Whats the LARGEST caliber you would carry for self defense?

Discoracing that 500 looks a lot like mine but mine has a 4" barrel not a 5".

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Depends on the mission or circumstances of carry

In urban concealed carry situations I prefer a compact .40SW my favorites being a Kahr MK-40. Yeah a bit heavy for a small gun, but you'll never forget that it's there.

When hiking I carry Kimber compact .45

In grizzly country having a large caliber revolver such as S&W 500S is a must and my fav. It's a handful to be sure but comforting to have in large predator territory.

Oh, and let me add, I also carry "bear spray" and if the situation permitted I'd hope to use it first. But you never know. I've never been charged by a grizzly, but by brown bears several times and it will get your heart racing.
 
Just out of curiosity, what is the consensus as to how:

a) .45 would be against an angry bear.

b) Same question; .357
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I'd say it depends on the type of bear. For black bears, there's usually nothing to worry about, but I feel comfortable with my .357, and would with a .45 as well. The ones around here are huge at 400 pounds. they don't tend to get enormous. Most of them are in the 250 range. They are also very skittish. If I were in an area like Chama, up north, I'd like something bigger. There are more bears and they are bigger bears. If I were in Alaska, I'd just worry about ticking one off.
 
For the concrete jungle I prefer .45 ACP. For the woods I prefer 10mm for up to black bear. I prefer to stay out of grizzly country, but if I had to, I'd want my .44 mag Redhawk as backup to my Mossberg 930 SPX with slugs, or better yet, my FAL.
 
Echoing what many have said....

For self defense against a human, I would carry a .45acp/10mm. However, I feel that even hot .9mm or .40 s&w will suffice. Shot placement is key.

For defense against an animal of greater size, DEFINITELY a .44mag. If I had the chance to carry a guide gun, then a .45-70 lever action.


Again, I'll stress this...shot placement is key.
 
I've carried a S&W 629 openly - ostensibly for four-legged critters, but I reckon it'd do for the two-legged variety.

More commonly, I carry a .40 or a .45 for self defense, .38 special if I'm being discreet. I've got 9 mm handguns, but don't carry them.
 
Whatever I could comfortably conceal. In the winter I usually carry my 1911 or PT-92.

Summer (HELL-TIME this year), I will carry anything from my KT P-11 to my Beretta 21 Bobcat .22lr pistol.

For me, the bigger the better provided it can be concealed.

-Cheers
 
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