"Carry" Caliber Wars???

[CDW4ME]

What I always tell people that ask me why I carry the gun I have is, you carry what you think it will take to stop the largest threat against you.

Good idea.
Add to that the influence of psychosis, rage, drugs, alcohol - things that may make someone harder to stop.
Would be desirable to stop the threat(s) before they could inflict injury or death, ASAP incapacitation potential.
Larger and/or more powerful calibers, at least 9mm HP minimum, have better ASAP potential than 22lr/32/380

 

[JR24]

Find something that works well for you, and make sure you can afford to train with it as often as possible. And thats really the end of the story.
No caliber is really "better" than another.

How about the question of carrying 1- double stacked (Glock 19) with no spare magazine, vs. Carring a single stacked (Kahr K9) with 1 spare magazine? Hmm.

Personally, my quasi OCD means I feel pretty uncomfortable without at least one spare mag on the opposite side of my belt. So, regardless of gun I've got at least one spare, though when I carried a single stack (1911) I most often carried two, one on the belt and one in my front pocket since it was so easy to carry one in the pocket.

 

[Kleanbore]

No caliber is really "better" than another.

Really?

One may have penetration inadequate penetration for the occasion. Another may have such recoil as to slow recovery too much. Another may blast one's ears and blow pictures off the wall.

 

[Rexster]

How about the question of carrying 1- double stacked (Glock 19) with no spare magazine, vs. Carrying a single stacked (Kahr K9) with 1 spare magazine? Hmm.

Some number of auto-loader malfunctions I have cleared, over the years, have been best-handled by ripping the mag free. If I am carrying an auto-loading weapon, I am much more comfortable if I am carrying a spare magazine. This is completely independent of how much ammo is “enough.”

I have come to see auto-loader magazines as consumable items. When one is consumed, it is pulled from service, for close examination, then either refurbished with a new spring and follower, or discarded. To help preserve the condition of my carry mags, I do not use them for high-volume training, but even so, I never feel that any magazine is immune to failure.

Having carried a Kahr K9, in the Nineties, and G19 Glocks, more recently, the Kahr is a narrower package to conceal, than a G19, and the blocky rear part of a Glock’s slide is noticeably blockier than the rear of the Kahr slide. This will matter more, to some folks, than to others. I have always wanted to have that spare magazine, regardless.

To be clear, I am not saying whether the Kahr or the G19 is “better.” My personal Kahr K9 lost favor, when I was no longer able to buy 9BPLE, a then-“LE-only” load, at the local cop shop, and when I started vetting other 9mm +P defensive ammo, my K9 showed itself to be finicky. My wife’s Kahr, OTOH, feeds any and all ammo we have tried in it.

 

[Palladan44]

Really?

One may have penetration inadequate penetration for the occasion. Another may have such recoil as to slow recovery too much. Another may blast ones ears and blow pictures of the wall.

Apologies, im mostly referring to standard service calibers.

 

[Climb14er]

I carry a lightweight 1911 CCO .45 ACP 70% of the time. Or a Glock 19 20% of the time. The final 10% is reserved for a NAA .22Mag. This has been my trio for quite a few years. I don't concern myself with the .45ACP or 9mm. The .22Mag is carried when I fast walk or run. That's it... I don't over think my self defense ammo.

 

[JERRY]

if you actually carry a gun in any caliber you are better armed than 99% of the people around you. I know plenty of people that "carry" a gun in their glove box, but very few that carry a gun on their person.

 

[Space Ghost]

I love my old 1911. i also love the .45 ACP cartridge it fired. I carried it faithfully for years. I've had 3 1911s over the years, 2 more recently. Nothing fits my hand like a 1911. It's like JMB designed it for me. It just feels right. Did I mention how much I love 1911s?

I don't have any 1911s anymore. Oh, I still love them, I just can't see carrying them around every day. Too heavy, and too limited in ammo capacity.

Sure the .45 ACP is more powerful than a 9mm, but only just, and with the advances in modern defensive ammunition, that difference is smaller today than ever. The simple fact is, EVERY single handgun cartridge is a weak sister when it comes to stopping a threat. (compared to a rifle) Let's face it, the reason we carry hand guns is because rifles are cumbersome, and get you funny stares.

Now if you add up all the potential Ft Pounds of energy in the 8 round magazine of a (slightly) more powerful .45 ACP, and compare that to the potential in a 17 round mag full of similar quality 9mm... Huge win for the 9mm. Add in a more modern polymer light weight design, a light rail... I no longer have any 1911s.

Seeing as how ALL hand guns are a serious compromise, I chose one that fits my hand (I like a full size grip) has plenty of ammo capacity, can mount a light, and one I can hit well with.

I ended up with a Glock 45 mounting a TLR7.

 

[pairof44sp]

So I had my .45 acp Shield and a Beretta model 85F (.380) on my desk at the same time.

I wasn't quite amazed the Shield was a bit thinner and way lighter, but it was probably the first time I wondered why I'd ever consider carrying the Beretta for self-defense? I really like shooting the .380 (and a CZ83) but, like carrying it; I mean .45 vs .380? Not much of a contest.

The Shield recoil is more than manageable, even for my aging hands and I can hit what I'm aiming at at least out to 15 yards; so why ever consider a smaller caliber?

Now I can carry the Shield in my jeans pocket (and my other IWB carry guns are a Beretta PX4c in .40, a Smith 4513TSW, and a S&W 4013TSW), but, as is apparent, I've sort of "retired" my 9mm carry pieces (CS9, PX4c) as well as my J-frame .38 and I never really liked carrying a safety-less striker-fired gun ala a Sig 320. And I don't own any Glocks after giving 3 different ones a try out.

So I'm wondering why folks would carry anything less than .40, as easily-concealable 40s and 45s are more than abundant and affordable out there.

Wadda ya think?

Given my new low-risk lifestyle, carrying a gun is as much about spiritual protection as physical protection.

I like a gun that hits hard, but will do nothing to body armor. If the cops hit my house by accident (wrong address), and I open up on them not knowing who they are, I want them to be as safe as possible.

If that sound weird, well so be it.

 

[GEM]

You know of course, that you are going to be shot to pieces.

Is there anything else new to be said. If not, let this one rest in piece.

 

[Palladan44]

if you actually carry a gun in any caliber you are better armed than 99% of the people around you. I know plenty of people that "carry" a gun in their glove box, but very few that carry a gun on their person.

And after watching hundreds of evidence based videos of real world attacks, that firearm in the glovebox seems pretty darn useless. Hard to launch a counter-ambush in 1.6 seconds when the weapon is not on your person, or so seems the trends Ive seen. Plus the liability that exists when the Gun is not on your person...like if your car gets broken into, or accessed by someone else. I used have glove box firearms in condition 1.....i just dont do it anymore. Just my personal opinion, however other peoples situations may vary to where glove box carry is more feasible.

 

[GEM]

That's true and a good analysis. However, the 4 page burnout has reached this thread. So Closed.