1. Not at all, I value input of others who are years ahead of me in research and experience: truly! ...
This must be the video you watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5a15I9ztg
In pocket pistols it looks as if the .25acp is the better choice for penetration using round nose ammo.
I would like to see water jugs getting hit with Hollow Point ammo from both calibers and see. Or just from a .22lr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQnHgx8ifXQ
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6igNKDR6kac
Of course hollow point ammo probably wouldn't penetrate a 2x4.
2. One of the vids I saw last evening put a 2x4 in front of 2 or 3 bottles of water, and the 22 did not go through the 2x4, but the 35 went through the 2x4 and into the 2nd water gallon, if I remember right (it is in an earlier post you must not have seen. Also, it was from 3 feet away.
I would buy it too..... Beretta has always made good firearms, and like you said if you don't like it you can always sell it.
IMHO, anything smaller than 9mm or .38 Special is not sufficient for carry & self defense.
People can make a good argument for .380, but 9mm is still way better... IMHO.
Little guns are nice, but this isn't 1955 anymore, no offence.
Another excellent way to move forward on your experience curve would be to seek out structured training (HIGHLY recommended).
Another excellent way to move forward on your experience curve would be to seek out structured training (HIGHLY recommended).
The only problem with having all the calibers is having so many mouths to feed, mags & holsters to buy, and good enough familiarity & confidence with them all enough to stake your life.
1. I understand.
2. I don't think we are on the same wavelength.
3. I would not be staking my life on all calibers b/c I wouldn't be using all calibers for CC.
4. I will have my carry gun: S/W Airwieght 642, 5 shot, 1.87 barrel in my DeSanti Superfly sticky pocket holster (w/extra flap for handle coverage), which can be used in my ankle holster as well, but if needed I could put my Colt 380 there or a small 9, if I felt I needed to carry two. I can also use my Shield 9mm or Shield 45 on occasion.
5. The 25, and in the future when I find it, the 32 are more for collecting and not any serious carrying, but I would not be averse to it being a back up.
6. Since I really don't want/need all the calibers, as I get some experience (only been doing this since May), I will figure out which I want to carry and keep for the range, and sell the rest that I'm not using.
7. Since I can afford to purchse at "sale" prices and can sell them quickly for more/other purchases: I'm just having so much fun.
8.. Analogy: Once I had 6 antique cars. I now have 1 car for work and pleasure. I got smart. It took me 2 years to learn, though.
9. If we buy a house (looking at another tomorrow evening) or I just remodel our kitchen, I'll have to sell most everything and start over later just for the liquidity.
I'd rather be 100% locked in & confident with my Glock 19 9mm, have 25+ mags (which I do), and have 5000+ rounds for it (which I do)... than have 20 different calibers with maybe 100-200 rounds each and be so-so wishy-washy.
Not that you are a so-so shooter, but I think you can see where I'm getting at...
10. I'm not going to win any gun battles that I'm in regardless of whether I have 5 rounds or 20 rounds. I am not going to spend the time necessary for that level of interaction. That is why after 30 yrs. I'm back to CC, b/c I'm getting old and need an emergency defense.
11. I will not pull my gun on someone unless they have already hit me and/or b/c I couldn't run away. In my scenario, I'm on the ground after being punched/shoved or kicked into that position, and to my attacker's surprise, I then will pull out my weapon and unload everything in my hand. It's like the woman who was asked by the courts of why she shot the man 12 times when he broke into her house. Her answer, "Because I did not have 25 rounds in my gun." I'm getting old though, and I know I can't take the punches of when I was younger, so I might have to revise that to shooting in defense before I hit the ground. But, after what I've read, you better make sure of that decision.
My advise is to pick a main gun fills the bill and concentrate all your effort on it.
For carry, dress for your main gun, don't pick a gun for the way you want to dress.
Treat all the other guns like they are just for plinking & fun shooting. Especially guns smaller than 9mm.
Have always thought of .25 and .32 pistols as good carry protection against dogs or rabid vermin when out for a walk or ride. The Taurus PT25 that I had proved itself too bulky and heavy for comfortable carry in khaki pockets. That was back when 25 acp shells could be had for $6.95 a box, the cost of .25 acp ammo today has priced any desire for the caliber away for me.
I'm a big fan of the small pocket Berettas and have a nice little collection of them (a 418, a 950 Jetfire, 2 Bobcat 21s in .22 and .25, and a 3 Model 70s in .22, .32, and .380).
The 950 is slimmer than the Bobcat, but you lose the double action trigger in favor of single action. Both are fun to shoot. $225 is a frickin steal for one of these, particularly if that includes ammo too.
... 9. I will grow into such things.
I like small pistols. I have a Beretta tip up in 22lr and the same in a Taurus. Fun to plink around with. Amazingly I can hit better with the Taurus and it's double action only. I used to have a collection of 32acp,s but I sold them.