If no cosst difference were involved

[Ogandydancer]

If no difference in cost were involved which would you rather have for a carry round?

[Protected One]

Nothing different than my current carry - .40.
It perfectly adequate for defensive purposes.

[PALADIN85020]

None of the above. .45 ACP.

John

[Donn]

Already have it. Model 19 Combat Magnum, .357 magnum, 4" barrel.

[OFT II]

Originally Posted by PALADIN85020

None of the above. .45 ACP.

John

Amen, Deacon.

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Cost has no significance when it come to my carry ammo. My carry guns for the past 10 years have been 9mm and .38spl. Whenever I can find a M&P 45c to buy I will be upping the caliber to 45 ACP.

You should have listed all the calibers used for carry to get an overall consensus of what people are carrying.

[Kanewpadle]

I picked the 357Sig. I prefer to carry semi autos and I hate the 40. And in my experience the 357 Sig is more accurate.

But considering all the variables, either would do fine.

[S&W45Colt]

10mm, 45 ACP or 45 Long Colt are my choices. There are many fine calibers, but these 3 are my favorite carry ones with .44 a close fourth.

[Smoke]

I'm happy with my .40 S&W. If I got to pick the brand for free it would be Ranger Same eXact Things

[WR Moore]

None of the above. Cor-Bon 9mm +P (115 gr either JHP or the all copper Barnes bullet) or Speer Gold Dot 124+P.

[Murdock]

There are effective SD bullets available in each of the serious carry calibers, whether for semiauto or revolver aficionados. So what if they are expensive? Cost is never an issue for carry ammo.

The cost (and availability) of our practice ammo is a far more serious concern.

[shouldazagged]

I carry +P .38 Special, the FBI load. Of the choices listed I chose .40 S&W. I've owned a couple of pistols in that caliber in the past, and I liked the caliber and the guns, a 411 and a G22.

I'm confident that .38 Special is adequate for my needs, and have felt secure carrying it for years.

[HKB]

I actually don't carry any pistols that fire those rounds but if I had to pick it would most likely be the .40 S&W or the .357 Magnum. Narrowing it down to just one would depend on the overall situation and type of pistol available.

[USAF385]

This is tough for me to answer based on the nature of the question.

I've never considered cost of ammo when picking carry guns. The size, weight, reliability, reputation, feel in my hand and intended method of carry, are more important to me.

Obviously I consider the caliber, but not from a cost perspective.

[Badkarma 1]

If cost be of no option, then it be .41 Magnum for me. Dale

[Broker50]

Originally Posted by PALADIN85020

None of the above. .45 ACP.

John

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[AZretired]

Quit carrying an auto the day I retired. Mostly now carry a .38 j-frame so .357 would be my choice. When I do carry/shoot an auto (range mostly) it's a 9mm.

[Texas40]

What I have now .40 cal.
Chose it as I feel it is a good all around caliber ammo is readily available even during the crunch I was able to get target and defensive fairly regularly.

[Lost Lake]

Cost is not a factor for me. And it shouldn't be for anyone really.

Carrying comfort is a big deal though. So I carry a gun in a caliber I trust that is comfortable.

That said; I just pitted the 9mm Gold Dot 124+P against a .357 mag with soft points shooting water jugs.

I can tell you the .357 mag is an impressive round! However, mine is a 6" stainless model that I will not be carrying anytime soon.

.

[MrJT]

Im a bit perplexed as well. The cost of a .40 which could be carried in say, a shield VS the cost of a .357 which could be carried in say a 686. Who cares?

Well, obviously the extreme difference in the two guns is more of a deciding factor than the cost of the round.

[Mule Packer]

No question about it. It would either be a .45 acp or a .45 Colt.

[SMSgt]

I've got 9mm and .45 ACP. There's no reason for more costs.

[venomballistics]

<----- A proud member of the 45 ACP camp.
while 357 is, ballisticly speaking, made of the right stuff, it does not fit into my overall strategy.
theres nothing it can do that a 44 magnum cannot do better, thus the 44 is my woods gun. for the street .. 45's are easier to reload under the extreme pressure of a real fight.

[bionic218]

11mm for me, please.

[Fastbolt]

I voted .357 Magnum because I'm a long time Magnum revolver owner & shooter. It was my first issued duty load. I like the versatility of the available Magnum loadings, and the nose cavity designs of the revolver bullets (that aren't exactly semiauto pistol friendly).

I think an afternoon of shooting different Magnu loads through a K-frame (66 2 1/2") or my remaining 4" Service-Six, out to 75+ yards, is a pleasant way to enjoy the afternoon. Nicely balanced, controllable revolvers. (But then I spent my youth spending money on reloading & shooting Magnum revolvers. )

That said, I don't often carry one of my heavier .357's anymore, especially in retirement. I still enjoy shooting them, but I'd rather carry a lighter retirement CCW. (My smallest steel revolver, a Ruger SP101 DAO, is still heavy enough to be a belt gun, and I typically prefer to carry +P loads in my pair of M&P 340's.)

Even though I think the Magnum revolver cartridge is still a fine and viable defensive cartridge, I tend to like lighter handguns nowadays. I own, use (training/practice) and carry a variety of 9's, .40's & .45's with equal aplomb.

I'm not "caliber fussy". I now have 7 J-frames, and I'll typically carry one of them more often than my other guns as retirement weapons.

I still like the venerable .357 Magnum, though. I think it's the second most versatile handgun caliber around, with the .44 Magnum being the first.

[spdjnky_42]

I have .40 for the girlfriend/drawer/vehicle .45 when I want to carry &. 10mm if I am feeling I just may need a weapon that day.

[badge 851]

Old School here too - 357 Magnum!