Whats the LARGEST caliber you would carry for self defense?

Largest caliber for two-legged animals: .45ACP or .357 magnum.


Largest caliber for four-legged animals: .45ACP or .357 magnum.


Aint no grizzly's or moose in these parts.
 
The largest I would carry is 45 ACP, only because I'm comfortable shooting it and I know I can shoot it well. For me, it's a matter of confidence.
 
Falcon642

Whats the LARGEST caliber you would carry for self defense?

For me

Human self defense - .40 or .45 in an auto, .38 +p or .357 for revolver. Anything bigger than that and I feel you give up too much in terms of pistol size, recoil, and rate of fire. (Sorry 10mm fans )
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The difference between a 1911 in .45 ACP and 10mm Auto in size is zero. The difference in rate of fire is nil if you are willing to train.
I have been carrying either a Colt Delta Elite or a Dan Wesson CBOB (both 10mm Auto) for the last 25 years on a daily basis.
I earned an Expert certificate for the Gunsite 499 class with the Delta Elite shooting about 1200 handloads that launched a 155 FMJ bullet at about 1350 fps.
 
9mm and .45APC or 12 gauge slugs for me:)

I agree with what most have said here. I own a 9mm, which is the HD/CC 2-legged shooter. Here in the People's Republic of California, you can actually CC a .44 mag, but how the heck do you conceal a gun that large? I would carry a .44 mag when in the woods but do not own one, and thus bring my 45. If I'm hunting with my 12 or 20 gauge (say for rabbits or quail), I carry a few slugs and 00buck in case I run into anything bigger that might mess with me.*
 
I'll echo those who opted for the .45 ACP (bad guys) and the .44 Magnum (bad animals). Those are the calibers/cartridges I, in fact, carry when in bear country (Ruger Redhawk chambered in .44 Magnum) or in barbarian country (SIG 220 Carry chambered in .45 ACP).
 
Just out of curiosity, what is the consensus as to how:

a) .45 would be against an angry bear.

b) Same question; .357
 
I carry a SP101 in pocket carry daily for protection against a two legged attacker. I like the fact it has a bit more mass to control recoil than the lightweight scandium models. A bit heavy, but works just fine for me.

For woods carry, I have my Ruger SRH in 7.5 inch, .44 magnum. I almost bought the same gun in .454 but after shooting it, my hand was numb for 5 minutes. I certainly could shoot the sucker if needed which I do one hand exclusively due to a medical condition, but it just wasn't any fun to shoot that sucker. The .44 magnum is easily controlled and can get some very high powered loads that have taken out grizzly bear.

If I am out in the deep woods, I take my .444 Marlin. Once again, I am a bit limited to the minimal recoil due to my medical condition and the .444 gets the job done, just a bit below the 45/70. .444 is also much higher power than the .500 hand gun and all for a recoil in my set up of a 20 ga shotgun. If you are going to speak of real woods protection, it comes in the form of a rifle not a handgun.

That is enough for me.
 
Normal Carry - S&W Model 64 - 38 Caliber with 38 spec +p

In woods and Field - S&W Model 686- Plus 357 Mag. 6” Barrel
 
The largest I've carried is a 44 mag. in bear country. But for the two legged kind 45 auto or 45 colt top of that list. 38 spl. or ultra small 9m/m more common now that I'm retired and tend to not go into "indian country" any more.
 
4 inch 500 mag

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I'm with Falcon642:
Human self defense - .40 or .45 in an auto, .38 +p+ or .357 for revolver. Anything bigger than that and I feel you give up too much in terms of pistol size, recoil, and rate of fire. (Sorry 10mm fans )

Animal self defense - .44 magnum. I've shot .454's, .460's, and .500's and for each of those I almost get off 2 shots of .44 mag to every one shot I can get off with those calibers. If I have a moose or a grizzly charging me, I"d rather get two shots with a powerful caliber, than 1 shot of a uber powerful caliber.
 
I carry .44 magnum in the mountains/rural environments and .44 Special in city/urban environments, as the largest caliber (S&W 329PD).
 
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