Minimum caliber you would CCW

Discuss carrying a firearm, whether it's concealed carry (CCW), open carry or other...

What's the minimum caliber you would ccw on a daily basis?

Anything
5
5%
.22
4
4%
.25
1
1%
.32
3
3%
.380
33
34%
.38 special
7
7%
9mm
36
38%
10mm
3
3%
.40
2
2%
.45
2
2%
 
Total votes: 96

Doc Holliday
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Minimum caliber you would CCW

#1

Post by Doc Holliday »

What's the lowest caliber you would go with, as a daily ccw, and still feel comfortable relying on, to stop a threat?


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Racewin
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#2

Post by Racewin »

Generally, .380, though one could make an argument that with sufficient (a lot of) training/practice, even a .22 would be enough.
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Boriqua
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#3

Post by Boriqua »

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Suck My Glock
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#4

Post by Suck My Glock »

In a pinch, anything is better than nothing. But that is not how the question is framed. The question is a DAILY caliber you are COMFORTABLE with.

That plainly makes 9mm the base floor, in my opinion.
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Crippledtrigger
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#5

Post by Crippledtrigger »

First rule is have a gun.

Honestly it depends on the round platform and bullet. 9mm/38spcl. Although the untra modern 380 bullets in a reliable platform might be an option.
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Flash
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#6

Post by Flash »

With modern bullet technology, today's .380 is roughly equivalent to a 9MM 10 years ago so yes, I'd carry a .380 if that's all I had available.

And on two days a year, it is all I carry.
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#7

Post by AZ Husker »

With the popularity of newer small 9mm's (love my P365), there really is no reason to use expensive .380 with less performance.
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smithers599
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#8

Post by smithers599 »

I carry a .380 daily, when I go to the gym. But when I walked out the door a couple hours ago to go get some groceries, I was wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket). When I got home, I took off the .45, but the .380 is still in my pocket. Going out for Valentine's Day dinner tonight; I will be wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket).

The .380 is what I carry when it is not practical to carry a "real" gun. I agree with the sentiment above: the first rule of gunfighting is have a gun. A .380 barely meets that definition, but it is better than a stern look of disapproval.
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Flash
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#9

Post by Flash »

smithers599 wrote: February 14th, 2020, 1:21 pm I carry a .380 daily, when I go to the gym. But when I walked out the door a couple hours ago to go get some groceries, I was wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket). When I got home, I took off the .45, but the .380 is still in my pocket. Going out for Valentine's Day dinner tonight; I will be wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket).

The .380 is what I carry when it is not practical to carry a "real" gun. I agree with the sentiment above: the first rule of gunfighting is have a gun. A .380 barely meets that definition, but it is better than a stern look of disapproval.
That just about completely describes what I do, calibers and all.
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XJThrottle
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#10

Post by XJThrottle »

A 9mm "travels" with me the most, in a CCW pocket of my backpack. My LCP is on my body most tho.
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What
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#11

Post by What »

.380
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storage_man
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#12

Post by storage_man »

Flash wrote: February 14th, 2020, 1:28 pm
smithers599 wrote: February 14th, 2020, 1:21 pm I carry a .380 daily, when I go to the gym. But when I walked out the door a couple hours ago to go get some groceries, I was wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket). When I got home, I took off the .45, but the .380 is still in my pocket. Going out for Valentine's Day dinner tonight; I will be wearing a .45 (with the .380 in my pocket).

The .380 is what I carry when it is not practical to carry a "real" gun. I agree with the sentiment above: the first rule of gunfighting is have a gun. A .380 barely meets that definition, but it is better than a stern look of disapproval.
That just about completely describes what I do, calibers and all.
++ The same here. But another option is a.38 special which I sometimes carry as a pocket pistol. A S&W revolver. It really depends on what I'm wearing at the time. But there is the round count is less (5 vs 6+1). Both are good substitutes.
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#13

Post by Elk34 »

10mm is the same as 40 cal. Just more powder. I'm a 10mm guy
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shooter444
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#14

Post by shooter444 »

My preferred caliber/s have evolved over many years. I started with 45 acp, carried for over a decade while on the road, doing business across this nation. When fanny packs went out of style, and a smaller package was needed, I went to 9mm, with 32acp as a back-up. Then went to 380acp with 32acp backup, and 38's thrown in for good measure :dance: every now and then.

For the past couple decades, I thinned the herd and settled back to 45acp to feel "reliably comfortable", with a 45acp compact back-up, alternated with a 9 shot 22 pocket auto.

Bottom line,... if it ain't a 45acp, I ain't all that comfortable anymore!
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Re: Minimum caliber you would CCW

#15

Post by Toy00taco »

Voted .380
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