What's the smallest pistol you'd trust?
- Thread starter Tom Servo
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Smallest gun to carry?
Here in Texas, when taking your concealed carry instruction [. the instructors who are usually retired Law Enforcement] put the bottom limit at 380.ACP. I was taught by a retired Texas Highway Patrol Officer . Another teacher in my area is a retired US. Marshal, and recommends 380ACP. as minimum. I trust their judgement. The most deadly handgun of all time according to fatal shootings ,both legal or criminal on record, goes to the Model 36 Smith and Wesson 38Sp. Probably because of the gun's popularity with the Police world and the criminal element.
Here in Texas, when taking your concealed carry instruction [. the instructors who are usually retired Law Enforcement] put the bottom limit at 380.ACP. I was taught by a retired Texas Highway Patrol Officer . Another teacher in my area is a retired US. Marshal, and recommends 380ACP. as minimum. I trust their judgement. The most deadly handgun of all time according to fatal shootings ,both legal or criminal on record, goes to the Model 36 Smith and Wesson 38Sp. Probably because of the gun's popularity with the Police world and the criminal element.
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Lonestar49
Member
9mm
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For me, it's my SA EMP 1911 SAO 3" bull barreled 9mm, 9+1 with either 124gr JHP or 115gr JHP..
IMO, the smallest Lw/sc gun I would go with anywhere where the need of it is because of, minimal, very light clothing or very formal clothing w/jacket.
Ls
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For me, it's my SA EMP 1911 SAO 3" bull barreled 9mm, 9+1 with either 124gr JHP or 115gr JHP..
IMO, the smallest Lw/sc gun I would go with anywhere where the need of it is because of, minimal, very light clothing or very formal clothing w/jacket.
Ls
CoRoMo
Member
Trusting a small pistol in a defensive sitch is a little different than the line I've drawn on my daily carry gun. I don't want to carry anything smaller than .38spl-9mm, but if I had a little NAA mini .22 on me and needed to use it, I would trust it to do what I employ it to do.
earlthegoat2
Member
If I had two options
1. A jammamatic 45 or
2. A 22 that was 100% reliable
I would trust the 22. So yeah that is the smallest I would trust and it just happens to be the smallest (for all intents and purposes you friggin nitpickers)
1. A jammamatic 45 or
2. A 22 that was 100% reliable
I would trust the 22. So yeah that is the smallest I would trust and it just happens to be the smallest (for all intents and purposes you friggin nitpickers)
Big_John1961
Member
LWS 32 or his big brother the LWS 380.
jhco
Member
I am a little uneasy to carry a .380 but sometimes its the best option because of size.
I prefer forty for carry but when size is an issue I use 9mm or 38 special, using .380 only as a pocket carry when nothing else will do.
I prefer forty for carry but when size is an issue I use 9mm or 38 special, using .380 only as a pocket carry when nothing else will do.
I guess I would have to say that I trust my NAA minimag in 22wmr, because it is what I use when I walk the dog at night. It is not my normal carry that is usually a Bersa .380 or my taurus pt 145. It just that when walking the dog at two in the morning I don't have to pants up just go in my shorts, pajamas or whatever while I hold the very small minimag in my hand opposite the leash. I think that it will do the necessary job but even if it didn't the report is much louder than any alarm I know of and will surely get help to coming.
Hello. I am new to this forum, but this topic is one I must add my .02 cents.
I carry one of two guns: either a S&W .38 spl. model 640 Centenial (when they first came out, they were not .357 mag as current production models chambered) or a .380 Makarov IJ70-17AS. Since I carry them the most, I practice with them the most and I have confidence with both. One is carried every day, but realistically they may never be needed to defend my life.
However, I once owned the building where my office was located. When the alarm went off at 2:30 AM, I reached for the 1911A1. I may have been the first on the scene, as the police may be busier elsewhere. Let's be honest here. If any of us knew that there was a better than average chance of needing the gun we carry, we would all want howitzers. Guns chambered for .22 LR, .25 ACP et. al. are nice when the threat level is low. As it rises, we need, want and carry our .40 S&Ws, .44 spls. and .45 ACPs etc.
Also, weather plays a role in what I carry. New England summers are warm to hot, so a potential assailant would be wearing light clothes, just as I would be wearing. So a smaller caliber gun is easier to carry and conceal; and, since the bullet will not have to penetrate heavy material, they are good enough. New England winters allow me to carry and conceal a bigger caliber handgun, since the clothes I wear are heavier, as would be any potential assailant.
Thank you, just my opinion.
Zarrman
I carry one of two guns: either a S&W .38 spl. model 640 Centenial (when they first came out, they were not .357 mag as current production models chambered) or a .380 Makarov IJ70-17AS. Since I carry them the most, I practice with them the most and I have confidence with both. One is carried every day, but realistically they may never be needed to defend my life.
However, I once owned the building where my office was located. When the alarm went off at 2:30 AM, I reached for the 1911A1. I may have been the first on the scene, as the police may be busier elsewhere. Let's be honest here. If any of us knew that there was a better than average chance of needing the gun we carry, we would all want howitzers. Guns chambered for .22 LR, .25 ACP et. al. are nice when the threat level is low. As it rises, we need, want and carry our .40 S&Ws, .44 spls. and .45 ACPs etc.
Also, weather plays a role in what I carry. New England summers are warm to hot, so a potential assailant would be wearing light clothes, just as I would be wearing. So a smaller caliber gun is easier to carry and conceal; and, since the bullet will not have to penetrate heavy material, they are good enough. New England winters allow me to carry and conceal a bigger caliber handgun, since the clothes I wear are heavier, as would be any potential assailant.
Thank you, just my opinion.
Zarrman
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a .380 would work enough, as is the only things it would not stop would be a military man or a dude hyped up on some sort of drug.
and a dude hyped up on some drug is not much of a threat as is they are so messed up in thier senses that they can't tell left from right.
i would really like a walther ppk .380 acp.
just because of it's history and because it's a bond gun.
and a dude hyped up on some drug is not much of a threat as is they are so messed up in thier senses that they can't tell left from right.
i would really like a walther ppk .380 acp.
just because of it's history and because it's a bond gun.
I take my NAA 22mag mininirevolver practically everywhere I go. You can't get much smaller, concealable, or reliable that that. You just have to be comfortable with a .22mag for SD.
My logic is it's better than nothing and would at least give me some more options in a SD situation. I load it with CCI TNT rounds which have a very deep HP cavity that I'm hoping would expand rapidly to at least .38".
It doubles as a snake gun when hiking/fishing (snake shot).
My logic is it's better than nothing and would at least give me some more options in a SD situation. I load it with CCI TNT rounds which have a very deep HP cavity that I'm hoping would expand rapidly to at least .38".
It doubles as a snake gun when hiking/fishing (snake shot).
Dogbite
Member
I did read an article about a man who stopped a 380 bullet with his hand--held hand up in front of his face before the shot, and his hand stopped the bullet. Another 380 story-A woman caught a burglar in her home, panicked, and shot him six times point blank in the chest. After being hit 6 times the burglar shouted, "lady, stop shooting me!" Yet another where a man was attacking a woman, she was able to put her 380 right against his chest and shoot him once. He smiled, took the gun from her, assaulted her, and then shot her in the head point blank with her own gun, and left her for dead. She recovered. He was later shot dead by a 357 magnum wielded by a police officer. Every caliber has failed, but I'm not convinced a 380 will do the business, but on the other hand, its better than harsh words...I carry a Smith J-frame with 38+p's in it, and feel confident enough with it.
I thought I'd add this, although I haven't read all 10 friggin' pages of posts so someone else may have already said it:
You can 100% conceal a lot of guns in a SmartCarry holster. My BT380 disappears in one inside a pair of well-worn blue jeans.
I use the 'wrong pocket' in mine to position the butt of my weapon up higher and hide it behind my zipper/just under the belt buckle. This position has saved me a great deal of pain when a small child's elbow accidentally collided with my groin, and impacted my weapon's slide instead of my 'sperm barracks.'
You can 100% conceal a lot of guns in a SmartCarry holster. My BT380 disappears in one inside a pair of well-worn blue jeans.
I use the 'wrong pocket' in mine to position the butt of my weapon up higher and hide it behind my zipper/just under the belt buckle. This position has saved me a great deal of pain when a small child's elbow accidentally collided with my groin, and impacted my weapon's slide instead of my 'sperm barracks.'
There are stories like this for every caliber. Well, almost every caliber. Maybe not 105mm. There are also plenty of stories of people dying from a single shot from a .22. It's all about shot placement and what you hit.
For the record, when I was in highschool an idiot was showing off his 380 to a couple of girls and promptly shot himself in the hand. The bullet went right through.
Dogbite
Member
Yeah, there is something to be said about revolvers. If you go to a IDPA type match, you will see jams, FTF, stove pipes, everything. Under stress, people do all kinds of crazy stuff as well. I remember a story a professional guide was talking about. He was guiding a guy hunting lions. The guy saw the lion, and started throwing the bolt, working it as fast as he could. The guide looked over at the guy, and in his frazzled state, had worked the bolt and ejected every shell out on the ground without touching the trigger one time!
Dogbite
Member
Every caliber has failed,
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From my previous post. Also, people have survived a free fall without a parachute, but I wouldn't recommend it. Hell, when I was a teenager, I stopped a guy with a wrist rocket and a rock, shot him right in the face. It sure looked painful, and it ended the aggression!
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From my previous post. Also, people have survived a free fall without a parachute, but I wouldn't recommend it. Hell, when I was a teenager, I stopped a guy with a wrist rocket and a rock, shot him right in the face. It sure looked painful, and it ended the aggression!
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sigsteve
Member
Mine would be a HK P7. It's small enough to conceal, but a gun that will not fail and is more accurate than 99% of them out there!
gamboolman
Member
Glock 26
oneounceload
member
9mm.....especially a Rohrbaugh, smallest 9mm there is - fits in your pocket
doc2rn
Member
Sig 232 or 238 in .380 having the tool you need is more important than the size. Ya know there is a joke in there somewhere!
herohog
Member
KelTec P3AT .380 is the smallest I would trust these days and I just bought one. I used to carry a .22 Magnum derringer but that is simply not enough to me any more. With it, shot placement is CRITICAL and the useful range is measured in single digits when shot FAST. With the P3AT, at least I have 7 shots of a bigger and heaver round with sufficient velocity to penetrate all but heavy winter wear. Shot placement is still important but not as critical.
MCgunner
Member
I have a .380, but prefer a .38 or 9x19+P.
Tell ya what, Dog, you got the hand, I got the .380. We can test this stuff. Hornady shows 10" of penetration in 10 percent jello with their personal defense .380 and that's with expansion. When there's ammo on the shelves again, I might try some of that stuff. Rather carry my 9, though.
Oh, and "heavy winter clothing" down here is a pull over hoodie.
Tell ya what, Dog, you got the hand, I got the .380. We can test this stuff.
Hornady shows 10" of penetration in 10 percent jello with their personal defense .380 and that's with expansion. When there's ammo on the shelves again, I might try some of that stuff. Rather carry my 9, though.Oh, and "heavy winter clothing" down here is a pull over hoodie.
Nairbedaw
Member
Havent read all the pages on this thread but I would say .38 special +p, or .357's ( which is more likely than me using .38 +p's) in my SP101. But mine is a 3- 1/16" bbl.
BENELLIMONTE
member
S & W 242 38 Spl.
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