What is the smallest caliber you often carry (25% to 50% of the time)?

peacefulgary · June 7, 2020, 06:25 AM

What is the smallest caliber you often carry?

Let's define "often" as 25% to 50% of the time.

My Ruger .380 LCP is one I often carry.

MisterCrabby · June 7, 2020, 06:40 AM

.45 ACP 230 gn LE Gold Dots

CDW4ME · June 7, 2020, 06:48 AM

Got rid of my 380's after I retired and could dress as I choose.
Smallest caliber I carry is 9mm.

jar · June 7, 2020, 07:44 AM

A 25acp will almost always in my pocket; most often it will be an FN 1906 or Colt 1908.

smee78 · June 7, 2020, 07:52 AM

On average the smallest caliber I carry is my 32acp. I like my NAA Guardian and when I run out of ammo I can use it as a pair of brass knuckles.

JERRYS. · June 7, 2020, 10:22 AM

.32 acp

TunnelRat · June 7, 2020, 11:52 AM

9mm.

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peterg7 · June 7, 2020, 12:22 PM

9mm

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luger fan · June 7, 2020, 01:08 PM

9mm Rohrbaugh.

FrankenMauser · June 7, 2020, 03:58 PM

I gave a .22 vote, for three reasons:
1. My primary isn't in the list (.32 H&R).
2. There was no "other" option.
3. "Often" was not defined.

When I'm carrying, but don't want the .32 - or it is not easily concealed with the clothing I will be wearing - I go for the NAA Mini. ...Which could have a .22 LR or .22 WMR cylinder in it, depending upon my mood.

peacefulgary · June 7, 2020, 04:59 PM

Let's define "often" as 25% to 50% of the time.

dontcatchmany · June 7, 2020, 05:03 PM

327 magnum as a backup to 45 acp or 40 sw or 357 magnum or 357 sig

Mike38 · June 7, 2020, 07:05 PM

A month ago my answer would have been .22LR 50% of the time. (.38Spcl the other 50%) Now it's .32acp probably 100% of the time.

zoo · June 7, 2020, 08:08 PM

These days a neener I guess.

FrankenMauser · June 7, 2020, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Let's define "often" as 25% to 50% of the time.

In that case, there's nothing in the list for me - not even the primary.

peacefulgary · June 8, 2020, 07:38 AM

What?
You don't even carry your primary handgun at least 25% of the time?

What % of the time do you carry your primary handgun?
24%?
20%?
10%?

If you're carrying a handgun less than 25%...how can it be your primary handgun???

AgedWarrior · June 8, 2020, 07:55 AM

9mm in Sig P365.

TunnelRat · June 8, 2020, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacefulgary

What?
You don't even carry your primary handgun at least 25% of the time?

What % of the time do you carry your primary handgun?
24%?
20%?
10%?

If you're carrying a handgun less than 25%...how can it be your primary handgun???

To me “primary handgun” would be the handgun I use the most. That isn’t contingent on whether or not I carry it all the time (and I say this as someone that carries most of the time).

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JERRYS. · June 8, 2020, 12:46 PM

maybe I misunderstood the question. I took it to not mean: what is the caliber you always carry, but rather: what is the smallest caliber you carry with the most frequency.

FrankenMauser · June 8, 2020, 02:07 PM

Quote:

What?
You don't even carry your primary handgun at least 25% of the time?

What % of the time do you carry your primary handgun?
24%?
20%?
10%?

If you're carrying a handgun less than 25%...how can it be your primary handgun???

You misunderstand, or didn't read my first post.

I carry regularly, but the cartridge for which my primary carry is chambered is not in the list.
And the 'smallest' isn't carried often enough to meet your arbitrary minimum threshold.

stinkeypete · June 8, 2020, 02:15 PM

What would the most proper way to frame this question since

.380 and 9mm are the same caliber, aren't they? Maybe .001 difference depending on reloading manuals and cast vs jacketed.

same as .38 Super and...

and .38 Special and .357

and... .327 Fed Mag is the same diameter as a laundry list of others... .40 and 10mm...

I assume this is a question about "who makes a big hole even before anything hollow-points"

making a graph of this data would be an interesting exercise.

Kreyzhorse · June 8, 2020, 07:24 PM

While a .380 is my go to small, easy to conceal gun, I'll carry a .25 Colt Vest Pocket and a .22lr Bobcat now and again.

Otherwise, I prefer something in the 40 range....

Amegatek · June 9, 2020, 06:36 AM

9 mm is the the smallest I carry. My carry guns are all 9 mm or .45 ACP.

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fastbolt · June 9, 2020, 01:18 PM

When pocket holster carrying, it's .38SPL (J-frames), which is how I "voted" in the poll, unless the pockets are too short/tight, in which case it's .380 (LCP).

For belt carry, I may be wearing any of the 9's, .40's or .45's I carried and used over the years I worked in LE (and used them as a firearms instructor). Just depends.

Willie Lowman · June 10, 2020, 12:52 PM

9mm. It's the only caliber I carry.

View Poll Results: What is the smallest caliber you often carry?
.22 (specify Short, Long Rifle, Magnum, etc...)	5	5.75%
.25 ACP	2	2.30%
.32 ACP	12	13.79%
.380 ACP	26	29.89%
.38 Special (includes .38 Special +P)	11	12.64%
9mm Luger	28	32.18%
.357 Magnum	0	0%
.40 S&W	1	1.15%
.45 ACP	2	2.30%
Voters: 87. You may not vote on this poll

June 7, 2020, 06:25 AM	#1
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	What is the smallest caliber you often carry (25% to 50% of the time)? What is the smallest caliber you often carry? Let's define "often" as 25% to 50% of the time. My Ruger .380 LCP is one I often carry. Last edited by peacefulgary; June 7, 2020 at 05:01 PM.

June 7, 2020, 06:48 AM	#3
CDW4ME Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 1,321	Got rid of my 380's after I retired and could dress as I choose. Smallest caliber I carry is 9mm. __________________ Strive to carry the handgun you would want anywhere, everywhere; forget that good area bullcrap. "Wouldn't want to / Nobody volunteer to" get shot by _____ is not indicative of quickly incapacitating.

June 7, 2020, 07:44 AM	#4
jar Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2001 Location: Deep South Texas Posts: 1,668	A 25acp will almost always in my pocket; most often it will be an FN 1906 or Colt 1908. __________________ To be vintage it's gotta be older than me!

June 7, 2020, 07:52 AM	#5
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	On average the smallest caliber I carry is my 32acp. I like my NAA Guardian and when I run out of ammo I can use it as a pair of brass knuckles. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

June 7, 2020, 06:40 AM	#2
MisterCrabby Member Join Date: August 16, 2018 Posts: 90	.45 ACP 230 gn LE Gold Dots

June 7, 2020, 10:22 AM	#6
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,968	.32 acp

June 7, 2020, 11:52 AM	#7
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,214	9mm. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

June 7, 2020, 12:22 PM	#8
peterg7 Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2017 Posts: 316	9mm Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

June 7, 2020, 01:08 PM	#9
luger fan Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2018 Posts: 150	9mm Rohrbaugh.

June 7, 2020, 03:58 PM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I gave a .22 vote, for three reasons: 1. My primary isn't in the list (.32 H&R). 2. There was no "other" option. 3. "Often" was not defined. When I'm carrying, but don't want the .32 - or it is not easily concealed with the clothing I will be wearing - I go for the NAA Mini. ...Which could have a .22 LR or .22 WMR cylinder in it, depending upon my mood. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

June 7, 2020, 04:59 PM	#11
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	Let's define "often" as 25% to 50% of the time.

June 7, 2020, 05:03 PM	#12
dontcatchmany Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 460	327 magnum as a backup to 45 acp or 40 sw or 357 magnum or 357 sig

June 7, 2020, 07:05 PM	#13
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	A month ago my answer would have been .22LR 50% of the time. (.38Spcl the other 50%) Now it's .32acp probably 100% of the time.

June 7, 2020, 08:08 PM	#14
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	These days a neener I guess.

June 8, 2020, 07:38 AM	#16
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	What? You don't even carry your primary handgun at least 25% of the time? What % of the time do you carry your primary handgun? 24%? 20%? 10%? If you're carrying a handgun less than 25%...how can it be your primary handgun???

June 8, 2020, 07:55 AM	#17
AgedWarrior Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2019 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 210	9mm in Sig P365. __________________ Knowing when and how

June 8, 2020, 12:46 PM	#19
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,968	maybe I misunderstood the question. I took it to not mean: what is the caliber you always carry, but rather: what is the smallest caliber you carry with the most frequency.

June 8, 2020, 02:15 PM	#21
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,292	What would the most proper way to frame this question since .380 and 9mm are the same caliber, aren't they? Maybe .001 difference depending on reloading manuals and cast vs jacketed. same as .38 Super and... and .38 Special and .357 and... .327 Fed Mag is the same diameter as a laundry list of others... .40 and 10mm... I assume this is a question about "who makes a big hole even before anything hollow-points" making a graph of this data would be an interesting exercise. Last edited by stinkeypete; June 8, 2020 at 02:21 PM.

June 8, 2020, 07:24 PM	#22
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	While a .380 is my go to small, easy to conceal gun, I'll carry a .25 Colt Vest Pocket and a .22lr Bobcat now and again. Otherwise, I prefer something in the 40 range.... __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

June 9, 2020, 06:36 AM	#23
Amegatek Member Join Date: October 5, 2002 Location: Orient, OH. Posts: 76	9 mm is the the smallest I carry. My carry guns are all 9 mm or .45 ACP. Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

June 9, 2020, 01:18 PM	#24
fastbolt Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2002 Location: northern CA for a little while longer Posts: 1,931	When pocket holster carrying, it's .38SPL (J-frames), which is how I "voted" in the poll, unless the pockets are too short/tight, in which case it's .380 (LCP). For belt carry, I may be wearing any of the 9's, .40's or .45's I carried and used over the years I worked in LE (and used them as a firearms instructor). Just depends. __________________ Retired LE - firearms instructor & armorer

June 10, 2020, 12:52 PM	#25
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	9mm. It's the only caliber I carry. __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens