Packing Ammo - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

BMFOTP · 07-25-2007, 06:41 AM

Does anyone know where I can find information on how many shots are fired during a gun fight, either LEO or legally armed citizen? How much ammo is appropriate to carry on an average day? How many clips does a person really need to have if the chips go down? I usually carry the one flip in my carry weapon and I am trying to figure out if I need to carry more?

Verk · 07-25-2007, 06:48 AM

I think as a matter of practice you need to carry at least one spare magazine. Regardless of the "average" number of shots fired in the "average" gun fight, those stats mean nothing if you are out of ammo and still in the fight.

Bottom line.....carry spare ammo!! Its always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Clint Smith (Thunder Ranch) always impressed on our class that wolves travel in packs. Don't assume you are only going to have to deal with one problem at a time. Such thinking could get you killed. Just my .02 cents worth.

ArmyGuy45 · 07-25-2007, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verk

Bottom line.....carry spare ammo!! Its always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
.

+1

BMFOTP · 07-25-2007, 06:56 AM

Thanks for the input. I had not thought of the possibility of multiple threats.

cougar_guy04 · 07-25-2007, 07:08 AM

One other thing to consider is the chance of a malfunction with the magazine. That's one of the main reasons I keep a spare on me.

Tard · 07-25-2007, 07:19 AM

Yep, the main reason for a civilian CCW to carry a spare mag is a mag malfunction or a major jam that is much faster to clear by dropping the mag.

Plus, it's cooler.

fredj338 · 07-25-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tard

Yep, the main reason for a civilian CCW to carry a spare mag is a mag malfunction or a major jam that is much faster to clear by dropping the mag.
Plus, it's cooler.

Absolutely have an extra mag. Too many guys carry their dbl. stack & no spare, Murphy's law says your mag will fail at the worse moment. I do get a kick out of guys that carry their dbl. stack 9mm & two mags for CCW though. Multiple threats, maybe, but unless you are walking the streets of Bahgdad, I doubt you'll ever need the pistol much less 50rds. The object is to survive an attack not assault a position. A good pistol & better tactics will rule the day, not how many rounds you have.
I'll look for the site but a Google search came up w/ 3.8rds for LEO shootings w/ one LEO involved. The round count goes up when multiple LEO are involved (I think they feed of each other shooting).Typical CCW are even less. Carry what makes you feel comfortable.

Requiem4Senses · 07-25-2007, 12:11 PM

+1

Always have a spare.

GaryTx · 07-25-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

Absolutely have an extra mag. Too many guys carry their dbl. stack & no spare, Murphy's law says your mag will fail at the worse moment. I do get a kick out of guys that carry their dbl. stack 9mm & two mags for CCW though. Multiple threats, maybe, but unless you are walking the streets of Bahgdad, I doubt you'll ever need the pistol much less 50rds. The object is to survive an attack not assault a position. A good pistol & better tactics will rule the day, not how many rounds you have.
I'll look for the site but a Google search came up w/ 3.8rds for LEO shootings w/ one LEO involved. The round count goes up when multiple LEO are involved (I think they feed of each other shooting).Typical CCW are even less. Carry whay makes you feel comfortable.

And remember as a CCW, your legal stance will be you shot to stop the threat. Don't put 14 more rounds in the BG once he's down.

D_Fence · 07-25-2007, 12:28 PM

As somebody else mentioned, the main reason for a civilian would be a magazine failure. I've heard of people carrying more than one backup magazine, but I think those folks should really consider a small back-up gun instead. The backup gun will cover an equipment failure, running out of ammo, and/or losing control of the primary gun.

Self-defense shooters often report they don't remember how many shots they fired. If you've just shot somebody in self-defense, and the police are still a few minutes away, and more bad guys might be a few seconds away, you may not immediately know whether you have 2 bullets left or 8. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to drop your mag, put in your spare, and rack the slide. (Rack the slide because you could have fired the full magazine and the slide failed to lock back on empty. You might waste a round, but you'll also be sure the gun is chambered.)

07-25-2007, 06:41 AM	#1
BMFOTP XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 309	Packing Ammo Does anyone know where I can find information on how many shots are fired during a gun fight, either LEO or legally armed citizen? How much ammo is appropriate to carry on an average day? How many clips does a person really need to have if the chips go down? I usually carry the one flip in my carry weapon and I am trying to figure out if I need to carry more? __________________ To extraordinary circumstances we must apply extraordinary remedies.

07-25-2007, 06:56 AM	#4
BMFOTP XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 309	.02 Cents Thanks for the input. I had not thought of the possibility of multiple threats. __________________ To extraordinary circumstances we must apply extraordinary remedies.

07-25-2007, 07:08 AM	#5
cougar_guy04 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Turn East at Orlando Posts: 1,828	One other thing to consider is the chance of a malfunction with the magazine. That's one of the main reasons I keep a spare on me. __________________ "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity"

07-25-2007, 07:19 AM	#6
Tard XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Machias, WA Posts: 3,933	Yep, the main reason for a civilian CCW to carry a spare mag is a mag malfunction or a major jam that is much faster to clear by dropping the mag. Plus, it's cooler. __________________ If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the precipitate.

07-25-2007, 12:11 PM	#8
Requiem4Senses XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Springfield, OR Posts: 540	+1 Always have a spare. __________________ XD40 V10 (ported) XD40 SC OD Green "The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people...that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." -Thomas Jefferson to Major John Cartwright June 5th, 1824

07-25-2007, 06:48 AM	#2
Verk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 359	I think as a matter of practice you need to carry at least one spare magazine. Regardless of the "average" number of shots fired in the "average" gun fight, those stats mean nothing if you are out of ammo and still in the fight. Bottom line.....carry spare ammo!! Its always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Clint Smith (Thunder Ranch) always impressed on our class that wolves travel in packs. Don't assume you are only going to have to deal with one problem at a time. Such thinking could get you killed. Just my .02 cents worth.

07-25-2007, 12:28 PM	#10
D_Fence XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,349	As somebody else mentioned, the main reason for a civilian would be a magazine failure. I've heard of people carrying more than one backup magazine, but I think those folks should really consider a small back-up gun instead. The backup gun will cover an equipment failure, running out of ammo, and/or losing control of the primary gun. Self-defense shooters often report they don't remember how many shots they fired. If you've just shot somebody in self-defense, and the police are still a few minutes away, and more bad guys might be a few seconds away, you may not immediately know whether you have 2 bullets left or 8. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to drop your mag, put in your spare, and rack the slide. (Rack the slide because you could have fired the full magazine and the slide failed to lock back on empty. You might waste a round, but you'll also be sure the gun is chambered.)

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