Rick, of course the "stopping power" of any handgun is quite limited and movie scenes where the bad guy is blown backwards when shot have no connection with reality. Location is always the key point. That being said and although my own smallest gun is a .32 Beretta, I'd think that the minimum advisable for even a possible pocket pistol would be a .380. Consider the new Ruger LCP and also the Corbon DPX load.

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.