[Keith Stephens]

Been researching pocket .380s (sig p238 vs bodyguard) and stumbled upon http://concealedcarryforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9342.

They are very adamant about not carrying anything less than a snub .38 for any reason....except for a BUG, maybe. I.E. if you aren't disciplined to carry more than a .380, then you shouldn't being armed.

My normal carry is a MP9c, but sometimes I leave it in the car or worse, at home, if I'm not dressed for it. Guess I'm in the ".380 is better than 0mm" crowd.

Opinions on this hardline stance that if you aren't going to pack a "service" round, then don't pack at all? Just got the wheels spinning.

 

[Paracord Joes]

Either pack what they are saying or nothing? That's seems like dumb reasoning to me. In my days of working as an EMT I can tell you that I saw a lot of people shot and killed with a .22 round....

I have a few .380's and will carry them when nothing else is practical.

 

[G I Gold]

To each his own. Even arrogant, self-righteous morons are entitled to their own opinion. My preferred carry is a full size lightweight 1911 in an IWB holster. Plan B is a .38 snubbie holstered in my front pants pocket. When I'm unarmed I have a KelTec P32 clipped in my pocket where it looks like a pocket knife. It's not for countering an Al Qaeda assault. It's more of a last minute up-his-nostril response.

 

[purple88yj]

A .22 or .25 or .32 or .380 is certainly better than a sharp stick. Now I do tend to fall into the bigger is better mindset from time to time, considering the rough sizes of the guns chambered for the calibers I listed, I would opt for the .380 over the others.

I often carry my AMT .380 in the summer when I am wearing lighter clothes.

 

[gj10]

Mouseguns

Okay I skimmed the discussion and it appears there are two schools of thought.

1. Carry a .38spcl or bigger
2. Carry a small caliber (.22, .25, .380) as opposed to nothing.

So I guess which school do you fall under?

From my perspective theory one is more traditional while theory two is newer(?) With today's widespread use of polymer frames and [ultra]lightweight metals I think it merges the two theories. I will also add that if the individual is new to CC like anyting else it will take practice to make sure the weapon is leagally with you.

I know people carry the small calibers (22., .25, .380) for size and weight, personally it never appealed to me, but that is what makes the world go 'round!:001_smile:

 

[Stick Man]

I would rather have any caliber pretty much over nothing at all. They are not my preference obviously, but to me anything is better than nothing.

 

[jjwestbrook]

Carry the biggest caliber that you can properly conceal is my thought. I keep a 380 in my pocket and a minimum of a 9mm when i can , at the worst it is in my truck. although if i were to pull the 380 it would have to be a last ditch effort to save my life.

Hell i would carry a machine gun if i could.

 

[Phantom]

Carrying any caliber is better than being unarmed.

Being aware of you surroundings and avoiding a fight that requires a firearm is an even better strategy.

So far, and I am over 50, I have not had to use a firearm in self defense and I have been armed most of my life.

 

[whodog]

Carry the biggest caliber that you can properly conceal is my thought. I keep a 380 in my pocket and a minimum of a 9mm when i can , at the worst it is in my truck. although if i were to pull the 380 it would have to be a last ditch effort to save my life.

Hell i would carry a machine gun if i could.

Isn't defensive carry a "last ditch effort to save my life"?

 

[jjwestbrook]

Isn't defensive carry a "last ditch effort to save my life"?

What i meant is i would only go for the 380 after i had exhausted all other options. ( backed into a corner and forced to fight) If i have my glock or 1911 on someone is gonna play hell backing me into a corner .

 

[osirissky]

Dang. Now I have to go out and buy a 500S&W, so, I can feel secure again. The only reason I wouldn't consider carrying a .22 is due to reliability. I have seen too many .22 cartridges fail to fire. Would I expect a smaller caliber to stop a man running full tilt at me? No. Would I expect him to hear the bang, feel the burn, and think twice about continuing the fight? Yes. Having a hole punched in you, regardless of size, is going to ruin anyones day. What the OP of that thread and his little cohorts seem to be missing is that a .380 and .38 are very similar in power and ballistics.

All of that being said, I prefer .45. I shoot it quickly and accurately in most handguns and the G21 seems to work very well for me.

 

[JoeBobOutfitters]

I have a 380 P3AT on me all the time, and when I can, a G26 9mm or XD45 4" Service. Any gun is better than no gun. I wouldn't consider a 380 pocket rocket a duty gun, but I'm also no longer in uniform at all, so it's an everyday carry gun. If SHTF, of course I'd be carrying more than a 380, but otherwise a 380 is sufficient for most encounters. I've never had to pull a concealed handgun, but I did have to threaten it once. That neutralized the whole situation, regardless if it was a 22LR or 45ACP.

 

[highpinehunter]

The number one rule in a gunfight is to have a gun.

 

[mrb302]

The number one rule in a gunfight is to have a gun.

Amen.
That ties in with my favorite saying:

Never die from a lack of firing back. :13:

I tend to fall into the bigger is better crowd I guess. My mini-pocket gun is a .357 Magnum. That being said I would rather have anything over nothing.

 

[eclipse13]

I pretty much agree with these guys. Carry the biggest caliber you can comfortably shoot and conceal, but I'd rather have a .22 deringer than nothing.

 

[Keltyke]

Been researching pocket .380s (sig p238 vs bodyguard) and stumbled upon http://concealedcarryforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9342.

They are very adamant about not carrying anything less than a snub .38 for any reason....except for a BUG, maybe. I.E. if you aren't disciplined to carry more than a .380, then you shouldn't being armed.

My normal carry is a MP9c, but sometimes I leave it in the car or worse, at home, if I'm not dressed for it. Guess I'm in the ".380 is better than 0mm" crowd.

Opinions on this hardline stance that if you aren't going to pack a "service" round, then don't pack at all? Just got the wheels spinning.

Hogwash! Although bigger is USUALLY better, shot placement is KING! I'd rather give the BG a .380 in the eye than a .45 ACP in the arm.

My wife carries a Keltec P-32, and I pity the fool who accosts her. She's a good shot, and I have no doubt she'll take care of business.

Remember, many encounters end with no shots being fired. Your typical criminal is a coward, and they do NOT want a shootout with a determined, armed citizen. They want it quick and easy. In fact, many times the reaction will be, "Damn, b**ch got a gun!" Then, "Damn, b**ch shot me!" Followed by running footsteps.

Few people can ignore 10+ .32 ACPs to vital areas.

 

[osirissky]

As the saying goes "You can't miss fast enough to make a hit" or A miss is still a miss"

Hogwash! Although bigger is USUALLY better, shot placement is KING! I'd rather give the BG a .380 in the eye than a .45 ACP in the arm.

My wife carries a Keltec P-32, and I pity the fool who accosts her. She's a good shot, and I have no doubt she'll take care of business.

Remember, many encounters end with no shots being fired. Your typical criminal is a coward, and they do NOT want a shootout with a determined, armed citizen. They want it quick and easy. In fact, many times the reaction will be, "Damn, b**ch got a gun!" Then, "Damn, b**ch shot me!" Followed by running footsteps.

Few people can ignore 10+ .32 ACPs to vital areas.

 

[jjwestbrook]

The number one rule in a gunfight is to have a gun.

correction : #1 rule to survive a gun fight is dont be in it!!
#2 rule is if you must be in it then have a gun !!

 

[sheepdog120]

Carry whatever you can carry. Who gives a frig what other people think about it? Is it really any of their business?!

It's all about shot placement anyway. Ever see the video of that poor Trooper Coats from SC? He got into a roadside gunfight with a 300 lbs man. He shot six rounds of .357 point blank in the unprotected chest of the suspect. The suspect lived and is now in prison. Trooper Coats was shot in the upper under arm with a .22lr. The .22 traveled up his arm, and into his aorta. The trooper died there on the side of the road.

 

[Guest]

Winter I carry a full size 1911 or my Glock 19. NC is not forgiving in the spring/summer, so I tend to downsize to a .380 auto (Taurus PT738) or my NAA in .22 Magnum.

Sure, a .50BMG would make a bigger hole, but like these other folk have said, a .380 you carry is better than a .45 in the safe. I also carry multiple smaller guns, since more guns is always better and it is a LOT easier to stash a couple of small guns in my short pockets than one full size piece.