Hello,

Apologies in advance for the caliber related question. I looked for these two questions, but did not find them in my search results.

I was wondering how many of you felt comfortable that 9mm was a sufficiently potent caliber for EDC.

I've looked at ballistics by the inch for 9mm, but the speeds listed did not mean a lot to me.

What's the minimum acceptable velocity for reliable 9mm performance?

Question:
Would you carry a 9mm pistol for your concealed EDC?

Choices:
Yes, 9mm will do the job just fine for two-legged creatures
Yes, I would even be comfortable going down to .380 if need be
No, I would carry a .45 ACP
No, I would carry a .357 Sig

Question:
If you would carry a 9mm, what is the shortest length barrel you would be willing to go down to? (in regards to velocity and terminal effectiveness)

Choices:
5 inches (avg. velocity 1233)
4.5 inches (avg. velocity 1204)
4 inches (avg. velocity 1174)
3.5 inches (avg. velocity 1140)
3 inches (avg. velocity 1105)
I would feel well armed with a 9mm pistol at any barrel length

 

9mm works for defense. I do carry a .357 Sig. I also carry 9mm.

Barrel length is what fits your needs. Three inches is probably about as short as one would want to go with 9mm. I carry a P365 quite a bit; it's got a 3.1" barrel. My G43 and 43X and G26's have 3.4" barrels.

Length doesn't matter that much; it's about shot placement, and that's about training, rather than length, sight radius, or anything else.

If you're in a gunfight, the ONLY thing that will matter is shot placement, and if you're stopping a threat, repeat shot placement in time. What's going to allow you to maintain the best control over that pistol and put as many rounds as needed in the target as quickly as possible? Probably 9mm, and if it's from a short barrel, it won't matter, and the target won't care. Or know.

9mm is going to be a lot less expensive to train with, especially if you train enough. That determines shot placement.

3.1" and whatever it spits out.

As much sight radius as one can comfortably conceal. It's not just easier, it's faster and more precise with less effort. 3.5" seems short to me, but I can work with it.

There have been occasions when all I could comfortably conceal was a NAA .22 Revolver and felt better served than without it. I've carried a P229 in .357 Sig in the past, and now almost 100% it's a P365.

Years back I chroned several 320's of various barrel lengths. Same ammo, same conditions, same day. The differences in MV was insignificant in the 9mm.

I currently run a hellcat with a 3 inch barrel and thats just fine. Plenty of people run 365s as well with no issues. I've seen 9mm open up out of barrels that short as long as the ammo is designed for something short.

Velocity loss is significant, as barrel length reduces. Energy loss is also equally significant.

Rounds expanding is largely irrelevant; there's a mythology that energy is somehow delivered to the target by expanding and stopping (and thus increases "stopping power"), or that expanding tears a bigger hole; whether the round expands or not isn't a big deal. Whether the round penetrates IS a big deal, and whether it goes where you intend it to go is everything. Shot placement is everything.

I'm fine with my Glock 26 and HST 147gr.

I'm good with the barrel length in my Shield 9mm. I plan to pick up a 365 if they are ever available again.

But the weather is getting cooler so soon I'll be wearing enough clothes to conceal a 228 or my gen 5 Glock 19.

To me, caliber is not my main concern with a EDC gun, PROFICIENCY with the gun I carry is my main concern.
I'm carrying the gun to protect myself and others from grave bodily harm or death, my responsibility is to NOT harm others in the process.
I will only carry a gun I KNOW I can shoot accurately and present it quickly. I also ALWAYS carry a spare magazine in case of a malfunction.
I also limit my carry weapon to a gun I shoot frequently, so there is a very small short list.
I carry a full size CZ Shadow SPO1 when ever I can dress to the gun. If not possible, I carry a Kahr CM45. I always go for a Outside holster if at all possible.
A short barrel anything is my last choice.

I never shot that well with the compacts or sub compacts. I carry a standard size FNP 4"barrel in 9mm when I do carry. If I print a little bit so what? I recently picked up a CZ PO7 which is slightly smaller and has the same round capacity as the FNP. I haven't shot it enough to know if I want to carry it. But I do shoot that FN well so the CZ will have it's work cut out for it if it wants to replace the FN.

quote:

Originally posted by jbn8705:
Hello,

Apologies in advance for the caliber related question. I looked for these two questions, but did not find them in my search results.

I was wondering how many of you felt comfortable that 9mm was a sufficiently potent caliber for EDC.

I've looked at ballistics by the inch for 9mm, but the speeds listed did not mean a lot to me.

What's the minimum acceptable velocity for reliable 9mm performance?

Are you serious about that "wondering"? Countless folks carry the nine everyday.

Btw, what the heck are doing in Taiwan, where civilian possession of handguns is prohibited?

I feel more comfortable with a 9mm out of a 3" barrel than I do a 45 out of a 3" barrel (but then I feel more comfortable with 9mm in general anyway).

Thanks to everybody for taking the time to respond. This was the info I was looking for.

For a bit I carried a Kimber 3 inch 1911 and was sort of happy with a 6+1 capacity but now am way happier with a 10 ounce lighter gun in my Shield with an 8+1 capacity in 9mm.

Obviously (or not), ammo has a lot to do with the selection. I'm very confident in my G19's capabilities with the right ammo. Also, I carry a Kimber Micro-380 on occasion and have no doubts that my defense ammo will do the job!