Caliber vs. Protection

[larrys0227]

Hi all. Thanks for all the input on inexpensive handguns. Now my next question is going to bring lots of opinions , but what caliber do you consider as a minimum for PP.

[theicemanmpls]

Hi all. Thanks for all the input on inexpensive handguns. Now my next question is going to bring lots of opinions , but what caliber do you consider as a minimum for PP.

Anything that goes bang. I carry a Berretta 21A in the daytime. I will aim low if I have to use it.

[JSDinTexas]

The objective is penetration and damage to vital organs.

Minimum .40 - Intermediate .45 - Maximum 10mm (or whatever is larger)

I prefer the 10mm for available penetration. And like a cop told me, "you want to go in and have that HP hook onto as many organs as possible and exit with them." He used a G20 with Hydra-Shoks.

Just my opinion, but like another cop buddy of mine said, "I just want to kill them once."

[aj's 40 cal]

i agree anything that goes bang, but you have to also take into the fact of over penetration. i carry a .40 so imo thats minimum for me. my gf carrys a .38 or a 9m so thats min for her. its all matter of personal prefrence.

[stove]

In the city, minimum for me is 9x18 or .380. I also carry a .22 WMR mini revolver on occasion but only as a bug. In the mountains It's 7.62x25 or .357.
I used to carry an expensive 1911 in .45 ACP, but it was stolen from my car and spent 9 month in the wild before being recovered off a drug dealer. Now it stays in the safe and pulls home protection duty.

[theicemanmpls]

The objective is penetration and damage to vital organs.

Minimum .40 - Intermediate .45 - Maximum 10mm (or whatever is larger)

I prefer the 10mm for available penetration. And like a cop told me, "you want to go in and have that HP hook onto as many organs as possible and exit with them." He used a G20 with Hydra-Shoks.

Just my opinion, but like another cop buddy of mine said, "I just want to kill them once."

The objective is to stop the threat.

Not to damage vital organs, or to kill. It is to stop the threat.

If the bad guy gets shot, and dies, that is what happens using deadly force. Hopefully, no shots will be fired, and everyone goes home to their loved ones.

I carry a Charter arms bulldog DAO .44 special with 165 gr JHP Corbons in the evening. I live in a bad neighborhood. Usually the bad people are sleeping in during the day. I said usually.

During the day a mouse gun.

Bigger is not better. My wife tells me that occasionally.

Carry what ever is reliable, and you are comfortable with. Carry a .40 plus if you want. But, you don't have to.

Some of these "gun guys" will have everyone buying a 1911 .45 acp for carry. That does not always work for everyone.

I disagree with the 40 cal or larger camp. People sometimes read to many gun rags.

[fiasconva]

There is no real minimum if you can hit what you are shooting at. Tons of people have been killed with little 22's and others have walked away from multiple hits from a 40 or 45 cal. Find one you can shoot accurately and smoothly and practice, practice, practice....

[Retired Grunt]

Get a Caliber that
1. You can shoot well comfortably
2. In an weapon/action you can comfortably carry year around
3. You can get and afford practice ammo

I am not a fan of swapping out my carry gun because of the season or for that matter the time of day. Pick one you can use and practice, practice , practice. the same actions on the same firearm develop muscle memory in the time of need!

[jtg452]

Get a Caliber that
1. You can shoot well comfortably
2. In an weapon/action you can comfortably carry year around
3. You can get and afford practice ammo

Pretty much, what he said.

I would carry the largest caliber gun that I can control well, shoot accurately and conceal when wearing normal day to day clothes. Don't just go get the biggest gun you can shoot straight with because the whole idea of concealed carry is to have the gun WITH YOU. The latest whiz-bang Wundergun in .987Mankiller ain't gonna do you any good if it's under the seat of the car or at the house when you need it right here and right now. If it's too big to conceal or too heavy to carry, it ain't doing you any good. That means you're gonna have to face a compromise of some sort. You can dress around the gun (easier to do in some places than others) or you can go to a smaller gun that will be harder to control and shoot accurately with. Either way, PRACTICE religiously with the gun you are willing to stake your life on.

Remember, Misses don't count but you will be held accountable for where every one of them land.

[Marissa]

Whatever you are comfortable with. You don't need to kill the guy- just stop him. A 9 is just fine for me.