Who carries a small caliber?

[Combatcomm]

I carry an .38+p S&W 642!
Enough for anything I might run in to on the streets. I carry something larger when I'm in the woods do to many bears in the area.

 

[3KillerBs]

I carry a tiny .380, an MPA Protector, because my body, my preferred style of dress, and the nature of my job make it impossible to adequately conceal anything larger.

I'd prefer to carry the Taurus 709 Slim (9mm), but I just can't hide it well enough when I'm bent over a table to mark something at the end of a yardstick, leaning forward to work on a sewing machine, or stretching to reach things over my head.

While I know that this is not the gun for military or police purposes and that it would be utterly unsuited for a prolonged combat I also know that:

A. Its a better weapon than my thread snips or my steel yardstick.
B. Most defensive gun uses are resolved simply by presenting the gun with an attitude of willingness to fire it rather than by actually shooting.
C. No one who decries the inadequacies of small calibers is going to volunteer to take 6 shots of .380 to his center mass.

Life is full of compromises. If you can conceal a larger caliber gun effectively and shoot it well without drastically altering your life then its probably a good thing to do so. But if you can't do that then carrying a smaller gun in a smaller caliber is better than the thread snips.

 

[MCgunner]

Got no problem with a .38 snub in MY pocket. If you sew, you can create your own pockets. My wife is a quilter/sewer and helps me out a lot. Hell, she has a $5K+ Huskvarna machine, so might as well do something practical with it, eh?

 

[Cokeman]

Got no problem with a .38 snub in MY pocket. If you sew, you can create your own pockets. My wife is a quilter/sewer and helps me out a lot. Hell, she has a $5K+ Huskvarna machine, so might as well do something practical with it, eh?

Like cut down trees?

 

[McClarkus]

German made Walther PPK/S .380 with CorBon blammo from time to time.........

 

[Cokeman]

I carry a tiny .380, an MPA Protector, because my body, my preferred style of dress, and the nature of my job make it impossible to adequately conceal anything larger.

I'd prefer to carry the Taurus 709 Slim (9mm), but I just can't hide it well enough when I'm bent over a table to mark something at the end of a yardstick, leaning forward to work on a sewing machine, or stretching to reach things over my head.

While I know that this is not the gun for military or police purposes and that it would be utterly unsuited for a prolonged combat I also know that:

A. Its a better weapon than my thread snips or my steel yardstick.
B. Most defensive gun uses are resolved simply by presenting the gun with an attitude of willingness to fire it rather than by actually shooting.
C. No one who decries the inadequacies of small calibers is going to volunteer to take 6 shots of .380 to his center mass.

Life is full of compromises. If you can conceal a larger caliber gun effectively and shoot it well without drastically altering your life then its probably a good thing to do so. But if you can't do that then carrying a smaller gun in a smaller caliber is better than the thread snips.

How is the MPA?

 

[chicharrones]

Like cut down trees?

And I was thinking of double jumps and table tops.

 

[3KillerBs]

How is the MPA?

I'm hoping to post a range report this weekend.

 

[robinkevin]

I had a XD40 found that I didn't carry much cause of wait or unable to conceal. However I now have a p3at and have to say its always on me or close by. Its great for belt carry if you want your packets free as its so small a pancake holster holds it tight and you never see it with an untuck shirt, its great in the pocket of almost any pants, and if you have a stranger walking up to your door and you just have a robe or louge pants on its no sweat to tuck in your pants or slip in a robe pocket. Try to do all of those things with a full size gun. Also my mom has a .38 S&W snubbie that I feel fills the same spot, so the choice is 5 shots or 7? Myself I like the p3ats 6+1 due to the fact it is a small round I know if the first doesnt stop the bg the second one will.

then again... who likes getting shot? Most of the time an attack is avoided soon as you draw your firearm no matter the size...

 

[303tom]

Like cut down trees?

Yeh I ride mine !

 

[Autolycus]

I carry a 9mm Parabellum in my Glocks. I don't know if you consider that small or not.

 

[Jim PHL]

A long while ago I got rid of my KelTec .380 because I decided I would not depend on anything smaller than a .38+P. I recently bought a Ruger LCP because I was unhappy with how often I did not carry anything. I prefer a .38+P or 9mm and carry one of those whenever I can reasonably conceal one, (pocket-carry a j-frame or belt-carry a S+W 3953), but I can always have the .380 on me if one of the others doesn't "fit". FOR ME, there are times when even my airweight is too bulky and heavy for pocket carry and sometimes working or socializing in close contact with others even IWB with a shirt covering is not concealed enough.

 

[Lo8080]

I carry a RUGER LCR 38 spl w/DE SANTIS holster. It is so light that you might forget its in your pocket.

 

[MedWheeler]

All of my carry pieces are of a "small caliber" to at least someone, but my EDC is a Kel-Tec PF-9. However, it's frequently backed up by a P-32. On my way to and from work, the P-32 rides alone, since carry while actually at work is prohibited, and my duty uniform does not allow concealment of the PF-9.

 

[woad_yurt]

When the weather is boiling, I'm usually in a t-shirt and shorts so I'll sometimes pocket carry a Beretta 21A Bobcat or a tiny, old H&R hammerless topbreak .32.

 

[AOK]

I carry a S&W Bodyguard 380 as a backup to my Glock 23 daily.

 

[Bmac1949]

I don't carry every place I go and when I do it's either a 9x18 makarov or my Colt Combat Commander .45 acp.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

I carry a Sig P238 - .380 with alternate rounds of Buffalo Bore +P 100gr Cast Bullet and Buffalo Bore +P 90gr JHP.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

That seems like a rather ill-informed quote. More people are killed by .22s every year than any other round.

It's my understanding that a hot .22 is a more effective defensive round than a .25 auto.

 

[Ducman69]

Carry a small gun, not a overly small caliber.

Kahr PM9. Will reliably fire hollowpoint 9mm +P+ which has plenty of stopping power. Close to 357 mag in power, and similar recoil so you can practice on regular lower pressure 9mm at the range for cheap proficiency training.

 

[khegglie]

found a NAA 32 guardian that i tote around now. Sometimes a 32 Tomcat, or NAA black widow

 

[316SS]

a tiny, old H&R hammerless topbreak .32

At first I read this as "harmless."

 

[heyjoe]

i carry an H&R .32 S&W 2nd model hammerless, topbreak bicycle gun at times also. one of my favorite guns.

 

[farmboy 33051]

I have owned two of the Taurus PT .22s. As soon as I sold the first one I missed it. I know some people laugh when they hear I carry a .22 but I don't care, it works for my needs.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I have .45 Kimber, .357 Ruger and .40 Springfield available to me but more often than not I tote a .380 LCP in my belt or pocket.