What caliber do you carry?

I'm not convinced JHPs expand reliably at 32/380 velocities or are 100% reliable feeding-wise. I carry FMJs in everything below 9mm as well.

 

Luckygunner has some published results down to .380. Some expand, others don't. Some penetrate, others don't.

A very few do both.

 

And for my third caliber change since beginning carrying, I've realized that I am rapidly increasing my bullet size with each step, as I have just swapped out the .380 for .38spl

 

9mm summer and winter. Would like to pick up a 1911 in 45 for winter carry at some point.

 

What .380 do you carry? I often carry a Ruger LCP in a pocket holster.

 

My EDC switches up depending on what I'm doing. I carry 9mm for duty. Off duty I carry either .380 or .45ACP. Depends on where I'm going or what I'm doing though. Generally I carry an XDM in .45ACP with Remington GoldenSaber HP. I like the .380 for deeper carry or when it's a bit warmer. Also if I'm going somewhere the 45 would be too big to conceal. The balistic tests I've seen for the GoldenSabers have been pretty solid down to the .380 so I run those or Winchester Rangers.

 

I carry .40 180gr Federal HST for work (no choice on the matter). Strictly 9mm off duty.

 

If I could, I would carry my single action Ruger Blackhawk 44 Special cartridge with Elmer Keith lead bullets handloaded to 950 fps. A classy old cartridge for sure. i forgot to mention, one or two of these will stop anyone, anytime.

Ps.- did you know that Elmer Keith was probably the best long range hand gunner ever? How about a coyote off at 600 yards, one shot, verified by a sitting state judge.

 

9mm short = .380 acp. And he carried a .32acp/7.65mm.

AFAIK, he's never carried a 9mm short. He carried a 9mm during some of the Brosnan movies and the first part of Craig.

But...movies and books don't have to worry about realism.

 

1911's=45, 9mm in my Glock, 38+P in my 442

 

9x18 is slightly more powerful than .380. Do I think it makes much of a difference? No. 9x18 is cheaper as well.

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Nelson... I think you will be limited as to which platforms shoot the 9x18 ...especially in the polymer framed pistols... most of the 9x18s I've shot have been heavy Warsaw Pact pistols

 

I agree, you may as well carry a 9mm due to the weight.

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Great discussion!

Some good insights . . . and a little baloney.

FBI dropped the 9mm after the 1986 Miami shooting. At the time I carried the .45 ACP in a Colt Combat Commander with Hornady 185 gr HP's so no problem there.

When I got into my 60's I reevaluated my situation.

I've always kept up with whatever was current in firearms through the years and realized that the 9mm was much improved. Research led me to the Federal 9mm HST 124 gr (there are other good ones as well). I stuff this in an S&W M&P Shield and S&W M&P C.O.R.E.

You like .40? .45? No problems there.

But the 9mm leaves nothing lacking compared to the larger calibers plus has certain advantages.

And the FBI?

Switching back to the 9mm.

 

I never understood the summer carry and winter carry thing. I carry the same gun (Glock 19) no matter the season and no one is the wiser


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Being a larger fella, I can easily conceal a Shield. The Glock 23 (same frame as a 19) is a little more difficult in light clothes. The butt just sticks out farther. Now, with proper attire I can conceal 3 or 4 large handguns. In summer, I'm in gym shorts and a t-shirt a lot so it's the pocket Bodyguard. Your mileage may vary.

 

Apparently I need to start carrying some variety of 7.62 with EDC body armor and a ballistic kevlar helmet.

 

Just tell folks your going rock climbing!

 

Yes, but you forgot to mention the charcoal underwear.