Top 6 Best Handgun Calibers For Concerned Carry

Today we’re going to be covering Different Calibers for Concealed Carry. When it comes to choosing the best caliber for concealed self-defense purposes there are 3 things to keep in mind: One, stopping power. Number two, round count. Number three firearm size. 

The general rule of thumb is to carry as much gun as you can to effectively conceal daily and handle efficiently in a defensive situation. Pick a caliber you’re comfortable with and shoot often. 

That being said, these are some of the most common calibers used for concealed carry. 

Starting off we have the .22 LR. Now the .22 is a little bit small as far as concealed carry goes, but it shouldn’t be ruled out as an effective caliber for self-defense. The .22 excels in usability due to its lack of recoil allowing greater accuracy on follow-up shots. .22 ammo is cheap, which generally encourages people to shoot more often, improving their gun handling skills. An accurate shot is a deadly shot. 

Next, we have the .380 ACP. 380 ACP is an excellent caliber to carry due to its concealability. The best handgun to have is the one you can carry every day. Typically, handguns firing the .380 are smaller in size and able to hold a few more rounds. The trade-off is that this caliber can lack a bit in stopping power. However, with accurate shot placement, the .380 is a successful self-defense firearm. 

Next, We have 9mm. The 9mm is generally considered the weapon of choice for law enforcement agencies and concealed carriers for a good reason. Firearms in this caliber tend to hold more rounds than their larger-caliber counterparts and recoil is usually very minimal. The 9mm offers a healthy balance of both stopping power and usability as well as the added benefit of an almost endless amount of handgun options to choose from. Ammunition for 9mm handguns is both readily available and offered at a decent price. 

Now we’re onto the .38 Special. .38Special is a great choice for concealed carriers interested in revolvers. Guns of this caliber tend to be lower in capacity, usually between five and seven rounds. .38 Special ammunition can be found just about anywhere and comes at a reasonable price. 

Here we have the .40S&W. The .40 is a highly accepted caliber for concealed carry. The .40 typically has more stopping power than the 9mm, but the tradeoff is a little bit more recoil. Nearly every gun manufacturer produces a handgun in this caliber so you should have no problem finding a firearm that meets your needs. Ammunition for the .40 is pretty easy to come by but tends to be slightly more expensive than the 9mm ammo. 

And finally, we have the .45 ACP. The .45 ACP is one of the most powerful cartridges available for concealed carry. It provides an adequate amount of stopping power as well as a mid to high level of recoil. 

Handguns In this caliber tend to hold fewer rounds than 9mm or .40 and can be a little bit bulkier. Like the other calibers listed, ammunition for the .45 ACP tends to be readily available but is more expensive than either the 9mm or .40.

 

Always remember, a gun is just a tool or piece of equipment that’s only as efficient as the person who pulls the trigger. The ability to respond appropriately under stress with both accurate shot placement as well as fast follow-up shots will have a much larger impact on your ability to defend yourself than the caliber of your handgun.