[DetChris]

With the popular migration of CCW owners to small single stack and micro sized pistols, there's an obvious sacrifice of fewer rounds per reload.

I've got a school of thought that the smaller a person goes with their gun and the less rounds available (let's say less than double digits per mag/cylinder), that they should steer away from the lighter hitting .380, .38 special and even 9mm rounds, and start at Least with a .40S&W. Better yet, use .357 magnum or .45 ACP.

This way you may have fewer rounds but the rounds you have will get the job done.

This school of thought is one of the reasons I am very reluctant about using my LCP. It has its purposes but it's a last ditch gun. I would never carry it as a primary piece as long as I'm not running around naked!

Thoughts on this?

 

[357and40]

Love my S&W360 in 357 mag. 5 rds in the weapon, 10 rds in quick strips on my belt-line.

I never did like smaller calibers for defensive purposes.

 

[Tzed250]

That's how I went. Walther PPS.40 with 7 rounds on board.

 

[DetChris]

9mm is great if you have a lot of it. That's my principal with carrying my G19 and 26 every day. I like the accuracy of the 9mm round and in a double stack mag it's very formidable but I get nervous when I have less than 10 per mag (like a LC9 would have 7+1 and 7 in a spare mag. That's only 15 total. Even my G26 has 10+1 and 17 on tap in a G17 mag for a more comforting total of 28 rounds. Carrying my G19 around ups me to 33 rounds of 9mm goodness)

 

[DetChris]

One of the reasons I think smaller calibers are not as good in small quantities is their inability to induce hydro static shock like the .40 and above can. At least that's what experts say. For smaller rounds you have to rely on sheer volume of hits or CNS hits to drop an aggressor. 1 or 2 rounds of .40S&W, .45 ACP or .357 mag/sig could hit somewhere on the torso and still shock the system and disable the guy.

My opinion at least.

 

[squid86]

alot of people feel this way, but they always say shoot what you feel most comfortable shooting. whether it be a .380 or a 357 mag, a well placed round will get the job done. if you cant shoot and handle a 357 well then its worthless. not saying you should choose a smaller one, just that you should choose the biggest caliber that fits your needs and that you can handle the best and still conceal.

 

[PEF]

I'm quite proficient with a five shot j-frame in .38.

Sometimes I carry a CZ 75 Compact with 14 rounds, but most often it's the j-frame.

The limited capacity in .38 doesn't concern me. It's unlikely I'll ever need to use it, and it's unlikely I'll need more than five rounds, and the .38 standard pressure has been doing the job for decades.

Do whatever makes you comfortable. Whether I carry five in .38 or someone carries 17+1 should make no difference to you. And if you go micro and think you need a .40 or a .45 minimum, so be it. Just have confidence in what you have.

 

[PEF]

One of the reasons I think smaller calibers are not as good in small quantities is their inability to induce hydro static shock like the .40 and above can. At least that's what experts say. For smaller rounds you have to rely on sheer volume of hits or CNS hits to drop an aggressor. 1 or 2 rounds of .40S&W, .45 ACP or .357 mag/sig could hit somewhere on the torso and still shock the system and disable the guy.

My opinion at least.

I would not rely on this as a strategy.

I would instead rely on your own ability to place rounds on target.

 

[RoadRunner71]

While I agree, in general, there is the problem of controllability. Those heavier calibers are usually harder to shoot quickly or accurately without a great deal of practice.

If you just can't manage to carry a larger framed gun and the smaller guns in higher calibers have too much recoil, then the lower caliber makes sense - even if you have fewer rounds onboard.

 

[archer51]

I have confidence in any gun I carry, regardless of caliber and round count.

 

[5lima30ret]

I agree completely! Thats why I carry a Glock 36 and my smallest CCW is a PF-9 for pocket carry. BTW, I carried my 36 on-duty when I was a Sgt. in the Detective Division. I had to qualify shooting the entire combat course (both day & night) with it. So now that I am retired I have no qualms about CCW with it. JMHO.

 

[dean1818]

I think more and more people are wanting smaller and smaller pistols so that they can pocket carry......

I went the other direction...... From CM9 to Shield 40

I have stopped pocket carry completely and just feel IWB is the quickest answer

The size that I am most concerned with is thickness....

 

[DetChris]

alot of people feel this way, but they always say shoot what you feel most comfortable shooting. whether it be a .380 or a 357 mag, a well placed round will get the job done. if you cant shoot and handle a 357 well then its worthless. not saying you should choose a smaller one, just that you should choose the biggest caliber that fits your needs and that you can handle the best and still conceal.

I agree to an extent. I guess I'm asking those thinking about getting a mini 9mm or .380 as a daily carry piece to consider sub compact version of a larger gun (M&P 9ac, XD9sc or G26 for example) instead of a micro pistol. They're less finicky, better with recoil and holds more rounds. The G26, even though on the thick side, hides like a champ. There are not many times when you can only carry a LCP sized weapon. It is a nice backup but not an ideal everyday carry piece.

 

[DetChris]

I agree completely! Thats why I carry a Glock 36 and my smallest CCW is a PF-9 for pocket carry. BTW, I carried my 36 on-duty when I was a Sgt. in the Detective Division. I had to qualify shooting the entire combat course (both day & night) with it. So now that I am retired I have no qualms about CCW with it. JMHO.

I'm tempted to pick up a G36. How does the slimmer slide and handle compare to a G26's? Does it carry more comfortably or hide better?

 

[OldVet]

Here we go, another caliber debate...epsi::essen14::haus36::1cola:opcorn:

 

[RoadRunner71]

I'm tempted to pick up a G36. How does the slimmer slide and handle compare to a G26's? Does it carry more comfortably or hide better?

My personal opinion is that the 36 in the most carry-able gun GLOCK makes (CC that is, OC is a different matter).

The slim frame is a better fit in my hand than the double stack 9mm's and it is far more comfortable IWB for longer periods of time. The 19/23 which is the closest in size, just doesn't compare in my book. I don't like the baby-GLOCK's much so I can't help with that comparison.

 

[LimaCharlie]

When I get dressed, a Sig P238 .380 AP and spare magazine go in my pocket. When I go out in urban areas, I add a five inch 1911 and a spare magazine. When I go out in rural areas, I swap the 1911 for either a Glock G20 SF 10mm or a FNH FNX-45 and two spare magazines. When I go out in the woods, I swap for an S&W 29-2 .44 magnum and two speed loaders. The .380 is a great reliable last ditch BUG which is better than a knife for close up fighting. I also carry a knife just in case.

 

[TangoDelta]

My wife carries a LCP as her primary, and I am comfortable. Yes, it is a close quarter weapon, but that is really the only time you are going to legally use your carry gun. If you shoot an "attacker" 30 yards away, you're going to jail. She trains with it on a regular basis, and I have faith in her and the pistol
As far as caliber size, a .380 will kill you as dead as you can be!
I was going to say as dead as Michael Jackson, but changed my mind.

 

[LimaCharlie]

My wife carries a LCP as her primary, and I am comfortable. Yes, it is a close quarter weapon, but that is really the only time you are going to legally use your carry gun. If you shoot an "attacker" 30 yards away, you're going to jail. She trains with it on a regular basis, and I have faith in her and the pistol
As far as caliber size, a .380 will kill you as dead as you can be!
I was going to say as dead as Michael Jackson, but changed my mind.

Why would you go to jail for shooting someone 30 yards away? Bad guys often have guns and may shoot at you from many yards away. Personally, I will return fire no matter the distance.

 

[G-man*]

9mm is great if you have a lot of it. That's my principal with carrying my G19 and 26 every day. I like the accuracy of the 9mm round and in a double stack mag it's very formidable but I get nervous when I have less than 10 per mag (like a LC9 would have 7+1 and 7 in a spare mag. That's only 15 total. Even my G26 has 10+1 and 17 on tap in a G17 mag for a more comforting total of 28 rounds. Carrying my G19 around ups me to 33 rounds of 9mm goodness)

Where are you at, a war zone, or Embassy?

Here's my take on it, and I'm reading in between the lines with your posts.

You are reading too much info about this stuff because you are probably newer to ccw, calibers, and guns. You say some things like talking about hydro static shock with respect to handguns that lead me to believe this.

Here's the deal Lucille, any caliber of gun, even a 22, is going to hurt.
But calibers in the 38spl, 9mm, and up are decisively better.
The bigger the caliber, the more consistent the results with respect to penetration.

But it sounds to me like you are over thinking this thing. If you don't feel comfortable with 10 rounds of 9mm then you are on a merry go round and where she stops, nobody knows.
A good 5 shot 38 spl in proper hands will take care of most anything you need to do.

So instead of worrying about gun sizes and calibers, make sure first you have the proper hands.