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Need advice on choice of small carry pistol for self-defense

I have only had 3 occasions to pull my weapon and all 3 were due to aggresive dogs. In all 3 occasions I didn't fire because the situation didn't require it. In the last scene the dog was at my wife's feet [ she had scooped up our Scottie ] and my weapon was within a foot of the dogs body. If he had crouched to lunge I would have fired. The dog instead went back into his own yard and we continued our walk.

If you ever pull the trigger your life is going to be complicated for a while. You have to be left with no choice.

In the last scene I was dressed in a tee shirt and Dickies work shorts, hat and shoes. Not much space to conceal carry something that really requires a holster. KelTec P11 9mm in the pocket, S&W 12 round mag so I have a full grip. It's always there. Light enough to not be a bother and small enough to conceal. As has been mentioned, if you don't have it with you ALWAYS, then it is useless.

On our walks [along with the P11] I now carry a large can of Bear Spray. If the dog's owner isn't going to do any dog training then I will :)
 
rayjay said:
I have only had 3 occasions to pull my weapon and all 3 were due to aggresive dogs. In all 3 occasions I didn't fire because the situation didn't require it.

On our walks [along with the P11] I now carry a large can of Bear Spray. If the dog's owner isn't going to do any dog training then I will :)

Ray,
You are exhibiting the very type of restrained and responsible behavior I was alluding to; use the appropriate amount of force to difuse the situation. I do the same thing when I'm riding my mountain bike by carrying pepper spray. If an agressive dog gets too close, he gets a snoot full of pepper spray. I also have a sidearm in the handlebar pouch I've never had to use.

Many dog owners are either not aware or don't care that their pets are their responsibility. If a dog attacks a person on a state or county road, the owner is liable for any damages.

Several years ago I had to spray a very agressive dog with pepper spray to keep him from attacking while riding my bike. The bimbo that owned him started screaming at me that she was going to call the police. I told her to call and I would wait until the police arrived so that I could file charges against her. I also informed her it was within my legal right to have shot and killed her unruly animal as it attacked me on a state road. Needless to say this urban moron realized she would fare the worse if the police arrived and heeded my warnings. That dog is now restrained.

Lou Baccino
 
Lou,

After the last encounter where the dog's owner watched the whole scene from his driveway I expected that he would call the police on me for brandishing my weapon [ even though it was always pointed at the dog and NEVER towards the idiot owner ]. As we were continuing our walk I warned the wife to be prepared for that possibility. I also said that I wouldn't be surprised that there would be several police cars and that they would perform a felony arrest with drawn weapons, me on the ground, etc.

Didn't happen so I guess he might have had enough sense to know that his calling the police would end up bad for him, not me. We haven't seen the dog since that episode. You actually wouldn't know a dog lived at the house unless you noticed the empty dog food bags in the recycling basket.
 
Goofycat if your looking for answers on what caliber is best for carry and stopping power + concealment, do a search for morgue doctors that are in to selfdefense with guns. It's out there but I don't remember where, full of information on what works and what does'nt. They have chose their favorites to carry by the people they have diesected, they see it many times a day. It's endless.
 
I, once, encountered two dogs working as a team to stop my egress down a public road. I held a baseball bat, and felt compelled to swing. BOTH vicious mutts backed-down. The craziest thing involved those dogs attacking kids on bicycles, and I walked, carrying a bat purposely toward those maniacal mutts. I creamed neither, but it became an intense encounter of dominance. I think I won, since they both headed for home. They never presented a dangerous presence again. Cliffy
 
Disregarding domanant dogs, a 9mm is MINIMAL with 115 grain fare regarding foe more vicious than dogs. I'd opt for a REAL .45 ACP, but a niner will do in a pinch. I'd as sooner throw a .380 miny 9'er at my opponent as shoot it, since they weigh enough to hurt an adversary. .25 ACPs aren't really effective against large or medium folks wishing to do one harm. That the US Government considered 9mm fare as adequate against drug-crazed vermin, I'm aghast at the logic. The Kimber 3" BARRELLED Semi-Auto in .45 ACP has much to speak for itself. I don't want a 9mm to speak for my frail existence. Cliffy
 
There are at least 35 other states that have ,"shall issue "laws to permit you to carry.Two states,VT and AK allow carry without a permit,granted under the 2nd amendment.I recommend you first find a state to your liking then carry whatever you like.Too many choices.California,democracy lost,and spreading fast.Stay aware.
 
Being a retired police officer, I vote a small glock in what ever caliber you are comfortable with. Most carry guns, if you have to shoot some one at any distance. Most likely you will be the one charged, especially with these dang liberal juries. If you will be the only one shooting it fine, but maybe you ought to think on the lines something the wife will be able to shoot. The main thing is not what you carry, but that you are very good with it. I still carry my trusty S&W model 60 2" 38 special Good Luck Lou
 
With the current crop of pistol bullets, the 9mm is now more than just a dog deterrant.
 
afternoon: i carry a kahr pm9, loaded with 95gr. half jacketed hollow points at about 1300fps. i feel quite safe. the gun has been flawless with over 1000 rnds{ reloads}. small, light weight, accurate, with no malfunctions. i also have a MK9, with a lot more rounds through it. again no malfunctions.they are the perfect carry gun, for me. ric
 
Is California a no carry state all together ? Here in PA most people do not realize you have to have a permit to CONCEAL a handgun but OPEN carry is perfectly legal !

Dan
 
Goofycat...I carry a Charter Arms .44 Spl Bulldog w/ 240gn bullets chronographed @ 804fps(abt like .45ACP). Loaded weight is abt 24oz. Kicks just a lil more than a .38Spl--not bad at all. In a defensive situation,you want to stop the argument as quickly as possible & the 9mm has been woefully lacking. A good big one will always beat a good little one!! Good luck...be safe...gpoldblue
 
.45 ACP pistols are getting mighty small in size, but buy whatever you can find ammo for now-a-days. .380 ammo has become rather difficult to find even for practicing. "Practice Makes Better," Cliffy, unless this phrase has already been taken.
 
Smith 640 with Barami hip grip, and a 32 Seecamp have been my daily carry since 1993. Have carried Glocks and 1911's, but the 640 with hipgrip is just so easy.
 
The Ruger Alaskan .454 Casull has become the revolver of my choice. Certainly NOT for casual shooting, but as my choice for close-encounters of the worst kind. Break my feeble wrist? okay! To save my life under extreme duress of overwhelming adversary attack, Who Cares other than ME! That I can download the most potent firearm ever created for a couple shots of actual practice lends a few moments of usability to raw horsepower. IMR Trail Boss allows practice, while Alliant 2400 does not! Alliant 2400 emits the ultimate in intimidating bear-stopping power during close-range .454 Casull encounters. Cliffy
 
I carry a Beretta Tomcat, 32 ACP, for our nightly walks here in the desert. Dropped a couple of coyotes with authority that wanted to be my dog's 'friend'. Popped more than a few rattlesnakes too. Definitely not classified as a 'manstopper' but I wouldn't want to get shot with one.
 

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