brashboy
Member
Another of the seemingly endless line of .380 threads got me thinking. Why do these arguments about caliber, about how much gun is enough, keep coming up? Very interesting. Guys have taken multiple shots from .357s and similar weapons and not been incapacitated. An article in the latest CH discusses a coked-up BG shot in the chest with 9mm numerous times who kept renewing the attack. The LE cleared another fallen LE's gun jam and finally got enough 9's in the BG to drop him. (I suspect the BG actually was a zombie, but the magazine rather annoyingly danced around the subject.)
So, the 9mm is a more powerful round than .380, no question. But almost any cartridge you pick, there is a more powerful one. I don't want to meet the BG who can take a .460SW and stay on his feet. Bear with me, I'm working my way around to the question.
Where does the quest for firepower and knockdown end? We can all envision scenarios of an attacker on PCP or something else who doesn't flinch from a pistol round. Or worse, several attackers. No matter what you carry, will you have enough ammo? There is a practical limit to what can be carried, especially CCW. So if the .380 is a bit more anemic than the 9mm, there could easily be a situation where the 9/.40/.45 just doesn't cut it, either.The guy packing a .460SW certainly will never be underpowered for BGs but he could easily be in a situation where he just doesn't have enough rounds with him. Not to mention the fact that his hearing will be a memory after the gunfight. Not to mention size and weight of gun, etc.
Very few of us acting alone would prevail in a real firefight with multiple desperados, especially if they know their business. We would be outgunned, outshot, out of ammo. It is not practical to CCW enough gun and ammo for such a situation. There always is a compromise on weight and size, concealability, mag capacity, round power... whatever.
This question is not intended as a put down of any kind. Reading so many threads/arguments about caliber got me thinking about WHAT precisely the CCW crowd considers themselves ready for.
Now for the question:
Have you thought through your carry to what situations you are prepared for? And what are they?
For myself, I typically carry a Mauser Hsc .380 Corbon 90-gr., 6 +1 (lighter, thinner than the PT111, which I also like in the 147-gr.). No extra mag on me usually, though I keep two in the car. I am anticipating one, perhaps two, BGs, and if I have to pull the trigger I will shoot to kill. If 7 shots won't do it, would 13 or 20?I will try like all hell to keep it from getting to that point, but who knows? Running gunbattles with multiple BGs can happen, but I am usually with my family, and their safety is my first concern. If there are multiple BGs with firearms, I will concentrate efforts on getting away, saving ammo if possible. I have no macho fantasies to live, I just want my family to live; me too, hopefully.
So, the 9mm is a more powerful round than .380, no question. But almost any cartridge you pick, there is a more powerful one. I don't want to meet the BG who can take a .460SW and stay on his feet. Bear with me, I'm working my way around to the question.
Where does the quest for firepower and knockdown end? We can all envision scenarios of an attacker on PCP or something else who doesn't flinch from a pistol round. Or worse, several attackers. No matter what you carry, will you have enough ammo? There is a practical limit to what can be carried, especially CCW. So if the .380 is a bit more anemic than the 9mm, there could easily be a situation where the 9/.40/.45 just doesn't cut it, either.The guy packing a .460SW certainly will never be underpowered for BGs but he could easily be in a situation where he just doesn't have enough rounds with him. Not to mention the fact that his hearing will be a memory after the gunfight. Not to mention size and weight of gun, etc.
Very few of us acting alone would prevail in a real firefight with multiple desperados, especially if they know their business. We would be outgunned, outshot, out of ammo. It is not practical to CCW enough gun and ammo for such a situation. There always is a compromise on weight and size, concealability, mag capacity, round power... whatever.
This question is not intended as a put down of any kind. Reading so many threads/arguments about caliber got me thinking about WHAT precisely the CCW crowd considers themselves ready for.
Now for the question:
Have you thought through your carry to what situations you are prepared for? And what are they?
For myself, I typically carry a Mauser Hsc .380 Corbon 90-gr., 6 +1 (lighter, thinner than the PT111, which I also like in the 147-gr.). No extra mag on me usually, though I keep two in the car. I am anticipating one, perhaps two, BGs, and if I have to pull the trigger I will shoot to kill. If 7 shots won't do it, would 13 or 20?I will try like all hell to keep it from getting to that point, but who knows? Running gunbattles with multiple BGs can happen, but I am usually with my family, and their safety is my first concern. If there are multiple BGs with firearms, I will concentrate efforts on getting away, saving ammo if possible. I have no macho fantasies to live, I just want my family to live; me too, hopefully.