Your minimum SD handgun - Where do you draw the line ?

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I personally will not own anything less than 40 S&W caliber for home defense. I'm well practiced with this cartridge, I'm an accurate shot.:D
If you're talking a revolver, its a 357 mag with 125 grain JHP's.
 
I also have a personal preference for a 'minimum' caliber & weapon being a .38 Special J-frame.

It's mostly been a +P rated 642-1 which I originally ordered new from the factory (when I finally decided to try an Airweight), and which has been loaded with either 158gr LHP +P or more recently the Speer 135gr GDHP +P.

Occasionally, however, I'll carry a nice M37 Airweight which isn't rated for +P, and in which I've been using the new version of the Winchester 110gr STHP until I decide if I desire something else in the way of standard pressure .38 loads.

I don't have anything against a good quality .380 ACP loaded with one of the heavier HP bullet loads for the caliber, as long as it functions well, but I already have a selection of small 9mm pistols which I prefer. I'll never likely feel the urge to invest in another .380 ACP, but I can understand the folks that do select quality examples of them.

The importance of preparation in the way of awareness, knowledge, skill and mindset on the part of the shooter/user is seemingly sometimes overlooked in the search for 'caliber' ... but the importance of consistently reliable functioning, in both the ammunition & the firearm, in normal conditions, really can't be overstated, either.
 
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My minimum is any handgun that fires.

If all I have at hand is one of the .22's I'm not going to give up because it isn't a .40. My regular carry gun is a BHP practical in .40, but I also have a Bersa .380 and Browning and Beretta .25's that I have been known to carry when that was best for the particular application.
 
Back before NM had CCW, and also pre-CCW in other states, I would carry either an NAA .22 magnum or a Kel-Tec P32. Either of these could be "deep concealed" in such a fashion as to never be discovered except by a thorough search. This was the "any gun beats no gun" approach.

Now, with CCW, I typically carry a Kahr PM9 in a pocket holster. This is due to the fact that a tell-tale bulge in the wrong pants won't gt me locked up. Note, however, that the PM9 conceals very well, and it only when I am sloppy that there is a chance that I would be "made". Seven rounds of 9x19 and an additional seven rounds in the off-hand pocket meets my daily needs. If I was expecting a fight I would always carry a rifle.
 
.380 from an accurate gun (Sig P232 or similar). CorBon has some particularly hot .380 rounds available.
 
9mm +P in an auto would be the least I'm comfortable with and only with really good ammo like a Gold Dot, but all my carry guns are .40 or .45

38 Special +P 135gr. Speer Gold Dot in a J-frame revolver (and only because I couldn't shoot a 357 j-frame to save my life). In a full size revolver, K-frame and up, I want .357 or something that starts with .4.

I have a bunch of 32ACP guns and a 9x18 Mak, but those are range toys only. I wouldn't trust one for SD if I had the choice and would never use an HP in those calibers
 
i own three .40 handguns, but that dosen't mean that I wouldn't carry a 9mm, but that is where i draw my line, i would definetly trust the safety of myself and my loved ones with a 9mm, especially with the right type of ammo.
 
9mm for me. It's all about how well you shoot the gun and shot placement. Though I will admit my preferred cartridge is .45ACP I don't mind 9mm either. I'm confident and comfortable with both that I have a higher probability of hitting my target than some other round I'm not familiar with (such as .40S&W, .357 SIG etc...)

.40S&W is a great round, but I never warmed up to it. If I did like that roud to shoot and practice with, I'd easily carry a gun chambered in .40S&W.

For a guy that like 1911s in .45 ACP so much, 90% of the time I'm carrying a 9mm. :evil:
 
As has been said already, any gun beats no gun at all. So if all I had available was a .22LR pistol, I'd take it.

What's the minimum I'd feel somewhat comfortable with? I think .380 is about right.
 
9x19mm...

...my personal limit for a SD cartridge. I've got some Corbon 9mm +P for my Beretta that claims 1350 fps/466 ft. lbs... Sounds alright to me. My preference in auto cartridges is .357Sig, with .45ACP at a close 2nd. My home defense gun is a .45 - my carry gun is a .357Sig.

My .45 load is the Hornady TAP (950 fps/461ft. lbs, 230 grain +P).

My .357 load is the Speer Gold Dot (1375fps/561ft. lbs, 125 grain).

I shoot .45 very well... I'm a little better than "good enough" with .357Sig, but getting better with time and practice. I can hit what I'm aiming at - within 10-15 yards I'm just as accurate with either... At farther distances, those groups spread a little when shooting the Sig round. ;) If I wanted to shoot bullseye, I'd definitely have to go with the .45ACP. I shoot tighter groups @ 50" with the .45 than with 9mm... and I'm pretty okay with a 9mm.
 
Rule #1. Have a gun. I don't recall a sub rule #1a stating "only if it's a50BMG or larger". :)
 
GLOCK 21

My normal carry in the truck is a GLOCK 21 when alone. On out of town trips, it will be the GLOCK 21, TARUS 5-shot .38 spl my back up pocket pistol , and my wife will carry her Charter Arms Undercover .38 spl, and all loaded w/ Winchester Silver Tip hollow points.
 
I have a 25 cal that I call my "false sense of security" :D But really as comfort levels go, I prefer 38 special as a minimum.
 
I was not always pleased that I am mandated to carry off-duty a .38 steel frame S&W, 640 to be exact. My duty Sig 226 is just too big to conceal effectively. Over the years with practice and trying probably 20 holsters we have become best friends. We travel together 24/7 as Off Duty or BUG. I started with the ISSUED 38 SWC, graduated to 38 SWC +P's, then NYCLAD .38 SWCHP +P's and now the 135 Grain Gold Dot short barrel +P's. Good ammo is important. I would not feel safe with any less of a gun or caliber. Is it the best, probably not, but it has been there when needed. Fill in the blank for your personal choice. I really don't think it matters as long as you can shoot it well and feel confident with it. I have interviewed many perps who have told me that they have passed up potential victims because they looked confident and aware of their surroundings. They look for weakness. If a .22 puts starch in your spine it may save your butt without you ever knowing it. LOL Bill
 
I feel fine with a .380 ACP, especially in a Cheetah. Mine has been 100 percent reliable. I'd say a .380 is very marginally passing... only if the SHTF and nothing else is available.

However.... given the choice... I prefer .38 spl +p or 9mm as a minimum. Frankly, if I have time to grab my top choice, it would be a .357 magnum revolver or a .45 ACP semi-auto. Or better yet a 12 gauge with 00 buck.



With tiny 9mms popping up like the baby Kahrs, to me, the .22 LR and .25 ACP mouse guns are expensive paper weights. And the .32 ACP rat guns only slightly more useful.
 
I'm not a semi-auto guy but the 7.65mm Browning or 9X17mm Short would be fine I'm sure. In a revolver, either a .32 H&R Magnum or .38 Special will do the job well.

HEY, anything is better than a knife, no? Even a 6.35mm Browning...
 
My miniumum......KelTec P3AT. .380 is sufficient at self-defense ranges, atleast enough for me. The gun is small.....smaller than alot of .32s and .25s

keltec.gif



My wifes......Walther P22. Its the only gun shes currently comfortable with and Im not going to rush it. I know .22lr sucks big for self-defense but with some hi-velocity .22s its better than harsh words. The only other thing the Walther has going for it is its tactical appearance. Some unknowing crook may not take the time to notice its a .22 pistol.

waltherp22.gif
 
The smallest thing that I will carry by choice, as a primary, is .45 acp in an auto, or .44 special in a revolver. The funny thing is that those two rounds are also my power ceiling for a handgun, as much more than that, such as .44 mag, or some such, and you start reaching a point of diminishing returns with controllability. I do however also have a P-32 that rides my hip pocket, most of the time, as a last ditch effort before resorting to throwing rocks. Now, if both .44 and .45 are in the shop, or some such (god forbid!) thereby not allowing me the choice of carrying them, I'll progress on down the list of other stuff I've got.

Conclusion, the biggest non-magnum I can lay hands on is what gets carried. No one ever got into a gunfight, whilst carrying a full size big bore, and thought: "Gee, I just realized how marginal a handgun can really be in a defensive situation, I sure wish I'd left this big belt anchor at home and packed my .25 today!"

~~~Mat
 
The smallest I currently carry is .38+P.

I would consider a 9mm, but I wouldn't go any smaller than that.

For my wife, I would consider a .380ACP - something like a SIG - but only because something that small would be about all that she could handle.
 
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