When people think of having a backup pistol, “Dirty Harry” pistol usually comes to mind.

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 2/25/2019 | C Cocoles

[w1n1]

When people think of having a backup pistol, "Dirty Harry" pistol usually comes to mind.
With the decline in small caliber pistol for personal protection. There are some experienced gun instructors that still believes theres still a place for it. For example, Claude Werner of Tactical Professor. Claude is experienced in IDPA, NRA certified gun instructor and a retired military Special Operations Officer.
With all the weapons training that Claude has gone through and certified to instruct firearms employment. He still thinks outside the convention beliefs that a smaller .32 caliber can protect yourself.

He states it has to do with what we’ve been taught and conditioned into believing that a larger caliber with the knock down power will solve the problem. Claude goes on to explain that in law enforcement its their job to stop the threat and apprehend the perpetrator.
Having a larger caliber handgun helps stop the threat. So when we look at this application for personal protection, yes the firepower is necessary. But in most self-defense scenarios documented by law enforcement shows that when a bad guy gets shot from the defender. They usually run away, for law enforcement its their job to apprehend them.
But, for the private citizen, (Joe like us) once the shots have been fired and the bad guy runs away. The threat is gone, you can now call the police to get after them.

Its about the Indian not the Arrow
As you can see from this similar scenario but from two different view points. Having that larger caliber pistol may be the way to go but the goal of any life threatening situation is to stop the attack. Stopping the attack does not mean to end a person’s life with a big .357 magnum. It means to stop them from attacking you, even with a .25 caliber pocket pistol. Think it can’t be done? Yes these .380, .32 or 25’s are little pop gun, its about putting that pop in the right place, then it becomes a lot more effective. Again, Claude Werner is not saying caliber doesn’t matter. Claude claims its about the Indian not the arrow. However, the average gun shopper/owner is focused on the arrow. So yes there needs to be much training on.... Read the rest of 25 caliber pistol.

[Disambiguator]

Caliber is measured in inches. That must be a 6.75 mm.

[wbarmy]

Actually, I seldom wear jeans. The suit pants have larger pockets and I am able to maneuver the pistol quite well in the pocket. With a jacket on, I am able to do most anything I need to without signalling my actions.

This has been born out on the range and in practice. I do not really want to ever depend on the maneuver but I always like having other options. Of course the best option is to not be where trouble occurs.

[Hot Tabasco]

Caliber is measured in inches. That must be a 6.75 mm.

Are you referring to my post regarding the following:

A Beretta cal. 6.35 Gardone V.T made in Italy in 1957...

[Bell Bouy II]

or Bruce Jenner

[Disambiguator]

Yes.

[Hot Tabasco]

Yes.

Then you're mistaken, the information I posted was taken directly from the pistol I have in my possession. It's highly unlikely it was miss stamped............

[Disambiguator]

Since it’s Italian, maybe the mm designation is implied.

[Disambiguator]

Sorry, got the number wrong. I’m FReeping from a smart phone, and it’s klunky.

[Paal Gulli]

Again with pontification based on the Ellifaitz study, which was neither scientific nor broad-based.

Garbage On, Garbage out.

[AnonymousConservative]

I probably don’t need to tell you, but for any newbie, depending on how you hold it, don’t forget the slide will try to reciprocate. A reciprocating slide hitting against a wrist bone could be a bad thing, especially a 9mm.

[trebb]

Yep - I have a couple small .380s...usually use a small holster but a watch pocket works fine ...
I always wonder about an article that uses the word “pistol” for revolvers....Dirty Harry didn’t carry a pistol....

[mabarker1]

A .22 almost killed President Reagan...

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Yes it did. A .22lr has a little more power than a .25 and the .22 bullet being made of lead will fragment more (generally). It was the fragements that got the Gipper. A .25 is jacketed and even a hollow point may not even expand. Most .25’s you see are really cheap POS’s. I had one and just releasing the slide could make it go off. 1970’s era ghetto pimps swore by them.

All a .25 has going for itself is extreme concealability. A 380 has almost the same concealability with twice the punch. Neither are ideal though and both are better than nothing.

[Manly Warrior]

Sniper, huh? Parsing words but omitting fact. “Operator” is a common term among special ops and other higher tier elements. But you really do know that. I am glad your mom was a telecoms operator back in the day, ask an under 20 something what an operator is and they will not tell you about your mom’s job.

[Oatka]

. . . the perp needs to be terminated before he turns and runs away.

That was my meaning without coming out and saying it. Didn't do a good job of it.

[Kickass Conservative]

>>>Stopping the attack does not mean to end a person’s life with a big .357 magnum<<<

The Dirty Harry Character used a Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Pistol, just like the one I have in my Gun Cabinet.

[SgtHooper]

Sorry. Glad to hear it. In situations like this, we must be sure get the truth out to the unwary on this site and all viewers.