What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?

[superdown]

 

[BobW]

Smallest I carry is a 380,  wife carries a 32

[DBHAWTHORNE]

My wife and I both carry 9mm but I would trust any gun vs. having no gun.

[jyerxa]

Nothing smaller than a 44 is my rule of thumb. 

44 special revolvers are really small and compact.

[muzzlebuck]

...

[headshot5]

I trust my .22's as long as I do my part and would not feel undergunned.  Of course there were times in AK, when a .44 mag seemed kinda small.   

[GrainfedMuley]

Nothing smaller than a 9mm. I have seen tests where a .380 will not even penetrate a thick coat. My personal fav is .45acp.

[blindpig]

.380

[Dhoey07]

.22mag, but i don't carry a sidearm around here. 

[Curly]

Heck a bb gun might do the trick with that type of bear escapement tactics........
 

[runamuk]

Heck a bb gun might do the trick with that type of bear escapement tactics........
 

[Thenewguy]

I trust a 9mm. Its more about where you place the bullet and what ammo you are shooting. Although, I normally carry a .44 mag in the woods

[Camp David]

You get to look down the barrel of a 12 gauge when you break into my house......on the street my colt 357.

[Caseyd]

Nothing smaller than a 9mm. I have seen tests where a .380 will not even penetrate a thick coat. My personal fav is .45acp.

 

Im sure I can find a test that shows .380 shooting better then a 9mm.

Its all in the ammo 

[npaull]

Way, way, way more likely to kill yourself, hurt yourself, or shoot someone you don't want to with a sidearm... when I bowhunt, it's me, my bow and my knife. Not going to be a popular sentiment, but that's the way it is...