Don Dayacetah
Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2018
- Messages
- 94
.32 acp
I do OK with my CZ70. Been looking for a viable 9mm in the same size, but they're always on the safety/size line.
.32 acp
Agree 100% with this. Carry the firearm that fits the circumstance. Although I have a wide range of handguns available to me from .22 to .454 Casull as an elderly gent I carry, and prefer, 90% of the time, my Colt Detective Special in .38 Special loaded with Hornady Critical Defense Lite. I find I can shoot it accurately, out to twenty feet, with decent follow up shots.Old Dog for me it is simply a case of carrying the largest available gun that fits my current circumstance. Lately that has resulted in me either taking a sick day from work or not carrying. When people tell me carrying less than a 9mm (or 45 for some) what I hear is I'm better off not being armed at all. I get that you and others are well intended in your advice but the demands on our lives just must be different and require different approaches. Please understand we are just trying to fit personal defense into our current lifestyle and not the other way around.
Sometimes, one's lifestyle simply doesn't fit with what the threat one may face will be. Good luck with that.Old Dog for me it is simply a case of carrying the largest available gun that fits my current circumstance. Lately that has resulted in me either taking a sick day from work or not carrying. When people tell me carrying less than a 9mm (or 45 for some) what I hear is I'm better off not being armed at all. I get that you and others are well intended in your advice but the demands on our lives just must be different and require different approaches. Please understand we are just trying to fit personal defense into our current lifestyle and not the other way around.
I have a fire extinguisher in my kitchen, and not a fire truck in my driveway.I guess some of us just plain for worst-case scenarios, while others don't believe they'll ever really encounter serious violence.
While pithy, a poor analogy. We're talking personal choices easily within the realm of possibility, not extremes. Were that the case, I'd like to cart around an M-134 Mini-gun.I have a fire extinguisher in my kitchen, and not a fire truck in my driveway.
With no disrespect to others posting in this thread, and with no intent to seriously derail the thread -- I think my thoughts are in line with the thread's question.
So I totally get that many here feel the need to carry a light compact or sub-compact handgun ... But what I'm concluding here is that a large percentage of the members posting in this thread feel entirely comfortable carrying a "mouse-gun" in an inferior caliber with only a small number of cartridges on tap ...
Does this mean that those folks don't really believe they'll encounter a serious threat (say a couple large bad hombres tweaking to the gills whose give-a-crap meters are broken and with the element of surprise going for them) in which they'd actually be far better off with a more easily-drawn piece (read: not buried in a pocket or with a tiny grip under layers of clothing in a thin, clingy holster) in an effective caliber (.38/.357, 9mm or larger) that can be fired much more easily, rapidly and effectively?
I'm inclined to believe as this guy does:
I guess some of us just plain for worst-case scenarios, while others don't believe they'll ever really encounter serious violence. Any regular Wal-Mart customers here? (surely some here saw the case involving one of our local (just a small suburb of a medium sized city) Wal-Mart incidents the other day?)
eally though, what is planning for the "worst-case scenarios"? Do you keep an AR15 strapped around your shoulder with 6 loaded mags in a vest? Or do you require a battle rifle in case you need more range?
Eh, get a shot timer (free from App Store, works ok) and run a couple el prez drills. Draw an LCP from your pocket and then try the same drill with a Glock 19ish sized gun. LCP is laughable, especially when most criminals that use guns aren’t carrying pocket pistols.
Well, since the thread topic is about the smallest, lightest handgun one would rely upon for self-defense, presumably carrying it concealed, I'm simply speaking to the smallest, lightest handgun I would rely on should I require a handgun for self-defense in the event of a worst-case scenario (say a crazy guy shooting up a Wal-Mart and trying to carjack people at the gas station, firing multiple rounds into their vehicles, which, oh wait, just happened the other day in my area ... or more than one assailant ... a business robbery gone bad ... whatever). Given the choice between an LCP and a Glock 21 with extra mags, I'd go Glock every time. I've been visited by violence, though, so I'm not denigrating anyone's personal choice, just wondering why a few ounces in weight or an inch or two in length makes so many compromise.Really though, what is planning for the "worst-case scenarios"? Do you keep an AR15 strapped around your shoulder with 6 loaded mags in a vest? Or do you require a battle rifle in case you need more range? Because all things considered, all handguns are pretty poor defense weapons. For the majority of self defense scenarios, the difference between a 6 shot LCP and a Glock 21 with extra mags is pretty negligible.
The smallest, lightest defensive pistol I will rely on is my Ruger LC9s. I'm simply not comfortable relying on anything smaller than 9mm.What is the Smallest, Lightest Defensive Pistol You WOuld Rely On ?
If I absolutely, positively had to pick something in this range, it would probably be a Ruger LCP in .380ACP. Not sure I am really comfortable with .380 ammo, but its certainly the best you are offering.Maybe something between a small NAA .22lr revolver on the low end to a .380 ACP mouse gun on the high end.
And this is important I think. I haven't been in any violence that I couldn't bluff my way out of being 6'2" and fairly broad of shoulder to boot. I'm also in the process of learning hand to hand with a local ex-PD officer. With that being said my pistol is my last line of defense in a confrontation and hope to God I'll never get there. I'm not trying to drag this through the mud and please don't read any of this as confrontational but I just want to help give a more complete picture of my choices since you do seem genuinely interested.I've been visited by violence, though, so I'm not denigrating anyone's personal choice, just wondering why a few ounces in weight or an inch or two in length makes so many compromise.
So please tell us how a sub-compact 9mm like the LCs9 wouldn’t work for you.
If it did not matter that a gun had to be concealed, then medium to large guns make a lot more sense, but if you get spotted, just whipping out your CCP may not cut it.
In Florida, it is called brandishing and it can get you arrested and almost certainly get your CCP suspended, maybe permanently.
An LCP might be laughable for that drill, but I was talking about self defense situations. Which typically means close quarters, one attacker, and 2-3 shots fired; all well within the capabilities of an LCP.
Pocket carry is sometimes "the only way" due to circumstances. Where it is at it's worst is sitting down.How long does it take you to get off 3 shots with a pocket carried LCP if you don't have a hand in your pocket?
Timing these kinds of things led to me abandoning pocket carry as my primary.
Pocket carry is sometimes "the only way" due to circumstances. Where it is at it's worst is sitting down.