Your handgun cartridge minimum? Maximum?

[CountryGent]

The conventional wisdom, for as long as I can recall, is to carry a handgun in the most potent cartridge that one can safely and effectively carry, draw, and shoot at an interloper. It makes sense, of course; if a situation has become so dire as to necessitate employing a handgun against another human being, well, it better be effective at stopping the altercation fast.

On that score:

• What is the absolute smallest, lowest power cartridge you would and have carried for personal defense?
• On the flipside, what is the largest, most powerful cartridge you would be willing to carry?

Thanks for sharing.

Read More

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Lowest for me is 9mm. But if I can't carry the tiny p938 9mm I have the ultra tiny NAA mini revolver in 22 mag. I don't view NAA as an edc. Backup or in the event can't carry anything else only for me.

Highest for me is yet to be determined ha ha. I'm totally comfortable with 10mm in p220 size.

That's speaking only of handguns. I do carry .308 in mp5 size (hk 51 clone), 300 BLK with folding stock and 8.5" barrel, and Brn-180 .223 10.5" with folding stock. Brn-180 is roughly 1"-1.5" longer than an mp5 9mm when stocks are folded. All those though are in a sling bag and only carried to or from the vehicle. .308 mp5 with barrier blind rounds in a sling bag is a pretty potent and concealable weapon. That's at the very edge of what will fit in my medium size sling bag.

Sling bag with hot tab deployment example:

IMG_1007.mov

• ilikegunspdx
• Nov 13, 2024

 

[Mark W.]

I routinely carry a .25 auto 6rd and occasionally carry a 9mm 7 round. Out in the woods I carry a 9mm 9rd in a full size.

 

[JustShoot]

Consolidated Everything to 9mm very longtime back .. except for a few 38spc snubbies .
My reasoning always been like...
-


-

 

[Koda]

Lowest for me is 9mm. But if I can't carry the tiny p938 9mm I have the ultra tiny NAA mini revolver in 22 mag. I don't view NAA as an edc. Backup or in the event can't carry anything else only for me.

We are like twins in this case.

The lowest is more subjective, my only issue with lower calibers is not so much the power but the capacity, fast reloads and accuracy of true mouse calibers. But some situations are not ideal for even a small 938.

High end I see no reason to go bigger than a 45acp but the 9mm is where its at for everything.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

Kel Tec 32acp in a non-permissive environment. 357 magnum revolver in the woods.

 

[Rat44]

Carried a 380 for many years but switched to a 9 mm when the Sig 320 came out.
Have started carrying a 45 ACP lately .

 

[Alexx1401]

This has changed a lot over the years. For a LONG time often only had a .22. Never having been a wheel gun fan never got into carrying anything real large. When I had a knock around Mod 29 I sometimes had it with me, not carried. When I did I had it loaded with some stuff that was mid range between .44 sp and full house loads. Most of the time a 1911 in "gods caliber" has been my go too. Now days when lounging around the abode a .32 is in the pocket of the around the house sweat pants.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

In .38 Special and .357 Magnum I have carried a loading of the 158 grain LSWCHP type...
And felt just fine with that.

In .45ACP...a 230 grain Jacketed hollow point is my usual carry load.

Bullet design is of important consideration ...as well as bullet placement.
Functionality of the firearm with a given loading is of prime importance.

While not a "carry piece" ...
At one time the largest caliber handgun I owned was a Uberti copy of a Colt 1860 Army.
I shot it very well...and knew the Ins and Outs of percussion revolvers ....and no qualms about using it as a home defense firearm.

Andy

 

[BillyJean]

Min: 38 Special, 9mm.

Max: low/mid loaded 44 Mag.

Goldilocks: 45 ACP, 9x23 Win, 44 Special.

 

[TJ82525]

For me, lowest is 9mm. Highest is 10mm. Depends on environment. In general, as many, 9mm is a great balance of acceptable power/capability and capacity, and physical size options. I like 10mm, but this does bring the size up considerably.

 

[1775usmc]

Well out of all the pistols I own I only have 2 choices and they both get carried.

9mm
.38spl

 

[ma96782]

What is the absolute smallest, lowest power cartridge you would and have carried for personal defense?

9mm or .38special
*During the summer shorts season I have been known to CCW with my .32acp Kel Tec

____________________________

On the flipside, what is the largest, most powerful cartridge you would be willing to carry?

I have CCW with my .45 acp Govt Model. But it's only been a few times due to bulk and weight. AND, I didn't really like it.

Aloha, Mark

 

[Joe13]

Ahh the carry debate…

Smallest - Walther P22 .22LR
Shorts gun and honestly I'm a big guy with a lot of tattoos and what has been described as resting B***ch face. I have been all over the worst areas of Portland and surrounding areas and have not once in the 27 years I've worked around the metro area have I been bothered by anyone. Not bragging, it's just the case so .22lr is fine for a lot of outings.

I now have a .38sp snubby and it will likely at this point be my smallest as it's an ultralight with 6 shots.

I keep a small 9mm near me if it's not on me and have for many years.



Bigger carry gets into a .45acp 1911 or G17 9mm.


Woods carry is most likely a 6" .357 mag GP100.


Now I know people with much smaller frames and less of a presence to their demeanor that I would never suggest a .22 for carry but for my needs, I'm honestly comfortable with just .
a knife or two.

Getting to really like that little .38sp though so it will likely become an edc staple.

 

[spookshack]

9mm…..

 

[Mark W.]

If I was going somewhere where I was extra worried I would most likely carrry a 5 shot .44spl + 2spd loaders and My Astra A-90 9mm 19rds + a pr of mags total 57 rds.

But I don't go places like that much.

 

[Xmark1]

Hi-cap 9mm for two legged critters.
I wood's carry a 40, 357sig or 10mm for four legged critters - I like the power of a 44mag, but the limited ammo capacity worries me.

 

[JohnnyMac]

.380 / .357

 

[Cerberus Group]

22 Magnum and 44 Special

 

[wired]

I dont actually carry much of anything because in reality Im an old crotchety hermit who hardly ever goes anywhere but work and they dont let me carry there. So I treat my truck like a holster and it has its resident P365 9mm just in case I need a gun for whatever reason. Thats the minimum . The gun in the backpack I do carry to work is a 357 mag python. Just in case I need a gun there. I'd call that the practical max. I can shoot bigger but the practicality goes south after the 357 mag IMHO. If I really have to go out in public other than work I usually just strap on the python because I truly dont care if Im concealing anything. I have , I dont even have any idea, how many to choose from but those are the two that get taken out of the house the most.