So you want a mouse gun...what caliber is right?

[DeadAye]

My minimum is 38 Special.
+P Hollow points for summer and +P SWC for cold weather when my assailant may have heavy clothes on.
If I don't have an M49 in my back pocket there's either a 686 or Combat Commander in a holster.

P.S. I wouldn't carry ANYTHING other then cranked up solids in 380 or less. I can't fathom how a hollow point would be advantageous in any *mouse gun* size pistol. The smaller the gun the more important shot placement and penetration becomes - Not that they aren't important with a 45 too though.

 

[walnutred]

I've carried a P3AT for about a year but carried a P32 for a few years before that. This week I had a chance to shoot a friends LCP a fair amount and as much as it pains me to say it I like it better than my P3AT. The grip was just enough different that the LCP fit my hand better. Now that the Rugers are available in the $280 range I'd strongly consider one if I was buying new. There is not enough difference between the KelTec and the Ruger to make me change now, but as the prices are getting within $25 of each other you need to handle both before you decide.
As far as the difference between 380 and 32 ACP the ONLY reason I went from the P32 to the P3AT is that a friends wife really liked the reduced recoil of the 32 over the 380 and he could not find a P32 anywhere. So now she has the 32 and I have a 380.

 

[bkp3gen]

.45 ACP 1911 Commander......no sense in guessing/hoping it's enough to protect you