Best Personal Carry Side Arm?
 

I know, its a tired question and its prolly be asked repeatedly but...if you were to only buy one side arm for personal protection what would it be and why?

Duh.

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Rossi Ranch Hand in 44Mag. It will take down a bear and is legal to carry in Canada.

327 TRR8

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One weapon for all around PD duty?
I'd probably do something along the lines of a P226, registered as an SBR with an ACP/stock and MRDS.

Pop it out of the ACP for on person carry and slap it back in at all other times.

Walther P99 in 9mm.

Best pistol I have ever shot. It's been flawlessly reliable and I am deadly accurate with it. Love it Love it Love it.

9mm ammo is everywhere, cheap to practice (relatively) and still an effective personal defense caliber given correct ammunition choice.

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+1. Maybe even +8. :D

Cop BIL told me the biggest caliber that you will actually carry.

just bought a S&W M&P Shield in .40 A little thicker than I would like, but its a hand cannon. His point was a .380 or 9mm is nice but it doesn't have the stopping power of a .40. He said "would you rather empty a magazine with a .380 or a 9 on someone and they aren't down or would you prefer to have used a .40 and he's down and you still have most of your rounds in case you need them?"

M&P Shield

Side arm - you mean handgun?

If not, then a rifle.

If yes, then do you mean for concealed carry, or just holster carry?

If the former, see the other thread going on now.
If the latter, then something 9 mm or larger, that fits your hand and that you can shoot accurately. Dozens of pistol and revolver models will work.

Too big, bulky and heavy and you are not going to carry it.

While we're dreaming ;)

If I could carry anything it would be this.

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Never leaves my side... I have several...
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I agree with Bill, something light! The best one is the one that you have when you need it, not the big honking, pretty, sparkly conversation piece you left at home or in the car:) Mine are nothing to look at and they've had a ton of rounds fired through them. Stay safe!

HK P30 in 9mm. (Note: it is also available in .40 caliber) I'm a lefty and this spoon is completely ambidextrous making it simple when using either hand.

And more importantly it is utterly reliable.

It is a little bulky but in NJ it is pretty much impossible to obtain a ccw for civilians without providing justifiable need (you have to essentially prove you've been killed multiple times before they give it to you).

Sure there are smaller, sexier spoons, and spoons that have more wallop, but the caliber of the spoon matters very little if it can't leave the barrel for some reason...

Here in Fl it is hard, what you can conceal depends greatly on what kind of clothes you are wearing.

Only one, I'd go with a small 357 revolver like a Ruger SP101. Or a small 9mm like the Kahr offerings.

The few times I've felt the need to carry I've just had a really small 22 behind my wallet (Phoenix HP 22) OR I've been in the woods and just carried a full size 1911 .... and usually a rifle or shotgun with it.

IMO... If your going to carry you must carry the best you can afford and learn how to use it.

That means going to the range and practising often. I mean, what good is it if you can't hit the side of a barn?

And like a lot of things if there is a side arm your really want but can't afford right now find a way to either get the money or wait until you have it. Don't compromise.
I think you're always better off owning exactly what you want.

That may sound all very dramatic from someone who doesn't/can't carry but I can't think of many things more serious than carrying a fire arm.

Carry gun.........
 

1. Compact and light weight. Otherwise it will get left at home or in the car too often!
2. Caliber. Lots of discussion on this one, but a .32 that you can repeatedly hit with is better than a big bore magnum that causes you to flinch.
3. Quality. You are betting your life on a mechanical device. Not a place to cut corners!
4. Practice. The more you shoot, the better you should become. If you are not doing well on the range, get some instructor help.
5. Holster. How are you going to carry? On the hip, small of back, crossdraw, shoulder holster, ankle holster, etc. Best thing to do is try them all and stick with what feels right. Depending on location, clothing to cover the weapon can be a problem. If it is hot weather and not appropriate for a coat or overshirt, use something that will fit in a pocket.

Catch 22

Small, lightweight , and easily hid also has little knockdown power and short barrels don't help. Larger caliber means harder to hide,heavy,and longer barrel as well but knockdown.

I carry a Springfield XD 40 cal w/hollowpoints. Shells fly out of the gun and with correct practice deadly accurate. Used to carry a Colt Commander but went hammerless w/XD

Where you carry is equally important. I do at the base of my back at beltline and usually wear a sport coat. Weird thing is my job will not permit me to carry while working but if I worked as a similar position in VA rather than PA I'd be required to carry a sidearm? Weird world

I would buy a firearm to match my needs. If I'm living rural in big bear country it sure wouldn't be a .380. Likewise, in an urban area I wouldn't try to conceal a Freedom Arms in .454 for protection. Either way I'd spend a good deal of time learning to shoot what I carry.