Smallest caliber sufficient for defense?

[Texshooter]

I am by no means an expert, but I would ask what caliber is an icepick?

Has anyone ever died from one of those going in their body?

Too many variables and I pray I never have to find out.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Using anything less than .38+p gives me the collywobbles.
Spending time at a gym regularly reminds me that there are some real monsters out there who look like they could soak up a magazine of .22's to the chest or COM.
My preferred caliber is, of course, 45 colt in a wheelie or 45 ACP in a pistol.

 

[pete f]

As a good friend once said, If I need a gun for self defense, I want to have it be one with a lanyard, as in a LARGE towed artillery piece.

Practically the smallest I want to carry is a .45. However, do to wieght and space limitations. sometimes I have carred a 6903. Rarely, as with the proper clothing and holster, a .45 commander seems to be in reality just as easy to carry.

 

[kikr]

The .25 is the absolute worse defensive round. .32 w/silver tips has %60ish stops according to Sanow/Marshall which makes for a good back up piece. Personally, I would stay with the 9mm given the guns on the market.

 

[tsc]

.380 minimum. 9mm or .45 ideally.

 

[dhoomonyou]

As we saw in the ZARQAWI bombing, he survived the blast of 2 500 pound bombs. The caliber wars will never cease.

With that said nothing less than 9mm or 38 spl + p. for me.