I’m in LE and we don’t have issued weapons. We have self-purchase approved ones we can carry. Anyhoo my duty G19 is also my off-duty. I just swap mags from a 15 +5 to the standard cap mag (15rd). I’m fine with that and on occasion carry a G43 when I’m off. I have 7+1 in that.
It depends on where you live and your threat level. I live in a very low crime area and feel more than comfortable carrying a J-Frame or a small carry pistol. However, when I visit my inlaws family outside of Memphis, I carry a service pistol or a compact service pistol.
I carry either a 226 of 229 (18 or 15 in the mags, respectively). I would say I would be comfortable with fewer rounds, but that’s just what I have with me almost all of the time, including a spare mag on me. If I felt like that was overly difficult to carry I would be fine with something smaller with fewer rounds, but I would like 10 minimum in the gun I’m carrying in public. I do have a j frame I might throw on if I need to run out to feed the animals, etc.
I carry a Glock 26 more than any handgun I own, but I am going to phase in one of my G19’s here very soon for everyday carry. I used to only carry a G19, but was printing most of the time.
For me, I can’t get the minimum of 10rds out of my head. Right now my G26 has the Magpul 12-rd mag in it, and I really like that size of magazine for it. I carry a spare 17rd in my truck when at work, and then on my person if I am out and about. So anything above 10 for me. Super casual civilian.
I’m happy with my unobtanium .357 Mag J-frame which gets 60% of the carry duty. The other 40% goes to my 7+1 or 8+1 Shield 9.
I look at it this way. Road trips excluded (local only), I’m not a LEO anymore… If I think about going somewhere that I would want 10+ rounds in something, I must ask WHY I am considering going there in the first place. Most times, I just won’t go to that part of town if I can avoid doing so. Then, the Shield 9 becomes the minimum, while the 12+1 P229 in .357 Sig will probably be the first choice.
G19 16 rounds. Almost all the time. I never looked at it as why do I need to go to an area where 16 rounds might be needed. It was never a consideration. Good gun, concealable, light, good size grip, easy to shoot. Majority of smaller guns I feel like I’m trying to grip a toothpick. Not until I started reading forums around 2010 did I even hear about location dictating gun type.
But honestly I’m fine with anything over 10, or close to 10.
My daily edc is a 9mm Shield, I also often carry a P239 in 357 SIG.
I remember a lot of guys used to carry j frames. I think it comes down to your perceived level of threat in your environment.
We live in a quiet rural area, so I don’t worry too much about capacity.
My G43 with mag extension gives me 10 rds. I also carry a additional magazine with a total of 17 rounds. Overkill? Probably. The G43 just fits all my criteria for being slim, hold 10 rounds, 9mm and Glock. [emoji41]
I usually carry a 9mm 1911 loaded 9+1 with one or two 9 round reloads. If not that, then a CCO 9mm 1911 loaded 8+1 with one or two 9 round reloads. I occasionally carry a Glock 43 loaded 6+1 with one or two 6 round reloads.
To me, reliability and carryability trumps capacity. I just can’t comfortably carry or conceal a blocky double stack pistol so I stick with single stacks. I don’t try to mess with making the mags hold more because 9mm single stacks are prone to nose-diving. My reload mags on the belt are 10 rounders downloaded to 9 to facilitate easier slide forward reloading and there is a little reliability factor to a stack of 9 vs 10.