Why one cop carries 145 rounds of ammo

[Aaron1776]

Amazing someone could take that many hits from a .45 and not go down. I carry 9 rounds in my sidearm and two spare 8-round mags. I hope I never need them, but to think that it could actually not be enough.... Time to get another 2-magazine carrier.

I'm assuming that's a 1911? Just order 10 rd chip mags for back up. Makes the math easier.
Also remember more ammo doesn't neccessarily = you live. You gotta induce pressure on the range and practice ocular-cranial shots. It doesn't matter how many rounds you have on you if you need to drop the 200 lb, muscled psycho pumped on andrenaline right now.

I get made fun of routinely for (among other things) the number of mags and firearms I carry. This story kind of proves my case...

I'll never make fun of you for how much ammo you carry...well maybe a little lol....but just make sure you're doing the above.

After much thought, I have decided to give up carrying my 642 and start carrying my G19 with at least 2 spare mags on me. This may sound like not much of big deal to some here on INGO, but I wear scrubs during the week, so this will take some thought on my part. I am currently trying out a shoulder holster for this. May have to spring for a G 26 if they shoulder holster doesn't work out.

Glad is thread as generated some interest.

GOOD MOVE.
Not just for ammo capacity, but because mouse guns only have one use. Deep cover.
That's it. That's all they were designed to do. You'll be much better off with a real mag load out and a sight radius that allows you to make the shots you need. Bring a real gun to the fight or go home.

 

[blueboxer]

All I have to say is:

Guncrafter Industries : 50GI Model No.1

Because occasionally, the .45 just doesn't cut it.

I kid, I kid. Totally agree with both Aaron1776 and BehindBlueLines. It seems like the solution for this officer should have been toting an extra mag or two of .45 around. Would've been my situation at least.

 

[MikeDVB]

Why does it matter and why is it even any of our business?

Just as I don't care if you carry 1 round or 1,000, why should we care what this cop chooses to carry? I just don't understand the fascination with other people's business.

 

[ModernGunner]

Well, Sgt. Gramins HAS been in a gunfight with a bad guy actively trying to kill him, and survived it, I'd probably lean more toward his new perspective. Everything else is just speculation, really.

It's usually better to get the info and training from someone who has 'been there / done that', IMO.

And a BIG to Sgt. Gramins for keeping his wits about him, and winning the day.

Man, I thought all Skokie had were those stupid Nazi-wannabe dipsticks! Don't those street gang thugs respect ANY boundaries?

 

[IndyBeerman]

And a BIG to Sgt. Gramins for keeping his wits about him, and winning the day.

Winning the day, night, hour, minute and second is the result that we all want when we have to use our firearm for defense.

If we don't win it, we don't go home to our loved one's, or people we tried to protect are worm food.

That is the end result we all strive for.

 

[Indy317]

If that isn't possible, then you need to understand that it is shot placement that matters most. The 9mm vs. .45 debate misses the point entirely. Yes, you get more 9mms in a mag. But .45s increase your chances of bringing a man down, (That's undeniable physical fact. Bigger hole + deeper penetration on average = more damage) but you get fewer of them.

I don't think the % of people being killed by 9mm, .40S&W, and .45 is that different. I also would like to see stats on those incapacitated. Each individual human is as unique as their own fingerprint. A .45 to the chest may stop one person, but not another. Thinking there is a difference could get a person killed.

I personally would want a decent hitting round, in the easiest to shoot platform, with a reasonable capacity. My Glock 23 works good for me. If I had to use a 9mm, a Glock 19 would be OK for me, but I do like the capacity of the XDm.

 

[Indy317]

Last I knew cops weren't allowed to use "suppresive fire" or warning shots. We are taught to shoot at the threat, not fire off rounds in order to keep the bad guys' heads down.

This only applies to the "warning shots" part:

Did IMPD ever give any training when they put this policy into effect?

IMPD to permit officers to fire warning shots - chicagotribune.com

 

[88E30M50]

What are everyone's thoughts on 10mm in a situation as described by the story posted by the OP? 9mm lets you carry more rounds, but you sacrifice performance through barriers with the lighter load. 10mm seems like it should give you almost the capacity of a 9mm, but while pushing a heavier bullet faster.

I've recently moved from carrying a 9mm compact to a Glock 23 in .40, but I also have a Glock 20sf in 10mm that I really like to shoot. I've shot a bunch of .45 in various sizes of 1911s and a CZ 97 and find the 10mm stuff to feel about the same to me in terms of recoil. If a person shoots the 10mm about as well as they shoot .45, would the 10mm make more sense due to the higher capacity available? Right now, when I carry the G20, I'm carrying 15+1 with one or two spare 15 round mags or 10+1 if I'm carrying the G29. There are +2 floor plates that could make the G20 a 17+1 10mm pistol, which seems like the best of both worlds as long as you shoot it well.

 

[IndyDave1776]

What are everyone's thoughts on 10mm in a situation as described by the story posted by the OP? 9mm lets you carry more rounds, but you sacrifice performance through barriers with the lighter load. 10mm seems like it should give you almost the capacity of a 9mm, but while pushing a heavier bullet faster.

I've recently moved from carrying a 9mm compact to a Glock 23 in .40, but I also have a Glock 20sf in 10mm that I really like to shoot. I've shot a bunch of .45 in various sizes of 1911s and a CZ 97 and find the 10mm stuff to feel about the same to me in terms of recoil. If a person shoots the 10mm about as well as they shoot .45, would the 10mm make more sense due to the higher capacity available? Right now, when I carry the G20, I'm carrying 15+1 with one or two spare 15 round mags or 10+1 if I'm carrying the G29. There are +2 floor plates that could make the G20 a 17+1 10mm pistol, which seems like the best of both worlds as long as you shoot it well.

It depends. If you are talking 10mm loaded to FBI standards which are not much hotter than a .40 and do not destroy guns that were not properly bulked out, you are not likely to gain much. With hot loads in a gun that can handle them, you are talking .41mag performance in an autopistol with magazines of significant capacity and rapidly reloadable. Personally, I am not giving up my .45, but would definitely not snicker at anyone opting for the 10mm.

 

[88E30M50]

I carry the Underwood 180g 1300fps rounds in my G20, but go with the Hornady 155g 1250fps XTPs in the G29. The G29 does get a bit snappy with the Underwood ammo which slows my shot to shot times more than I like. Still, even with a less than top shelf 10mm round, the G29 is putting out 551 ft/lbs of easily controlled energy with each round compared to 396 in my G23 when carrying the 175g Critical Duty rounds.

I am also of the mindset that thinks gel tests give limited value. I don't think the human body is quite as consistently soft and mushy as a block of gel. While the gel tests do a good job of predicting how bullets expand in a perfect environment, they do nothing to tell us how the bullet reacts after hitting a rib or larger bone.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

What are everyone's thoughts on 10mm in a situation as described by the story posted by the OP? 9mm lets you carry more rounds, but you sacrifice performance through barriers with the lighter load. 10mm seems like it should give you almost the capacity of a 9mm, but while pushing a heavier bullet faster.

I've recently moved from carrying a 9mm compact to a Glock 23 in .40, but I also have a Glock 20sf in 10mm that I really like to shoot. I've shot a bunch of .45 in various sizes of 1911s and a CZ 97 and find the 10mm stuff to feel about the same to me in terms of recoil. If a person shoots the 10mm about as well as they shoot .45, would the 10mm make more sense due to the higher capacity available? Right now, when I carry the G20, I'm carrying 15+1 with one or two spare 15 round mags or 10+1 if I'm carrying the G29. There are +2 floor plates that could make the G20 a 17+1 10mm pistol, which seems like the best of both worlds as long as you shoot it well.

I've never seen one used in real life, so I don't have anything to add on that front.

I've never tried the 10mm simply due to ammo availability and the fact it is sort of an oddball that never caught on. Like the .41 Magnum, its probably a great cartridge that just never got the love it deserved. If it ever becomes as ubiquitous as .45 ACP, I'd be willing to give it a go.