Of All of Your Hanguns, Which Is Your Minimal Level of Comfort for SD?

[Rexster]

After much thought, I reckon my "lowest common denominator" cartridge, for comfort, in engaging an armed opponent, to be 9mm +P or .38 Special +P. I could use .380 ACP, .32 ACP, or .32 H&R, if that happened to be nearest at hand, but would feel less comfortable, and might try to work my way to another solution.

Standard-pressure .38 Special is an in-between case, assuming a good bullet design, especially the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter. I figure standard-pressure .38 Special is still effective if I aim for the face. This is likely to become my favored snub-gun load.

To be clear, I would feel quite a bit more comfortable with a full-pressure .357 Magnum, particularly 125-grain JHP, not just because of the energy figures, or something I read about it, but because I successfully used this cartridge/load in the line of duty, in the early Nineties. I only use this in my heavier revolvers, these days, which are not daily-carry, but sometimes near at hand.

My present choice of duty ammo: 9mm +P 124-grain Gold Dots. I opted for 9mm when my chief authorized 9mm as an alternative duty cartridge. .40 recoil was affecting my ability to train realistically with full-power ammo, as my ailing hands and right wrist age.

I had been carrying the same 9mm +P load during personal time since 2012, and continue to do so.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I accidentally set off my house alarm one night when I was home alone. It took about 20 seconds I think before I figured it out. Before I figured it out I was fairly certain someone was breaking in. I had a semiauto pistol in my hand in 45 ACP. I have had lots of frequent pistol training and practice regularly with that firearm so knowing what to do and how to use that firearm isn't a worry. I distinctly recall it feeling as if I were armed with a squirt gun. To me that was the truest test I will have short of the real thing.

 

[Llama Bob]

Like several people have said, the cutoff for me is 9mm +P or .38 special +P short barrel. I'd much rather have a .45 (partially for ergonomics) and in turn much rather have a long gun, but those would work.

That said, I've found a rig that allows me to carry a .45 auto with no concerns about printing or discomfort, so under most circumstances I'll have a bigger option at hand.