patrick.net

leo707 says

This guy:
http://defensivehandgun.blogspot.com/2009/07/retired-marine-thwarts-robbery-felony.html
Required seven shots to fend of two assailants who had guns on him. I dunno, maybe if there were three he would have needed more than 10 rounds...

I asked for an actual account, not a "maybe".

And here is a guy that fired 5 times to save a cop being attacked:
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/02/armed-citizen-saves-cop-in_114058863533452150.html

So why would he need a 30-round magazine, and how is that self-defense?

I have also heard of people getting in shootouts when their shop is robbed and while they fend off their attackers they fire 11+ rounds, but it is with multiple revolvers, etc. Sorry, no links though.

Sorry, links are required.
leo707 says

Oh, here is one where a guy goes through several high capacity magazines:
http://www.afn.org/~guns/ayoob.html

Interesting thing from this story is that he fired 105 shots, most of which were meant not to kill, but to put his assailants under cover until the police arrived. If he had been working with less ammo he probably would have had to shoot to kill.

O.K., but I asked if anyone has "successfully defended himself against an illegal attack, in a situation not of his own making, where a 30-round magazine was necessary." This man was not attacked. His store was being robbed, but he was not in the store. Rather than letting the police do their job, he WENT to the store to fight the robbers. Clearly a situation of his own making.

FortWayne says

A while ago there was a talk on the radio about this pregnant woman who shot the rapist who broke into her house and tried to rape her.

Of course it was on NPR so they were having a usual snobbish philosophical debate if she should go to jail or not. Either way she was found right in her actions.

Surely she didn't need a 30-round clip for that?

AIS, you are awesome.