Is bigger better ... have you PERSONALLY switched to a smaller caliber?

[Zeke Menuar]

I went from 38 Special/357 Mag to 45ACP because I grew to dislike snubby revolvers as carry guns. The cylinder gouging my hip, recoil, and the lack of accuracy prompted me to make a change. The LW Commander I have is much more comfortable to carry and easier to shoot than the snubby I used to carry. I made my decision based on the type of gun not caliber. If there had been a 1911 style Commander length 9mm available at the time I made the changeover I might have gone with a 9mm 1911 instead.

ZM

 

[WonderNine]

There are people who only carry one caliber?

Yep

And I like to have my backup gun the same caliber as the main gun, but I also realize that the BUG platform is more important than the caliber.

Gotta admit though it is a little boring. I always got this thing about getting a 10mm Delta Elite (for "Bear Country" ) or .45ACP 1911 just to add some spice.

@Alan Fud

Yea, I used to be all about big bore revolvers into I got into 9's and they tend to dominate most of my interest nowadays in the world of pistolas.

 

[Mannlicher]

mostly I carry something 'larger'. On ocassion, I will pack a .38, or a 9mm, but most of the time its a .45 Auto, or a .45 Colt, or a .44 . Little guns, while capable of being effective, are not my first choice.

 

[Bob F.]

Bunches of different ones. Always like a 1911 but didn't have one for years. Even relied on a .22 auto for a while. Figured at 10yds I could put 10 in the head before he hit the ground. .38 Speed Six-heavy!, 9mm Mak- a helleva gun for the $$! Rock Island Armory .45 compact that I had trouble with and never really trusted, looks good, though. Now mostly carry a Glock 19 with any GOOD factory HP, preferably 124gr. Comes to hand very quickly, fast and accurate!!!
I was hesitant to go 9mm simply because "if you're gonna carry something that big it might as well be a .45!!!" Most 9's are WIDE! Saw a little Star the other day-looked like a 1911 washed in hot water. Not much bigger than a Mak or PA63. The "black" P-35 feel real good in my hand, too.
I'd like to have a big-bore (.45LC, .44 Spec) for the woods with a 4-5" bbl.

 

[jnb01]

It seems that LE agencies that are using the 9mm and utilizing the better ammunition available for it like the 124gr+P Gold Dot/124gr Gold Dot, 127gr+P+/147gr Ranger T, 135gr+P/124gr Federal Tactical, ect... are not complaining much about it's effectiveness.

All of the service calibers benefit when the best loads available are used, and those are widely considered to be the Ranger, Federal Tactical, and Gold Dot bullets.

Would it benefit an LE officer to go to a larger caliber he or she doesn't shoot well? Or would it benefit said officer to stick with a caliber (even if smaller), that he/she places shots well with, and load it with one of the top performing bullet designs available? I for one, would never sacrifice shootability, for any real or percieved ballistics performance advantage. However, if an individual can shoot a larger caliber with a high degree of proficiency, meaning they can potentially capitalize on any performance increase that may be offered via properly placed shots, then I would say pick pick the larger caliber all else being equal.

Actually yes, some LE agencies have adopted the 357 Sig, which is a necked down 9mm bullet propelled to higher velocities. However,.........

357 Sig 125gr Ranger: Vel= 1340fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ RD= .63"

9mm 127gr+P+ Ranger (RA9TA ): 1219fps/ 14.8"/ .63"

..........Where's the difference? IMO, it's in the 357 Sig's increased recoil, louder blast, reduced capacity, and increased weapons wear.

LE agencies and civilians will always follow trends, jump on bandwagons, and clamour to be apart of the latest fad, wether it's "small" or "large". A great many in LE have indeed switched to something larger or back to something smaller (357 Sig), while some have chosen to stay the same (9mm) and use the better ammunition offered today. Back and forth, round and round.......

Some of the LE agencies issuing or authorizing the 9mm:
NYPD
NY Sher. dept.
NJSP
Philadelhpia PD
LVMPD
LAPD
San Bernadino PD
SDPD
Santa Clara PD
Palm Bay Fl. PD
U.S. Customs
Atlanta Ga. PD
ect. ect.......

Best, jnb01

 

[Rogelio]

Got bigger....well not really that much but went from 380acp to 38 SA

 

[355sigfan]

With todays ammo I feel fine with just about any caliber 9mm and up. I don't trust pocket calibers like the 9mm mak. But if its at least a 9x19 with +p or +p+ ammo I feel fine.
Pat

 

[JERRY]

ive gone and will always go from one to another depending on how i have to dress.

that being said, i have no trouble concealing a g36 iwb in the summer, i would like a little pocket auto like a seecamp or keltek too. right now its a 2" ti .38, not exactly flat enough for pocket carry in the summer but it beats my makarov.

 

[TheeBadOne]

All of the above.

1st -S&W 645 full sized .45 ACP

2nd Grendal .380 ACP was much easier to carry all year round

3rd AMT BackUP .45 ACP see above

4th Glock 27 .40 S&W see above plus night sights & more accurate

5th Kahr MK9 9mm see above plus thinner

6th Seecamp .32 ACP tiny tiny tiny tiny...


Primary carry is Glock 27, followed by the Kahr MK9 when I need something a tad thinner. Seecamp as second gun, or extreme deep carry.

 

[Gabe]

Started with 9mm

Then mag ban forced me to switch to .45

Now carrying .40 for best compromise of caliber and size of gun.

 

[armabill]

From 9mm to .40 to .45, in that order. Sold off the 9mm stuff and kept the others.

 

[makarov1989]

I used to carry a SIG 220 in .45acp but now I carry a Beretta 92FS in 9mm when I carry a full sized gun. 7+1 in .45 is not as good as 15+1 in 9mm for me. I also just plain like the Beretta better. The SIG had a stiff DA trigger that was too far forward for me. The Beretta fits me better and packs much more ammo. I think the 9mm is a fantastic cartridge with the right loads.

 

[45R]

I like'em all. Some days I like 230grs of ball other days 124+p is just fine

 

[The_Shootist]

Bigger to Smaller?

Its seasonal for me - here in Texas during the "summers" (ie March-Nov)
its my G19. In the "winter" its my 1911.

And year round its my 3" SP101 in .357 when I'm too lazy to carry either

 

[Jack19]

I switched back to a "smaller" caliber for primary carry.

1978, 9mm
1979-1999, 9mm, 40, .357, .44, .45, .357SIG,
1999-present, 9mm

It does the job very well.

 

[Boats]

Started off with .22lr. Inherited a .38Sp. Got caught up in the wondernine craze. All the while my father and uncle, both veterans, were soldiering away with the .45ACP in 1911s I shot once in awhile. I fell in love with the 1911 in the Navy.

That's where I have been most of the last ten years. I have skipped the .40S&W and .357SIG crazes based on my experience getting sucked into the hi-cap 9mm marketing craze. Older and wiser I guess. I still remain intrigued by the .357Mag and the 10mm and may yet act on that constant attraction.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I haven't gone smaller to bigger yet but certainly planning to. For now, I own 9mm and a .357 that I shoot .38's through. When I get the funds, I want to get a Glock 30 (.45) because I'm just dying to own a .45 and can't get a Cougar in my state. I'd also like to get a Ruger single shot .357 and try some heavy ammo for a change....

 

[Obiwan]

It was weird....

I was filling out one of these polls one day and realized that I only had one 9MM left....and it was my primary arm (G19)

Asked myself...self....why have you bought all these cannons if you still prefer the G19...maybe you should spend less time shopping and more time shooting!!

Self was no help....started emptying the safe...selling the ones I never shot anymore.

Now I have mostly 9mm's and a couple .45's..ok...and 1-.357 sig...just to be open minded.

And a .22....gotta have a .22.....baby steps here

 

[blades67]

No changes really, .380 ACP BUG's, 9mm's, a 10mm and a couple of .45 ACP's all get carried as need or mood indicate.

 

[skynyrd1911]

Larger to Smaller?

NOPE! Although I own smaller calibers my carry is almost always .45 ACP, or .357 Mag.

 

[George Hill]

Lets see, full size .45 to a full sized 9... then to a compact 9... now up to a full sized/compact .44...

 

[MaterDei]

So, what you are saying, George, is that you go both ways.

 

[Erik Jensen]

I'm looking to rid myself of my Kahr MK40 in .40 s&w, and procure a snubby in .38 special+p in it's stead. I'm not so concerned with the caliber as I am with ease of carry, within limits. even in .38sp+p, I have no interest in shooting one of those scandium wheelguns.... ouch.