Preferred every day carry cartridge?

[JMD999]

A lot depends on where you live and where you must go. Always a J frame 38 in the pocket and add what ever else may be needed on any give day.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I suggest if one carries a sidearm…along with a reload carry a set of handcuffs and learn how to use them. If you're in a situation where you need to unholster…whether you pull the trigger or not…you may need to restrain the person who is the threat. You really should avoid keeping an unrestrained person while waiting for law enforcement or an ambulance.

If someone is enough of a threat that the potential or actual use of lethal force is required you cannot trust the threat won't still be a threat unrestrained.

 

[fiasconva]

It's really interesting that 9mm and 38 special are running so closely. I would have thought that 9 mm would be way ahead of 38 special.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

It's really interesting that 9mm and 38 special are running so closely. I would have thought that 9 mm would be way ahead of 38 special.

I'm guessing there's a lot of traditional minded gun owners here…maybe generational?

 

[326MOD10]

This forum is slanted toward the J Frame carrier so no surprise.

In regard to handcuffs, pardon the thread drift, I carry a concealed weapon to protect myself.

NOT to arrest people.

Those days are gone and not a CCW carriers concern. Would paint you as some form of vigilante, just itching to get involved. And frankly correctly so.

 

[Echo40]

And besides, I already own a Beretta 92fs....is there another 9mm that matters?

Yes, the Taurus PT92. It's basically a Beretta 92, but with the safety/decocker in the proper position.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I am curious as to what people on the forums carry and why?

Mainly I am interested to see what went into you deciding cartridge X was right for you ...

I am a retired Policeman working in the Big City. I have been to lots of murder cases. I also have Death Threats from Convicts in Prison.

For Self Defense or Home Protection you want to end the threat. I know several cases where the bad guy and good guy killed each other.

The most important thing is Professional Training so you have a better mindset when a lethal threat comes to you.

 

[375hh1973]

You mean the high and mighty .35acp?

I don't hate it but I can do so much better. Since I'm buying the next round....why settle?

"easy and cheap" isn't on my self defense menu. I don't have to award a city contract to the lowest bidder or qualify a class of recruits who can't shoot.....no plastic bullet squirters for me.

And besides, I already own a Beretta 92fs....is there another 9mm that matters?

This picture tells the story.
The bullet impact on the left is a 9mm and the strike on the right is .357SIG.
A Pic is worth a thousand words and this Pic says it all.

I also carry 40s&w, 45acp, and. 357 Magnum.

Now before you get your dander up.....I know all about how "modern 9mm" is almost as good as...(fill in the blank). Heck, I even own a Bond Arms derringer in 9mm....is there another 9mm that matters?

I also own and carry LOTs of .38spl S&W revolvers....better than a 9mm?

An old saying goes along the lines of "Comparison Kills Joy". It's true in a lot of things.

No dander here.

I don't own a 9mm, I was just curious.

I carry a Sig P226 in .357sig on occasion.

The gun I probably carry the most is my M&P 45c. No safety. I shoot it well, decent sized.

Have tried to embrace a J Frame. Even own one. Just don't shoot it nearly as well as an auto.

 

[NCBeagle]

.38 Special in a J Frame, most days.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

It depends...........On what I"m doing, where I might be going and what I might expect to encounter...........I'm not tied to any one caliber. In any given week I am subject to carry.......

38 spl
9mm
45acp
40
10mm
357
44 mag
45 Colt
.........Lots of pistolas.....Lots of choices......

 

[glenwolde]

9mm Makarov. Why? I like my FEG PA-63. I own it. Guess I could go buy a Walther, but why?

I checked "other", but it is a 9mm. Just not THE 9mm.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

9mm Makarov. Why? I like my FEG PA-63. I own it. Guess I could go buy a Walther, but why?

I checked "other", but it is a 9mm. Just not THE 9mm.

That is awesome I'm a big believer in using what you feel most confident with, sounds like an outstanding choice for you! Never heard of the other 9mm now I'm curious

 

[BC38]

My first choice would be 9 x 19mm.

Why?

Because modern 9mm SD ammo very nearly matches the performance of 357 magnum ammo, while allowing me to carry 2x (or more) the round count in a smaller, and more easily concealed package. And that doesn't even take the ease of reloading into consideration.

My plain-Jane Sig P365 with a MagGuts spring kit, gives me 12 rounds of hot, hollow point 9mm +P ammo - in a package that is smaller, flatter, and lighter than a 5-shot J-Frame 38 special revolver.

That's a win-win IMO. YMMV...

 

[otis24]

My favorite caliber is the .36 caliber(.355, .357). Particularly as it appears in the form of .357. Great versatility and power range due to the plethora of bullet designs and power loadings across the entire spectrum of this caliber. You get .38, .38 +P, and .357. There's something in there that can handle most every task the everyday Joe would face. That being said, the price and scarcity of this caliber have pushed me more to the runt of the litter, the .355. Otherwise known as the 9mm.

 

[robvious]

I voted "other"... I mostly carry a 9mm or 40s&w, but I PREFER 357SIG... and I do occasionally carry a sig subcompact in 357SIG.. I like the power & penetration... but mostly carry the "cheaper" guns just incase officer friendly wants to "borrow" it until judge friendly says that I can have it back.

 

[steelslaver]

I was a 45 acp guy and at times I still carry a 325.

Pro Big heavy bullet stopping power, light gun

Con, bulky and hard recoil

I now often carry a 2" alloy 32 H&R mag

Pro light, easy to carry and conceal, decent power for package size

No where near the power of the 45acp

 

[Bald1]

I suggest if one carries a sidearm…along with a reload carry a set of handcuffs and learn how to use them. If you're in a situation where you need to unholster…whether you pull the trigger or not…you may need to restrain the person who is the threat. You really should avoid keeping an unrestrained person while waiting for law enforcement or an ambulance.

If someone is enough of a threat that the potential or actual use of lethal force is required you cannot trust the threat won't still be a threat unrestrained.

I understand what you're you're saying completely. But all I can think of is Joe Citizen trying to cuff a guy and it going haywire.

 

[Truckman]

I understand what you're you're saying completely. But all I can think of is Joe Citizen trying to cuff a guy and it going haywire.

They're a lot more docile and compliant with a bullet in them...Maybe a couple of warning shots in the legs?......Ben

 

[Michaelp57]

I didnt choose 45. As soon as I shot the shield 45 I put my 365 back in its case and haven't looked back. Then I read through a study done 7 or 8 years ago, and that confirmed in my mind that I could be confident in what I carry. In this study/test, it was observed that a hollow in 9mm would fail to properly expand 35% of the time, while the 45 version of the same bullet only had a failure rate of 5%. 10mm and 357sig hollow points had a tendency to fragment or expand too quickly. 40s&w hollows had about a 15% failure rate iirc. Many different calibers were tested, in many different bullet types. 45 proved to perform the most reliably.

 

[JMD999]

9mm Makarov. Why? I like my FEG PA-63. I own it. Guess I could go buy a Walther, but why?

I checked "other", but it is a 9mm. Just not THE 9mm.

I had a beautiful Walther (Manurhin) stainless PPKS .380 30+ years ago, and a FEG R-61 9x18 (same as a PA-63 but PPK size).
Difference was the FEG was always reliable, I could not say that for the PPKS. Guess which one i still have!
Smiles, Mike