380 or 9m

[sportsman]

Hi i am looking for a carry gun pocket pistol thinking the kahr cm9 or the tourus 380. like the size of the 380 but not sure about that round for self defense. and the kahr is only about 4 ounces more in weight. what do you guys think

[stormvet]

9mm

[Bug Splat]

9mm.

I own a 380 bersa and its a fine gun and the 380 has some pop but its only slightly smaller than 9mm but the energy is less and it costs twice as much.

[AJD]

9MM without question. It's still pretty much the cheapest centerfire cartridge around too. Also, if you're really looking for pocket carry, don't overlook .38 snubbies.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19914

Many small, easily concealed semi-automatic pistols which are recommended for law enforcement backup or concealed carry use fire .380 ACP or smaller bullets. While these small caliber handgun bullets can produce fatal wounds,they are less likely to produce the rapid incapacitation necessary in law enforcement or self-defense situations.

Handguns chambered in .380 ACP are small, compact, and generally easy to carry. Unfortunately, testing has shown that they offer inadequate performance for self-defense and for law enforcement use whether on duty as a back-up weapon or for off duty carry. The terminal performance of .380 ACP JHP's is often erratic, with inadequate penetration and inconsistent expansion being common problems, while .380 ACP FMJ's offer adequate penetration, but no expansion. All of the .380 ACP JHP loads we have tested, including CorBon, Hornady, Federal, Remington, Speer, and Winchester exhibited inconsistent, unacceptable terminal performance for law enforcement back-up and off duty self-defense use due to inadequate penetration or inadequate expansion. Stick with FMJ for .380 ACP or better yet, don't use it at all. The use of .380 ACP and smaller caliber weapons is really not recommended for LE use and many savvy agencies prohibit them.

[bsg]

if looking for a subcompact semi auto... consider the G26.

[InGrAM]

Go for 9mm. You can get a pocket 9 that is just as small or smaller than your average .380 pistol. NTM, the cost of .380 is outrageous.

[chrisf]

9mm without question.

[chrisf]

LC9 is a good pocket sized handgun not sure if it is on the roster though.......

[Oceanbob]

9. only

[223556]

9mm

[jswr450]

9mm is better and 380 is a lot better than nothing.

[resident-shooter]

.380. Less kick in a small peestl

[paul0660]

.380. Less kick in a small peestl

Maybe. Most agree that blowback designs transfer more recoil energy than locked breech systems.

[SouperMan]

I'd prefer a 9MM, but a .380ACP is better than the 9MM left at home

[Ranger20]

That Kahr is a good choice.. Do shoot a few hundred or what ever the MFG rec. to ensure good functioning.. of the 2 kahrs I've had A p9 and P45 never an issue with either pistol in fuction or workmanship. Just one of many choices.. Cargo pants with big pockets work well..