re: What Are the Board's Thoughts Regarding .38, .380, and 9mm for Carry?

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I haven't fired any 9mm compacts, though (just a regular sized Glock). I definitely will not be purchasing a subcompact (unless a .38 revolver).

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I think we need some definition clarifications - Glock considers (for example, in 9mm) the 17 full size, the 19 compact and the 26 subcompact (the 26 is the base size for the "Baby Glocks").

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In the end, price/effectiveness will be the determiner. I want to be able to practice frequently. Is there anyone here who thinks the .38 or .380 cartridge is ineffective for self defense? Or is this really just a case of which option is the best out of several good options?

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Carrying a handgun is already a compromise. Once you get into legitimate defense calibers (and I consider .32 ACP the absolute floor), there is the law of diminishing returns. If you can shoot the eyes out of a target with a Walther PPK, but cannot hit the side of a barn from inside it with a Desert Eagle .50 AE, by all means carry the Walther - a single hit with a .22LR is worth any number of misses with .357 magnum or .45 ACP. However, once you get to "carry", do you mean holster or CCW? Open carry in a holster, should be Glock 19/Sig P229 size gun an up, in my opinion, and you can pretty much pick your poison (including 4" bbl .357 magnum revolvers - still a fine choice in the 21st century).

For CCW, that same gun size, Glock 19/Sig P229 is almost the biggest you can go, and even then, you're looking at clothing/holstering options that are more restricted in a smaller gun.

In any event, there are several quality guns (of which the Kahr PM-9 is only one example) that gives you the option of carrying a wide variety of full power 9mm defense cartridges in the size of a pocket pistol.