Smallest caliber you will carry

What is the smallest caliber you will carry?

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I'd carry a .17 HMR if that was all I could possibly conceal. Even a tiny gun is better than no gun.
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The issue many of us have with that statement is that such a situation simply cannot exist.

What's the smallest gun chambered in .17 HMR? A Taurus snubby? Taurus offers the exact same gun in .38 Spl...

I did forget about 7.62x25. It's a great round for which not many manufacturers chamber their guns. Consequently, most modern carry guns, due to advances in metalurgy, are smaller, lighter, and fire a larger, more powerful round.

A small calliber does not always mean a small gun.
 
I voted .22 LR because I, too, subscribe to the theory that the first rule of a gunfight is have a gun. My S&W Airlite 317 is really easy to pack along almost anywhere. That said, the gun I most often carry is my USPc in .45 Auto.
 
The smallest caliber I WILL carry is a .22 short. Of course, I would only do this if I had no other option.
 
I don't see any reason to carry anything smaller than a .380. Can people not figure out how to conceal the P-3AT, even in summer shorts??

The smallest I will carry is 9x19. I can't carry where I work, so they don't need to know.
 
I carry a Taurus 9mm revolver sometimes... I'm pretty sure that would be the smallest considering I love fall/winter so I can conceal a 1911 under heavy clothes!
 
What's the smallest gun chambered in .17 HMR? A Taurus snubby? Taurus offers the exact same gun in .38 Spl...
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naa-17lr.jpg
naa17msc.jpg

http://www.naaminis.com/news12.html

Maybe just a little smaller than a Taurus snubby. A little cheaper too.

I carry a .22mag mini revolver when I can't carry something bigger. It's reliable, and bigger than nothing and goes places my 380 and 45 cannot. Besides, ideally the TNT HP ammo I carry in it should expand to do some decent damage. It might not be a guaranteed instant kill, but getting shot with it would sure as hell change an attacker's behavior.

Also, when I present it in self defense the ensuing laughter gives me time to escape.
 
I carry a P32 on occassion. I am not inspired by it's caliber, but it's better than nothing...

I would carry something smaller, if the situation demanded it and if I had something else to carry but right now my P32 is my smallest firearm.
 
380 acp is the smallest I'll go for people, I will carry a .22lr when i'm out whistle pig hunting, you know, for those aggressive ones who come after you while you're reloading the 10/22... :D

That being said, I always carry 9mm+P in an MK9. The P232sl is a safe queen now!
 
With several 9mm, 38 spcl and even .357 guns out there well under 18 ounces and pocket sized....why choose even a .380 anymore? I guess I can understand the really light .380 smeltecs but a .25 or a .22 or a .17????????
 
bamacisa

ccw I use a 442 with 38 Special +P I also have used 9mm and 40S&W. Remember that a 22lr in your hand is worth two 45's at home.
 
I have a 25ACP, it is something I can sneak into work, no guns policy. Do I trust it as a man stopper? No, but I look to shot placement. If I can get a good head shot and a bullet manages to penetrate the skull, I might have a fighting chance. Ok, there are a lot of ifs, but it is better than nothing.
 
I carry a .22mag mini revolver when I can't carry something bigger.
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Thanks for cluing me in to the NAA, but I still think I have a point. Why would anyone carry a .17 caliber NAA when one could carry a .22 Magnum NAA?

Or why would one carry a 5.9oz NAA when one could carry a 6.3oz P3-AT? I mean, you can conceal it in swimming trunks... I just don't see a situation where you just "can't get away with that extra four tenths of an ounce".

That being said, there are people that will carry something tiny and ineffective because it's what they have. That, of course, makes a great deal of sense. I just don't see a reason anybody would ever be so burdened that they have to carry anything less effective than a .380.
 
Why carry less when more is needed? Will having one be better than throwing rocks?
Carry what you are comfortable with but remember to always carry!
My minimum is 9mm.
 
Where is the "none of the above" choice? I would risk my life to none of those. Nothing below 9mm for SD.
 
Cooper be damned. I carry .22LR in a Beretta most of the time. With my current budget, it's the only thing I can afford to practice with regularly.
 
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