What is your minimum?

9mm is my "least" caliber, but my two primary carry pieces are both .40S&W, each with a 10 round capacity.

Minimum I would like to carry, or minimum that I think is sufficient are two different things. The minimum I would like to carry is 44mag.
The reality however is that sometimes I can't even comfortably conceal a 9mm. So 380 is often my edc.
I would use a .22lr if that's all I had, but .380 is the smallest I would recommend to anyone.

When deep-concealment discretion is the highest priority, I drop down to a .22 NAA Mini revolver. If that upsets "defensive experts", "recognized trainers" or the "what if brigade", oh well...

I carry a double-stack 9mm 1911, 17+1. I carried .45 1911s for years, but I decided that modern bullets have closed the performance gap enough that more shots with a faster follow-up is better than the possibility of slightly batter terminal performance from a .45.

I steer people away from .22s, but I know a few people who carry them. When I hear someone mention a .380, I try to steer them to a 9mm. There are just so many good compact 9mm options now, I don't see the rationale for going smaller. I had several acquaintances buy .380s during the panic because it was literally all they could find. I try to steer them towards hotter ammo for carry, like Double-Tap or Cor-Bon.

aaaaa said:

What about .327 Federal Magnum? Problem is, I think most pistols or revolvers in .327 are as big as a .380 Auto or even a 9mm or 38 Special, so may as well carry the bigger caliber.

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I think the 327 is a viable option to a 38/357 snub, I personally don't get too hung up on the 6th round. IMHO where they miss the boat with 327 is ammunition they use 85 and 100 grain bullets and 4" barrels to get impressive energy numbers. Energy isn't the best measure for handgun performance.
I'd much rather have a 120 or 125 gr bullet at 1100-1200 fps from a snub.

I guess my minimum would be the RM380 that I throw in my pocket when I take my dogs for a walk.

I carry a S&W shield and a NAA 22 mag.

I carry a single stack 9mm 1911 Commander with 10 round mags.

minimum I have carried, LCR in .22 WMR

Preferred minimum, lcp in .380, or LCRx in .38

Normal Carry, 9mm single stack 7 rounds.

Future carry, 9mm double stack with 12 rounds.

WisBorn said:

What is your minimum cartridge and capacity handgun for concealed carry?

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Thousands of rounds of avoidance and detecting with five rounds of counter in a J-Frame.

-Stan

I carry my little Taurus spectrum. .380 7 in the mag one in the chamber.

380 LCP for when I can't carry IWB

Glock 26 with 12 round mag of 124 gr HST, and a 15 round reload. Sometimes two 15 round reloads.

In rare instances, an S&W 642 in 38 special gets slipped in the pocket. But that’s rare.

Minimum?

Gotta have at least one. At least a .22 caliber.

But I carry a .45 ACP, 7+1 with a reload.

380 +6 rounds.

chicharrones said:

Minimum in an autoloader = .32 ACP with 7+1 stuffed in it.

Minimum in a revolver = .38 special with 5+0 stuffed in it.

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That'll do.

lcp II

murf

My S&W 442 is the gun I carry when I cant be seen carrying a gun. So it's my minimum.

While I occasionally carry a 5 shot J frame .38, my comfort level starts with my Shield in 9mm that I normally carry.

Thomas Mayberry said:

While I occasionally carry a 5 shot J frame .38, my comfort level starts with my Shield in 9mm that I normally carry.

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I really like my shield. I just have to find a better holster I like for it

Minimum:
9mm 10 rounds
.380 10 rounds
.40S&W 7 rounds

.380 at least 7 rounds, load must penetrate 12”.

LCP Max with the 12 round mag and/or LCP Custom with a 7 round mag. I don't go out much at night but when I do my P365 replaces one of the Rugers.

This is my EDC, a S&W Model 22-4, 45 ACP, 6 shots.



Could I make do with something else? Not sure, I rarely try.

Kevin

auto - six rounds of 380acp

revolver - five rounds of 38 special

Maybe I could be talked into 32 H&R magnum, if the revolver was nice enough.