What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?

[Button Nubbs]

I don't give a shi+ what you shoot me with, I'm probably gonna be on the floor cryin like a little bi+ch.

That said I like my millimeters. 9 and 10 to be exact.

[Thenewguy]

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...

yet somehow safe gun owners manage to do it every day. The knife looks really cool but won't do much if a bear takes a swipe at you.

[mrmoskillz]

Protect against what?  People my 17" guns (just a guess dont know how big they really are)will do the trick most of the time but in the bear woods I have a .40 but just bought a 357 I'll take this year.  I think a 22 wld work just fine on people.  I know I would rather be shot by a 357 than a 22

[pianoman9701]

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

  for thick coats and tweekers.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I don't give a shi+ what you shoot me with, I'm probably gonna be on the floor cryin like a little bi+ch.

That said I like my millimeters. 9 and 10 to be exact.

Yep.. Those are exactly what I carry.

[Mongo Hunter]

I would prefer nothing under a .380 but I would rather have a .22 than nothing. I noramly carry a S&W J frame in .38spl with 110gr +P Corbon DPX's. But I do like my .45's

[Alchase]

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...

Really?

Kind of silly bringing a knife to a gun fight don't you think, lol

[Alchase]

The smallest caliber I will carry is a .40,

But seriously the best caliber for defence is the one you have in your hand at that moment, lol

[Kowsrule30]

My .40!!!!  I'd only have to shoot them in the toe!!!!     

[jeepster]

im not worried about critters here in washington, its the tweakers and weirdos that you encounter at the end of logging roads that have me concerned. with that said, if im going into the woods i always carry my 12 gauge, my AK (if its not hunting season), or my winchester 94 in 30/30 depending what mood i am in when i leave the house. i am eyeballing a nice ruger single six as a sidearm(22mag), or a blackhawk in anything magnum




i carry because i dont ever want to hear banjos, get hog tied, or told i have a purdy mouth

but then again a gun is 400-1000$....wasp killer is 3 bucks....

[Mike450r]

Protect against what?  People my 17" guns (just a guess dont know how big they really are)will do the trick most of the time but in the bear woods I have a .40 but just bought a 357 I'll take this year.  I think a 22 wld work just fine on people.  I know I would rather be shot by a 357 than a 22

Please explain why you would rather be shot by a .357 than a .22 (I am making the presumption of .357 magnum -vs- .22 LR)?   

Is it because you would rather die faster? 

Would you rather be less likely to sustain a survivable gunshot wound?

The .357 magnum is a man killing round of the first order, while the .22 can be lethal enough there is no way I would rather be shot by .357 than a .22

[mrmoskillz]

Protect against what?  People my 17" guns (just a guess dont know how big they really are)will do the trick most of the time but in the bear woods I have a .40 but just bought a 357 I'll take this year.  I think a 22 wld work just fine on people.  I know I would rather be shot by a 357 than a 22

Please explain why you would rather be shot by a .357 than a .22 (I am making the presumption of .357 magnum -vs- .22 LR)?   

Is it because you would rather die faster? 

Would you rather be less likely to sustain a survivable gunshot wound?

The .357 magnum is a man killing round of the first order, while the .22 can be lethal enough there is no way I would rather be shot by .357 than a .22

Yes 357 because if I get shot I want it to be done and over with. Same reason I dont want to be shot by a broadhead I mean who wants to suffer?  I also heard a 22 bounces around in you and you die a slow painfull death...dont know for sure as i have never been shot.

[JimmyHoffa]

.22 can be variable.  A friend's grandpa got shot by some little punk in the chest with a .22 LR rifle.  The bullet stopped in the ribs and his grandpa took the rifle from the dude and beat him to death with it.
Another guy I know in Port Angeles (before he turned into a tweeker) tried to rip off his dealer in town and got shot with a .22 in the mouth.  It shattered his teeth but the bullet deflected and exited his cheek.

The smallest I'd trust is the HK 4.6x30. 

[BobW]

I should clarify, I took this to be conceled carry. 380 in the summer otherwise 40 S&W

[MP123]

9 is about the smallest I carry but I like my 45 better.  Anything's better than nothing though.  That new FN 5.7 is a pretty nasty round too from what I hear.