What is your minimum?

[WisBorn]

What is your minimum cartridge and capacity handgun for concealed carry?

Curious to see what the minimums are for the THR members. Remember this is your personal choice and opinion!
A single shot 22 short with a well-placed shot can get the job done. But you may run into two or three NINJAS.

 

[edwardware]

A micro-compact LC9 in 9mm is my minimum. I consider my 642 in .38Spl a step up from there.

 

[Ru4real]

Five rounds in the XD 45 ACP. Seven rounds in S&W 380 Auto.

I’m good with “losing” any of these 3 for a time.

 

[Spats McGee]

Ordinarily, 13 rounds of 9mm in a Shield plus. Occasionally, 5 rounds of .38 in an LCR.

 

[Hartkopf]

9mm, 15 round minimum.

 

[wcwhitey]

I have carried a Beretta 950BS .22 Short as a backup/last ditch role. Seecamp .32’s we’re hard to come by and expensive. With the advent of guns like the Ruger LCP I don’t see a need to go below a .380. If you cannot effectively tuck away an LCP your not even trying.

 

[badkarmamib]

My current carry minimum is 7+1 of .40S&W in a SA XD-S. My comfort minimum would be 6 rounds of 9mm or .38 +p.

 

[chicharrones]

Minimum in an autoloader = .32 ACP with 7+1 stuffed in it.

Minimum in a revolver = .38 special with 5+0 stuffed in it.

 

[Coyote3855]

I carry a Kahr .380 in a pocket holster everywhere it's legal and some places that are just posted "No Weapons." If I'm out on our property, I carry a KelTec PMR30. Going to town, a 1911 either a Kimber lightweight in .45 or a Commander in .38 Super.

 

[Obturation]

380 acp is fine for a minimum to me. I prefer 45 acp but tough to carry if I'm going to a pajama party. I've always got a gun but if I would otherwise be unarmed I've still got a g42 stashed out some place.

 

[CDW4ME]

Glock 19
Why? I shoot it quick & accurate.
CDW4ME, how about a pocket 380 / 38 snub in a "good area"? No. I shoot the 19 better than anything smaller and that doesn't change based on where.
I encourage carrying a handgun that is advantageous, one you shoot the best, everywhere possible - low anticipated threat shouldn't reduce it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Minimum for me would be my Glock 43 with seven rounds. If I go with a revolver (only on nights with full moons) a Taurus 85 loaded with Silvertip ammo.

 

[WisBorn]

Minimum for me would be my Glock 43 with seven rounds. If I go with a revolver (only on nights with full moons) a Taurus 85 loaded with Silvertip ammo.

Got to look out for the werewolves and vampires

 

[GatorHunter]

I went back and forth with this a lot. I always wanted higher capacity just in case. I ended up carrying my xds 45 which holds 5+1 and then I carry a 7 round mag as a spare. I shoot that gun the most and I’m more comfortable with it over anything else I have. I did just pick up an xdm elite 10mm which holds 10 rounds. I need to do a lot of shooting with it before I’m comfortable carrying it. I think it comes down to what you can carry and shoot comfortably and well

 

[Mikhail Weiss]

9mm 7+1 S&W Shield. If I had an itty bitty .380, I might carry that if absolute concealability were the goal, but I generally prefer 9mm (and it's the smallest caliber I presently own).

 

[GatorHunter]

Glock 19
Why? I shoot it quick & accurate.
CDW4ME, how about a pocket 380 / 38 snub in a "good area"? No. I shoot the 19 better than anything smaller and that doesn't change based on where.
I encourage carrying a handgun that is advantageous, one you shoot the best, everywhere possible - low anticipated threat shouldn't reduce it.

I have starred shooting my 19x a lot more. I keep it in my edc backpack from time to time. I’m loving that pistol so far

 

[Pat Riot]

Got to look out for the werewolves and vampires

Uh-oh. Silver only works with werewolves. One needs holy water, crosses and wooden stakes for vampires.

For me, .38 Special in a revolver.
And .380 in a pistol (or semiauto), but I no longer have a .380 so I will go with 9mm.
I wouldn’t feel disadvantaged with a .380 and did not when I carried one. I usually had a New York reload in the guise of a S&W 442.

 

[Terry G]

9MM is the minimum for me. CZ P-01. I have a SA Hellcat, but it's kind of rare for me to just carry that.

 

[mavracer]

I suppose the absolute minimum caliber would be 22LR as I have carried my Beretta 21A on very rare occasions and 2 rounds with my 45 Colt American Derringer but there's always more guns close on those occasions.
Generally minimum carry is 5 shot 38 or 10+1 380 now days.

 

[BullRunBear]

Five rounds 38 special in a snubby revolver. Absolutely reliable and plenty accurate at SD distances. If the S&W Shield in 9mm came in a DA style I would use one for the extra rounds but I pocket carry and don't trust cocked and locked that way.

Jeff

 

[aaaaa]

What about .327 Federal Magnum? Problem is, I think most pistols or revolvers in .327 are as big as a .380 Auto or even a 9mm or 38 Special, so may as well carry the bigger caliber.

 

[fastbolt]

My most common retirement CCW choices are .38SPL (5-shot J-frame) or .380ACP (LCP w/6rd mags). Those are the minimum calibers and guns which I would be willing to use to fight for my life.

Throughout my career I carried .357MAG, 9, .40 & .45 on-duty, and those and a variety of other calibers off-duty, including .44MAG (it was even an approved duty caliber in revolver days). I got in my fair share of training/practice trigger time while serving as a LE firearms trainer for more than 25 years, so it's not like I haven't used and carried other calibers and guns. I tend to put more emphasis on the person using the gun, than any particular gun/caliber/ammunition selection.

I try not to denigrate the choices of others, since I probably won't be standing alongside them if they ever have to rely upon their choice outside a training/practice range. Not my business anymore.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I've gone through places I didn't relish, with only my whits, so I guess that's my minimum.

I've also carried a (2) shot, 22 mag derringer, sig 238 in 380acp, and various revolvers in 38 spcl.

my preference is my BHP, 13+1 of 9x19 and a spare mag

 

[.38 Special]

I dunno. For hunting 200 pound animals, the .357 is pretty minimal, and very few would count on - or even be legally allowed to - use a .380 or a .327 or some such. I carry a six shot .357 but would rather have more and bigger rounds. The K frame really is just a concession to comfort.

On the other hand, there are some fairly well researched papers claiming that the .357 is tops for defense, or even that there is no real difference between common handgun cartridges when it comes to defense - but then, why doesn't the 25 consistently do the job on deer?

Personally, I've come to the opinion that we really don't know what makes for a good defensive cartridge, so the discussion really amounts to no more than a sharing of opinions. That can be an enjoyable discussion, of course, at least until folks start deciding that their opinions are more valuable than the others!

 

[GBExpat]

What is your minimum cartridge and capacity handgun for concealed carry?

6+1 9x17 (plus a spare 6rd mag) Kel-Tec P3-AT
6 .38spl (plus a spare 2x2x2 pouch) 2" Taurus 856