Smallest caliber sufficient for defense?
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Ohen Cepel
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As a ball park I think 9mm (.38) is a good rule of something you're going to take to a fight.
However, the one you have (regardless of caliber) and can use is much better then the one at home or that you can't use well.
Me, I prefer .357 or 9mm for general use.
However, the one you have (regardless of caliber) and can use is much better then the one at home or that you can't use well.
Me, I prefer .357 or 9mm for general use.
trickyasafox
Member
i keep a ruger mk II in the car. it's really the only thing available to me. my house doesnt have many pistols, my dad takes the only 9mm, my mother the only 45 acp, leaving 2 22 cal pistols and a 357 thats kept at the house for home defense. i took the more reliable 22 that im more accurate with. the gun is heavy, its a 5.5 in bull barrel, but i have to keep it in the car anyway as per the restrictions on my permit. i've had a mil-spec on order for 63 days, hopefully that will be in soon. i am now in the process of tracking down a CPO sig 226, so hopefully i can upgrade soon.
redneckrepairs
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Anything beats a stern look and harsh words LOL That being said the smallest cal i will personaly carry is .380 acp
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Up to a point - the largest gun of the largest cal you can shoot well and comfortably carry and successfully conceal.
As we all say - any gun is better than no gun but - tho rapid delivery of several .22's will cause a BG some grief they probably will not stop him - plus the rimfire is never gonna be guaranteed totally reliable every time.
In centerfire I'd forget .25, and .32 if possible. Start at .380 as absolute minimum. Better tho to start with 9mm or 38 spl and move up from those even if possible. .357 is useful and many still favor the ubiquitous .45acp. Then too there is the .40 camp - also useful.
I only carry 9mm but 15+1 +P should still prove useful if well placed - and placement is the key in any cal.
As we all say - any gun is better than no gun but - tho rapid delivery of several .22's will cause a BG some grief they probably will not stop him - plus the rimfire is never gonna be guaranteed totally reliable every time.
In centerfire I'd forget .25, and .32 if possible. Start at .380 as absolute minimum. Better tho to start with 9mm or 38 spl and move up from those even if possible. .357 is useful and many still favor the ubiquitous .45acp. Then too there is the .40 camp - also useful.
I only carry 9mm but 15+1 +P should still prove useful if well placed - and placement is the key in any cal.
I'm inclined to agree with the .38 Special or 9mm Parabellum.
However, I carry a .380 ACP as a BUG. It is flatter and lighter than any revolver in .38 Special. It also has the same controls as my EDC gun, a Kimber Ultra Carry.
Frankly, any pistol cartridge is wanting for stopping power. People have taken torso hits with buckshot, 12 gauge slugs, and centerfire rifle rounds and continued to fight.
If all you have is a .22LR, then use it to your best advantage. That means precision.
Nobody wants to get shot, even with a .22LR. However, stopping a determined attacker is a tall order.
I'm kinda fond of that Clint Smith quote: "A pistol is something you use to fight your way to your rifle."
Bill
However, I carry a .380 ACP as a BUG. It is flatter and lighter than any revolver in .38 Special. It also has the same controls as my EDC gun, a Kimber Ultra Carry.
Frankly, any pistol cartridge is wanting for stopping power. People have taken torso hits with buckshot, 12 gauge slugs, and centerfire rifle rounds and continued to fight.
If all you have is a .22LR, then use it to your best advantage. That means precision.
Nobody wants to get shot, even with a .22LR. However, stopping a determined attacker is a tall order.
I'm kinda fond of that Clint Smith quote: "A pistol is something you use to fight your way to your rifle."
Bill
.22 mag. I prefer loads which at least break the 800 fps mark with bullets of reasonable sectional density, though 1000 fps is better. Go too far below 800 fps, and the bullet has a much greater chance of glancing off bone, particularly the skull.
af1acura
Member
check this thread out http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=471142
I don't own one but a .30-32 cal. would be the smallest I'd be comfortable with. This would the 7.62x25 or the .32 naa.
But I would not want to be on the receiveing end of my S&W 422, 13 rnds in about 2-3 seconds, that would hurt, not to mention the shot placement. When shooting a .22lr semi I feel like I could keep up with those IPSC guys.
But I would not want to be on the receiveing end of my S&W 422, 13 rnds in about 2-3 seconds, that would hurt, not to mention the shot placement. When shooting a .22lr semi I feel like I could keep up with those IPSC guys.
freedom and guns
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.45-70
Jim Watson
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Jeff Cooper, Mr 1911 .45, said once that a .22 is adequate for self defense. When you can hit a tennis ball from anywhere on the court.
KINGMAX
Member
Small ???????????? Size does matter here !!!!!!!!!!!
How about no smaller than a .380.
I don't have much confidence in anything smaller than a .380 sitting at a poker table if you know what I mean. 
If you are close enough to deal cards to each other, then a .380 might do the job. A .38 is the lowest level for a service revolver, surely no lower than that. 
My choice for personal protection = GLOCK 21 / .45 acp. That's about right for me. (GLOCK 21 = aka = Mr. Reliable) 
REMEMBER: Take a girl shooting - she will love you for it.
How about no smaller than a .380.
I don't have much confidence in anything smaller than a .380 sitting at a poker table if you know what I mean. If you are close enough to deal cards to each other, then a .380 might do the job. A .38 is the lowest level for a service revolver, surely no lower than that. My choice for personal protection = GLOCK 21 / .45 acp.
That's about right for me. (GLOCK 21 = aka = Mr. Reliable) REMEMBER: Take a girl shooting - she will love you for it.
Used to carry only .45 cal, got a BUG .380. Carry it alot by itself now, feel like I am pushing the limits. A .38 + P would be better, IMO.
These numerous hits with a .22, I assume the bad guy is going to stand still like the target?
These numerous hits with a .22, I assume the bad guy is going to stand still like the target?
MTMilitiaman
Member
If I know I am going into combat, the smallest I'd choose for self-defense is a Ma Deuce.
If I have to carry it everyday and it has to be a little more portable, 9mm sounds like a good minimum. I am more partial to .45 and 10mm Auto in my handguns, and only then to fight my way to a Kalashnikov.
If I have to carry it everyday and it has to be a little more portable, 9mm sounds like a good minimum. I am more partial to .45 and 10mm Auto in my handguns, and only then to fight my way to a Kalashnikov.
bpisler
Member
9mmP in auto's and 38spl +P in revolvers.
Most of the time a gun is used for self defense it isn't even fired. Any gun will make an attacker re-evaluate their desire to continue their agression. Only bad guys who are particularly physchopathic or under the influence of some type of drug will risk injury to themselves to get at you. Under some circumstances I carry my little Beretta 21a .22LR when clothing or activity prohibits carrying a larger caliber handgun. While that doesn't make me particularly well armed, it is as others have pointed out, better than nothing.
usp9
Member
Endorsed by both...
John Hinkley and Surhan Surhan, the .22 is the smalllest effective round proven by countless deaths. Sorry guys, but it's true. Ask the Brady Bunch.
John Hinkley and Surhan Surhan, the .22 is the smalllest effective round proven by countless deaths. Sorry guys, but it's true. Ask the Brady Bunch.
Zach S
Member
9mm or 38 special for a primary carry gun, I dont think would have a problem with carrying something smaller as a BUG.
Of course, there are times when the largest thing one could carry is about the size of a P3AT, and in those situations something is better than nothing.
Of course, there are times when the largest thing one could carry is about the size of a P3AT, and in those situations something is better than nothing.
MCgunner
Member
I consider .380 minimum and carry more if I can. I don't feel quite adequately armed with a .380, where I have more confidence in 9mm or .38 special. But, sometimes, the little platform is necessary and the .380 gets carried. With guns like the NAA and P3 AT in .380, there really isn't a situation I can think of where a .32 or .25 or .22 would be the only answer. The .380 is ballistically equivalent to a 38 special standard pressure load and I feel better about carrying it than smaller mouse gun calibers if I absolutely need minimum size in the gun and there are times.
MutinousDoug
Member
Very interesting couple of videos on "patterico.com" showing a police shooting of a suspect following a car chase.
Sounds like 11-12 total shots are fired and the text says the suspect was shot 8 times. The suspect is upright, walking away and apparently unaffected by the shots until he rather suddenly collapses at about the 10th shot.
I'm unsure where this takes place, but assume the LEOs are using .40 cal autos.
Sounds like 11-12 total shots are fired and the text says the suspect was shot 8 times. The suspect is upright, walking away and apparently unaffected by the shots until he rather suddenly collapses at about the 10th shot.
I'm unsure where this takes place, but assume the LEOs are using .40 cal autos.
browningguy
Member
I normally carry a .40 cal. High Power, but my wife carry's a Bersa .380, and sometimes I carry a Browning or Beretta .25. I usually only casrry the 25's if I'm in a place where I feel relatively secure and it's the only thing that fits.
But if someone chose a .380 or .38 sp./9mm as their primary I wouldn't see anything to complain about.
But if someone chose a .380 or .38 sp./9mm as their primary I wouldn't see anything to complain about.
Nothing smaller than a .380ACP, as long as there are no exceptional circumstances.
However. When working with people who have significant physical challenges, that rule goes right out the window. A .22 works better than a sharp stick, and a sharp stick works better than bare hands. So if the only choice is between bare hands and a ballistically-challenged firearm, take the wimp-caliber firearm and don't look back.
Even if there's really no choice but to go with an underpowered round, you still choose the most powerful round you yourself can handle -- that's .380 ACP, then .32 NAA, then .32 ACP, then .22 Magnum. Forget .25 ACP and .22 LR -- if you can handle a .22 LR, you can handle a .22 Magnum. And if you can handle a .25 ACP, you can easily handle a .32.
Don't take this to mean that every situation is exceptional. Being a little uncomfortable is not an exceptional circumstance (though you could look for a better holster, better belt, or smaller gun in the same caliber). Having to dress around the gun is not an exceptional circumstance. Not wanting to "hassle" with a holster, or believing that carrying a larger caliber means you're paranoid, are not exceptional circumstances.
pax
However. When working with people who have significant physical challenges, that rule goes right out the window. A .22 works better than a sharp stick, and a sharp stick works better than bare hands. So if the only choice is between bare hands and a ballistically-challenged firearm, take the wimp-caliber firearm and don't look back.
Even if there's really no choice but to go with an underpowered round, you still choose the most powerful round you yourself can handle -- that's .380 ACP, then .32 NAA, then .32 ACP, then .22 Magnum. Forget .25 ACP and .22 LR -- if you can handle a .22 LR, you can handle a .22 Magnum. And if you can handle a .25 ACP, you can easily handle a .32.
Don't take this to mean that every situation is exceptional. Being a little uncomfortable is not an exceptional circumstance (though you could look for a better holster, better belt, or smaller gun in the same caliber). Having to dress around the gun is not an exceptional circumstance. Not wanting to "hassle" with a holster, or believing that carrying a larger caliber means you're paranoid, are not exceptional circumstances.
pax
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