Sugar River

I voted 38 Spec, since that's what I carry most often. But, in fact, I carry a variety, including 22Mag, 32 Mag, 9mm, 41Mag and 45acp depending on what I'm wearing and where I'm going.

Pete

Squirrel Assassin

What about the 357sig? That is what I carry

deputy125

the 357 sig is a fine cartridge and apparently the Texas DPS thinks quite highly of it......

But i am unaware of any other State police force issuing that round.........i honestly don't know the popularity of the round as not all major gun makers seem to carry it. I sort of view it as in the same boat as the 10mm. A cartridge for the "other" catagory.

Not bad-mouthing it in any way....but it might go the way of the 41 magnum eventually.....which is another cartridge i think highly of.

Sorry, only so many slots for the poll.........

Squirrel Assassin

It's all good. We have a few city's using it in NC. I love it!

dogboy

I'm pretty sure the Virginia State Police use the 357sig. Also, I think some cities in New Mexico, or perhaps the NM state police, adopted the 357sig very quickly.

I know it is one hot mutha, and despite some people saying that a +P+ 9mm is equal in speed, I have my doubts. You might be able to find one or two loadings that are, but I don't think it is consistently as hot as the 357sig.

Now I'm not a proponent necessarily of the 357sig; I don't even own one, and am not particularly interested. I prefer 9mm to it, as I believe I can shoot it better and keep it on target better. But if anyone can do just as well with the 357sig, then I think you'd be well served.

Your ears, on the other hand.....

Macx

That is a good distinction. I love my 9x18 because I am a Com Bloc fan & I love my .45 colt because it is so easy to shoot outta that Ruger Alaskan . . . but at the end of the day the .40 gets more carry.

dante1811

I have been carrying 9mm for a while now but am in the process of switching to .357 in my SP101.

ki4dmh

Awesome choice!!

bud411

Having been a shooter for most of my 50+ yrs., the smaller the weapon, the more capable the shooter should be for it to be effective. Any weapon has a tendency to provide a less experienced shooter a false sense of security & the smaller ones require above average abilities to hit the mark under stress. Having a firearm no more makes you a marksman than having a piano makes you a musician (quote from Jeff Cooper if I'm not mistaken).

Old Soldier

Redhawk chambered for 45 Colt at home. CCW is a S&W Model 60 with a 3" barrel.

NikatKimber

9mm Para here. I can carry my Glock 19 with 15+1 of 9mm and weighs less than my 3" GP100 unloaded. I carry my GP, and even my all steel 1911 at times, but I just can't beat the capacity to weight of the the Glock.

Quijibo

I went with .45 acp also. My primary carry pistol is a Taurus PT145 Mil Pro (Gen 3). I've had 2 of them, they seem to be the pistol I can't do without.
I carry my Kimber Ultra sometimes, and in the winter, I used to carry an SS Colt Commander (sold) now an XD45. There's something comforting about 14 rounds of 230gr xtp 45+p.

Once I get done personalizing my SP101, it will join the rest in carry duty.

Charlie Two Tracks

This is an interesting poll. I thought that the 9mm would be way ahead.

OldMac

I love my 357 but can conceal my LCP much easier. Therefore, the 380 goes everywhere and will likely be the weapon of choice in an emergency. Use what you got.

Ron

I prefer 357 mag.

mrray13

i carry my duty backup as my offduty primary, g23 in .40s&w. i also carry an extra mag and handcuffs off duty.

another carry option is a keltec p11, 9mm and once i get a better holster and some speedloaders, my sp101 will get worn. it's a .327 fed mag version, and with it's 3" barrel and hogue boot grips, it's about perfect.

Glen

9mm, Kahr CW9.

Thin, easy to carry, highly reliable and accurate.

firewire21

9mm, Federal Hydra-Shok JHP, Glock 26

EOC_Jason

I usually carry my S&W Model 60 with .357 140 gr JHP's. Sometimes I carry my Beretta 92FS 9mm which holds 15+1.

Raminator

My primary now is .357 magnum.
My close second is 9mm +P.

oldhunter

Primary---S&W 696 in .44 sp. Just love this gun
XD9--17 rounds of +P HP
Rossi .38 sp (rarely)
BUG------P-32 with FMJ--On occasion, this will be primary carry

BudE

I tend to agree with your surprise at not more 38 specials being in there. I carry one day in and day out because of its concealability. I've just retired my old S&W Model 38 and bought an LCR.

HeXeD775

I use an FN P40 as a primary & Bersa Thunder 380acp as 2ndary. Wait a minute...what the...Im on the wrong forum.

I have a KGP-161 as a present to myself...just 'cause.

jdrancher

I use an sp101 .357 - never feel like I need anything more.

sw-shooter

My preference is to carry a big bore personal defense gun. I carry a Glock 30SF daily and it out shoots my .22 target gun.

I've recently acquired a Ruger SP101 and it will be taking up the slack on those days that I want to feel lighter on my feet.

I don't think I'll be outgunned with either one.

rolyat63

Steyr MA1 in 40S&W

TNHillbilly

My primary carry piece is a taurus 24/7 compact - 10+1 w\ a 12rnd backup. other days and for my back up its a sp101 dao in 357.

RugerPride

After hearing several first hand stories of 9mm "failure to stop" stories, I up-cal'd to the .45 auto. Much to my surprise, in the real-world, when someone gets shot with a small caliber handgun like the 9mm, 9 times out of ten they don't just drop and die as seen in the movies. The aggressor keeps aggressing...a good .45 auto load and tactful shot placement is where I'll bank my dough. Then again the best gun to have in a situation is the one "you" have...no matter the caliber.

CATTLEDAWG

I'm sorry...I just don't buy into the whole 9mm failure to stop stories...shot placement is the key...but also, distance and the type of ammo has a whole lot to do with those urban myths...the cop stories you here about 9mm bouncing off of windsheilds and such are from fairly good distances and almost always with ball ammo...any body that thinks a 9mm won't do the job, stand 25 feet from your buddy and let him tap ya twice with a 9mm loaded with some Hornady Critical Defence...

amd6547

It all comes down to placement with handguns. Some have soaked up 45acp, others have dropped to one round of 25acp.
I voted 9mm in the poll, but I vary my carry...from 25acp to 357 mag, with a 380 or 9mm Makarov thrown in. My favorite pistol is the Browning HiPower, and it gets a lot of carry, thus my vote.

Amot43

I carry the SP101 with Corbon .357 but I'm looking for a LCR

Hughuno

The 340PD is super light and is loaded with 125 +P JHP .38SP.

The Walther usually "lives" in my car and has FMJ bullets in it. The Walther was "free" looks bad, shoots perfect. figured it it's stolen, I am out exactly nothing! LOL

Sushimoto

I'm going with the .45 ACP also. It has some definite stopping power.

ctaylorwy

I have had a progression base on training and required carry by agency. I now carry more base on requirements of how carrying and my ability with the gun, not the caliber. A lot of people have died by a 22.

ctkelly

In my house I generally keep my 1911 .45 nearby. When I actually carry outside of the house I rely on a .357 SIG in a 4" XD.

kallenhelm

I own more than one, the right gun for you is in the one you can shooot best not the caliber, I have one of each and can double tap into the heart at 10 yrds, i also allways shoot the rest of the mag at 25 yrds in the heart. allways.

the shooter counts. more that the size

sessumrd1

Primarily I carry the G27 concealed and loaded with 180gr Gold Dots. But at times I do return to the SP101 with 140 gr. .357. Both are great to shoot but don"t know which is better for a SD situation. Hope I never do...

PFCSLR

I guess I just like the 45, I loved my 9mm but the Glock 21 sorta grew onto my hip.

Ashman

Ruger SR9

Cloud

mine is a 9mm, though i plan on also carrying an LCR eventually.