Poll -- Minimum carry caliber revisited

[2HOW]

everyone has to work out his or her own salvation. I'm amazed at the restrictions in certain states about what you can carry. In FLA. if your a security guard or in that line of work you can only carry 9mm max. When I got my permit back in 89 the minimum was .38 spl here in Tn. you can carry anything. I read in a gun mag that with the new ammo availability they were rating the .380 over the 9mm now in stopping power, WHAT !  Its all promo and who's getting paid. Big holes bleed more, people die from loss of blood, the only one shot stop is a CNS hit or brain shot through the ocular cavity. You need a round that will do both.

[Hazcat]

In FL for self defense you can carry anything.  Guns, knives, clubs (baton), etc.

[MikeBjerum]

I didn't vote, because in my opinion it is about usability more than power factor.  I'm a full believer in the most powerful that you can comfortably shoot and carry comfortably.  If all you can handle and conceal is a .22lr that is better than nothing and better than something too big for you.  If you can shoot a 9 mm it has the power to make someone either dead or at least change their minds.  If you can shoot a .45 acp it will not only do massive damage, but it will knock them over if you at least hit mass.  And, a .40 has darn near the same balistics as a .45 acp in the range we talk about for self defence ... speaking of which ...

Badger ... what are you doing quoting 100 yard ballistics in a self defense situation.  Self defense is typically a 25 foot radius, and 100 yards is predator ... you're the predator!

Test ergonomics, concealability and comfort.  Beyond that there is no such thing as too big or too small.

[Badgersmilk]

Some people still just don't get it, and never will 

It's all good.     Ideally, I'd be carrying a 12 gauge around on a sling.     But legal or not, for me it's not worth dealing with the reactions.     Feel free to rant about that for hours as well, I've stopped bothering to read certain peoples replies a long time ago.

[ericire12]

Some people still just don't get it, and never will 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8E_zMLCRNg

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

The reason I said .380 is I was not thinking about ability to handle recoil, I was simply thinking you want something small to carry (as I do).  

Yes, ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY any gun is better than none.  Heck I have a 9 shot .22 near the front door and when I grab it to answer the door with I don't really feel 'nekid'.

Now, again IF I could carry anything I want I have my lever gun with me at all times and my .45 Redhawk at my side and would still carry the P3AT. (am I paranoid? ) (probably could empty the GFs purse and put TWO Redhawks in there.  They would fit and the damn thing would weigh less than it does now! )

[tommy tornado]

Forgot I just watched the terrible movie called Assassians with Sly and Antonio B. in it, and guess what silenced .22 Rugers were the weapons of choice.  If Hollyweird says professional killers use .22's then it must be true.

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Thanks M58 for backing me up and have the post count to back it up.  Who the heck is shooting BG's at a 100 yards?  I think that is a little outside of the self defense "Intent, Capability and Opprotunity"

[seeker_two]

Forgot I just watched the terrible movie called Assassians with Sly and Antonio B. in it, and guess what silenced .22 Rugers were the weapons of choice.  If Hollyweird says professional killers use .22's then it must be true.

True about the movie...but it does bring up a point....

The .22lr is dependent on velocity to do it's job...and more barrel = more velocity.  If the numbers in ericire12's post are correct, I'm impressed with how fast the Aguila's are moving from a 2.75" barrel....but think of how much faster they'd move from a 5-6" barrel on a Ruger or Browning pistol. Entirely different creature.  I'm not promoting .22lr in a long-barreled pistol for SD....but I'm not going to discount it, either....

...and, when that Kel-Tec .22mag hits the market, I'm looking forward to owning a 30-rd pistol firing a round ballistically similar to .380ACP/.38SPL non-+P.  It would definitely ruin some BG's day.... 

[Hazcat]

From personal experience with .44 mag, .44 special, .45 Colt and 22lr I have found that the difference in velocity between a hand gun and a rifle is ~300 fps.