When to Carry

[David Armstrong]

If having a supply of ammo (or gun or caliber, etc.) that is ultimately proven unnecessary increases a person's confidence in the capability of themselves + their equipment, allowing them to act with the necessary timely aggressiveness to try overcoming difficult odds, because they have put doubts about themselves and their equipment to bed, then I think that is a far cry from 'no upside.'

If one's confidence is based not on skill and abilities but by how much excess stuff you can carry around, I would suggest that is a not an upside. I will have the same confidence and act with the same necessary aggressiveness if I am armed with a mini-gun or a snub revolver. My tactics might change quite a bit, but that is about it. Personally I would think carrying around oh, maybe 5,000 rounds would get to be a bit tiring and maybe even slow a person down, so maybe there is a downside?? Again, we all compromise on what we carry based on what we think we will need.

[Mr_White]

If one's confidence is based not on skill and abilities but by how much excess stuff you can carry around, I would suggest that is a not an upside.

You might consider re-reading what I wrote.

[JHC]

Planning for the minimum that might be necessary just never suited my Boy Scout heart.

[CCT125US]

I have confidence in my 442, 1 round is 20% of capacity. I also have confidence in my P30, 1 round is 7% of capacity. The whole my compromise is better than your compromise is a tired and silly argument. If my loved ones or myself are faced with danger that can only be stopped by my actions, I will take my compromise of a P30 any day. Because you see, I give up nothing by carrying the P30 and a reload. My life is not negatively affected by that "compromise". If I am alone, my options are greater, if I have the family in tow my responses are more narrow. Bad people around here travel in pairs or packs and the "compromise" of 5 shots could affect my desired continuation of life. See the difference? If it works for you then great, rock on. We all have our individual threshold of compromise. Now can we talk about the importance of a fast draw or need for a spare mag?? (Since we have not done that here already). Now where is that sarcasm font??

[David Armstrong]

You might consider re-reading what I wrote.

OK, re-read it a couple of times, don't see anything different. If I have misunderstood your point, my apologies.

[David Armstrong]

Bad people around here travel in pairs or packs and the "compromise" of 5 shots could affect my desired continuation of life. See the difference?

Exactly. Your compromise works for you. For someone else, your compomise of a P30 and only one reload could affect your desired continuation of life.

The whole my compromise is better than your compromise is a tired and silly argument.

Yep. Don't understand why some have such a hard time understanding that.

[Casual Friday]

We all make compromises to our safety on a daily basis based upon the perceived threat level, going to Walmart without body armor is one of them.

[David Armstrong]

We all make compromises to our safety on a daily basis based upon the perceived threat level, going to Walmart without body armor is one of them.

Yep, good point. I doubt many folks sit around the house wearing body armor either, although that would probably have a more likely impact on survival than a few extra rounds of ammo.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

Yep, good point. I doubt many folks sit around the house wearing body armor either, although that would probably have a more likely impact on survival than a few extra rounds of ammo.

Slippery slope, making observations like that...

Before you know it, you end up thinking "statistically, if I started jogging 5km, 3 times a week...I could stop training, sell all my guns, and still increase my projected lifespan".


Living in Canada as I do, the only places I can legally carry are 1) at home, and 2) at the range. Open carry is actually legal (with a permit) in this province under certain conditions but is geared exclusively towards people working in remote areas...ordinarily the places I feel least at risk, but that's another story.

I carry at home if I feel like it. But I am also on roughly my 13,000th consecutive day without encountering a problem in my home that could be solved with a gun at all, let alone a problem that required a gun in such short order that I couldn't pick it up off my coffee table.

I'm not down on anyone's decision to carry, when or what (assuming Taurus is not involved). But if I stressed out about my own situation, I'd be forced to either a) break the law constantly, or b) emigrate.


When to carry: when you believe it is warranted

What to carry: what you believe might be necessary


You could always carry more, go further, reduce exposure, act more carefully.

But you have to live, also. Everything is a compromise. Do what you think is right, and hope for the best.

[ares338]

Am I weird? I carry my pistol to the restroom....at home...LOL. On a more serious note...I am disabled and we had a home invasion not 5 minutes from my home. I like to think I'm just cautious.