[Fun2Shoot]

My first personal self defense handgun was a .32acp Walther that my father gave me when I moved out of state as a young man. Better than a tire iron, I thought at the time and it was free.

My first new SD firearm that I laid down my money for a few years later was a High Standard 22mag 2-shot derringer that I wore on my leg or in a wallet-type holster.

Both of these guns are below my minimum standards of today. They are either too under-powered, are too few rounds available or just plain unreliable.

After three decades of handgun knowledge gained from both my personal experience and the knowledge and experiences of respected others, the absolute MINUMUM handgun that I will stake a life on would be a:

Bersa Thunder .380 or a snubby .38 +P revolver. No less is enough for me.

The .380 in a reliable small frame like the Bersa with it's 7-shot magazine and the S&W snubby .38 +P with 5 shots are the point at which, due to power and round count, I will NOT cross below.

What's YOUR true, real life and death, minimum self-defense handgun and why?

[Waywatcher]

A 17HMR snubby in my hand beats my 12 gauge at home.

But I dont own a gun less than 9mm. ;)

[rustymaggot]

well, considering the only handgun i own you guys would consider worth using for hd i absolutely refuse to give up for even a second, so its locked safely away. it was my fathers gun and he passed away when i was a kid. i will never use it for anything that would risk its confiscation. even for a second.

so for me its my ruger mark I. if you count pistol caliber carbines, then my m1 carbine is the go to choice.

EDIT: oh yeah, and why.....

aguilla sss .22lr ammo gets average of 9 inches into gelatin from a pistol. and thats after the bullets tumble and turn sideways and all that. pretty decent wound for a 22.

[Tomac]

I currently have an Inox Tomcat in .32acp that I consider my personal lower limit although I generally prefer a more powerful cartridge (the .32 was used by the German police for many years w/no complaint). The Tomcat has the advantage of *always* being w/me when carrying something bigger/heavier is inconvenient or impractical.
Tomac

[tegemu]

I am a 1911 .45 ACP man but I feel comfortable with 9MM or .38.

[McCall911]

So far, it's been a minimum of .380 for me also. I suppose it's because I felt more comfortable with the slight edge in caliber and bullet weight over the .32 ACP. Still, the .32 has held a certain amount of fascination for me and I wouldn't rule out buying a moderate-to-low-priced, but decent handgun in this caliber.
So hurry up, W-2's! I think I've got plans for my income tax refund!
:D

[Baba Louie]

Whereas I prefer something a little bigger, a .22 in the hand, knowing that I can place 6 - 10 shots accurately is somewhat comforting. Hopefully, said recipient of the small (but accurate) barrage will not be under the influence of pain/stimulus numbing narcotic, cause it'll take awhile for his blood pressure to drop. I've shot deer through the lung/heart w/ a .30-30 and had to track a blood trail approx 100 yds before, which leads me to think that anything short of a 12 ga at point blank range into the central nerve system allows plenty of opportunity for return fire from a determined adversary no matter what he is shot with.

Then again, there might be more than one aggressor on the scene. So the more rounds of a larger caliber available, the better I think I'd feel.

Actual day to day carry is 5 rds of .357 or .38+P in a model 60 or 7 rds of .45 in a 1911 SA Champion. I'm quite certain that if I knew I was going to need to use either, I'd want two of each in a larger caliber and a friend or two with same backing me up.

Several years back here in LV, an off duty LEO was attacked in a convenience store parking lot by a group of angry young men due to his breaking up a beer run they had planned on pulling off. During the melee in the parking lot, wherein he was physically attacked by several disappointed and angry teens, said Officer finally managed to pull out his BUG (a .22 revolver) whereupon he shot one of the yout's. It took 5 - 6 hrs for the now not so angry young thug to expire, but... his shooting did stop the attack (they all fled the scene).

In another instance here in LV, several LEO's were off duty at a local tavern, enjoying refreshing adult beverages listening to a local band (comprised of other off duty LEO's of a musical bent) when a young ner-do-well or two burst in with guns in hand intent on robbing the place. One very brave off duty LEO, who was willing to be a good witness until he realized that the yout was about to shoot someone, pulled out his BUG (a .25acp I recall reading) and went toe to toe (actual touching distance) with the misguided yout who had a .40 caliber something-or-other. While the LEO was shot several times he did live, whereas the robber expired (but I do believe he did so in the parking lot IIRC).

So where I think bigger is better, training and mindset is apparently at the top of the list.

[Autolycus]

For me nothing below .38 caliber in a handgun.

I personally prefer the .40 S&W but your views may vary.

[armoredman]

9mm, power floor for CCW, just my opinion.

[Ala Dan]

Rarely seen anymore, a Iver Johnson TP-22 in .22LR. I no longer have it,
as it was taken by the perp that car jacked my wife back in OCT. of '94.
Never ever malfunctioned, and cost a measley $124. Wish I had it back.

[Snarlingiron]

15 or more rounds of 9mm (minimum). I carry a Glock 19.

[dhoomonyou]

9mm or 38 spl.

[Phillip Allen]

anything...it gives an edge but doesn't cure the problem...that is MY responsibility...not Smith and Wesson's

[jad0110]

I'm definitely not one of those guys that feels uncomfortable with anythng less than a 50AE.

Honestly, I'd take ANY gun, period. 45 or 17, doesn't matter, it beats throwing rocks and sticks!

That being said, I feel comfortable with any medium or large bore cartridge with good quality ammo. Affordability and availability do figure in, so 32 H&R Mag isn't an option for me, as good of a round as it may be.

My favorite SD round is the humble 38 Special in +P guise. Loaded with the FBI Load (158 grain Lead Semiwadcutter Hollopoint), it will get the job done as good as any other handgun round - with proper shot placement of course, like anything else.

[TOADMAN]

38spl+P from a 2 inch barrel..

[The Lone Haranguer]

9mm in a pistol and .38 Spl in a revolver is my personal minimum standard. These will increase the likelihood of stopping an attack over lesser cartridges. I would consider a little .32 or .380 as a backup or "last resort" gun, however. With small but still eminently shootable guns like the Kahr PM9 there is little reason to carry an even smaller gun.

[Old Fuff]

When I knew Bill Jordan, The Border Patrol's shooting ace, he sometimes carried a lightweight S&W snubby chambered in .22 WRM. :what: as a back-up. But he could shoot fast and hit exactly where he intended to.

I don't trust the rimfires because of potential ignition problems, but I have carried a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket pistol, as well as a Baby Browning on occasion. I am very confortable with a .32 or .38 snubby, with or without Plus-P ammunition. Regardless of the ammunition/caliber used, stopping an attack depends on bullet placement, not necessarily size.

Note the recent case in New York City, where several police officers using 9mm Glock pistols with high performance(?) ammunition shot a suspect 13 times...

And he survived. :scrutiny:

[AirForceShooter]

.380 is the smallest round I'd consider for CCW. After that rocks work

AFS

[mountainclmbr]

I usually carry either a Para Ord 12.45 for 13 rounds of .45 total or a Kahr MK40 for pocket carry if I can't conceal the .45. I would feel comfortable down to .38 or 9mm, but prefer larger cal. The Glock 19 would not be a bad choice either due to capacity of the normal magazines.

[KINGMAX]

I have a small .25 auto Davis Derringer that I use as a' Rest - Stop special'. I slip it into my watch packet, pull a T-shirt over it when I go into a Rest-Room or reststop area. I have even put it into a plastic soap dish when using showers at campgrounds and parks.

I do have a 22 magnum six shooter that is pretty mean w/ one of the Hornaday 49 gr. bullets. OUCH It is moving fast, it will SPLAT ****** six times.

As the norm, I carry a GLOCK 21 in .45 acp. for SD.

[jem375]

That's easy..........9x19mm

[bpisler]

38spl +P's in a small revolver or 9mmP +P's
in a small semi-auto.

[SnWnMe]

Anything that spits out a bullet is better than a melee weapon.

[420Stainless]

I carry a .380 with me most of the time. I've often considered the purchase of a small NAA in .22 WMR, but have thus far been satisfied to own only one pocket handgun. At home its a dog, shotgun, and .45, but I really don't expect to meet many folks in the street that are so determined to get what I have that multiple hits will be required to deter them. I suppose there is always the possibility of running into a suicidal nut, but I don't really factor them into my selection process.

[chipp]

22lr

[Redneck with a 40]

I personally will not own anything less than 40 S&W caliber for home defense. I'm well practiced with this cartridge, I'm an accurate shot.:D
If you're talking a revolver, its a 357 mag with 125 grain JHP's.

[fastbolt]

I also have a personal preference for a 'minimum' caliber & weapon being a .38 Special J-frame.

It's mostly been a +P rated 642-1 which I originally ordered new from the factory (when I finally decided to try an Airweight), and which has been loaded with either 158gr LHP +P or more recently the Speer 135gr GDHP +P.

Occasionally, however, I'll carry a nice M37 Airweight which isn't rated for +P, and in which I've been using the new version of the Winchester 110gr STHP until I decide if I desire something else in the way of standard pressure .38 loads.

I don't have anything against a good quality .380 ACP loaded with one of the heavier HP bullet loads for the caliber, as long as it functions well, but I already have a selection of small 9mm pistols which I prefer. I'll never likely feel the urge to invest in another .380 ACP, but I can understand the folks that do select quality examples of them.

The importance of preparation in the way of awareness, knowledge, skill and mindset on the part of the shooter/user is seemingly sometimes overlooked in the search for 'caliber' ... but the importance of consistently reliable functioning, in both the ammunition & the firearm, in normal conditions, really can't be overstated, either.

[browningguy]

My minimum is any handgun that fires.

If all I have at hand is one of the .22's I'm not going to give up because it isn't a .40. My regular carry gun is a BHP practical in .40, but I also have a Bersa .380 and Browning and Beretta .25's that I have been known to carry when that was best for the particular application.

[Sistema1927]

Back before NM had CCW, and also pre-CCW in other states, I would carry either an NAA .22 magnum or a Kel-Tec P32. Either of these could be "deep concealed" in such a fashion as to never be discovered except by a thorough search. This was the "any gun beats no gun" approach.

Now, with CCW, I typically carry a Kahr PM9 in a pocket holster. This is due to the fact that a tell-tale bulge in the wrong pants won't gt me locked up. Note, however, that the PM9 conceals very well, and it only when I am sloppy that there is a chance that I would be "made". Seven rounds of 9x19 and an additional seven rounds in the off-hand pocket meets my daily needs. If I was expecting a fight I would always carry a rifle.

[FourTeeFive]

.380 from an accurate gun (Sig P232 or similar). CorBon has some particularly hot .380 rounds available.

[DMK]

9mm +P in an auto would be the least I'm comfortable with and only with really good ammo like a Gold Dot, but all my carry guns are .40 or .45

38 Special +P 135gr. Speer Gold Dot in a J-frame revolver (and only because I couldn't shoot a 357 j-frame to save my life). In a full size revolver, K-frame and up, I want .357 or something that starts with .4.

I have a bunch of 32ACP guns and a 9x18 Mak, but those are range toys only. I wouldn't trust one for SD if I had the choice and would never use an HP in those calibers

[possum]

i own three .40 handguns, but that dosen't mean that I wouldn't carry a 9mm, but that is where i draw my line, i would definetly trust the safety of myself and my loved ones with a 9mm, especially with the right type of ammo.

[Black Majik]

9mm for me. It's all about how well you shoot the gun and shot placement. Though I will admit my preferred cartridge is .45ACP I don't mind 9mm either. I'm confident and comfortable with both that I have a higher probability of hitting my target than some other round I'm not familiar with (such as .40S&W, .357 SIG etc...)

.40S&W is a great round, but I never warmed up to it. If I did like that roud to shoot and practice with, I'd easily carry a gun chambered in .40S&W.

For a guy that like 1911s in .45 ACP so much, 90% of the time I'm carrying a 9mm. :evil:

[ForeverArmed]

As has been said already, any gun beats no gun at all. So if all I had available was a .22LR pistol, I'd take it.

What's the minimum I'd feel somewhat comfortable with? I think .380 is about right.

[Cousin Mike]

...my personal limit for a SD cartridge. I've got some Corbon 9mm +P for my Beretta that claims 1350 fps/466 ft. lbs... Sounds alright to me. My preference in auto cartridges is .357Sig, with .45ACP at a close 2nd. My home defense gun is a .45 - my carry gun is a .357Sig.

My .45 load is the Hornady TAP (950 fps/461ft. lbs, 230 grain +P).

My .357 load is the Speer Gold Dot (1375fps/561ft. lbs, 125 grain).

I shoot .45 very well... I'm a little better than "good enough" with .357Sig, but getting better with time and practice. I can hit what I'm aiming at - within 10-15 yards I'm just as accurate with either... At farther distances, those groups spread a little when shooting the Sig round. ;) If I wanted to shoot bullseye, I'd definitely have to go with the .45ACP. I shoot tighter groups @ 50" with the .45 than with 9mm... and I'm pretty okay with a 9mm.

[461]

Rule #1. Have a gun. I don't recall a sub rule #1a stating "only if it's a50BMG or larger". :)

[Clipper]

I don't leave the house without my KT.380. I may or may not also have the PT-145 on me, but the KT goes wherever I do...

[salvador31c]

I've carried a 22lr at times but I feel more confident with my 9mm

[KINGMAX]

My normal carry in the truck is a GLOCK 21 when alone. On out of town trips, it will be the GLOCK 21, TARUS 5-shot .38 spl my back up pocket pistol , and my wife will carry her Charter Arms Undercover .38 spl, and all loaded w/ Winchester Silver Tip hollow points.

[ripcurlksm]

1911 .45 ACP with HP ammo - see here (http://psylicyde.com/eclipse-front.jpg)

[10-Ring]

I have a 25 cal that I call my "false sense of security" :D But really as comfort levels go, I prefer 38 special as a minimum.

[Stevie-Ray]

.32 ACP is minimum, as my KT P-32 is my constant pocket companion. Normally I also carry at least 9mm, most times .45 ACP, rarely 10mm.

[JD_LION]

45LC, I don't take chances:)

[wcwhitey]

I was not always pleased that I am mandated to carry off-duty a .38 steel frame S&W, 640 to be exact. My duty Sig 226 is just too big to conceal effectively. Over the years with practice and trying probably 20 holsters we have become best friends. We travel together 24/7 as Off Duty or BUG. I started with the ISSUED 38 SWC, graduated to 38 SWC +P's, then NYCLAD .38 SWCHP +P's and now the 135 Grain Gold Dot short barrel +P's. Good ammo is important. I would not feel safe with any less of a gun or caliber. Is it the best, probably not, but it has been there when needed. Fill in the blank for your personal choice. I really don't think it matters as long as you can shoot it well and feel confident with it. I have interviewed many perps who have told me that they have passed up potential victims because they looked confident and aware of their surroundings. They look for weakness. If a .22 puts starch in your spine it may save your butt without you ever knowing it. LOL Bill

[Rod B]

9mm Luger & .38 Special.

[Surefire]

I feel fine with a .380 ACP, especially in a Cheetah. Mine has been 100 percent reliable. I'd say a .380 is very marginally passing... only if the SHTF and nothing else is available.

However.... given the choice... I prefer .38 spl +p or 9mm as a minimum. Frankly, if I have time to grab my top choice, it would be a .357 magnum revolver or a .45 ACP semi-auto. Or better yet a 12 gauge with 00 buck.



With tiny 9mms popping up like the baby Kahrs, to me, the .22 LR and .25 ACP mouse guns are expensive paper weights. And the .32 ACP rat guns only slightly more useful.

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not a semi-auto guy but the 7.65mm Browning or 9X17mm Short would be fine I'm sure. In a revolver, either a .32 H&R Magnum or .38 Special will do the job well.

HEY, anything is better than a knife, no? Even a 6.35mm Browning...

[aaronrkelly]

My miniumum......KelTec P3AT. .380 is sufficient at self-defense ranges, atleast enough for me. The gun is small.....smaller than alot of .32s and .25s

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/keltec.jpg



My wifes......Walther P22. Its the only gun shes currently comfortable with and Im not going to rush it. I know .22lr sucks big for self-defense but with some hi-velocity .22s its better than harsh words. The only other thing the Walther has going for it is its tactical appearance. Some unknowing crook may not take the time to notice its a .22 pistol.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/waltherp22.jpg

[Mat, not doormat]

The smallest thing that I will carry by choice, as a primary, is .45 acp in an auto, or .44 special in a revolver. The funny thing is that those two rounds are also my power ceiling for a handgun, as much more than that, such as .44 mag, or some such, and you start reaching a point of diminishing returns with controllability. I do however also have a P-32 that rides my hip pocket, most of the time, as a last ditch effort before resorting to throwing rocks. Now, if both .44 and .45 are in the shop, or some such (god forbid!) thereby not allowing me the choice of carrying them, I'll progress on down the list of other stuff I've got.

Conclusion, the biggest non-magnum I can lay hands on is what gets carried. No one ever got into a gunfight, whilst carrying a full size big bore, and thought: "Gee, I just realized how marginal a handgun can really be in a defensive situation, I sure wish I'd left this big belt anchor at home and packed my .25 today!"

~~~Mat

[Sir Aardvark]

The smallest I currently carry is .38+P.

I would consider a 9mm, but I wouldn't go any smaller than that.

For my wife, I would consider a .380ACP - something like a SIG - but only because something that small would be about all that she could handle.

[R127]

I've seen a lot of folks shot so I don't have the hangups and uncertainties many other people do. Guns as a rule are serious weapons, shot placement counts the most and having a larger pistol doesn't mean you can afford much in the way of worse placement.

With that out of the way I carried a Bobcat in .22 for a while. Even out of this pipsqueek gun the round can be dangerous but not enough for me to be comfortable with it. I like .22lr a little more when fired from the longer barrel of the P22, a favorite of my wife's as well(and she can handle a .357mag no prob), but still not enough to treat it as a daily carry. The bottom line is that .22lr is on my no-go list for two legged predators.

If we step up to a .22mag out of a Black Widow or better yet a Mini Master I'm a lot more confident. .22mag out of a Black Widow has the same muzzle velocity of .22lr out of a rifle and it'll definately tear the monkey out of what it hits. The main problem here is just the limitations of the guns, single action and low capacity. The Taurus 941 offers more shots and double action but is much bigger.

After trying a lot of different handguns I finally settled on a Makarov in 9x18 as my daily carry. It wasn't all about the caliber, it was about the gun. I wanted something that held enough bullets to get the job done, was reliable, accurate, would hold up to a lot of regular range use so I can stay in practice, and be reasonably quick to reload while still riding comfortably in my pocket... all in a gun that fires a respectable cartridge. I had a Kahr MK9 for a while but sold it as I didn't like the short working life of the mainspring. Anyway, from .22mag on up to 9x18mak I prefer to alternate hollowpoints and fmj in the same mag to get a mix of penetration and expansion, there should be some combination thereof the badguy will respect by the time the mag runs dry. From 9x19 on up I'm comfortable going with all hp.

[mjb]

For me the minimum for SD is either a .380 or a .38spl non +P HP. In the winter I usually carry my Kahr K40. During the other seasons I usually carry a 1968 Colt Cobra or my .380 Colt Mustang Pocketlite.
At home I perfer my Ithaca 37 16 guage and either a Colt 10mm or a .45acp.

[BOOM-BOOM]

I carry a S&W 457 45acp. and a Rossi 461 357mag as a back-up... No mouse guns for me.... Enough said....

[MCgunner]

38spl +P's in a small revolver or 9mmP +P's
in a small semi-auto.

Ditto, sometimes due to circumstances I have to carry a .380, but I don't like to. I'll take a hot .357 magnum over ANY caliber that starts with a 4 for self defense against humans, even out of a 3" barrel. But, in a house at night, I'd rather have a milder muzzle blast.

[miko]

.40 or .357 in a primary.

At least 38 Sp +P in a backup snub.

miko

[tinygnat219]

.380 is the smallest round I will ever consider carrying. It's a compromise round and barely "suitable" for self-defense. However, certain loads can be REALLY nice. It's carried in a Kel-Tec P3AT with the mag extension and a reload.

Regular carry is 45ACP. 185 Grain JHP in a Taurus 745C.

Seriously, all these posts with the .32 ACP, the .22 Magnum and .22 LR really tends to make me flinch. WHY are folks going with these anemic cartridges? Seriously, what's the attraction?

[BOOM-BOOM]

The same can be said for your 380...Its a mouse gun too.

[SniperStraz]

I don't prefer it, but thats the smallest one I'd consider truely helpful in a SD situation. It may not do much, but it will do something. I've heard of .22s bouncing off of people so I'm gonna stay away from there. As for the .25 and .32 theres no way to be sure that you arn't going to make the BG even more mad. Just my .02

[bruss01]

The smallest I am willing to carry for defense is 9mm/38sp.

The smallest I am comfortable with is 9mm +P or 38 sp +P

My sweet spot for comfort is .45 ACP +P or .357 magnum. I also feel ok with .44 special. though not quite as OK as with the .45 ACP.

Below .38 special, you're just going to annoy anyone big enough to be a real threat (to me, that it). Unless just the sight of a gun gives them the heebie jeebies, but in that case the caliber of the hole isn't going to make any difference anyway. Not a factor I want to rely on. Below 9mm/38 sp, I have a feeling that the handgun would be more trouble than it's worth in terms of "gun free zones" and all the legal hoopla involved, and wouldn't have sufficient stopping power to be worth the effort, plus anything less will bring a false sense of security without the power to back it up.

I'll admit my judgements are based more in my impressions and emotional response than in hard objective data, but I don't think these opinions will do anyone harm if they adopt them.

[19-3Ben]

.380 acp. first round is FMJ. next 7 are gold dots.

[Plink]

I draw the line at 9mm, myself. 9mm handguns have gotten downright tiny, and quite easy to conceal. I don't see the need to go any smaller and possibly sacrifice performance when my life is on the line. If I could carry a full sized gun, I certainly would. A carry gun isn't supposed to be comfortable, it's supposed to be comforting, so I want as much self protection as I can conceal. Concealment is my biggest issue.

[Juna]

Personally, I'm thinking about getting a Kel-Tec P32 versus a Bersa Thunder .380 for CC. From the ballistic tests I've seen, FMJ .32 ACP is pretty close to FMJ .380 ACP, and they both aren't too hot with HP loads. .32 ACP doesn't do too badly with FMJ in ballistic gelatin, from what I've seen. Plus, a KT P32 can fit in my pocket with ANY clothing in ANY weather. Rule #1: Have a gun.

I'd carry my CZ 75, but it's a bit large sometimes for certain types of clothing and I'd worry about printing. I also love .45 ACP, but I don't yet have a 1911 b/c of ammo prices (I'm broke, hence the 9mm).

[jac714]

I'm a .45 ACP 1911 guy but at a minimum I vote with the 9mm/38 special pistol/revolver crowd.

My real comfort level is a commander sized 1911.

[crashm1]

I seem to be a .45 guy as anything else tends to get sold. I have two that could be carry guns if it was legal in WI.:fire: A Kimber Carry II, comfy and pretty darn concealable and a Springfield 1911 Loaded full size. I do have a S&W Model 19 I could carry but it's not particularly comfy and no lighter than the 1911s and leaves me with fewer rounds and a longer reload so why bother. If I could actually find a 9mm that I liked for more than a few hundred rounds I would be comfy with that but so far that has proved to be an elusive quest.

[Brian Williams]

Normal CCW is a S&W centennial in either 38Spec or 9mm, I do not think that anybody would want to be downrange of me with my 22s either.

[Glockfan.45]

Smallest I own that I would use is a 9mm.

[James NM]

My minimum CC weapon is a Keltec P3AT.

My minimum HD weapon is a 12 gauge.

[Steve2237]

Ninesillymeter at least.

[Geronimo45]

Anything upwards of a BB gun. The .25 ACP and anything above. The 5.7mm and 4.6mm from FN and HK.
No objection to .22LR or .17 HMR/Mach - in revolvers, anyhow. Just don't trust rimfires like I do centerfires. Maybe a .17 revolver from Taurus.

[Black Snowman]

My minimum CC weapon is a Keltec P3AT.
My minimum HD weapon is a 12 gauge.

To add, I use flat point FMJ ammo (WWB) in my P3AT to maximize pentration while still getting some sort of wound cavity.

[Glockfan.45]

While 9mm is the least I would use, .380 is the bare minimum IMO.

[GaryP]

;) Shot placement is what saves your Bacon! For me .22WMR would be the absolute minimum but I generally carry .44Spl with a BUG (NAA Black Widow) in .22WMR. When I need to dress up I go with a PPK/s in .32ACP, HK USP45C, or Colt CC .45ACP and always my faithful BUG (Black Widow) in .22WMR. When jogging it is usually just the NAA Black Widow in .22WMR.
I never feel under gunned! :)

:evil:

[Dr.Rob]

.380 or .38 Special.

Use what you have, use what you shoot well. If that's a .22 rifle, it's better than a sharp stick.

[WarMachine]

.380 for pistols and .38 Special for revolvers.

[usp9]

Won't carry anything less than a .22 or bigger than a .500.

[hkenvy91]

hands down my h&k usp45c!but i can work with a nice 6-7shot 357 in a medium frame.ive carried mine b4

[DaltonSpringfield]

A Keltec P3AT (http://www.kel-tec.com/p3at.html)
For me it's the last line of defense, but also the one I always carry. I can't beat it for a BUG, 7 rounds of .380acp in about the size of a cigarette pack. I always have mine in my hip pocket. I have a few friends that carry the Keltec P32 as a BUG as well. It sure beats going unarmed. My P3AT and a close friend's P32 didn't require any work at all to be 100% reliable and only a little hold modification to achieve suitable accuracy. Our rule is the gun you have with you when you need it is the best gun for the job.
Dalton

[CZ-100]

I don't leave the house without my KT.380. I may or may not also have the PT-145 on me, but the KT goes wherever I do...


EXACLTY!!!! Same guns I carry.

[_N4Z_]

My minimum is .38special, +p lhp, because that is the minimum I have. :D

[RockyMtnTactical]

.380 or 9X18, although I don't feel terribly confident with anything less than 9x19.

[Ben Shepherd]

Regardless of caliber, 500 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy. That puts my floor right at say, a 158 grain 357 load.

That's my criteria.

[SolaScriptura139]

9mm would be the minimum of what I would want to carry, but I would still feel somewhat comfortable with any gun (within reason), even a .22. Almost anything is better than nothing.

[distra]

Doesn't really matter which gun as long as the caliber begins with 4 and ends with 5 :D

[ARTiger]

For the last 4 months I've carried a Glock 29. Have to admit it's become a favorite, plastic and all. Also, I find I can conceal and carry it comfortably in situations and with clothes I didn't expect possible. My old standby BUG/Summer carry gun is an SP 101.

I also have a .380 Bersa that I like a lot, but would not be entirely comfortable with it in a self-defense situation and choose not to carry it since I have 2 better alternatives. Also, I have an older AMT Backup .380 that's been 100% reliable for me. Disappears in the back pocket of a pair of jeans, but again, why do that when I can have a .357 or 10mm along for the ride?

[berettashotgun]

22lr is the min. But the Spyderco:evil: and good training enables me to feel better prepared mentally anyways. Never shot any 17 rimfire, but would love a NAA in the 17HMR, use a NAA mini revolver already. The Beretta 22 auto's would work excellent for me- at 5 yards it's all in a 4" square. I just despise getting my cute little pistols sweaty- my 84f corroded under the nickle on the aluminum alloy frame.

[hemiram]

That's why I passed on a nice nickel 84 I saw recently. It was just begining to have some of the plating flake around the back of the slide rails. I saw a used blue 84 with 3 mags at Gander yesterday, for $499!!! Insane. It wasn't anywhere new looking, but was in decent shape. I would have given them 300for the gun and another 50 for the two new, in the box mags, no more.

[twolf811]

.38 +P for Carry
9mm or 45 for Home

[M.E.Eldridge]

Well, leaving out the "_______in hand is better than __________ at home", I only own practical handguns in two calibers: 9mm and .45ACP. So, 9mm, is as low as I go.

[Mat, not doormat]

Doesn't really matter which gun as long as the caliber begins with 4 and ends with 5

So, which do you carry, .405 Winchester, or .455 Webley?

~~~Mat

[berettashotgun]

Colt sent England several thousand 1911's chambered in 455 webley in the early stages of WW1

[shadowalker]

The smallest I'd carry as a primary weapon would be a 9mm with good 124 grain hollow points. I'm far more comfortable with a .40 S&W, .45 ACP or 10mm.

[jfernett119]

.38 is the smallest I will ever go. I usually carry a 1911 in .45.

[SAG0282]

Just bought a Bersa Thunder .380 and love it. Would not want to carry by choice anything smaller.

[buck00]

Nothing less than .45

[md7]

minimum of .38 or .9mm. Don't own either though. 40 is my pick. A .45 would be fine with me too. To each his own.

[Geno]

In winter, you need more umph to get through heavy winter coats. Also, I never carry just one.

Winter:
Primary: Series 70 (.45 ACP)
Back-up 1: G19C (9MM)
Back-up 2: P3AT (.380)

Summer:
Primary: G19C (9MM)
Back-up 1: P3AT (.380)
Back-up 2: NAA (.22 Mag)

Doc2005

[DirksterG30]

My minimum caliber is .380ACP; I only carry that (Keltec P3AT) when I can't carry anything larger. When I can carry something larger, I go with 9x19 or .45ACP.

[Zero_DgZ]

I figure my locked breech .32 (Kel-Tec P32) is about the lowest I'd go. Not sure if I'd want to throw .32's out of a straight blowback with that short of a barrel... I used to carry a .25 mainly for grins, but after shooting it at a variety of targets I promply relgated it to fun gun duty and not self defense.

I kept it in a cheapo Uncle Mike's left hand waistband holster (I'm right handed) which my boss asked me about one day. This was back when it was the only pistol I owned. My reply was that the gun was on the weak side so I could make enough smoke and noise with it to distract while I stuck the enemy with my knife from my strong hand.

He thought it the best plan for that caliber.

I've carried .22's on occasion but usually for smaller critters than thugs. With the .22 I'd be more confident that I could put seven or eight between a BG's eyes in short order than the .25 or .32, though. I'd drill a hole through him eventually...

[boerseun]

I'm a pretty big guy at 250lbs - and the question I always ask myself is this:
"Would I go stand at the pointy end of a .22LR and let someone shoot at me before running?"

I've carried .22 as a primary before - it was my very first carry gun because I already had it when I came of age. The kind of criminals we had to deal with was a bit more "determined" than the garden variety I see here in the US - a friend of mine saved his bacon with a .22 derringer. The one time it failed him? They were waiting behind a door in his house and chopped him in the head with a wood axe.

So my personal bottom limit would be a .22lr derringer. If all I had was a dang air pistol, well, as mentioned, it beats tossing rocks.

On a lighter note...a company in S. Africa used to make air pistols for self defense. In .22 cal I believe. It looked exactly like a regular pistol. The regime, in it's constant fight to disarm law abiding citizens and arm criminals, enacted a registration process that included firearms and air powered weapons alike.
Nice...

[Tezcatlipoca]

Minimum of 9x19



By choice : 10mm auto


If i need a good medium choice 45ACP or 40

[deputy tom]

I too have relied on nothing but a .22 or a Spyderco knife on occaission but prefer a .38 Spl. +P 158 gr LSWCHP.YMMV.tom.:cool:

[universal]

I would prefer to not have to use anything less than a .38 Special, but if need be, I would settle for a .22. I am sure that with enough practice, one could learn to hit well enough with it to make it effective.

[BOOM-BOOM]

Winter or Summer? Primary or for back-up?
In winter, you need more umph to get through heavy winter coats. Also, I never carry just one.

Winter:
Primary: Series 70 (.45 ACP)
Back-up 1: G19C (9MM)
Back-up 2: P3AT (.380)

Summer:
Primary: G19C (9MM)
Back-up 1: P3AT (.380)
Back-up 2: NAA (.22 Mag)

Doc2005
__________________


DOC. Where do you live that you feel you have to carry, three guns..:eek:

[ramon]

When I was a prosecutor, a long time ago, I had a case with a drunk sailor who fired two shots from a .22 revolver. He missed the guy he was shooting at about two feet away and killed a fellow sitting on a barstool behind the first guy. The second shot went about 18 feet and thru the neck of some poor soul at the other end of the bar, second death with just two bad .22 shots. Convinced me, ANY gun is lethal.( I carry a small hammerles .38, by the way.:what: ::what: :what:

[boerseun]

A lot of folks underestimate .22lr
It is a killer. If you want to do something small, stealthy and quiet, do it with a .22lr.
It is cheap to practice with, low pressure and if you know what you are doing, just as deadly as the magic bullet.
The little .22 pills do some weird things inside the body, twists around and bounces off stuff...messy.

[Sniper X]

Im inot big si I'd say absolute minimum is .380 in my PPK, but usually carry either PRoCarry or Ultra Carry in .45acp.

[tuckerdog1]

Sometimes, a NAA 22 mag.

Tuckerdog1

[Longbow]

A lot of folks underestimate .22lr
It is a killer.

Sure is, but how quick does it do it?

I think .22lr's lethality is well known, but self defense minded people go for something that does the job faster and with better reliability.
Myself, I'll go for .380 cal as minimum.

[40jjb]

The smallest with great results is the P32:), it performs like the big guns out there. this is why it was use by europ, germany and meny countries more.:what:

[BOOM-BOOM]

40jjb.....You gotta be kidding about the 32.....right

[Steve2237]

J frame smith loaded with +P HP's

[Mike_in_OC]

Once in a while s&w J-frame 158 gr LSWCHP,

90% its a Glock .40

[jt1]

I carry .38+P and would not wish to go with anything less. Having said that I certainly would not volunteer to stand in front of anything that goes bang.

[The Lone Haranguer]

9mm Luger for autos, .38 Special for revolvers, if said gun is to be a primary (only) sidearm. I'll consider a .380 or even .32 ACP for a backup.

[old4x4]

For me, it'd have to be 38+p. I carried a PPK in 380 for a while, and it didn't inspite confidence. I was also tired of chasing around the brass of the 100 or so rounds I shot per week. Don't even bend over with the revolver :)

[koja48]

Since the smallest handgun I own is a PT111, I have to say 9mm.

[1911 guy]

If I were to pack a revolver, the .38Spl would be my minimum, a .357 preferable.

If I were to go the autoloader route, a 9mm with suitable JHP's would do me.

[DawgFvr]

Lets be realistic. Aside from perfect shot placement and some luck, a side arm in any caliber is nothing more than the extension of your fist. I carry .380 in the P3AT, at times....38 Special in my 642, at times...but my primary carry is a high capacity .45 ACP. Using side arms, I hope to slow down a fight. I intend to follow through with fists, or any other weapons on hand if I am unable to "run like hell" after emptying all chambers/clips. The only weapon I have total confidence in stopping a fight...is my shotgun or M1 Garand.

[parolebear]

To me it is what you can handle and shoot well. I agree with the guys that say a .17, personally my deep undercover is a 2 shot High Standard Derr. in a wallet holster in .22 mag, carry is a Glock 23 (.40) with Crimson Trace's. My wife carries a .380 Seecamp, my daugther a Glock 27 (.40). We all have choices of just about anything on the market but those are the weapons that feel the best to the person. Nothing works unless you hit your target. The best allround (cal., reliabilty, cost, ease of operation) SD gun in my opinion is the .38 revolver. Home defense is a 18" cyl. bore pump shotgun (Mossberg, Remington etc.) with buckshot. Thanks for letting my useless two cents worth into the thread.

[nemoaz]

The absolute minimum for me would be .38 or .380 for a pocket gun or backup. 9mm (+P, not the Americanized slowpoke crap) or .357 would be the least I'd buy for a primary weapon.

[mavracer]

not to start a caliber war:banghead: , but I am tired of people sayin a 380 is ok and a 32 is too small:fire: . understand neither is going to knock BG on his @$$ but if you study external balistics neither expand reliably and so have small wound channel and a 32 will usually out penatrate a 380 wich may reach vitals or provide 2 holes to bleed . That being said my floor is either of these and since I no longer own a 380 the smallest I carry is either my seecamp (conceales any where and BG may not know its there till hes already bleeding) or my walther pp which will shoot minute of eyeband at 15 yards:scrutiny: .either are loaded with european spec fiocchi 60 grn jhp.which chrono 1000 fps from seecamp:what: .

[Zeke Menuar]

Bersa Thunder 380 loaded with Corbon DPX is my minimum.

ZM

[jsebens]

I've recently transitioned to all 9mm pistols for a few reasons...my father was eyeing my Sig232 (.380ACP), and I wanted to have one standard of ammunition to share with my wife. So I only carry 9mm. I actually prefer 9mm in my XD and USPc to my friend's .40SW G23.

Having said that, I felt just as comfortable with the Sig232 as I do with my USPc 9mm. In my mind, the reliability and accuracy of a pistol (and the shooter) is more important than the caliber. I've never carried anything less than a .380, but I've never needed to. I think if I only had a .32, I'd carry that. Of course, I'd shoot to slide lock with a .32, where I might stop after a few rounds of 9mm to assess the situation.

I guess that's my two cents. Your mileage may (and likely does) vary.

[GEM]

A gun is better than none.

So the answer to the question is the firearm that in a given circumstance I can conceal well and can shoot well.

I will not go without a gun because I can't always carry my 1911 or AR. If I can only carry a NAA Mini revolver, I will.

The focus on simple stopping power as a determinant to carry or not to carry is too, too simplistic but appeals to some as a metric.

[crebralfix]

I draw the line at no gun. Even a Beretta Bobcat Model 21 (22 LR) is better than nothing.