Lowest Caliber You Would Use For Self Defense

What is the lowest caliber you would use for personal defense?

  • .22 lr

    Votes: 52 17.3%

  • .32

    Votes: 29 9.6%

  • .38 special

    Votes: 49 16.3%

  • .380 acp

    Votes: 83 27.6%

  • .25

    Votes: 7 2.3%

  • 9mm

    Votes: 59 19.6%

  • .45 ACP is the end all be all of pistol calibers for me

    Votes: 22 7.3%
  • Total voters
    301
  • Poll closed .
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I can-t believe some of the stuff I'm reading here..you think a 22 or a BB gun is going to save your life, or your wife from being raped....This isn't a game, and the ideal isn't which is the easyest gun to carry, but what is going to put the bad guy down before he GETS YOU. 99.9% of the time its going to be late at night. a dim lite area, and its going to happen pretty quick.

You are not going to have time to take a stance, aim, take a deep breath, and squeze the trigger. Its going to be grab your gun point and shoot..

Now you're telling me that you'll bet your live on a 22, 25, 32, 380..ect at about 15 to 25 yds... Because that is excatly what you are doing.

I carry a 45 with me, yes it is a little heaverier then a 9mm and I my have to change the way I dress a little to cover it up. But I am very confident that I am PROTECTED.

I can't believe that shawnee thinks he/she is going to take a BB GUN double tap the bad guy in the face and disarm them...I'm sorry but I'm still laughing.

I don't think most of you take this, threating of loosing your life serious enough..

People their are bad guys out there that wants to kill you, rape you. and if you think a 22 is going to stop them..... well think again...get real of that mouse gun and get some protection.anything under a 9mm is a mouse gun. IMHO.
 
Hi Boom-Boom...

I may be the only one around who believes there are ways to protect oneself in addition to a firearm. But I kinda doubt it. One thing I will guarantee you - if I am approached by someone with a gun, my being unarmed is not going to stop me from defending myself.

Local opinions may vary. :)
 
Hi Shawnee,

Nothing personal directerd at you, I was just saying I won't want to have to depend of a BB gun. you May very well be trained in self-defense where as I and most other people are not.

All I'm trying to point out here is that if you carry a weapon, make sure the weapon is one that will protect you.
 
I can-t believe some of the stuff I'm reading here..you think a 22 or a BB gun is going to save your life, or your wife from being raped....This isn't a game, and the ideal isn't which is the easyest gun to carry, but what is going to put the bad guy down before he GETS YOU. 99.9% of the time its going to be late at night. a dim lite area, and its going to happen pretty quick.

You are not going to have time to take a stance, aim, take a deep breath, and squeze the trigger. Its going to be grab your gun point and shoot..

Now you're telling me that you'll bet your live on a 22, 25, 32, 380..ect at about 15 to 25 yds... Because that is excatly what you are doing.

I carry a 45 with me, yes it is a little heaverier then a 9mm and I my have to change the way I dress a little to cover it up. But I am very confident that I am PROTECTED.

I can't believe that shawnee thinks he/she is going to take a BB GUN double tap the bad guy in the face and disarm them...I'm sorry but I'm still laughing.

I don't think most of you take this, threating of loosing your life serious enough..

People their are bad guys out there that wants to kill you, rape you. and if you think a 22 is going to stop them..... well think again...get real of that mouse gun and get some protection.anything under a 9mm is a mouse gun. IMHO
Click to expand...

What I can not understand is why there are so many people that think the 45cal is a magic bullet that will cause a BG to immediately lose consciousness, that will never fail, that will always work, even "late at night. a dim lite area" and anything smaller is useless!

IMO, any caliber that will punch a hole clean through a BG, and a 380 will, and if the shot is in the right place, it is going to be effective, unless the BG is high on drugs.
 
Hi Boom-Boom...

No offense taken, Boom-Boom, and certainly none meant... and you're right - if a person is going to carry they really should stay with the rounds that have at least something like a proven track record. Personally, I like the .44 Special and .45 Auto. I just get worried when I think people are depending on their gun to be their only defense.
A female friend of mine noticed someone following her one day. When she pulled into her driveway - they did too, and jumped out threatening her with a large S&W revolver - and thinking just the sight of the gun would make her "surrender" imnmediately. She slapped the guy's gunhand and, at the same time, put a sharp fingernail in each of his eyes. Then wrenched his gun away from him and cracked him on the head with the gun butt so hard he needed an ambulance. Auburndale, Florida about 1999. My point, I guess, is that Courage is a lot more important than Caliber. :cool:

Hi Koka...

Gun guys, as you know, can be pretty opinionated and brand/caliber loyal.
A lot of posts on this subject come off sounding a tad more emphatic than they really are meant, I think. Just because someone says: "My favorite is (fill in the blank)" doesn't mean they intend an affront to someone else's honor.
As you say - use whatcha got. :)
 
.22lr is the smallest caliber I own. I'd use it for self defense in a pinch, so that's what I voted for.

Given a choice I'd go for either the .357 or the .45.

Strike that. Given a choice I'd grab the 12ga.
 
Ok, let me take this time to apologies for anything I my or my not have said.

Its just that not long ago I read a thread by a Mortician ( X-lawman) and he spoke of the reality and damage that differant bullets did in the bodies he viewed. I use to carry a 9mm, but after reading his thread I have since carried a 45cal.

I wish I could relocate the site I read this on, If I can I'll post it and let you all make up your own minds.. It is in deed very interesting reading..
 
so the consensus seems to be whatever is available, but most of us would like a pocket portable 155mm howitzer. am i right?

.50bmg derringer?
 
I think it comes down to the right tool for the right job. I got a .22 for developing marksmanship and a .380 for hot weather pocket carry. My next will probably be either a 9mm or a .45 for holster carry, followed by whatever larger caliber my wife is comfortable carrying and shooting. The gun should fit the shooter and a big gun is not always practical. Some people can't shoot them well and its not practical to try to hide a .45 when you're wearing shorts and a T-Shirt.
 
I routinely carry my P 32 most of the year, simply because anything bigger is a problem to hide, and in Texas letting someone see your "UN" concealed , concealed piece can cost you your license. It's my gun to carry when I wouldn't otherwise carry. I have no delusions about it dropping someone in their tracks, but it will most certainly distract them long enough for me (and family) to leave the area. I have discussed this with them extensively, and they know to take whatever action I direct them to in a bad situation. My goal is not to stay and shoot it out with someone, if there is another alternative. Clothing appropriate, I will carry either my P11 or Combat Commander, but that's not often. A major part of self defense is also avoiding bad situations (which I practice religiously). I do have CCWacquaintances that seem to seek out those situations, (notice I said acquaintances), and that's not me. I have serious doubt that anything under .50 BMG is a 1-shot manstopper, guaranteed, so it's all a case of weighing options and risks, right :)
 
.25 and .22LR but no .40S&W/10mm? WTH? Flawed premise?

Statistics show 80% of all handgun wounds are survivable. .25cal doesn't help much then does it? The bigger the better, IMO.
 
Not well stated since any gun is better than no gun and I doubt anyone would ignore a .22 in their hand if pressed to use it.

I don't go below .38 voluntarily. I carry .380, 9 or .45. My wife carries .380 or 9 or .40.
 
I voted .380 but...

...to me it comes down to two categories though. It depends on if I decide to carry a pistol or a revolver.

Pistol: I've carried my .380 often but carry my .40S&W most of the time. I wouldn't buy a .22 for a CC weapon.

Revolver: Having the choice between a 2.5" .38 and a 4" .38 or a 2.5" .357 and a 4" .357... When in the mood for carrying a 2.5" piece, I'd carry the .38 with +Ps in it. When in the mood for 4" carry, I'd choose the .357.

I never carried one of my .22 revolvers as a CCW.
 
I used to have a Kel-Tec P32. When the .380 came out I traded up to that. Nothing carries better than that Kel-Tec and mine was accurate and reliable. I grew less confident over time with a .380 and have since decided I will go no lower than a .38, preferring a heavier bullet in a +P loading. I even prefer a heavy non-+P .38 hollowpoint to any .380 or smaller bullet.

Yes, it is easier to carry the P3AT, but my 342 is not a brick and I've been able to carry it pretty much whenever and wherever I wanted without being detected.

(All that said, I DO feel better armed with my .45 when mode of dress allows belt carry, but when deeper concealment is required-an underlying point in this thread-nothing less than a j-frame in the pocket.)
 
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I would use what was to hand. I carry a .38 Spec, .357 or .45 ACP specifically for the purpose. I often have my .45 Colt New Vaquero to hand.
 
I would use harsh language

if it was all I had. I voted .22.

There are lots of options not in this poll. I would not turn my nose up at a .410 derringer, .357 sig, 7.62x25, 38 super, etc. etc. ad infinitum.

What do I think is as close to perfect as you can get in a handgun caliber for self defense you ask? Well, hands down it is the .357 magnum.

It stands head and antlers above the rest if you ask me. I love .44mag and .45 acp and 9mm etc. but .357 is the perfect blend of penetration, power, accuracy and controlabilty.

But hey what do I know. -bevr
 
Its all about shot placement

Took an intro to forensics class with a great instructor. He showed us pictures of a guy that was shot point-blank between the eyes with a .22 (probably a short) where the bullet rode around to the back of his head between the scalp and skull and popped out. It looked like he'd been shot through the head but the round never penetrated his skull. :what: If memory serves me correctly he beat the snot out of the guy who shot him.

Same instructor showed us an x-ray of a man's pelvis with a .22 stuck right up against the bone. That guy was some would-be rapist who was stopped in his tracks with one shot. From what I hear it's all but impossible to walk with any kind of trauma to the pelvis. :eek:

Since that class I tell myself to aim for the pelvis, no matter what caliber I'm using. If a .22 there can stop a full-grown man, anything bigger surely can too. :scrutiny:

Of course, if the guy's got a gun a shot to the pelvis won't affect his trigger finger, but it'd stop him from moving around so you'd have the option of taking some well-placed follow-up shots.

For the record; the smallest caliber I'd use in self defense is the one I had available.
 
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