What is your minimum defensive caliber?

I'd carry any caliber versus carrying nothing, but I have never carried less than a .45

For lack of a better phrase, I am of the mindset that being situationally aware is 95% of the battle, the other 5% is training.

38 special for me, wife carries .380

.380 or .38 special

9mm & Rorgbaugh R9

Rohrbaugh R9
Caliber:9mm
Barrel:2.9in
Length:5.2in
Height:3.7in
Weight:13.5oz
Capacity:6+1 Rounds

Smallest I've carried is a 9mm. But I much prefer larger calibers because I can handle them.

My standard carry is a Sig p220 in 45 acp. My smallest carry is a Beretta 948 in .22 with CCI stingers.

I only own 40's and we've got a 38 but I'm not a stubby fan so it just sits in the car.

In God and Glock we Trust

I drop a 25 Beretta jetfire in my pocket some times . I live in country and going to local little general store . Not like living in a large crime city. Their its 9mm of 45 when I visit. .

I was going to say a 500 S&W Magnum but that would be a lie since I don't own one so I will have to go with the .460 S&W Magnum instead...

.380 ACP in a ruger LCP for me. typically it is carried as a BUG except for when i am in a situation that requires deep concealment, then it is my primary. generally speaking, i wouldn't want less than a 9mm for my primary.

Still carry a 1903 Colt 32.

In a semi-auto it would be a .380.

In a revolver it would be a .38 Special.

I don't have a 22lr pistol, but I would feel safe if I did. Smallest caliber I have carried is a .30 cal (actually a 7.62x25) in my CZ-52. It was my sidearm while I was doing bail bond recovery. Had JHP in the mag with FMJ in the resaerve mag just in case I came across a bad guy with body armor (.30 cal at 1500 fps will penetrate level 2 armor FYI).

Now that I am semi-retired, I carry my 357 mag snubbie or my Taurus pub defender with 4 pellet 000 buck.

What is the minimum caliber you carry (or would be willing to carry) in a defensive handgun? Does the answer change if considering a BUG vs a primary?

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Minimum caliber I carry is 0. I'm not one that lives his life such that I need a gun within reach 24 hours a day.

380 on sunday rest of the week 45 357 or 9

Minimum backup: .22LR
Minimum primary: 9mm

I'd be comfortable with .22LR as a backup. Though, I use .32acp currently as my backup, and would ideally prefer .380.

As a primary (I always carry a primary in addition to the back-up), I would never go less than 9mm. I usually carry .40sw as my primary, though I would ideally like 10mm, or .45acp.

Made my decision long ago in the 9mm, presently in the form of the Kahr cm9 or S&W M&P9c. The former is my hot months summer pocket carry and the latter for when it is cooler. In the late fall/winter it is the Colt 1991A1.

I actually believe in carrying the minimum. I carry 9mm, and would not carry a lighter (.38 spl or .380 ACP, for example) hollowpoint. I like the extra capacity compared to the other options out there.

For my "can't carry" shorts, I currently have a .380 but I'm looking at going down to a .32, because I don't think there's much difference between .380 and .32 if I'm going FMJ on both.

What is the minimum caliber you carry (or would be willing to carry) in a defensive handgun?

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The "smallest" caliber I currently have for SD is 9mm. I've been thinking about a .38 SPL pocket gun loaded with +P ammo, but I would hate to go any smaller than that. Certainly even .22LR is better than nothing, but given I can be armed with better, I see no reason not to be.

Does the answer change if considering a BUG vs a primary?

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As a non-LEO I don't generally feel the need for a BUG so the point is moot.

22lr

380 acp

Got an LCP in my pocket right now. My 1911 is on my my right hip.

My minimum is .32 acp in my Tomcat. That is what I carry when I shouldn't be carrying and obviously can't conceal my G21.

At my place minimum is 38 Super in a 1911 or 357 mag S&W. When traveling to town minimum is 9mm Hi-Power, typically it's a 1911 in either 38 Super or 45 auto.

I usually carry .45 colt, and alternate with a .40.

Anything is better than nothing, but I wouldn't be "happy" with less than a .38spl/.380

22 L.R. but 22 Mag is running a close 2nd.