smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself

[roundgunner]

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?


My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in 22 short.

Over all the years I've been hiking I never leave without it in my pocket. Of course we all know too the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help.

I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta . Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.

Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I'd sure not be here today.

Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.

 

[G-Mac]

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?

My personal minimums are .38 Special in a revolver, 9mm in a semi-auto.

However, I'd prefer .357 Magnum or .45 ACP if I really thought it was necessary.

 

[m657]

...I suppose it really depends on the size of the brother in law.....

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

I'd say a .38 spl +P in a M60 at the house and a .40 in a 4006 at the farm, although I've recently picked up a few .45 ACP autos. For all around home protection I still defer to my Benelli M2 with a full choke and 000 buck!

 

[therevjay]

Ahhh guys, this was humor i.e. a joke, a "put on"? Ahh forget it, just don't leave home with anything smaller then a .900 magnum.

 

[ThePhotog]

380 using Hornady Crisitcal Defense ammo.

 

[chud333]

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?


My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in 22 short.

Over all the years I've been hiking I never leave without it in my pocket. Of course we all know too the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help.

I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta . Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.

Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I'd sure not be here today.

Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.

Good point, but you could have saved a round by just tripping him...haha
My personal minimum for protection purposes is a .40 s&w.
But i know alot of guys who carry .22

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

Taurus "The Judge" 3" barrel, loaded full with Winchester PDXI .410 Defender !



Ernie

 

[trauma1]

22mag with the new pd loads. otherwise 380 at minimum

 

[scandmx5]

.22LR with Aguila Interceptors, Aguila Super Max Hyper Velocity, or Winchester fragmenting Varmint 3/1 loads

 

[slumpy]

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?


My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in 22 short.

Over all the years I've been hiking I never leave without it in my pocket. Of course we all know too the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help.

I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta . Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.

Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I'd sure not be here today.

Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.

Reminds me of the walking dead episode, sort of.

 

[jraysig]

I carry a Bodyguard 380. This is the smallest I'll go and usually only when I can't conceal a .40

 

[spoonltz28]

I sometimes carry my Beretta Tomcat in .32 loaded with Hornady Hollow Points. I would not want to get into a fire fight with 3 guys with AR's, but I would trust it in a one-on-one with your general thug.

My normal carry is a 9mm at work and .38 while out.
I might start to carry the 1911 though.

 

[Mphstiger1981]

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?


My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in 22 short.

Over all the years I've been hiking I never leave without it in my pocket. Of course we all know too the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System". For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone, you bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help.

I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta . Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs.

Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I'd sure not be here today.

Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.

Ah, the old mantra, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you."

 

[rilkil23]

My Ruger LCP .380

 

[machz1]

i guess for me it would depend on how good a shot i was. those who are excellent shots can get away with smaller calibers and still "kill" easily with head/heart shots. a larger caliber helps make up for less than stellar accuracy by inflicting more shock trauma. IMO. are you the tip of the sword? or are you the battle axe?

 

[Pete99004]

i guess for me it would depend on how good a shot i was. those who are excellent shots can get away with smaller calibers and still "kill" easily with head/heart shots. a larger caliber helps make up for less than stellar accuracy by inflicting more shock trauma. IMO. are you the tip of the sword? or are you the battle axe?

I guess I must be the tip of the sword - my Ex-wife was a Battle Ax!!

.380 with Corbon DPX is smallest I feel comfortable with. My Sig P232 feeds those without the smallest hiccup and is scary accurate.


Pete

 

[lev83]

I feel that even a 22 can be deadly when in the hands of someone trained to use it properly but my personal choice is the 38+P in a revolver or 45 ACP in an auto

 

[mesinge2]

My personal minimums are .38 Special in a revolver, 9mm in a semi-auto.

However, I'd prefer .357 Magnum or .45 ACP if I really thought it was necessary.

This is my exact thinking

I feel that even a 22 can be deadly when in the hands of someone trained to use it properly but my personal choice is the 38+P in a revolver or 45 ACP in an auto

No argument with the 22 being deadly but will it knock a motivated offender back if he is within 3 feet?

 

[Straightshooter2]

Depends on where I am. At home, if my M&P 15-22 were all I could grab, I wouldn't feel all that undergunned loaded with 36 grain hollowpoints. After all 25 X 36 = 900 grains. Away from home, the smallest I've carried is my SP101 in .357 Mag. using Gold Dots but also have carried a Combat Commander loaded with .45ACP Winchester Black Talons. I will say that there are parts of Atlanta however where the smallest caliber I would settle for is SEAL team.

CW