Big Bore or Max Capacity Fire Power

[PA PATRIOT]

I love Big Bore handguns like the .45acp, but then I also reach for the Glock 9mm for serious work also. Which would be tactically better for a fire fight if you were limited only to a "HAND GUN", Its totally obvious if a gun fight was brewing then a Rifle or a Anti-Tank Weapon would be a better choice. But we are talking everyday traveling about town or maybe a short distance away from home so most likely you would be carrying your usual off-duty or CCW load out in terms of magazines carried on your person, not in the vehicle or in a bail out bag.

Would you select a Commander sized 1911 or Glock Model-36 .45acp (6-1) or a similar sized Glock Model-19 9mm (15-1) or Model-26 (10 +1) and both are loaded with DocGKR's recommended ammunition and you carry one spare magazine on your person..

What are the reasons for your choice?

[SHIVAN]

Both. 1911 in the holster on the belt and G19 in the pack.

[MIKE G]

......

[CoryCop25]

If I get in a gunfight with a handgun it will most likely be close distance. No matter what I am carrying, at a close distance, I am very likely to engage with several shots. If I am carrying a 1911 with a 7 round mag I would shoot at least 4 rounds and have 4 rounds left. If I was carrying a G19 I may get off 5 or 6 and have 10 or 11 rounds left. I would have to say that I am more comfortable with the G19. I think the results would be equally devastating.

[PA PATRIOT]

My take so far mirrors CoryCop25 that I like Maximum rounds in my pistol and on my person. I usually carry a five shot 2"inch .38spl in my front strong side pocket with two 6rd speed strips in the opposite pocket during the summer off-duty. Once fall hits were a cover shirt or jacket will do I move to the Glock Model-26 and a 15rd Model-19 magazine with a A&G grip extender for the 15 +1 payload. My second magazine is a standard model-26 10rd in a shorten Glock plastic magazine holder.

On the job I carry three additional magazines on my belt for my Glock Model-21SF for a total round count of 53rds of 230gr Federal Tactical HST. Before moving up in caliber to .45acp my Glock Model-17 9mm had a payload of 52rds total. I always prepare for a worst case scenario and keep extra spare magazines in my bag in a modified Fobus paddle magazine holder so I can just slip it into the rear of my duty belt for a active shooter. I have no possible chance of ammunition resupply on a active shooter as only a very few officers in my patrol district up-caliber-ed to .45acp guns and none work with my squad. No spare ammunition is kept at the district so once I'M out, I'M out and as 2nd weapons are forbidden by department policy as well as no shotguns or rifles for patrol officers.

Main reason I started this thread is to see if I was crazy for carrying so much lead and if others just maybe as crazy or more Conservative.

[Outlander Systems]

My question is if the FBI has any statistics in the average amount of rounds expended during a gunfight. This might shape my opinion.

[Abraxas]

My take so far mirrors CoryCop25 that I like Maximum rounds in my pistol and on my person. I usually carry a five shot 2"inch .38spl in my front strong side pocket with two 6rd speed strips in the opposite pocket during the summer off-duty. Once fall hits were a cover shirt or jacket will do I move to the Glock Model-26 and a 15rd Model-19 magazine with a A&G grip extender for the 15 +1 payload. My second magazine is a standard model-26 10rd in a shorten Glock plastic magazine holder.

On the job I carry three additional magazines on my belt for my Glock Model-21SF for a total round count of 63rds of 230gr Federal Tactical HST. Before moving up in caliber to .45acp my Glock Model-17 9mm had a payload of 62rds total. I always prepare for a worst case scenario and keep extra spare magazines in my bag in a modified Fobus paddle magazine holder so I can just slip it into the rear of my duty belt for a active shooter. I have no possible chance of ammunition resupply on a active shooter as only a very few officers in my patrol district up-caliber-ed to .45acp guns and none work with my squad. No spare ammunition is kept at the district so once I'M out, I'M out and as 2nd weapons are forbidden by department policy as well as no shotguns or rifles for patrol officers.

Main reason I started this thread is to see if I was crazy for carrying so much lead and if others just maybe as crazy or more Conservative.

No I would not say that you are crazy for carrying that much ammo. But then I tend to go a little overboard by most peoples standards. There was a story I read a few years ago,I am fuzzy on the details, where some SWAT team went in to hit a house but the one guy inside was able to repel them. They only had one extra mag per man. The guy was able to pin down most of the entry team because they all went bingo, and he had lots to go. If I remember the entry team had MP5's. Things eventually worked out but not for a while, and I think that they lost a guy or two because they were pinned down for so long. What kind of craptastic moron said that backups are allowed to be carried, and why? While I am on it why no shoguns or rifles? If they are worried about liability issues then they need to realize that rifles are much better stoppers with better accuracy, which results in less of a chance of hitting an innocent. ****ing bureaucrats!!

[Patrick Aherne]

9mm vs. .45 ACP is a moot argument, IMO. I would choose the G19 simply because, in my experience, G19s run better than Commander-length 1911's. Reliability + cost convinced me to choose a G19 this year for my off-duty/plainclothes pistol.

[PA PATRIOT]

My question is if the FBI has any statistics in the average amount of rounds expended during a gunfight. This might shape my opinion.

I don't think we could really use the FBI statistics as a set in stone source since each and every gun fight is unique in terms of fire arms used and number of bad guys involved, also the FBI only tracks On-Duty Police related shootings and not Civilian or Off-Duty Law Enforcement. From past events there have been OIS's were Police fired hundreds of rounds at bad guys (LA Bank Robbery "Boo-Coo Rounds fired" & Phila PD 24th District Car Jacking shootout "320rds fired") with many similar events across the nation. I personally had On-Duty OIS's were I fired only two rounds one event and three rounds another so there is a Hugh disparity depending on the type of event and circumstances. Since I go into the unknown looking for trouble as part of my everyday duties as a PPD officer I have convinced myself that lots of rounds available on my person is a good thing. Also Big Effective Bullets help stop fights quicker so my move to the .45acp from the 9mm makes me feel better armed. I'll make the necessary changes asap for three spares on the belt and two more in the bag.

Off-Duty,
I would act on a personal deadly force assault, a use of deadly force against another, Armed Robbery with shots fired or a Active Shooter in a public space were Police are not on the scene. This has its own unique circumstances as I will not have body armor, will not be instantly recognized as a L/E/O and have a smaller sized firearm with a smaller reserve of spare ammo. Hence my original question of Big Bore or Max ammo Capacity. Total Concealment makes life much easier traveling armed off-duty so not to have the Po-Po called if a civilian happens to see my pistol print under my cover garment walking Thur a mall or store.

Shorts and Tee-Shirts presents it own challenges in the summer for total concealment and comfort while carrying. I will not go below a .38spl as a primary gun off-duty and would prefer a small, light weight 9mm if possible. The Glock Model-26 is just too heavy and blocky for serious summer wear carry even with the standard 10rd magazine for my body size no matter how I try to carry it. The .38spl 2" snub sides right into my pocket and most times I forget thats its even there but I'M not totally confident about its effectiveness and its limited five shot capacity. Right now I run with the .38spl and two six shot speed strips and practice speed reloads at the range, but I still have that little doubt in the back of my mind. Now if they could just make a super light weight .44spl then I would have a bit more confidence with a big bore wheel gun.

Spring, Fall and Winter is no problem as long shirts and coats will conceal just about any small to mid-sized pistols, so do I stay with my newly beloved .45acp and just live with reduced ammo capacity (One mag in the gun, one on the belt) or go with a trusted friend the 9mm with smaller diameter bullets but greater capacity.

Its a hard choice.

I shoot both the Glock Model-26 and 36 the same accuracy and time wise so theres no help that I shoot one better then the other.

[tpd223]

Between a G36 and a G19 I'd take the 19, not much consideration needed on that question.