Ammo: How Much Is Enough When Carrying for Self Defense?
Remember, no survivor of a gunfight has ever wished he had gone into the fight with less ammunition.
For the KelTec P3AT (6 rds + 1) that I habitually carry in my right pants pocket, I have a spare 6-round mag of XTP .380 in my left. However, that is only to ensure that I have a clear path to the loaded Taurus PT-145 (10 rds + 1) in the center compartment of my man bag, which has nestled next to it a spare belt carrier with two mags. There are two other loaded spare mags in pockets on the inner portion of the bag. Hence, at any given time when I am out I have immediate access to 13 rds of XTP .380 and somewhat delayed access to 51 rds of .45 XTP. (On trips I throw a 50-round box of each caliber in the bag as refills JIC, and another spare loaded magazine for the KelTec.)
If I'm headed out of town, a folding stock AK and a Mossberg 500 go in the trunk. The AK fits nicely into an M60 barrel bag, with one loaded five rounder in the mag well, and a thirty rounder and a forty rounder in the side pockets of the bag. Next to it, I throw in a Chinese 5 pocket magazine pouch with shoulder strap. Total: 225 rounds 7.62x39 ball. The Mossberg riot gun rests in a soft-side guitar case with a bandoleer/belt made up of a mixture USGI and civilian shotgun pouches (don't believe in open loop Mexican bandido bandoleers since my experiences in the 90s showed that I could never find one that didn't shed rounds while maneuvering like Hansel and Gretal dropping a trail of bread crumbs). Also in the bag is an extra USGI 7-pocket bandoleer containing 5-round boxes of 2.75" 00 buckshot. All told there is something on the order of 110 rounds of 12 Gauge 2.75" and 3" buckshot and slugs (even some birdshot) in the case.
As Bubba said to Forrest Gump, "That's, that's about it."
13 comments:
Sorry but it sounds like someone has been playing too much call of duty. If a threat is so severe that you need an AK, shotgun, and several hundred rounds of ammo for each, there's no way in hell I'm sticking around for that fight. Odds are you won't make it out alive unless you have a team of buddies similarly armed next to you.
By all means carry a spare mag or two for your carry weapon. But if you're in a situation where you have to fight your way back to your vehicle, bug the hell out rather than grab an AK and keep shooting.
Interesting topic Mike, I expect this will get a little attention.
I live in Dakota territory, there is very low crime here. My loadout depends on what and where I am going. I travel heavy when I go out of town and ammo is plentiful. Whatever I feel comfortable with is what I need. I am very good at situational awareness and I hope that what I do carry will be plenty. I would never be specific on what I carry.
An old friend once told me if you can't get free with that you're in over your head anyway.
Mike, your traveling loadout kinda reminds me of the story of the old southern preacher who gets pulled over on an Alabama back road.
The deputy comes to the door and the preacher says, "Son, law says I gotta let you know I'm armed." The deputy replies, "That's true sir and I appreciate the heads up. What're you carrying today?"
The preacher replies, "I got a pair of 1911 Colt Government Model .45's in a double shoulder holster, a Smith & Wesson Model 66 with a 3" barrel on my belt on the right hip, a Ruger SP-101 .357 in an ankle holster on my left leg, a Ruger Security Six .357 in the glove box, another Ruger Security Six .357 under my seat, and in the trunk is an M-1 Garand with 300 rounds and a Mossberg 590 12 gauge with 50 rounds."
Shocked, the deputy blurts out, "Mister, what the HELL you afraid of???"
Preacher looks him in the eye and replies............
"Not a damn thing, son, not one damn thing."
what is your "man-bag"? just a regular old fanny pack?
Just know that having that 5 round mag in the well, makes the weapon loaded and a felony in some states. The mags can't touch the weapon or have rounds in the mag at all for that matter. No, a CCW license doesn't make you legal in these states. Being in the trunk of a vehicle doesn't make having the rifle loaded legal.
Just saying.
" Anonymous said...
Just know that having that 5 round mag in the well, makes the weapon loaded and a felony in some states."
Dear Anonymous,
Why are you wasting your time here? You need to contact your state representative and get that law repealed. Do it right now. Contact your neighbors and friends and urge them to do the same. Remember, you have the right to keep and bear arms. Do not let any lawmaker infringe that right. The Second Amendment does not state that you have the right to keep and bear unloaded arms.
Re. Anon.
Avoid letting police determine if you are correctly transporting a concealed longarm. Empty chamber under a closed bolt is plenty safe for me. Charged magazine in the well makes the safe weapon quickly available for use, thus a better weapon.
How much ammo? As much as is reasonable for the circumstances. 5 extra rounds for a J-frame, or a pair of 33's for a Glock, or 3 M-60 cans of loaded bandoleered magazines for a carbine.
Never, ever, depend on a pistol that's carried in one's pocket. They are impossible to retrieve while driving. Better that the pistol is lock and loaded on the console. Sometimes people are confront with situations that require a response in seconds. A pocket pistol will get you dead. I totally agree with other posters, that the article suggests illegal ways of carrying guns in cars or trucks, even in conceal carry and no retreat states. Know your state laws, adapt your "load" accordingly.
the only time you should worry about caring too much ammo is if your about to go swimming
To Anonymous 7:14- Haven't you been keeping up with recent trends? Multi pronged attacks, multiple attackers, ambush tactics and the good old rule of superior firepower aside, Mr V is a traveling man with many enemies and under investigation by many tyrants. It's not much of a leap of faith to consider the idea that he could be a valuable target for the opposition. He's ruined several careers and started numerous investigations on men and women with a checkered history.
His loadout is very similar to mine, and for reasons lost on you, I keep everything loaded up and ready to use. You never know when you might have to arm a bystander or ally in the heat of the moment. You mentioned "bugout" in the face of a fight, and I would agree, but you can't always do so. Sometimes they leave you only one option; to fight your way out. If Mr V happens to be miles from home when things go wrong, he has firepower enough to give him a fighting chance to make it back home.
As far as having a loaded gun goes, what good are unloaded ones? Like many, I live in a free state where we can wear loaded machine guns for a hat if we choose. Maybe attempting to change that in your state would be a prudent step.
When Mr V is in town for the convention, I'm sure he'll be swinging his loaded AK on his back when he goes to meet the boorish moms being demanding on the statehouse lawn.
My loadout: On my person Glock 29 with 2 mags, Ruger LCP and a HK auto knife. In my truck: 870 police with a magazine full on mil spec 00 buck, 18 rounds in a carrier on the sheath. Lightweight AR with a 20 round mag in it and 6 40 round Pmags in a hasty rig. All with home made TAP rounds for the first 20, ss109 the next 15 and 5 tracers last. Everything is secured properly and can't be stolen easily.
Nice loadout. And here my travel bud was crapping about a snubby w/3 speedloaders and 2 blades as my edc on recent flight to sub-tropical bliss.
Preparedness is a good thing. I must use a cane, so carry a high quality .22 and 2 9-round magazines on the opposite side. Recoil is now a bad problem for me.
There are additional firearms for other than everyday situations.
It is not good to be unprepared.
...that much ammo...? ..Sure is a scared individual that places his reliance more on weapons than on his own abilities....feel sorry for him...
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