# Importance of magazine capacity in self defense **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300 "2013-10-15T13:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/41 "2013-10-15T18:41:32Z")
> [@BrickaBracka](#): > > Well, ok, maybe that particular article didn’t do my claim justice. I can’t fathom a police squad wielding revolvers unloading over 100 rounds as occurred in the article in my recent post above. Can you? In most incidences (from your linked article) the police shot fewer than 4 times per shooting. How would a 6 shot revolver not suffice? There’s nothing wrong with having a higher capacity firearm in the cruiser, as most cops have now. But the reflexive “Oh shit” magazine unloading that seems to happen when groups of officers all start firing on an individual would result in far fewer overall shots fired, don’t you agree? Yes, if police had fewer rounds available this would result in fewer rounds fired. That seems obvious. If this is good or bad is not for GQ. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/42 "2013-10-15T19:23:11Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > The appropriate weapon for home defense is a shotgun, not a rifle or pistol with a magazine of any capacity. Nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![BrickaBracka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BrickaBracka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickaBracka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/43 "2013-10-15T19:26:23Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Nonsense. True, the only appropriate weapon for home defense is a cannon. Mounted in the living room, aimed at the front door. Because you want the burglars to know you mean business. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/44 "2013-10-15T19:30:03Z")
> [@BrickaBracka](#): > > True, the only appropriate weapon for home defense is a cannon. Mounted in the living room, aimed at the front door. Because you want the burglars to know you mean business. Nah, claymores, just in case they get past the alligators in the moot. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/45 "2013-10-16T18:21:16Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Yes, if police had fewer rounds available this would result in fewer rounds fired. That seems obvious. If this is good or bad is not for GQ. Police fired 100 rounds? Heck, the Toronto police did it in 9 rounds, from 10 or 20 feet - and then tasered the dead guy for good measure. [http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/19/toronto-police-officer-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-streetcar-shooting-death-of-sammy-yatim/](http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/19/toronto-police-officer-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-streetcar-shooting-death-of-sammy-yatim/) Seriously - how many criminals really continue to approach when being fired at? Versus “get the hell outta here”? The PCP-laden crazies are few and far between. ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/46 "2013-10-16T19:28:03Z")
> [@Whiteknight](#): > > Can anyone point me to some cites where 16-17 rounds (for a pistol) were necessary for a would-be victim to defend themselves? How about 30 rounds? > [@](#): > > At the core of his desperate firefight was a murderous attacker who simply would not go down, even though he was shot 14 times with .45-cal. ammunition — six of those hits in supposedly fatal locations. > [@](#): > > The whole shootout had lasted 56 seconds, Gramins said. The assailant had fired 21 rounds from his two handguns. Inexplicably — but fortunately — he had not attempted to employ an SKS semi-automatic rifle that was lying on his front seat ready to go. > > Gramins had discharged 33 rounds. Four remained in his magazine. [Link](http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/6199620-Why-one-cop-carries-145-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job/) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/47 "2013-10-16T20:00:12Z")
> [@Sanity\_Challenged](#): > > [Link](http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/6199620-Why-one-cop-carries-145-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job/) The link says the cop reloaded a couple of times and continued the fight, just like he was trained today (and trains other to do). Eventually he killed the suspect with his limited capacity weapon. Where is the need for a higher capacity weapon shown? This link has nothing to do with the OP and the need for larger capacity magazines for home defense. They guy was trying to keep from being arrested by a cop, not invading a civilians home. Unless you are a drug dealer with large sums of cash and drugs I really doubt that any home invader would put up this kind of a fight just to get to you. Unless of course you were coming after me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/48 "2013-10-16T20:20:58Z")
Sorry, missed the edit window. And yes you did reply to the OP who is looking for links and not commentary. Got to stop getting worked up about these things and take my medicine. Either that or go to a bar where its appropriate to rant. Oh, and that is one bad-assed cop you linked to btw. I am all for cops having the tools they need to do their often times thankless job. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/49 "2013-10-16T20:34:26Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > The appropriate weapon for home defense is a shotgun, not a rifle or pistol with a magazine of any capacity. > [@runner pat](#): > > We have a small house, tight hallways and blind corners. I use a cane due to a smashed leg. A shotgun is not an appropriate weapon. A heavy, full-length hunting shotgun is not an appropriate weapon. The best firearm for a home defense role is something that can be wielded in tight spaces at close quarters. Handguns are adequate but many consider a better choice to be either a short-barreled shotgun like a Mossberg (pistol grip, 18’’ barrel), a semi-automatic version of a submachine gun, or a pistol-ammo carbine. The main consideration is accuracy: something with a foregrip and a longer sighting length is going to help accuracy, and is easier to mount lights and laser sights on for dealing with dim light situations. The primary reason you hear shotguns recommended is because smaller shot is less likely to over-penetrate if your walls are thin, but hollowpoint or especially frangible pistol ammo is going to be similarly safe. > [@Bone](#): > > While not talking about fiction, a very good metric would be what Police choose to use on a daily basis. This. Let me pose the following hypothetical: a national mandate is passed (backed up by federal grants to state and local law enforcement) that police should go back to carrying 6-shot .38 Specials. BTW: a lot of people who carry- including police- carry a spare magazine, or even a backup gun, simply in case of a failure of their primary. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/50 "2013-10-16T20:36:35Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > The link says the cop reloaded a couple of times and continued the fight, just like he was trained today (and trains other to do). Eventually he killed the suspect with his limited capacity weapon. **Where is the need for a higher capacity weapon shown?** (my bold) It took 33 rounds and 14 hits to stop the bad guy. It seems fairly obvious that a limited magazine size would not have cut it. Homeowners don’t go around with multiple magazines prepared for reloads on a regular basis. In the heat of the moment, you have limited time, perhaps to retrieve the firearm you keep for home defense. You want that firearm to have as much utility as possible. Increased magazine size helps with this. > [@](#): > > This link has nothing to do with the OP and the need for larger capacity magazines for home defense. I think the point is clear that people miss, and often it takes multiple hits to stop a threat. Those two things combined means that in a home defense situation, you want to have more ammo available. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/51 "2013-10-16T20:37:37Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > If you fired 6 shots and still have a problem with attackers, odds are a few more shots, or 30 more, won’t do the trick. This is arrogant nonsense. Like the person defending themselves an attacker may also be moving around, ducking behind cover, etc. while shooting at his intended victim. It is not implausible that at the speed these things can happen even a well trained shooter can miss the attacker, not hit in an area that stops them, etc… “One shot one hit” should be the goal, but in an actual gunfight it usually goes to shit. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/52 "2013-10-16T20:38:57Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > This. Let me pose the following hypothetical: a national mandate is passed (backed up by federal grants to state and local law enforcement) that police should go back to carrying 6-shot .38 Specials. I’m not clear on what statement you’re trying to make with this. > [@](#): > > BTW: a lot of people who carry- including police- carry a spare magazine, or even a backup gun, simply in case of a failure of their primary. This is what I tell my wife when I buy more guns. One is none. Two is one. Three is better than two. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/53 "2013-10-17T05:50:02Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > This is arrogant nonsense. ::: snip ::::: > > “One shot one hit” should be the goal, but in an actual gunfight it usually goes to shit. This, THIS !!!😃 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/54 "2013-10-17T13:19:15Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m not clear on what statement you’re trying to make with this. > This is what I tell my wife when I buy more guns. One is none. Two is one. Three is better than two. I think the idea is that if 6 shots is “enough” for a civilian to take down the bad guys, there’s no reason trained police should need any more than that. Kind of like how some AR-15 makers are refusing to sell to police in states where they’re banned. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300/55 "2013-10-19T06:48:14Z")
> [@BrickaBracka](#): > > True, the only appropriate weapon for home defense is a cannon. Mounted in the living room, aimed at the front door. Because you want the burglars to know you mean business. Finally! Somebody who is taking home defense seriously! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-magazine-capacity-in-self-defense/671300.md?page=2)