What would you say are some smaller but still effective alternatives

>>33363835
.32 and up. Hell, a jacket full of Jiminez .25s wouldn't be anything to scoff at.

>I have a perfectly good CC option.
>I want to try something else that is as similar as possible.

I don't get it.

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>>33363835
3 5 7 m a g

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>>33363850
>jacket full of ghetto blasters
Sounds like a fun time

>>33363835
5.7x28mm with ss190 handloads.

>>33363835
wait wait wait. by "alternatives" do you mean you want a caliber that is smaller than 9mm for self defense? or that you want a smaller platform than typical a 9mm pistol?

.380 ACP is a 9mm short. there's really no cartridge you should be using smaller than this. carry .32 if using the gun as scary fireworks rather than defense, i guess. .22 if you don't mind the occasional primer failure.

38spl/357mag can be fired from extremely concealable weapons. a magazine well is a heck of a disadvantage to concealment.

>>33363924
Both those reasons.

J-frame .38

STILL the king of kings in the pocket gun world.

Stoke it with some badass Buffalo Bore, and slip in in your pocket every time you dress. Don't leave your bed without it. And keep it on the nightstand while you sleep.

>>33363835
9x18 is about as weak as you should go for a primary (I've seen it pull T-shirts through cardboard instead of punching through them like everything else we shot at it did, however this was @ 50yds)

However a .32 for a backup piece would be excellent (with special snowflake defense ammo like leheigh or something)

The A-Rex is being made in an itty bitty .32 version.
I want the fuck out of it for a backup gun.

>>33363835
9x18 Makarov is fine. Silver Bear JHP's have decent performance for their price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz4mXuEQLMI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScHzHz3dItI