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The Annoyed Man wrote:I have two pocket sized guns that I carry occasionally. One is a 9mm. The other is a .357 magnum. Both are calibers that will get the job done. But my two primary carry guns are both .45 ACP pistols, as are the two other large framed pistols that I occasionally carry. So no, I don't feel like I need to revisit caliber. If you tag someone in the vitals with a good +P 9mm, they're going to be hit pretty much as hard as if they'd been shot with a .40 or a .45. And .357 magnums have accounted for an awful lot of 1 shot stops over the years. But I absolutely will not carry a .380 or some smaller caliber.

To me, the issue isn't caliber so much as capacity. My EDC is a CW45, and while it isn't a 3" 1911, it has the same limitation as a 3" 1911.......capacity. I don't plan on getting into a running gun battle. Not ever. But, men make plans, and God directs their path, as the Good Book says. The whole reason I recently acquired a XDm 45 Compact is that it has a higher capacity than my Kahr without the bulk of a full-sized gun. My CW45 remains my primary EDC simply because it is smaller and lighter and easier to carry, but I have begun carrying the XDm precisely when I am placing myself into situations (like movie theaters) where rapid egress may not be as easily accomplished and the tactical situation may be more confusing or confining. The XDm also has an excellent set of night sights on it. But when I'm driving around, I don't worry about that so much. My SUV is a much more potent weapon than any pistol if capacity is an issue, and I can use it to di-di mau out of there.