• You are using the old High Contrast theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

smallest caliber for ccw

Status
Not open for further replies.
A Kahr K9 has enough steel to shoot well.

I also have found that the recoil on the Kahr p380 is better than the other micro .380's.

How about a J-frame revolver with .38? Does anyone make reduced power .38 rounds?

.32auto is too weak, but better than nothing. Don't SIG and Walther still offer .380 compact pistols that are mostly metal? Might want to look into that.
 
These polls are hard for me to get. "smallest caliber for ccw"? To do what, kill someone?

Where you put the bullet is way more important than how big the hole is or how deep it goes. Find a gun you can shoot with accuracy and know that you'll probably never need it.

I also know my opinion is like my.........
 
Being "enough" has virtually nothing to do with the cartridge, or even muzzle energy.

What it DOES have much more to do with is actually hitting things (priority #1), and then doing damage after that condition is met (priority #2).

Even the 32acp can exceed 12" of penetration, even from a mouse gun, thus the capability to be effective exists. Some ammo will work much better than others - for example, Brass fetcher shows Fiocchi FMJ ammunition reaching 14" of penetration AND tumbling from a little P-32 mouse gun... That will easily do the job, provided the bullet passes through something important. If it doesn't then it wont.

Even a .22LR will exceed 12" of penetration from a compact pistol, thus even that gun has the capability to be effective. The difference is that you will never get a .22 bullet to expand from a short tube, nor do they tend to tumble with the exception of a single brand of novelty ammo.

It is not a matter of which cartridges CAN be effective. Virtually all of them are capable. Instead it is a game of probabilities, and margins of error. The smaller cartridges have less margin of error...

The other side to that coin is that smaller cartridges have less recoil, allowing for quicker mastery of their shooting, as well as higher probability that your second and third shots will be closer to your first. Thus it may be true that they have a smaller margin of error to be effective, but it is equally true that the chance of making said error is also smaller than with larger cartridges.

In the end, I think it all evens out for any practiced shooter who has received some basic training.
 
With just a semi-auto to choice from have her check out the bersa thunder 380's. they have a single stack and a double stack from some difference in grip. Enough weight to be easy to shoot too. My youngest has one.
 
Taurus pt25 (she found it I think she still wants a small gun) anyone have experience with these I can get a new one for 190 my cost
 
The Bersa Thunder .380s are decent handlers... my Old man tends to grab it more often than his CZ-82. I've actually considered the .45 acp Bersa from his .380's performance.

both work wonderfully, and inexpensively priced. Great deals and tools in both.
 
Its about shot placement. A well placed .22 is better than a finger hit with a .45. I think the .32 is one of the easiest rounds to shot in a small package. Others may disagree but my (and generally others) ability to place controlled rapid fire shots with a .32 exceeds the ability for a .380, or 9 in similar sized weapons. Is it the best, probably not, but in the small package that many people carry these days, I think it excels.
 
We all succeed, fail, live, and die with the choices we make. Everyone talks shot placement but no one talks about the “Pucker Factor” which influences the outcome. Just how combative are you or yours going to be? Being combative may not change the out come which could end up being a negative wellness experience.
 
The suggestion of a .327 is a very good one. I have a 3 inch j-frame and I can go from extremely mild up to nearly .357 mag loads from the same gun. Your wife might really like using it with the 32 H&R, especially the cowboy loads. Low recoil that can still pack a good punch. Practicing with 32 longs isn't as cheap as 9mm, but it really isn't too bad especially if you reload. This will also let the gun grow with her as she gains experience.

Definitely something you should look into, I promise your wife will thank you.

Shawn
 
It's a personal thing, but I prefer more than a .380. I'll carry .38, 9, or even 9x18. I have a .380, never carry it. Really, though, it's more about the gun than the caliber. That particular gun is not all THAT accurate and the trigger sux. I prefer my other carries so the .380 stays in the case. In theory, it's a nice idea, 12 rounds, heal clip magazine which I like in a pocket gun. It's an old Grendel, 12 ounces, same size as a LCP, but a little thicker owing to the double stack mag.

Anyway, I even carry a .22 mag when I need really discrete, a NAA Black Widow. I carry the most that I can for the situation. :D I don't own just one carry option. I have everything from a .45 and a 3" .357 magnum belt gun to the .22 mag. I normally pocket carry one of the first three guns mentioned, Taurus .38 M85SSUL ultralite snub, Kel Tec P11, or Radom P64. They're quite easy to pocket carry, so I really have no need for something like an LCP.

For a lady, though, I'd think one of the larger frame (bersa perhaps) .380s would be a good choice. Perhaps one of the double stack Berettas or such or a CZ82 in 9x18, larger gun giving more weight. Of course, there's nothing wrong with the time honored .38 steel J frame.
 
There actually was a .17 calibre centerfire defensive pistol, designed mostly to appeal th women, that came out in the 1930s. That was the 4.25mm Liliput, which, coincidentally, developed 17 foot pounds of muzzle energy with its 15-grain slug at 810 feet per second.
The Liliput was a powerhouse compared to the smallest centerfire pistol of the early 20th Century, the 2.7mm Kolibri, whose .10calibre projectile hit with an impact of 3 foot pounds at the muzzle.
With either handgun, a woman would be better off wrapping her hand around it, and using it like a knuckle duster to punch her opponent in the face.
 
If the 9mm is a real sissy kicker in any compact pistol. I am small framed to say the least and I hardly feel it going off. I think that would be more of a mental block then anything. If she had some range time with it I think anyone could get used to one, even my fragile little sister in law has worked her way up to a 357 magnum after several trips to the range. 380s are acceptable performance but 32s are too puney for my likeing, 25s are a joke and for pracitce use only.
 
That's hard to say... There are several 9mms out that that I can conceal 100% in any situation. And actually, the Kahr PM40 is also 100% concealable on me. So, for me, it is hard to argue with saying that anything smaller than .40 is acceptable. However, even the Kahr PM9 and the DB9 are NOT 100% concealable on my wife... but the Ruger LCP and Taurus TCP are. So just speaking practically, there is not need for me to settle for anything less than .40... but for my wife, there is no practical reason to settle for anything less than .380.
 
.380 cartridge is the smallest I would consider (regardless of bullet diameter). I do not understand the argument of carry what you shoot best and a 22 is better than a 45 if you can't hit anything with a 45.

Guys, if all you can shoot is a 22 then you probably shouldn't carry a gun: use pepper spray. It still takes me a lot of range practice to stay only reasonably proficient with my 45. Practice and you will be able to control it. I believe in picking the correct cartridge for the task at hand. Sometimes it is the .380 due to concealability and sometimes it is the 40 cal (for me anyway.) I really like my 1911 45 but its 5" nose is too big to CCW.

Hey, I know opinions vary and that is all fine and good. This is just my opinion and yes, I know, it isn't worth anything exept to me - no problem.
 
The wife decided on a pink Taurus 38 revolver.. and I'm still debating between. a 380 or 9 lol
 
tshaw said:
discuss and give good reason..

sorry wife posted this, small frame lady ccw gun.. .40 and 9mm is way to much for her.. i know the .38o is smallest i would ever carry but the small frame 380 like lcp seem to also kick too much for her.. is the 32 really too small of a caliber for close range and her just point and shoot would it be enough is really what she was wondering..
Click to expand...
A 380. & 9mm is to much for her. I almost have nothing to say after that comment. You need to ask your self and her which is worse a 'little' kick or being attacked' i say a 9mm is way too small a 9mm will stop somebody but it generally doesn't happen until they have already attacked you back. with all do respect just get her some mace it will be more affective then a 9mm.
 
jason kellogg said:
A 380. & 9mm is to much for her. I almost have nothing to say after that comment. You need to ask your self and her which is worse a 'little' kick or being attacked' i say a 9mm is way too small a 9mm will stop somebody but it generally doesn't happen until they have already attacked you back. with all do respect just get her some mace it will be more affective then a 9mm.
Click to expand...
If you cannot stop the threat with a 9mm then you need to spend more time at the range. End of story!
 
I noticed today that S&W makes an airweight snubbie in .22 mag. I wouldn't recommend the .38 airweights as they're extremely uncomfortable to shoot, but the .22 mag version might be a good choice. Not cheap- around $600, I think. Yes, it doesn't have the stopping power of larger calibers, but I'll bet it still hurts an awful lot.
 
I'd second the recommendation of a Makarov 9x18, although it is a fairly heavy pistol and needs a decent holster and perhaps a true gun belt to carry comfortably - I have a good holster on order that will cost only ten bucks less than I paid for the Mak. I bought one when I found myself without an accurate carry pistol and was incredibly impressed by the thing. Of course, I got it for around a hundred bucks along with a GDR holster, spare mag, and 250 rounds of HP Russian ammo, but it's easily worth the present going price. There are at least two ammo mfgs that offer a good hollowpoint round for it now (Hornady being the more recognizable name), and some of the Eastern bloc ammo is loaded decidedly warm. Mine's a tack driver, and shoots the tightest double-tap I've ever managed if I start with the pistol cocked. The DA/SA doubletap isn't bad, either.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
.380 and 9mm
Replies
23
Views
1K
bannockburn
bannockburn
P
  • Locked
smallest lightest 9mm?
Replies
20
Views
7K
45crittergitter
4
A
  • Locked
What's the smallest gun you can think of?
Replies
10
Views
466
benderx4
B
CZ-75BD
  • Locked
Walter PPX 9mm
Replies
20
Views
2K
Fishbed77
F
G
  • Locked
smallest .380 with a full grip?
2
Replies
39
Views
4K
GrayGhost
G
Back
Top