What is your minimum defensive caliber?

[45Frank]

32 H&R Mag. I can hit what I shoot at. Don't matter what you have if you miss regularly.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

but I have carried 22 LR CCI Stinger in a Beretta Bobcat in national parks where 22 LR is the largest caliber allowed.

What national park is this a rule in? I've never heard this.

 

[herkyguy]

22 WMR in a Ruger Single Six, only because I've carried it a few times running errands after a day on the ranch.

 

[jmb100]

Regarding 22 LR concealed carry in national parks in North Carolina, the following is quoted from http://www.ncwildlife.org/Default.aspx?tabid=416&IndexId=2053

1. According to the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of Interior, people who can legally possess firearms under federal and state law can now possess those firearms in the national parks in that state. This pertains to anyone with a concealed carry permit.

2. National parks should not be confused with national forests. In North Carolina, the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie and Croatan national forests are also designated as game lands.

3. Game land regulations allow .22 caliber pistols, with barrels not greater than seven and a half inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle ammunition, to be carried as a sidearm on game lands at any time, other than by hunters during the special bow and arrow and muzzleloading deer hunting seasons.

4. QUESTION: I hold a North Carolina concealed carry permit. May I carry my concealed carry firearm on game lands when it isn’t a hunting season?
ANSWER: Game land regulations allow .22 caliber pistols, with barrels not greater than seven and a half inches in length and shooting only short, long or long rifle ammunition, to be carried as a sidearm on game lands at any time, other than by hunters during the special bow and arrow and muzzleloading deer hunting seasons.

 

[P-Dog]

9mm min. But I also agree with others here, if all I had was a .22, then that's what it would be. Preferably, a .40 for me. I'd worry that in a "situation" having a .22 would require very good shot placement in a high adrenaline / reactive scenario. The higher caliber, in my mind, increases the margin of error in regards to shot placement and stopping power.

 

[Roadking Rider]

For me it's a .380.

 

[TonyT]

I only carry one gun. Usually its a Kahr PM-9 in a pocket holster but soemtimes it's a Glock-36. I am reminded of an old S&W add for the early 1900's which stated that more people both good and bad were shot with 32 cal S&W than other guns. Shot placement is critical.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Thanks for clearing that up jmb100 and for the info. It is a stupid rule, to be sure, but it's good to be informed. Jeez, a .22 in black bear country? Note to self: Stay out of NC.

 

[doc2rn]

Smallest I have carried is a Beretta Minx, but the norm is a S&W mod 10.

 

[Inebriated]

I draw the line at about .22LR and .17 HM2.

I fall into the "any gun is better than no gun" camp.

 

[jad0110]

I draw the line at about .22LR and .17 HM2.

I fall into the "any gun is better than no gun" camp.

Agreed, though I do prefer medium or large bore centerfire rounds. The least potent gun I carry is a snub nose .38 S&W 642, and I have no qualms doing so, other than the fact that it is not as easy to shoot as other larger guns I carry.

My wife has a .32 ACP Colt 1908 and though I don't rely on it for protection, it is her house gun and I would have no problems using for protection on it either.

 

[MCgunner]

I carry a .22 LR mini revolver as back up and sometimes forget to put my 9 in my pocket and my Ruger SR22 up when I go to town. I carry a .22 magnum, Hornady CD in a NAA Black Widow, on Sundays.

It's pretty low threat around here. We moved away from the big city. I have property here with small game on it, so like to carry a little .22 a lot. My fave for just carrying is a little Rossi Revolver. It's twice as accurate as the SR22 with its best load and I just shoot it better, but I carry it on a belt so it's hard to forget when I'm going to go to town. When I take it off, I still have the 9 in my pocket.

 

[mljdeckard]

.380 if it is a hot loading, like those offered from Double-Tap. And honestly I would steer most people to something bigger.

Otherwise, 9mm.

 

[481]

Minimum for me is 9mm.

Subcompacts available in the caliber like the Kahr PM9 and KelTec PF9 make having to go to the .380 unnecessary (at least for me).

 

[Ehtereon11B]

In a backup gun it would depend on what I am carrying. Revolver would be a .22 Mag. Semi-auto would be .380ACP.

Primary carry would be 9mm.

 

[WRGADog]

Kahr P380, but

I prefer one of my small 9's (Solo, PM9, Nano, PPS, G26, XDsc). All depends on how I am dressed.

 

[David White]

Tarus TCP .380 is the minimum I carry.
It's always my M&P .40 though.
I keep the .380 on me as my bug and my .40 as my primary.

 

[Airbrush Artist]

Colt .38 2" Snubby Detective Special, Easy To Carry, Fast To Draw,and I can group 4 of the 6 rounds on a CD at 12 yds..and the other 2 pretty close.

 

[788Ham]

.38 Spl. +p's

 

[Manny]

While I got my LCR-22 as a training gun for my KLCR loaded with .38+p's, it too is nothing to sneeze at with 8 rounds of CCI Velociters.

 

[psyopspec]

.380 for an absolute minimum if discretion is of utter necessity, with 9mm as a minimum preference.

 

[Filmtex]

Everyday carry is a .40, smallest-.380.

 

[easyg]

My minimum is .38 special from a 4"+ barrel.

Less than 4" it is 9mm Para.

 

[steveo452]

Everyday carry is a kimber .45acp, The minimum for my primary CCW would be .38spl. in a revolver or 9mm in a pistol. But as they say anything is better than nothing.

 

[roadliner]

Bigger is better, right? I normally carry a 45 acp,, with a Ruger LCP 380 being the smallest I carrry. But a 32 acp saved my life one night with a one shot stop. If I could chose at the moment of needing it, I'd do the 45 everytime.