Caliber of BUG

David_Ely · 12-13-2012, 16:24

5 rounds of 38 Special +P or 9 rounds of 32 ACP?

I know a lot of people carry a 9mm over a 45 ACP because of magazine capacity. Does the same principle hold true for a BUG?

SCmasterblaster · 12-13-2012, 16:31

I'd do the .38 Special +p for sure. When you are using a BUG, you are down to you last options. I would want five powerful shots as my final option. What is your primary handgun, may I ask?

David_Ely · 12-13-2012, 16:41

My primary is either a G38 or Gen4 G37. I love 45 GAP!

**robhic** · 12-13-2012, 16:41

I have two Taurus 5-shot 38/357 revolvers that I alternately load with Remington Golden Saber 125gr +P BJHP 357 and Hornady 110gr +P FTX 38spl (the one with the rubber plug in the nose) or Remington 125gr +P SJHP (lead nose) which is an FBI favorite.

I really, really like the lead nose HP because it kicks *** AND it is very inexpensive as 38 ammo goes.

fredj338 · 12-13-2012, 16:47

To me a BUG needs to be 100% reliable, regardless of how it is held or what the situation is. That puts the mouse guns in a distant 2nd place to a good 5sht 38sp+P. Consider this is your last ditch, my ass is way into the crap weapon choice. Do you really want a 32acp in alittle gun you can't hit with past contact?
With todays micro 9mm, I see no point in guns like 25acp or 32acp, poor grips, poor triggers & poor terminal performance. I am not even a fan of the 380, especially when I can have a 9mm in the same size package & often w/ less recoil as most 380 are blowback design & have a snappy recoil.

David_Ely · 12-13-2012, 16:48

I load 158gr LSWCHP +P in my Taurus 605. I have a new (to me) PPK/S in .32acp that is loaded with RWS 73gr FMJs.

SCmasterblaster · 12-13-2012, 17:52

Well my backup is a 16-round magazine for my primary G17. I don't expect my G17 to break down.

fredj338 · 12-13-2012, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

Well my backup is a 16-round magazine for my primary G17. I don't expect my G17 to break down.

Famous last words. I have seen every brand of pistol fail, so Glock, Sig, Colt, whatever, the point of a BUG is a lst ditch weapon so you don't have to go primevil & use a knife (which I also recommend carrying). At least you carry the spare mag, many do not.

barth · 12-13-2012, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Ely

5 rounds of 38 Special +P or 9 rounds of 32 ACP?

I know a lot of people carry a 9mm over a 45 ACP because of magazine capacity. Does the same principle hold true for a BUG?

My primary is a HK45C (8+1 plus 2 10 round reloads).
And backup is HK P2000SK 40 (9+1).

Although I own 13 handguns of various calibers and capacities.
Personally, I don't own anything less than 9mm/38.

So I'd definitely go with one of my 5 shot J-frames over a 32 ACP.
Prefer Speer's outstanding 135 gr GDHP Short Barrel 38 +P.

Kentguy · 12-13-2012, 18:24

David Ely,

Well when it comes right down to it - better to have a small gun than no gun in a gun fight. If that is what you have... use it.

However I have to agree with some of the other guys here... no contest, pick up a 38 special (Ruger LCR comes to mind) lite weight and 5 shots of up to +P type ammo.

Remember a CCW is what is going to save your life in a crisis! What do you trust your life with? That is the real question here.

Good luck and be safe

***Cochese*** · 12-13-2012, 18:34

.38 given the choice.

I carry a G26 everywhere these days and a G17 for 40 hours a week.

Tiro Fijo · 12-13-2012, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

...Consider this is your last ditch, my ass is way into the crap weapon choice. Do you really want a 32acp in alittle gun you can't hit with past contact?
With todays micro 9mm, I see no point in guns like 25acp or 32acp, poor grips, poor triggers & poor terminal performance. I am not even a fan of the 380, especially when I can have a 9mm in the same size package & often w/ less recoil as most 380 are blowback design & have a snappy recoil.

+1.

Guns are meant to be comforting & not comfortable, as Clint Smith says. I know many people who carry a J Frame with crappy ammo as their primary CCW and even then they never carry a reload and worse yet: have never practiced reloading it as if under duress.

Remember that you may have to use your BUG to shoot people off of you!! Anything under .38 Special or 9mm is fatally optimistic at best.

unit1069 · 12-13-2012, 18:55

I'd take the .38 Special for a BUG.

I also wouldn't place total confidence in clearing a large capacity jammed handgun to reload a second magazine in the heat of the encounter when reaching for a second BUG would save valuable seconds.

bac1023 · 12-13-2012, 19:18

38 Special for sure

cowboy1964 · 12-13-2012, 19:50

.38 +P Gold Dots beat a .32 all day long and twice on Sunday.

fredj338 · 12-13-2012, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiro Fijo

+1.

Guns are meant to be comforting & not comfortable, as Clint Smith says. I know many people who carry a J Frame with crappy ammo as their primary CCW and even then they never carry a reload and worse yet: have never practiced reloading it as if under duress.

Remember that you may have to use your BUG to shoot people off of you!! Anything under .38 Special or 9mm is fatally optimistic at best.

BAsed on the CCW guys & LEOs I know, most guys that carry a gun do NOT shoot enough. Many that do, practice badass w/ a 1911 or G17, then pocket a little Keltec 380 they rarely shoot. That isn't going to cut it in a real fight. SO practice often, real practice like IDPA, then carry what you practice with. Even a BUG needs practice, maybe even more so, you will shoot it less often anyway. Most CCW carry for security then carry something that gives them less of a chance to survive a fight with, that would make me feel insecure, but that is just me.

Tiro Fijo · 12-13-2012, 21:37

Fred, a large majority of people treat a CCW as they do a wallet, i.e., something stylish & comfortable.

No one survived a gunfight only to utter "damn, I'm glad I only had 5 rds. in my Chief's Special!!" or "that LCP sure made me feel well armed!!" I overheard one idiot who carries only an LCP and his reasoning, insane as it may be, is that he just knows that if confronted he will shoot his way to safety by laying down a virtual wall of lead with his "muff" gun that has a big bad laser!!

Too many people suffer from the "can't happen to me" syndrome or believe that they may never have to shoot someone in defense of life. Worse yet: that they will always have an avenue of escape and that any situation will always be on their terms.

Berto · 12-13-2012, 22:09

Being mindful that things are already crappy if you're in a gunfight, I'll opt for something thing far more likely to work if my grip is poor or the gun is jammed into my or the other guys body....and shoots something that can break large bones and penetrate.
Snubby .38sp is better IMO.

Nanuk · 12-14-2012, 01:02

S&W 640 Pro loaded with Speer 135 SB Maggies or 125 DPX. When all else fails I want a 357 Magnum.

CanMan · 12-14-2012, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berto

Snubby .38sp is better IMO.

+1 for .38/.357 Snubby

WinterWizard · 12-14-2012, 04:35

I wouldn't choose .32 ACP as a BUG to a BUG. Catch my drift?

SDGlock23 · 12-14-2012, 07:45

If you have 38 Special already then I'd probably go for a J-frame Smith, certainly better than a .32. To me there's little reason to get a 32 acp or 380 acp these days. Sure the LCP is about as tiny as it gets and I'm sure is a step up from throwing rocks, but there are small, inexpensive and reliable 9's, .40's and even .45's out there.

Let me say that I've owned a number of Kahr pistols and their CM9 and CM40 are outstanding. They have been utterly reliable, they're small, not LCP small but almost as tiny, and they don't cost an arm and a leg either. Unless you're vested in the 38 Special already, I'd take a serious look at the Kahr CM9/CM40. Nothing wrong with the old 38, but I'd rather have 7rds of 9mm or better yet 6rds of .40.

Recoil on either isn't bad, the .40 has more but it's not bothersome. I wouldn't rate either the CM9 or CM40 any harder to shoot than a J-frame shooting +P's, probably easier to shoot really. Better capacity than a J-frame, smaller than a J-frame and has much faster reloads than a J-frame and packs more punch than a 38 snubby while giving you a better sight picture. Extra mags are small and easily slide into your pocket. Let me also add that I can shoot the CM series with it's 3" barrel far better than I could ever shoot a J-frame, part of that is the sight picture I'm sure, but 25yd poppers present little challenge from the CM9/CM40.

I've not tried the XDs .45, but it's a little bigger, but something to look at if you just have to have a .45. Some prefer small revolvers because they say they're more reliable, but they can still mess up. If a bullet has an issue from the factory it could jump crimp under recoil, locking up the gun. Or I've actually seen so much unburnt powder in one before that it gummed up the cylinder from revolving like a revolver should.

**robhic** · 12-14-2012, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

Well my backup is a 16-round magazine for my primary G17. I don't expect my G17 to break down.

Why would you carry 16 rounds in a 17 rd magazine? Plus, he asked about BUGuns, not an extra magazine. What happens if the gun gets knocked out of your hand?

Throw the extra magazine that's loaded one round short?

fredj338 · 12-14-2012, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by robhic

Why would you carry 16 rounds in a 17 rd magazine? Plus, he asked about BUGuns, not an extra magazine. What happens if the gun gets knocked out of your hand?

Throw the extra magazine that's loaded one round short?

The point of the BUG, it's BUG.

IF you think you need one, a spare mag is not a substitute for the exact reason you mention. Lose your rpimary in a fight on the ground, spare mag won't help you.

cadillacguns · 12-14-2012, 14:49

.40. In my G-27.