Your carry caliber choice

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.357 mag most of the time then a 9mm or 45 acp, depending on conditions.
 
Currently, it's Glock 19 when not at work. J-frame when I can't carry the 9mm. It seems like each carry gun gets a bit smaller and lighter each time. I used to carry an SP101 and Sig P220.
 
In my earlier post, I implied that I carry .40 only on duty, and .357 the rest of the time. Actually, I do carry the .40 some of the time when out of uniform, too, and this will increase if I ever find a truly good CCW rig for the SIG. I have had a couple of decades to settle on some good CCW rigs for my revolvers.
 
.357 Sig
Presented by a Glock 33
Substitute roles sometimes played by one of two converted Glock 27s
 
I was born in the mid 50's, and the way I was raised , meant gun fit to shooter.

So I chose platform that fit me, from what was available then.

Smith K frame, Gov't model of 1911, BHP are three, so that means for centerfire, .38spl, .357, 45ACP and 9mm.
J frame is another.


No .40 cal back then, and none of a lot of what is available now.

Truth is everything one needs in platform and caliber was done by 1935, or 1955 if one includes the .44 magnum.
Even the .38 Super and 9x23 was around .

So for me, the gun fit, which includes reaching and using all controls came first, then the caliber.

K frames also mean .22 lr and 32 in revolvers back then.
Beretta Minx. Bobcat, Jetfire, and others also fit, and this means .22 short, .22lr, 25ACP.

So I do not need or even care about the guns and calibers that have come out since...

Toss me a K frame, and I am partial to 3" ones, and it does not matter if .38spl or .357.
Same with a 1911, it can be 45ACP, .38 Super or 9x23.

Same reason if I were to get interested in ARs again, I'd want a bone stock Colt, like I learned on that sold for $173 brand new, back in the 60's.
 
Summer carry: Kel-Tec p3at (.380). Easy to conceal with summer duds and probably won't have to penetrate heavy clothing.
Winter carry: S & W 642 (38 special). Easier to conceal with winter clothes and might have to penetrate heavier clothing.
 
daily CCW just isn't happening for me here...

However, the gun I have had on/with me the most frequently when the "heebie-jeebies" told me to pack, was my .44 special Bulldog. It's a very concealable handgun in a credible manstopping caliber using speer Gold Dots. I do have a holster but for infrequent use the pocket or handy container has served fairly well.

There was one camping trip where I had the GP-100 in the tent, but that felt more like a "nightstand" use than carrying.

One time doing house-sitter duty for the neighbors I had my Ruger P345 in my inside jacket pocket (over left chest). It felt very comfortable there and didn't stand out due to the bulk of the jacket and the narrow profile (it's about 1 inch thick, very flat).

So for me that would be .44 spl and .45 acp
 
On the job I am required to carry 9MM. Away from the job I can carry anything I feel like so my favorites are 38 SPEC/ 357 MAG, 9MM, 40, and 45 ACP. On the job I have to use FMJ off duty I prefer hollowpoints.
 
Summer w/less clothes....380 in the pocket...
Winter w/more clothes....9mm in OWB or .45acp in a shoulder-rig...
 
I don't have a primary carry (no CHL), but my primary weapon for target/HD is a 9mm. The main factor is cost; to be proficient with a handgun, you must practice with THAT handgun, and .40SW and .45ACP are at least half again as expensive as target 9mm. Stopping power? If a 9 won't knock someone back, a .40 or .45 won't do much better. It's about controllability and putting lead on target quickly, doing maximum damage (I do of course have hollow points for HD, specifically Federal JHPs. They hit the target, expand, expend a lot of energy, carve a big hole, and have little chance of going through drywall into the next apartment). A .45 by simple physics kicks harder when you're firing, and requires a stiffer, stronger wrist to control when you're unloading your gun rapidly.
 
.357 snubby outdoors...same snubby loaded with .38 +P at home. It's tough to beat .45ACP if you've got room to conceal it out in the world...
 
40S&W for my full size carry piece, 9mm or 380 or 38 for a bug so for me it depends. I don't worry about caliber to much but only what can I carry based on the day.
 
I switch hit

between my PT145 w 185gr Barnes solid copper flyin ash trays at around 1100fps and my Witness compact all steel 10mm with Barnes solid copper 200gr @ 1200fps Eleven rounds in the forty-five and thirteen in the ten.
 
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