What Caliber Do You Carry Most?

[Pilot]

Right now it is a toss up as I carry 9x18, and 9x19 about the same ratio. I didn't see 9x18 listed so I chose 9x19.

 

[Dokk]

After seeing these results, I'd be interested in seeing which caliber, of the above four, most people choose in the home. This is of course restricting it just to handguns, I'm guessing there are a lot of people that would say 5.56 or 12 gauge for the home scenario.

 

[Zerodefect]

.45 for home. Stops quicker than my other rounds in soft materials like wood and couch.

.40 for CCW, my Glock23.3 (day sights) and a Glock23.4 (single night sight) for night.
Glock 41 for winter, or a DW Valor 1911.

 

[mavracer]

I split time pretty evenly between .380, 9mm, 38 special and 40 S&W. If I had to guess I'd say 38 most then 9mm second and 40 and 380 tie for third

 

[Deaf Smith]

But... I use a Glock 26 or 43 as well as S&W J 642 and Ruger LCP (stainless) and a Glock 22 in .40.

Just depends on the dress code. Ain't Texas wonderful!

Deaf

 

[Panzerschwein]

Right now it is a toss up as I carry 9x18, and 9x19 about the same ratio. I didn't see 9x18 listed so I chose 9x19.

Closer to a .380, really.

 

[valor1]

9mm. Loved the magazine capacity on most pistols made for it.

 

[Pilot]

Closer to a .380, really.

Thanks. Since I reload for 9x17, 9x18, and 9x19, I would have to agree with you.

 

[Pyro]

Living in an urban area, I've found myself carrying .22lr more than anything.

 

[Boarhunter]

Currently, 22LR. Primary and back-up revolvers. In the past, almost exclusively 9mm. With extra mags on the belt. And in the distant past, 45acp or 357 mag or 44 special/mag.... Bigger was better, I felt as a much younger man.

I think maturing joints and maturing perspective have influenced my caliber selection over time.

BOARHUNTER

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I recently got a M&P Bodyguard in .380 and carry it most of the time now.
I also have a 9mm Taurus 709 but didn't carry it much in the warmer months. The .380 I can comfortably pocket carry. One in the pocket beats the one you leave at home.

 

[s76]

9mm at 4 o'clock and/or 380 ankle holster.

 

[Robert101]

I am astounded by the last place finish of the 40 S&W to the 9MM, 45 Automatic, and .380. Well there must be something to this 9MM round I don't see but I'll have to investigate further. Some say pistol cartridges are a compromise and I don't dispute that claim. FWIW, I just thought the 9MM was more of a compromise than my 40 S&W.

 

[M1key]

No love for the "Short & Weak" on this thread apparently.

I tend to rotate calibers for general use, but nothing less than 9mm.

CCW: Glock 27

M

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I am astounded by the last place finish of the 40 S&W to the 9MM, 45 Automatic, and .380. Well there must be something to this 9MM round I don't see but I'll have to investigate further. Some say pistol cartridges are a compromise and I don't dispute that claim. FWIW, I just thought the 9MM was more of a compromise than my 40 S&W.

Not "more," just different. Everything is a compromise. But if trained pathologists and others professionals who see hundreds or thousands of actual GSW in the course of their career can't tell the difference between a 9mm wound channel and .45 wound channel, what advantage does the .40 really offer worth the loss of a couple rounds of capacity? Compromise, compromise, compromise...

There isn't enough difference in terminal performance between most common defensive pistol cartridges to matter, so most knowledgeable people will opt for as much capacity as they can fit in a small platform. The 9mm excels at this, and has for over a century, hence, it remains popular, as it probably will for at least another century.

 

[Terminatorret]

38 LSWCHP +P 50% of the time.
.380 FMJ (or 9mm mak) 50% of the time.
.22lr 100% of the time as a back-up. (NAA mini).

 

[kokapelli]

I don't think this poll is giving us an accurate picture.
Pretty much most of the members here are gun enthusiasts and at the same time I believe that most of the ladies and a lot of men that carry 380 pistols are not gun enthusiasts and do not belong to gun message boards like this one.

I should have thought of that when I started the poll!

 

[Terminatorret]

"...I believe that most of the ladies and a lot of men that carry 380 pistols are not gun enthusiasts I believe that most of the ladies and a lot of men that carry 380 pistols are not gun enthusiasts..."

I respectfully beg your pardon, sir. If you didn't want to hear the truth, you shouldn't have asked. This poll IS giving you an accurate picture of "gun enthusiasts"...I believe we all consider ourselves in that mold. But maybe ours is not the "accurate" picture you wanted to read.
I dress first, then decide what's the largest caliber I can comfortably carry and conceal. If I could conceal a Browning .50 cal M-2 and carry it comfortably, I probably would. It prints awfully large in my Wranglers, though, and spare belts of ammo weigh heavily on my aging arms.
I'm not ashamed to carry a .22lr NAA if that's all I can conceal.
USMC "grunt", retired after 20 years of carrying a .45 or larger.

 

[kokapelli]

"...I believe that most of the ladies and a lot of men that carry 380 pistols are not gun enthusiasts I believe that most of the ladies and a lot of men that carry 380 pistols are not gun enthusiasts..."

I respectfully beg your pardon, sir. If you didn't want to hear the truth, you shouldn't have asked. This poll IS giving you an accurate picture of "gun enthusiasts"...I believe we all consider ourselves in that mold. But maybe ours is not the "accurate" picture you wanted to read.
I dress first, then decide what's the largest caliber I can comfortably carry and conceal. If I could conceal a Browning .50 cal M-2 and carry it comfortably, I probably would. It prints awfully large in my Wranglers, though, and spare belts of ammo weigh heavily on my aging arms.
I'm not ashamed to carry a NAA if thats all I can conceal.
USMC "grunt", retired after 20 years of carrying a .45 or larger.

I always get a kick when someone thinks they know what I'm thinking and are completely wrong.

 

[rskent]

Mostly 380. Because I’m lazy.

 

[Meplat 308]

Make mine a .45.

 

[springer99]

NAA 22Mag = 100% of the time
642 38Spl = added in 75%of the time.

 

[Ironicaintit]

If I'm dressed decently enough to roam outdoors, it's 9mm Luger. (My vote)
If I'm at home lounging about, it's 45acp (lower pressure for indoor work)

Then, close to hand in an automobile is a 357mag (solves the problem of reaching the 9 on my person while seated and buckled)

 

[chaim]

When I carry, a 9mm gets carried most (SIG P290RS). My 2nd most use goes to .45 (SIG P250 Compact). Once I have enough rounds through it to be added to the rotation and start carrying my CZ P01 it will be 9mm by far. Once I get my S&W M&P40c I plan to order once a few consigned guns get sold I don't know if .40 will get the nod more due to the smaller and easier to carry M&P40c or 9mm due to the greater capacity while still concealable P01.

That is a part-time carrier since it is nearly impossible for a regular person to get a MD CCW so I only carry when out of state on my UT non-res permit (and soon NH non-res permit since that will allow me to carry in PA again). I'm in a carry state at least once a month. If I lived where I could CCW everyday I don't know if I'd stick with my current preference of carrying a larger gun, or if I'd more routinely carry smaller guns again.

Oh, for home defense my choices are a little different. .45ACP nearly 100% of the time when I go with an auto over a revolver. 9mm just as back up.

 

[Valkman]

I split time between a .45 1911 and one of three XD's, all in .45. You might guess I picked .45 as I don't own any 9mm, .40 or .380 guns. I did own a 9mm FA Uzi but sold it.