dual or triple attackers is very high, also in the 70% range.

Your chance of one shot stops with most CCW calibers isn't very good, either.

Glocks aren't legendary for accuracy considering the long, heavy first pull, and the shorter second pulls on the trigger, not to mention the rather weird trigger, altogether.

The bad guys don't shoot much better, and, they also generally don't carry calibers that really stop people, either. How much ammo they carry is another issue.

John pretty much convinced me that if I was carrying a revolver, I should either carry a backup, or a speed loader.

Likewise for autos, don't leave those flat, easy to conceal magazines at home.

If your hit rate is 3 of 10 in dim light, with 2-3 moving targets, the odds are in their favor if they are shooting at you.

So, you are at most likely to hit each guy with one shot, out of ten rounds, and, it's highly unlikely that one shot is going to stop the attacker.
I'd sure like a backup or more ammo.

 

[Mike J]

Glocks aren't legendary for accuracy considering the long, heavy first pull, and the shorter second pulls on the trigger, not to mention the rather weird trigger, altogether.

Have your ever shot a Glock. They aren't that hard to shoot. Glocks aren't like the old DA/SA autoloaders or a true DAO. They are striker fired & the trigger pull is the same for every shot. Due to the fact that the striker is already partially cocked when you chamber a round all the trigger has to do is finish cocking it & release it. They generally have about a 5 pound pull (unless you are a New York City Policeman that is required to use a 12 pound trigger). I am not a Glock fanboy & don't own one but there is nothing wrong with them & they were plenty accurate for their intended purpose.

As far as the OP's question. We all make our choices & take our chances. I generally carry either a Kel Tec P-11 or a XD-40 with an extra magazine. We all live in different circumstances & make our choices accordingly.

 

[Inebriated]

I carry a spare mag only because of failures. I've got no worries with my G26 being short on capacity.

Glocks aren't legendary for accuracy considering the long, heavy first pull, and the shorter second pulls on the trigger, not to mention the rather weird trigger, altogether.

HA!

 

[fastest45ever]

Please don't turn this into a Glock thread. I don't know what the shooters ability is with his Glock, how he's got it setup, etc.

If he'd said a 34 or 35, I wouldn't have considered the trigger pull a concern.
It's not as bad as a 340 S&W 12-15 pound trigger, nor is it as good as a
Freedom Arms 83 with a trigger job. Trigger pull IS a factor for accuracy, and if you think the 26 has the best trigger, you haven't shot a race gun 34.

Aside from the trigger pull, the rest of my post SHOULD affect your choices. It did mine.

 

[Inebriated]

Please don't turn this into a Glock thread. I don't know what the shooters ability is with his Glock, how he's got it setup, etc.

If he'd said a 34 or 35, I wouldn't have considered the trigger pull a concern.
It's not as bad as a 340 S&W 12-15 pound trigger, nor is it as good as a
Freedom Arms 83 with a trigger job. Trigger pull IS a factor for accuracy, and if you think the 26 has the best trigger, you haven't shot a race gun 34.

No one said the 26 has the best trigger. Also, I don't know if you've shot one (no offense if you have), but standard Glock triggers are consistent. No long/heavy first and short/light second shot. It's a short 5lb pull, every time. Unless you're talking about the take-up until the "wall", then the reset that puts you back at the "wall", without the take-up. But the weight isn't affected.

 

[PabloJ]

I’m fairly new to the concealed carry world and have recently settled on a Glock 26 (standard 10 round mag) as my carry weapon. Very comfortable, easy to conceal, and easy to shoot. Anyway, I felt pretty well armed and protected with this until I started reading a lot of posts online regarding concealed carry. I constantly read about back up guns (BUGs I guess they’re called), guys carrying two, three, or even four hi cap spare magazines, etc and I can’t help but wonder, where these guys are going that they’re going to need that much firepower? Am I just naïve feeling safe with my "baby Glock" or should I start arming up?

I would not worry you're better armed then most out there. I find paranoia of some folks interesting (FUNNY) like those that keep guns in bathrooms or wear handguns on them bodies while at home.
One guy went someplace and forgot something truly important...... I was thinking deodorant, but no.....

 

[Gryffydd]

where these guys are going that they’re going to need that much firepower?

Where are you going that you're going to need 10 rounds in your gun? The answer is probably nowhere as you'll likely never need any of them. And yet you've decided it's worthwhile to carry a gun, so you have the mindset of being prepared for the unlikely. What I don't understand is the mindset that says others are going overboard for choosing to carry more ammo or guns than you. Come to think of it, why not load the Glock with only 3 rounds? It'll be much lighter and statistically speaking it should be plenty.

 

[coalman]

A reliable primary in 9mm or above with a spare mag and IMO you're set. Even the spare mag could be considered extra, though I like to have one, and it's my "bug".

When you leave the bunker you have to be realistic in terms of preparedness. And, carry all that crap around.

Dudes can imagine all kinds of scenarios to support their choice. It's all imagination until it's not when you'll do the best with the tool(s) you have.

 

[wildehond]

Nr 1 to 10 of CC is to have a gun that you can shoot well on you 99.999% of the time.

The rest is details.

I have not done rereach but I be surpirsed to see that a civilian self defence shoot has more than 4 shots fired.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I carry a G26 also and have for years. I imagine a lot of people here do as well. Its a popular gun for carry. I've carried with no spare, one spare and two spares. I never felt safer or better armed with any of the choices. I've never had a Glock magazine cause a malfunction and I've had Glocks for a long time. For me the question comes down how much pocket room I've got to put them in. Regular pants probably no spare, cargo pants one and with my 24/7s two because they have two magazine pockets in each cargo pocket.

 

[theicemanmpls]

Very well said! I believe Sheriff Jim Wilson has created the label "Tactard" for those folks.

LD

It is not what you carry, or how you holster it. It is all about the willingness to defend yourself.

My 90yo uncle passed away this weekend. He always packed a .38 derringer. 2 shots. Even at his advanced age, and health problems, he could put a fight. I would not want to be the one who tried to mug him. WWII USN, and former Cop. They don't make men like that anymore. God Bless you Bud. RIP.

 

[bikerdoc]

Old Fuff said,

I expect to die in bed from old age, not in a Hollywood style shoot-out.

Not me ( who is older than fuff I figure I will be shot at by a jelious husband, or one of my ex wives. so I carry a 357,or CZ75, or 1911, - no reload

 

[Davek1977]

I may not be too confident about hitting a BG at 100 feet with one shot, but I'd sure be confident about it with 13, 14, or 30 shots.

In a crowded street or theater, you'd be willing to spit 30 shots from 100 ft in the general direction of the shooter? What happens to the 29 rounds that you miss with? I'm NOT one of those who think that a ccw'er wouldn't have a chance against the theater shooter....but I also don't advise taking shots you may or may not connect with in an area crowded with civilians. Look at what just happened in NYC....POLICE officers shot NINE people trying to take down a perp. At what point is the collateral damage worse than doing nothing? Whats worse? The shooter claiming another victim, or you killing somoene trying to stop him? If you cant MAKE the shot, don't TAKE the shot, especially when innocent lives are in the balance. If you can make that shot, take it, but don't talk of spitting 15-30 shots "in the general direction of" a shooter in a crowded room. Those rounds are going SOMEWHERE, and with each shot fired, the odds of an innocent person being killed at your hands goes up

 

[Mp7]

Where that link to that double-glock rig with 2 extended mags
sum1 here showed in a ccw thread

 

[WardenWolf]

I've heard of people concealing Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskans in .454 Casull. I'd call that overkill.

 

[mljdeckard]

I don't carry a BUG, but I certainly don't mock people who do. If you are fighting for your life, everything bad will be happening all at once. This means that you may need a backup plan.

 

[Hunter125]

or wear handguns on them bodies while at home.

So no home carry for you then? I'm in IL, so when I get home I immediately arm up. Why would you not in a place where it doesn't matter if you conceal or not?

When I am not wooried about concealment I carry my XDsc .40 with 9+1 and a 12 spare with a grip sleeve on it. Very rarely carry the extra mag when concealing in other states. Sometimes will carry a .380 in my weak side pocket. For any malfunctions with the XD or in case the BG manages to get it away from me. Not always though, I don't feel unarmed with the XD. I do if I carry just the .380.

 

[tarosean]

The reason you see such discrepancies about how many guns to carry/ammo/etc., is that some folks have more experience with video games than others.....

I know you meant it as a joke..

Seriously, do people honestly think there is a link?

IMO something has changed in the last decade or so. I certainly dont remember all the "EDC" pack everything but the kitchen sink when I started carrying. (Late 80's) Violent crime has been at its lowest rate in 40yrs recently. Granted 40yrs ago it wasnt shoved down your throat 24/7 like it is now.

I do get a chuckle out of the EDC/WROL vids on youtube.

 

[19-3Ben]

Please don't turn this into a Glock thread. I don't know what the shooters ability is with his Glock, how he's got it setup, etc.

If he'd said a 34 or 35, I wouldn't have considered the trigger pull a concern.
It's not as bad as a 340 S&W 12-15 pound trigger, nor is it as good as a
Freedom Arms 83 with a trigger job. Trigger pull IS a factor for accuracy, and if you think the 26 has the best trigger, you haven't shot a race gun 34.

Aside from the trigger pull, the rest of my post SHOULD affect your choices. It did mine.

Yeah, but his point is that with ANY Glock, they are striker fired guns and every single pull of the trigger is the same. There is no "heavy first pull." That's a DA/SA gun that you are describing. And it doesn't matter if it's a Glock 26, 17, or 34 or any other.

Even a Glock 17 with the optional NY heavy trigger will still have exactly same trigger pull for the first shot in the mag as it does for the last.
Let's be careful about spreading bad info on the web where new shooters can get confused.

 

[1911 guy]

What I'd consider "normal" for CCW varies with circumstances, like others have mentioned.

My "regular" CCW is a 1911 with a spare mag. When working the late shift in a city an hour away that has gone down the tubes in the last few years, I admit to carrying a lot more than that. To the tune of a pistol, 2 reloads, flashlight, fixed blade knife and a small baton, in addition to the ubiquitous cell phone and hopefully I've retained my common sense.

Evaluate your circumstances, your choise is probably fine.

 

[Lawdawg45]

It is not what you carry, or how you holster it. It is all about the willingness to defend yourself.

My 90yo uncle passed away this weekend. He always packed a .38 derringer. 2 shots. Even at his advanced age, and health problems, he could put a fight. I would not want to be the one who tried to mug him. WWII USN, and former Cop. They don't make men like that anymore. God Bless you Bud. RIP.

Couldn't agree more and your Uncle sounds like my kind of man

I commented because I hate to see a new/impressionable shooter hearing someone with a hero complex recommending carrying 3 weapons and taking 100 yard pistol shots to "save the day". I would love to hear this type of person convincing a Grand jury they were in harms way at 100 yards!

LD

 

[David E]

I've never carried a second magazine

Because you have never carried a reload hardly means its smart not to.

I tend to not put myself in situations that are likely to require more than 5 rounds.

Curious how you're able to predict what specific situations might require 5 rds or less... The recent theater shooting in low light and smoke probably wouldn't have been considered a "more than 5 rds" situation one minute before he opened fire, would it?

being in my mid-20s, whenever I talk to gun show vendors, they talk about how many spare magazines they carry and get all surprised when I tell them I'd rather have 5 shots and hit something than 51 rounds and can't hit a damn thing.

How do you know they cannot hit?

How do you know you will? Can you make all your hits at night, while you and the badguy(s) are all moving and are actively trying to kill you?

 

[scaatylobo]

@ the O.P.

If your still following this thread.

I have been in SHTF moments and once had a 6 shot [ Colt ] revolver as the only gun as I was trying to go smaller and not seem paranoid.

I was happy that I did not need to deploy that pistol,I had access to much larger guns and they were loaded and ready.

But I promised myself that if I got through that situation,I would not be in such a 'gun poor' situation again.

I hope that all you 'never' need is the gun that you EDC.

BUT if you are ever in a SHTF moment,I bet you will remember what I penned here.

Hope you survive [ and pray it dont happen ] but then you can contact me to tell me your insight AFTER that moment.

Went to the movies yesterday with wife,carried a Glock 23 & spare mag AND a S&W 360 with speed strip and a small but very powerful flashlight and of course my nowmal blades.

I am retired LEO,and firmly believe in a NYC reload [ spare gun ].

btw,I do own a G-27 but only carry it as a BUG,and own more than a few others that fit the same bill = BUG.

 

[Vonderek]

This is such a subjective thread. Everybody's situations and decisions are unique. A retired person living in a suburban gated community will have much different needs and circumstances than a jeweler who works in a city who commutes and transports inventory through areas with gang activity.