Smallest caliber you will carry

What is the smallest caliber you will carry?

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The bare minimum for me is .380, but I haven't carried anything smaller than 9mm in a long time. With the Kahr PM9 and P9 Covert models being as small as they are, I really don't feel the need for anything smaller.
 
Small Frame 9mm

My Chief wont let us carry anything less than a .380 on duty as a backup.....for several reasons.
1. Stopping/Takedown power
2. You own every bullet that comes out of that gun and a .22 goes WAY too far and has way too much penetration to "be responsible" for it.

I carry a 9mm (Springfield EMP) both on/off duty conceal (+P HP) and I LOVE it. Small frame (1911 style), light, easily managed, no snags, etc. :evil:
 
Of the weapons I have DW's CZ 82 (9X18) is the smallest I would go. But it's more the weapon than the caliber, because I'd choose it over a .45 Llama any day.
 
.380 for me. I don't own one yet, but when I do, I'll carry it as a back up on duty. Nothing smaller though. I did carry a .22lr when that was the only pistol I had, but that was only for a few months til I had enough money to by a .45ACP.
 
As far as the smallest I would carry... anything to be honest; a .22 short single shot in hand is better than nothing.

Personally, my german pre war vintage .32 PPK (Bond... James Bond...) is the smallest I have been carrying lately.
 
I carry a 9mm or .38+p.

In looking for a gun for my wife, I may get a Walther PPK in .380, although I wouldn't carry it.
 
I carry my wife's P3AT to the gym, so .380 is the smallest caliber I feel comfortable carrying (my EDC is a .40).

A .17 Snubbie would be fine if you're primary concern is rabid squirrels.
 
The poll is not well designed. .380 ACP should be a specific choice. A whole lot of people seem to draw "the line" there.

Kind of pointless to have all those fine distinctions among little rimfire calibers on the poll. What's much more significant is whether the respondent is someone who would seriously consider carrying any rimfire cartridge, or instead insists on at least a .380, or a .38+p/9mm. (OK, maybe the .22 Magnum deserves to be a choice, since there is a "dissenting" school of CCW that emphasizes penetration and would actually choose a .22 Mag over a .380.)

Me, I've carried a .380 ACP, and can imagine circumstances where it would make a lot of sense (tiny Kel-Tec or Ruger pistols for extreme deep concealment when that's all you can get away with). So I would vote .380 ACP. But I didn't like it.

I usually carry a .38 Special +P snubnose revolver (with the 158 grain FBI Load) or a compact 9mm pistol loaded with 9mm+P. These are much more reassuring, especially the 9mm+P.
 
Personally, I prefer .45, but I actually like the 5.7. It might be small but it has a surprising amount of stopping power.
 
.380, and I don't even feel very confident in that.
I'm sure those smaller calibers have done the trick many times but I just picture a bad guy saying "ouch! quit it!"
 
.22 lr is the smallest I will go, but only as back up. .380 is smallest for primary. I like .44 mag the best. Also what about 7.62X38r?
 
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