Harry Hood
.223 Rem
What's the smallest caliber you trust for SD
- Thread starter Harry Hood
- Start date
Toecutter
.308 Win
I personally prefer 9mm bUT i would carry 380 if I had to.
I also prefer 9 but carry 380 often.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
9mm.
If I absolutely had to carry something smaller it would be one of the three or four brands of ammo in .380 that actually pass FBI specs.
If I absolutely had to carry something smaller it would be one of the three or four brands of ammo in .380 that actually pass FBI specs.
Uzi
.308 Win
22lr is good enough for me unless it's something crazy like a government take over and there are people wearing body armor. I can fire plenty of 22lr quickly and accurately. I wouldn't mind carrying one for self defense at all. It would be absolute hell getting multiple shots of 22 hollow points all over your body I'd imagine. Having said that, I can control my 9mm just as well as some of my 380's, so I choose 9mm for a defensive handgun.
Having seen some of the things I've seen, I would never trust anything less than 9mm, even though there's plenty of info out there that would prove my admittedly-anecdotal personal decision moot. Somewhere down the road I will start carrying a .45 with at least a 10rd capacity, but for now based on the regulations that govern my ability to carry, I'm sticking with 9mm and won't go less.
All else aside though, I wouldn't carry less than 10 rounds of any caliber ever. So if somehow that was a factor, I would choose .380 over .45 any day of the week.
All else aside though, I wouldn't carry less than 10 rounds of any caliber ever. So if somehow that was a factor, I would choose .380 over .45 any day of the week.
Dr. Evil
20×102mm Vulcan
Any gun is better than no gun. In saying this, I choose nothing less than 9mm.
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
40-45 . The reason being is to STOP the threat. Not hit the threat. I don't even like handguns for personnel defense myself. but it is what is . Unless you hit the guy in the Fatal T , there is no guaranteeing that he will not return fire . he may be dead , he just doesn't know it yet .
Ive read that a lot of Mafia men liked the 22 for contract work , for a lot of reasons , Mostly it was a coup de grace shot to the base of the skull, one shot. quiet small efficient cheap . Perfect for that kind of work .
I don't plan on whacking anybody in near future, most of yous anyway . so I don't consider it a good fighting weapon , It will kill you stone cold dead don't misunderstand me, But I prefer something with thump. I want my target to go down hard and his nerves twitch. I don't want to hope he wasn't killed .
Like they said in the movie with the Seals, lone survivor , Never shoot a small caliber gun at a large caliber man.
I remember hearing about a case where the agent emptied his weapon on a man and reloaded , the man returned fire and ran . the autopsy showed the mans heart was shredded yet he lived a full 60 seconds before his lights went out. enough to return fire at the agent .
Even instances in the Iraq war Ive spoke to vets , and most of the guys I spoke to did not like the 223 round at close range because sometimes it took a few shots before the guy got the message.
Ive read that a lot of Mafia men liked the 22 for contract work , for a lot of reasons , Mostly it was a coup de grace shot to the base of the skull, one shot. quiet small efficient cheap . Perfect for that kind of work .
I don't plan on whacking anybody in near future, most of yous anyway . so I don't consider it a good fighting weapon , It will kill you stone cold dead don't misunderstand me, But I prefer something with thump. I want my target to go down hard and his nerves twitch. I don't want to hope he wasn't killed .
Like they said in the movie with the Seals, lone survivor , Never shoot a small caliber gun at a large caliber man.
I remember hearing about a case where the agent emptied his weapon on a man and reloaded , the man returned fire and ran . the autopsy showed the mans heart was shredded yet he lived a full 60 seconds before his lights went out. enough to return fire at the agent .
Even instances in the Iraq war Ive spoke to vets , and most of the guys I spoke to did not like the 223 round at close range because sometimes it took a few shots before the guy got the message.
Eddie Gunks
.338 Win Mag
Whatever i have on me when needed.
Any-gun-ll-do
Any-gun-ll-do
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Even a .308 would take a few shots at close range if vitals aren't hit.
These military stories are just that. Stories.
RandallOfLegend
.40 S&W
38 special standard pressure is my minimum. 380 is usually borderline, but adequate with the right loading.
I carry 40 and 38spl+p.
I carry 40 and 38spl+p.
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
SO your calling these vets liars?? and you never met them.
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
"""Even a .308 would take a few shots at close range if vitals aren't hit."""
Really? you had to shoot guys more than once with a 308? You get hit in the legs with 308 and its going to take your feet out from under you.
nobodys talking about being nicked , a solid strike .
Really? you had to shoot guys more than once with a 308? You get hit in the legs with 308 and its going to take your feet out from under you.
nobodys talking about being nicked , a solid strike .
Last edited:
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
No. What I'm saying is that an identical first shot in a .308 would have produced the same result yet they tell the story of how inadequate the 5.56 is.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
And a .45 will knock your head clean off.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
Are we restricted to what's in the picture? How about 5.7x28, 7.62x25, 25 NAA, 32 NAA, 22 TMC... ?
ETA: look out for the 7.5 FK coming soon
ETA: look out for the 7.5 FK coming soon
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
Your making that statement and you don't even know where they were shot. ( It was the chest ) A 308 would have dropped him instantly the 556 Ice picked right through him it took multiple shots to drop him . another surprisingly was at 150 yards the man was struck 5 times before he quit.
another thing was the lack of barrier penetration they mentioned. They were firing on insurgents that were behinds some cars and the insurgents bullets were penetrating the vehicle they were hiding behind but the 556 wasn't penetrating behind the vehicle where the insurgents were where .
Last edited:
Been carrying a 9mm a lot lately because I like the size of the gun. Prefer .40 S&W, again because I like the gun. Own a 380 as well as several 45s but have never carried them for SD. For me it's more about being comfortable with the gun than the caliber bullet that's in it...
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
You said non lethal hit , ANY gun is going to drop a man hit melon . Im relaying what Im told from the field from several guys and every single one them said they did not like the round because it lacked stopping power. shoot a deer in the chest with a 556 at 500 yards and see what happens then shoot him with a 308 and going to see a big difference.
Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
None. 357
38spcl+p
.22LR
Catskillkid
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Any gun is better than no gun. That is without a doubt. If it were me I'd probably say 9mm. Though I feel pretty confident with the .38 Special myself. Whatever you shoot best is what's best for you.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
I think you're not understanding what he's saying. A 45 will blow your head clean off no matter where it hits you.
Gunright
.45 acp
7.62x54R
Nothing like a Mosin Nagant.
Nothing like a Mosin Nagant.
Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
That's pretty good for shooting someone in the foot. Who Needs hollow points.