30 Super Carry in the Face of Terrorism and Mass Casualty Events

The start of 2025 has been a tumultuous one for sure. Terror attacks have happened both on our soil and abroad. Indications that more are on the way are coming in from a variety of sources. We’re about to see the start of a new presidency, which will almost certainly result in civil unrest for the coming years. As often happens at times like these, I’m seeing a lot of people start to rethink their EDC.

During times of relative calm, many of us move to more convenient choices for armament. The snub nose revolver is seeing a renaissance right now, which I think is a good thing to be clear. However these small guns allow people to become complacent due to their ease of carry. When things start to get a little rough domestically, it makes us start to rethink our carry choices. Is this snub really enough gun for the problems we may face?

Above I linked an article from Greg Ellifritz speaking on this subject. Read it. I won’t get into detail about the potential for violence here, as Greg does a much better job on the subject than I could currently. However I will share a quote of his that wonderfully articulates the changing nature of the threat. “I’ve written numerous articles about how I feel comfortable carrying a small snub revolver in my low crime neighborhood. No more. You may not be dealing with the lone crackhead robber anymore. If you have to fight against multiple motivated terrorists armed with explosives and long guns, your .38 snub is the wrong tool for the job.”

The Right Tool for the Job?

So the snub might not be our most optimal choice moving forward. Of course there’s room for nuance here based upon your situation, but carrying something more capable when possible is a good course of action. Unfortunately I’ve been seeing a lot of moaning online about how hard it is to carry a bigger gun. Curiously, many of these folks used to beat the “A Glock 19 is the minimum standard for carry” drum with passion. Much of this crowd has now moved from Roland Specials and AR-15’s to snub revolvers and shotguns as their preferred tools for self defense. I’m guilty of this as well.

Where I differ from these people is how I navigate balancing convenience and capability. I’ve written extensively about .30 Super Carry and my experiences with it over the past year or more. For those worrying about needing more firepower while also bellyaching about comfort, 30SC is literally the answer to your woes. It offers comparable performance to 9×19 with improved capacity, while fitting into a relatively small package. The Smith & Wesson Shield Plus holds 16+1 with it’s “extended” magazine, and 13+1 in the smaller flush fit magazine. That’s effectively a Glock 17 in a package smaller and more shootable than a Glock 48.

To the Naysayers

The primary complaint I see when 30 Super Carry comes up is the price and availability of ammunition. Absolutely 30SC is more expensive and less common than 9×19, that’s the case for virtually every other pistol load except for .22LR. If we want to price and availability to improve, then you have to support it, as I have been saying for over a year now. I understand the concerns. I’ve spent a lot of money on .30 Super Carry ammunition out of my own pocket. If you want a cheaper alternative to train with, pick up an equivalent gun in 9×19, then carry the higher capacity 30SC pistol. Their shooting characteristics are nearly identical, so you won’t build any training scars.

People are wishing for things to magically improve without doing anything to make it improve. That only serves to make things worse. Firearm and ammunition manufacturers don’t operate on dreams and good intentions. They need to see profits to continue supporting this load. Talk is cheap, business isn’t, so show your support with your wallet. We’ve seen this in the real world. 10MM has come back from the brink due to more support from shooters. Several manufacturers will be introducing new .32 caliber revolver loads this year at SHOT thanks to the .32 revival of 2024 from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Taurus. We can do the same thing with 30SC if we get off our asses and materialize support.

Wrapping Up 30 Super Carry in the Face of Terrorism and Mass Casualty Events

Our country is continuing to change, as is the nature of the threats we face everyday. While the gun isn’t the only tool we have at our disposal, it is one of the more immediate and easy things to modify to provide us with more options. If you’re someone who can’t or won’t strap a full size pistol on, I highly suggest you look into something such as a S&W Shield Plus in .30 Super Carry to help bridge the gap of convenience and capability. Of course something in 9mm of the same size will also perform similarly, but with reduced capacity.

Don’t forget that protecting yourself and your loved ones doesn’t stop with your pistol, nor does it begin there either. Situational awareness, less lethal tools, fitness, medical equipment, and more are all critical. This is just one component of an entire repertoire of skills and equipment.

If you are interested in learning more about what .30 Super Carry has to offer, check out some of my other articles on the subject.

A Primer on 30 Super Carry | Gel Testing, Drills, and More

Reasons to Support 30 Super Carry

Smith & Wesson Shield Plus in .30 Super Carry Review [2024]

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