What is your minimum defensive caliber?

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Got a .32, carry it sometimes, but when I'm in an area that tends to have a more diverse type of people around, I much prefer the a .380+. My preference would be the .357 I normally carry or a .40.
 
I'm surprised by the number of people who view .22 rimfires as acceptable. I've had so many misfires over the years that I'd never trust a rimfire cartridge in a defensive situation if there was any alternative.
 
8-shot .22 LR in a 317 S&W with a Crimson Trace Lasergrip & CCI Mini-Mags.

Attila the Hun would fall down with 8 rounds in his eye sockets, nasal cavity's, or heart.

If thats too big and heavy at 11 oz, a flatter 10 oz Kel-Tec P3AT .380 in my jeans pocket would do as well.

rc
 
357 sig as minimum, and .45 as regular. will never carry 9mm, because it has too much penetration and less stopping power than the 357 sig...
 
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.380


My 22's are target pistols and not suited to CCW.

My .25 is almost 100 years old and more of a novelty/range toy.

My .32-20 has too long of a barrel for CCW, though I suspect the cartridge is hot enough.

I don't own a dedicated .38 special revolver.

Honestly I'd rather carry a full sized 9mm or .45 or .357, but I have a couple reliable .380's.
 
I guess it's .22 Short. Since I own dozens of pocket pistols from .22 Short, Long & LR, to .25acp, to .32 acp, to .380acp.
I do own 'larger than pocket' pistols in other chamberings. I have a 9x19 with me today. But I have no problem carrying a pocket .32acp on most occasions.
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I have carried 9mm on occasions but normally a 45 ACP. Never owned anything smaller in a gun that I would carry. Now I've owned 32, 22LR and 22 Mag but all in wrong type of gun to carry.
 
A Rohrbaugh R9 in the front pocket for primary, and for backup...


Another Rohrbaugh R9 !!!


In the BACK pocket !
 
9mm, the loads today are quite impressive with consistent expansion.
 
45-Auto writes:

Minimum caliber I carry is 0. I'm not one that lives his life such that I need a gun within reach 24 hours a day.

You simply could have abstained from the thread, rather than injecting sarcasm or condescending words.
Except for those of us who are required by professional duty, none of us carry because we live in such a manner that requires us to "have a gun within reach 24 hours a day." In fact, none of us actually needs a gun at all.
Those of us who carry do so because, if the lack of a need for it suddenly changes, the change will likely be quite sudden (kind of like keeping a fire extinguisher in the home; it's not needed until it is.)
 
For my primary CCW I will not carry anything smaller than a 9mm. As far as a BUG, I will go as small as a .380 ACP or a .38 special if carrying a revolver. As of right now I usually carry a Glock 19 and if I need a smaller gun then I will carry my Glock 26. I like having a 9mm gun and being able to use the larger magazines if I need to.
 
380 ACP in either Ruger LCP or Sig P238, but I have carried 22 LR CCI Stinger in a Beretta Bobcat in national parks where 22 LR is the largest caliber allowed.
 
.22lr is the minimum. I'd even trust my Rohm RG23 (either of them) for it. I know, let the crucifiction begin.
 
I'm surprised by the number of people who view .22 rimfires as acceptable. I've had so many misfires over the years that I'd never trust a rimfire cartridge in a defensive situation if there was any alternative.
I thought we were just talking caliber, rather than the dependability of rimfire, which I completely agree with. My wife wanted a 22 Mag until she found out it was a rimfire.

Now there's an idea: 22 mag in centerfire? Naw, it would become the .327 in redo :)
 
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