Which would you prefer in a subcompact pistol? I suppose the main advantages of getting a 380 subcompact pistol is its concealability. You can easily carry it in your front or back pocket with a pocket holster and still be pretty comfortable with the pistol not being noticeable at all. I'd personally have to go with a 9mm - The ammo is cheaper, a 9mm subcompact isn't that much larger than a 380, and it's got a little more stopping power, and it's maybe a little more accurate as well.

Two subcompacts I've been looking at are the Ruger LC9 and LCP. One aspect I don't really like about the LCP is it doesn't have a safety like the 9. Still, both are nice pistols. The 9mm definitely has a much better feel to. Anyone out there own either of those two pistols?

Definitely 9mm, aside from better impact, the weight is sooo important in an emergency when aim is of the utmost importance.
There is nothing more unwieldy than a light weapon in the hand, the weight helps correct this by steadying the hand.
A longer barrel, if you can deal with it helps a lot as well.

This is why I went with the 12 ga,    my aim isn't what it used to be, which is also why I quit packing, it's a huge responsibility.

Quote from: Solar on September 23, 2013, 02:38:28 PM
Definitely 9mm, aside from better impact, the weight is sooo important in an emergency when aim is of the utmost importance.
There is nothing more unwieldy than a light weapon in the hand, the weight helps correct this by steadying the hand.
A longer barrel, if you can deal with it helps a lot as well.

This is why I went with the 12 ga,    my aim isn't what it used to be, which is also why I quit packing, it's a huge responsibility.

Why not just conceal carry the 12 gauge? Problem solved.

No but seriously, you're right, it is a big responsibility. Just out of curiosity - has anyone here ever been in a situation where carrying has saved you from being harmed?

Quote from: JTA on September 23, 2013, 04:12:20 PM
Why not just conceal carry the 12 gauge? Problem solved.

No but seriously, you're right, it is a big responsibility. Just out of curiosity - has anyone here ever been in a situation where carrying has saved you from being harmed?

I have a 9mm Glock 19, my wife has a .357 Colt Python/magnum.  Let just say there has been times when we both have felt a lot safer.  But then I was in law enforcement for 5 years and my wife was in for 20+ years.

Quote from: JTA on September 23, 2013, 04:12:20 PM
Why not just conceal carry the 12 gauge? Problem solved.

No but seriously, you're right, it is a big responsibility. Just out of curiosity - has anyone here ever been in a situation where carrying has saved you from being harmed?

Once, in Martinez Ca, passing through for a family reunion, getting gas with my dad and some drunk Mexicans pulled up and started giving me shit.
I told them I'm the last guy on earth they wanted to screw with, and one said you gonna take us all on? I said I only need to take out the slow one, three approached and I said take another step, and I will consider my life threatened, with that they took one step, I pulled out my crappy 38, set bead on the guy in front and they couldn't even get the car doors closed and were gone in 2 seconds.

Yes, I'd have hit all three with that piece of crap with two rounds left.

I learned long ago, don't pull it ever, unless you are certain you can handle the consequences that follow, from court, to the fact you took a life, something I'm glad I've never ever done.
That's the serious responsibility part, that and the people in the back ground if you miss, and you will miss, I guarantee it.
I was in a fire fight in the mid 70s, 4 out of seven rounds landed.

Carry what you're comfortable with. Carry what you're proficient with. Carry what you KNOW how to use.

Caliber isn't the issue, never has been. The question that has to be asked is this: are you willing to take the life of another human? If you're not, no matter what the circumstances, then you have no business carrying anything at all.

I read a news story just the other day that described an attacker who was put down for good with three quick shots to the chest from a .22 pistol. THAT is what was needed in THAT situation with THAT weapon at hand.

I've carried everything from a little Jennings .22 to a Smith & Wesson Model 57, a three-pound .41 Magnum beast.

The point is, know what you have and know how and when to use it. A friggin' BB gun will put a man on the ground IF YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

In California, where I wasn't an actor or a politician so I had no way to get a concealed carry permit; I relied on my dangerous aspect, which only works if the other guys aren't serious . One evening(past midnight) La Barca closed and the illegal invaders who had been payed (Friday) were on their way home and two in an old chevy station wagon stopped two others across the street and began to smash their sculls with a chevy tire jack. The screen door let in the sound of jack on brain case and I looked out to see. I told my wife to call the police and I took a six foot staff tipped with a Solingen bowie twelve inch blade(it was Cali, couldn't go out with my Desert Eagle or my Taurus PT-92) off the wall where it hung with my bow, shield, and sword, and I went to stop the carnage. Across the street the parking lot of the diesel repair yard was the scene, a tall immigrant was laying in a yard wide puddle of blood from his head and a short, stout peon was straddling a skinny guy and pounding him. His partner, a five foot three drunk, was holding the jack waiting to apply the coup de gras. I motioned to the jacker to drop his weapon, I actually had to point to the point on my spear to make the point, and he complied and walked over to his car to stand. The hearty on the second victim didn't even know some huero with a spear was standing just behind him so I tapped him on the shoulder and showed him my wall ornament and he had the good sense to go over and stand by his bud. Then the Ontario police cruiser showed up and the first act of the officer was to make me drop my toy, and the short stout invader took the opportunity to run east on the sidewalk and disappear up the drive in the trailer park. Three or four cars and a helicopter, one motorcycle, and a fire truck all showed up and every officer who walked across the grass by the sidewalk where my bladed staff lay did a doubletake, just like in a movie. At the end, the three (yes, the bloody puddle body lived) Friday night brawlers were driven away lined up in the back seat of the same cruiser, as if they were good old friends. The Sargeant on scene told the tall muscular long haired bare foot shirtless shorts wearing spear chucker to take his "pruning tool" home and I went back across to my freehold. The only problem with carrying a spear is the lack of concealability.

I own the before mentioned LCP. It shoots like butter in the hand and right to point of aim at fifteen yards. There is no kick to worry about and it hides easy. but I carry whatever pistol or revolver I decide to take out of the safes for that week or two. I prefer .44 special and .45ACP, but will carry .38 special, .380ACP, 9mm, .357 Sig, .327 Fed Mag, .357 Mag, .22 Mag, .22lr, even .25ACP or .44 Mag, whatever comes to hand and is concealable in the weather. What matters is can you shoot it if you must, and do you avoid obvious trouble and keep aware of the surround.

9 mm, without a doubt.  I'd hate to be shot with a .380 ACP, but I'd much rather not be shot with a 9 mm.  In terms of "kick" and controllability, the 9 mm barely registers much more than the .380 and packs much more of a wallop.  The .380 is small enough that you can get a carry gun in a small, "cute" package, but that's really its only advantage over the 9 mm.  Still, you can get a very carryable 9mm. 

I was going for a carry semi-auto I'd go for something in .40 SW or .45 ACP. 

However, I really like old fashioned revolvers for self defense use.  So simple, you're not going to forget to flip off the safety in a high stress situation, no jams, just point and squeeze.

Quote from: TboneAgain on September 30, 2013, 11:47:27 AM
Carry what you're comfortable with. Carry what you're proficient with. Carry what you KNOW how to use.

Caliber isn't the issue, never has been. The question that has to be asked is this: are you willing to take the life of another human? If you're not, no matter what the circumstances, then you have no business carrying anything at all."

Now, that is solid advice.

Is anyone else having trouble finding 9mm rounds?

Quote from: TboneAgain on September 30, 2013, 11:47:27 AM
Carry what you're comfortable with. Carry what you're proficient with. Carry what you KNOW how to use.

Caliber isn't the issue, never has been. The question that has to be asked is this: are you willing to take the life of another human? If you're not, no matter what the circumstances, then you have no business carrying anything at all.

I read a news story just the other day that described an attacker who was put down for good with three quick shots to the chest from a .22 pistol. THAT is what was needed in THAT situation with THAT weapon at hand.

I've carried everything from a little Jennings .22 to a Smith & Wesson Model 57, a three-pound .41 Magnum beast.

The point is, know what you have and know how and when to use it. A friggin' BB gun will put a man on the ground IF YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

Even a 25...

This is a story of self control and marksmanship with an itsy bitsy shooter by a woman against a fierce predator.

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?   The Beretta Jetfire:

While out hiking in Alberta Canada with my husband we were surprised by a huge grizzly bear charging from out of nowhere.

She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire with me, I might not be here today!

Just one shot to my husband's knee cap was all it took -

the bear got him -

and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.

It's one of the best pistols in my collection.

How about a Pistolet Samozaryadny Malogabaritny.

http://warfare.be/db/catid/277/linkid/1836/title/psm/

Quote from: Solar on December 14, 2013, 03:43:50 PM
Even a 25...

This is a story of self control and marksmanship with an itsy bitsy shooter by a woman against a fierce predator.

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?   The Beretta Jetfire:

While out hiking in Alberta Canada with my husband we were surprised by a huge grizzly bear charging from out of nowhere.

She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire with me, I might not be here today!

Just one shot to my husband's knee cap was all it took -

the bear got him -

and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.

It's one of the best pistols in my collection.

That's hilarious.  You had me going right up to the end.   

Quote from: Solar on December 14, 2013, 03:43:50 PM
Even a 25...

This is a story of self control and marksmanship with an itsy bitsy shooter by a woman against a fierce predator.

What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?   The Beretta Jetfire:

While out hiking in Alberta Canada with my husband we were surprised by a huge grizzly bear charging from out of nowhere.

She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire with me, I might not be here today!

Just one shot to my husband's knee cap was all it took -

the bear got him -

and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.

It's one of the best pistols in my collection.

Funny stuff! Reminds me of the old 'putting on tennis shoes' joke.