Caliber vs Capacity...Where do YOU draw the line?

Choose Caliber, then Capacity that you won't go below

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David E

David E

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Some people say they'll carry a .45 all the time, everyday.

Some people say a .32 acp is enough to stop a man in his tracks.

For a carry or defense gun, where do you draw the line when it comes to caliber/capacity?

IE; if you'd only carry a .45, would you carry a single-shot "Downsizer WSP?"

http://www.e-gun.net/more.asp?gid=20349&gun=revolver

Other folks are "confident" in a 2-shot DAO .22 rimfire derringer....

This question only applies to the on board capacity, not including reload. So, what caliber/capacity are you comfortable with if you couldn't carry a reload?

If you could carry a reload, would your selection change?

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For a carry or defense gun, where do you draw the line when it comes to caliber/capacity?
Click to expand...

I've carried a .357 daily for 35 + years, I see no reason to change now, the only exception is I no longer have a reload on my person.
 
I carry a PM45, the reason I bought the gun was so I could carry a 45 with the convince of pocket carry. I personally don't like carrying anything smaller than a 45 for EDC. My current rig gives me 6-7 shots depending on which mag I have in the gun, normally I have 5+1. I would probably go 1 shot less but that would be it. I would also carry a 5 shot revolver if I had one in 44 spl or 45 acp. So for me it is 45, no less than 5 shots.
 
9mm minimum, 12 shot minimum.

I carry a .40 with 14+1 and two spare mags.

For the wife, since her frame was smaller and made it harder to conceal, the minimum was 7+1 and 9mm.

And that's what she got :)
 
Defense? .32 ACP is real minimum. I would avoid a double-derringer and have to go 5-shots or so on the revolver side and maybe a couple more on the autoloader side.
Al
 
My bare minimum is a .22 mag or .32. I usually carry a .380/P3AT, but sometimes carry a PM40 or .22 mag NAA.
 
9mm +P is plenty of gun and I want plenty of them. 15 rnd mag plus a spare in the Browning HP.
 
380 acp and 5-shots
which are inconsistent w/ one another, but I have sometimes carried a S&W model 60 5-shot 38 snubbie, but far more often carry a Colt 380acp 7-shooter, always FMJ in either...
(also will sometimes carry an LCP as being better than a loud shout, or a 25acp, or a cell phone whip antenna)

technically, I might carry a 32acp, but do not own one, no interest in buying one, moot... but have carried a 32 S&W long six shooter snubbie, though not in a long time, and then only rarely, it was/is slightly more compact than J-frame 38

"If you could carry a reload, would your selection change?"
No. I can/could carry a reload, but do not.

If five doesn't get it done, I don't expect that 7 or more will, either, I lose, I accept that. Which I suspect has a great deal to do with individual choices, meaning "perception of threat" factor.

Survived a long time never carrying any firearm at all, just lucky maybe, or maybe it was a "kinder and gentler world" then, but probably not. Depends on where you live and what you do. "Nothing good happens in public after midnight" and all that.

Sometimes I do carry, sometimes I do not. Been that way for about 20 years now. I could tell you when/where I do carry or do not carry, but we would have to get married first, and trust me (no offense) that just ain't gonna' work out ;)
 
Seeing as how I don't carry a gun on me 24/7, it would be hypocritical to choose a minimum that I won't go below.
 
My equation hasn't changed at all for HD (00 Buck x 7 and .357 x 7). For CCW it's an ongoing process and I've noticed that most people make adjustments in this area over time.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // For me this has always been money driven as much as anything so my choices are a little different.

In the recent past I carried a large S&W 6 shot .357 revolver with one speed loader as a do all handgun. $400.00 OTD.

Needing something smaller I purchased a Linead single shot derringer in .45/.410. It was heavy and had a hard to work safety. Without the safety engaged it could fire if dropped, in fact if you had the hammer down when closing the derringer you could AD.
I kept it loaded for rural use with .410, 8 1/2 shot @ 1200fps, Estate Competition Load , snakes ,dogs and other. In an urban environment I switched to Winchester Super X 000 buck. For $60.00 it fit the bill.

After finding THR I sold the .45 derringer, now use the .357 for rural, mountain areas and have purchased a $400.00 lnib no lock S&W 442 1 7/8" for daily carry. I also add a modified Mosin stripper clip to carry six extra rounds in my left front pocket.

So I have gone from six rounds of .357 in revolver and six in speed loader on body, to one .410 in derringer and no extra rounds on body, to five rounds of .38 special in revolver and six on body.

The 442 with five rounds of .38 special is as low as I go now.
 
No one quick answer

EVERY situation is different, but I'm probably a more on the vigilant side.

For a walk around the block in my neighborhood a P32 with 7+1. In the office, a NAA Mini 22LR w/1 1/8" barrel. In the car, a Sigma 9mm with laser & half a dozen magazines & gear 'cause you'd never know when something like the Rodney King race riots happen again, although here in the Midwest it would be less likely. In and around the house and on me a .38 snubbie. For HD & for things that go bump in the night...that's where the heavier stuff comes in.

So, no - I couldn't answer your poll.
 
I am ususally comfortable with 5 rounds of 38 special. This is my minimum. Occasionally, though, I'll carry 10+1 45acp with the 38 special for backup. I would also feel comfortable with a smaller 9mm, I just happen to have a 45.
 
This has been beaten to death on the caliber and ammo amount. Having any firearm on you with either two or thirty two rounds gives you the upper hand, in defending yourself against a two legged threat. A .22 five shot revolver or two shot derringer is better than nothing, but to each his own.
With that said.....With me I "dress for the occasion". In other words where I am going to go or what I will be doing that day, will determine what I will carry and how much ammo.
 
I've done a lot of different carry solutions under a short period of time. The lowest comfortably I would go is a 380 acp @ 7+ shots or a 38 spl @ 5 shots depending on few other circumstances due to cover garment and location where I would to be concealing my pistol. Currently my flavor of carry would have to be 38 spl.
 
I carry a full-size .45, and have for about 40 years. I have also carried and used a .357 (my first tour in Viet Nam) and sometimes carry a Colt Detective Special in .38 Special.

Many people will cite something like the 3-3-3 rule -- three shots in three seconds at three yards, which supposedly is the "average gun fight." The problem is, if that is true, then half the gun fights are at longer range, require more shots and last longer. Wth that in mind, I feel comfortable with an M1911A1 with an 8-round magazine plus one up the spout and a spare mag on my belt.
 
That's sort of a neat poll, but it won't be able to give us any good data because there is no way to know which quantity is linked up with which caliber.

But anyway, personally, I've drawn the line at 9x19 (minimum caliber) for carry. I then prefer a minimum of 10 rounds of that (in one capacity, i.e. each magazine/gun), would better prefer 13 rounds, and that would be about tops. Carrying any more of that round (excluding extra mags), in my opinion, isn't necessary, gets a little heavy in one package, etc. Any fewer than 10 doesn't make me feel more comfortable.

I carry a P11 everyday/everywhere. Holds between 10 & 13 rounds depending on the magazine used. I'd really like to move up to .45acp, but haven't found a good carry piece yet. This pistol has earned my 100% trust and faith, and as it continues to do so, it gets harder and harder to find a replacement for it. But anyway, if I were to move up to .45acp, I'd definitely feel equally comfortable with 7 or 8 rounds of that.
 
Minimum for me would be a 5 shot snubby 38 special..

loaded with the +P FBI load and carried in the pocket or IWB.
 
I dont really have a line.

I do have a "size" of gun I like, the glock 19 / CZ compact size, which is about 15 rounds of 9mm.

I pick the "size" and "weight" not the capacity or caliber. Because most of the time you are just luggin it around.
 
I didn't vote because , well I didn't .
my near daily rig consists of a Ser. 70 , a model M hammerless in .380 and a pocket .25 all Colt
So where does that put me ?
I think that at a minimum I would greet any form of extortion or physical injury with immediate and extreme violence . ie ; "If you don't I'll..." deserves a punch in the nose . Should the miscreant happen to have a weapon I deem lethal in his hand the rules change suddenly .
Still doesn't answer you question ?
I believe it is more the will to use deadly force , not calibre of the weapon . It is the calibre of the individual that matters .
Still not answering what you asked ?
Too bad it's someone else's turn

~kop
 
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