"Once upon a time I was a young investigator and our duty gun was the SW model 36, a 5 shot 38. We carried 2 speed loaders for a toral of 15 rounds. Sometimes I would carry a few extra loose rounds in the pocket, but I always felt well armed. I could hit a gallon jug at 100 yards with that gun att least 60% of the time. You get good with what you have. Head shots at 50 yards were no big deal. The entire New York Police department carried 5 and 6 shot 38s until 1994. I rode with DC officers in the 70s who carried the SW model 10 with ball ammo. No shotgun or long gun in the car whatsoever back then."
"Point being, people do not learn to shoot and they have so much fear they often carry 30-40rounds on their person for self defense. An officer in a high crime area, sure carry a couple spare mags, or if you live in Chicago, carry a spare mag. But people who live in normal area and carry 40 rounds to go t the grocery store, that is just too much fear and not enough confidence in their ability. Has anybody on hear ever heard of a self defense shooting where the good guy fired more than 6 rounds?"
I understand completely. I used to carry a 6" barreled Colt in .357 Magnum with a total of 18 rounds (six in the cylinder and two speedloaders full of 125-grain SJHP ammunition. It was heavy, but it worked.
Later, I carried a Glock 20 with two extra magazines. I could outshoot the kids with their 9mm pistols and still carry the big gun all day without discomfort.
I usually spoke kindly with people and managed to disuade unlawful behavior, (even in the rough sections of my patrol). There were times that teenagers caught the brunt of my august dipleasure when they pulled stunts that endangered themselves and the public.
When I carried in private, I didn't feel the need to carry a boatload of ammunition. The baleful glare of an armed man with a loaded revolver or pistol pointed at them would generally convince then to calm down and comply.