Forum members are not representative of the US population at large. I read an article recently, in the AR or Handloader magazine, don't remember which that said the most popular caliber for SD is the .380.
Preferred every day carry cartridge?
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MetalMan
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I'm invested in S&W - all-steel J's and K's snubs - so .38spl (and +p) for me. A 640-1 Pro has been my EDC for the last several years.
During winter months, I'll sometimes carry my Kimber Ultra Carry (Series I) in .45ACP. This always accompanies me on trips to the range in order to maintain a degree of proficiency with this platform.
During winter months, I'll sometimes carry my Kimber Ultra Carry (Series I) in .45ACP. This always accompanies me on trips to the range in order to maintain a degree of proficiency with this platform.
During my 2016 Glock recert class, we were told that a compelling reason for Glock's decision to create the G42 was that their polling of major ammunition company sales indicated that in the private owner market (meaning not LE/Gov) the hottest selling caliber for the previous 3 years in America was ... 380ACP. A further bit of trivia was that the significant demographic of the people buying .380 ammunition and guns was ... female shooters.
Hence, the G42 was born, and Glock hoped to get part of the growing sales of that caliber, including among that demographic of owners. I'd say it worked.
Of course, then the joke was that Glock was designing the G43 ... for men.
Didn't change that the .380 was a hot caliber outside of LE/Gov use, and it remains so, for that matter.
I voted "Other" because I carry .357 SIG about 90% of the time in my M&P 40c Storm Lake conversion. When I want to go "light", I carry my Shield 45.
Echo40
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Pretty knife (handle color).
I can offer something to complement it if a J-frame is carried ...
Don't disrespect the proud colors of the United States Space Force.
So are you saying that in your view the 357SIG is more of a "heavy" carry caliber than the 45ACP?
FWIW, I carry a P365 9mm IWB as my middle of the road EDC, a KelTec P3AT .380 for more discreet "light" pocket carry, and a Taurus PT145 OWB as my "heavy" carry.
So I find it intriguing that you consider a poly 45ACP as a "light" carry.
Just an interesting difference in perspective I guess...
Echo40
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I think he means in terms of muzzle energy.
.357 SIG has greater energy than even .45 ACP +P loads, so by that metric it is more "heavy" than .45 ACP.
The only .45 ACP loads that can beat .357 SIG are .45 Super and .450 SMC, both of which are considered separate cartridges because they use stronger brass, and cannot be fired from an ordinary .45 ACP pistol without battering the frame.
Sure, in terms of actual weight, obviously even the lightest .45 ACP bullets are nearly twice the weight of the heaviest .357 SIG bullets, (185gr vs 147gr) but in terms of energy, .357 SIG beats .45 ACP.
.357 SIG has greater energy than even .45 ACP +P loads, so by that metric it is more "heavy" than .45 ACP.
The only .45 ACP loads that can beat .357 SIG are .45 Super and .450 SMC, both of which are considered separate cartridges because they use stronger brass, and cannot be fired from an ordinary .45 ACP pistol without battering the frame.
Sure, in terms of actual weight, obviously even the lightest .45 ACP bullets are nearly twice the weight of the heaviest .357 SIG bullets, (185gr vs 147gr) but in terms of energy, .357 SIG beats .45 ACP.
Most of the time SIG V-Crown 9mm 124GR
The rest either Hornady 38 Special or Fiocchi .380 90GR.
Mostly depends on the situation, the .380 Pistols i have are small and good to carry with sports wear, also the revolvers are easy to conceal.
The rest either Hornady 38 Special or Fiocchi .380 90GR.
Mostly depends on the situation, the .380 Pistols i have are small and good to carry with sports wear, also the revolvers are easy to conceal.
26 people voted 'other'.....
...may I ask what that 'other' is?
...may I ask what that 'other' is?
Good question. I wasn't very clear about that. All I meant by "light" was that my Shield 45 is a bit smaller and weighs less than my M&P 40c.
Interesting take on it.
But when I go to BBI and compare the ME graphs for 45ACP +P and 357SIG they look pretty close to me
357SIG shows a range of ~350-850 Ft-Lbs
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/mepngs/357sig.png
With the exception of one lighter bullet, standard pressure round, 45ACP shows a range of ~300-860 Ft-Lbs - with the lighter bullet +P loads most closely matching the 357SIG
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/2015data/45acp-me.png
So at least a lot of the loadings seem pretty comparable to me.
I either carry an Sig 365 9mm or S&W 638/642 .38 special most of the time. Sometimes a .45 acp or a .40 s&w
SGT ROCK 11B
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I would guess somebody has a .44 Special and others might be .357 SIG and .45 GAP.
A few other 'boutique' calibers have came out recently. The old standards still do well today.
I have no need to convert others from their choices, or even really to express myself, but the OP asked for reasons, and I did vote (.38Spl), so here it is.
For quite a while, I carried a .45 SS Government Model, which for me is a very comfortable rig to carry (with Milt Sparks Summer Special). I also (later) carried a 2.5" 19. I had also carried other guns earlier.
When I went to work in an office, I felt uncomfortable with a .357, even though the cartridges contained only 110gr bullets. Instead, I carried a 4" 10 with 158gr Nyclad SWCHP bullets.
When that environment ended, I was pretty much accustomed to .38 Spl, and in the habit of using revolvers. I never really recovered from that, although I have occasionally carried more powerful or higher-capacity weapons.
While my choice of weapons, including cartridge, has occasionally been affected by perceived potential threat, it has far more often been dictated by what I considered acceptable clothing. While I have mostly chosen .38 Spl, it is probably now obvious why I am not inclined to argue against folks who choose less powerful or more powerful cartridges.
For quite a while, I carried a .45 SS Government Model, which for me is a very comfortable rig to carry (with Milt Sparks Summer Special). I also (later) carried a 2.5" 19. I had also carried other guns earlier.
When I went to work in an office, I felt uncomfortable with a .357, even though the cartridges contained only 110gr bullets. Instead, I carried a 4" 10 with 158gr Nyclad SWCHP bullets.
When that environment ended, I was pretty much accustomed to .38 Spl, and in the habit of using revolvers. I never really recovered from that, although I have occasionally carried more powerful or higher-capacity weapons.
While my choice of weapons, including cartridge, has occasionally been affected by perceived potential threat, it has far more often been dictated by what I considered acceptable clothing. While I have mostly chosen .38 Spl, it is probably now obvious why I am not inclined to argue against folks who choose less powerful or more powerful cartridges.
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