Caliber argument

[Roadwild17]

Everyone likes to argue about what caliber is superior to all others, so lets discusses it here. I’m looking to get my first handgun and before deciding what gun I thin knowing what caliber would be best. I am going to rent a bunch of them first to see what shoots best for me. It’s going to fill the role of a CCW and a planker-all around gun.

Personally I favor 9mm but for arguments sake (and to make things easier) lets say the other options is .45, and .40 is jus a tradeoff.


9mm
Higher cap
Cheaper ammo (means more practice which means better shot placement and blah blah blah)
Wide selection of ammo (a good HP should take down a target)
Less powerful round :banghead: (good HP should compensate)

.45
More powerful round (any round should do the job)
It’s a .45, more intimidating than a 9mm.
Usually have only 7 rds in the mag.



If I left anything out, just le me know
Thanx Gavin

 

[10-Ring]

Own several in both calibers, feel equally confident w/ both. I think tho, the bottom line to this is that as a new shooter, building a good skill set requires good consistent practice. If having a relatively inexpensive caliber will get you to the range more often to practice, by all means, get the one that will get you out more often!

 

[Rockstar]

I currently carry a 9mm, 11-rd. pistol; carried a .45ACP 11-rd. pistol for a while. Felt equally defended by either.

I'd recommend the 9mm. It's your first handgun; enjoy it. You'll shoot a lot more with the 9mm, unless $$$ isn't a concern.

 

[P95Carry]

''Caliber Wars'' will never go away and you can bet your last buck - there will always be disagreement!

Really has to be your choice based on what matters most - to you. I stick with 9mm platform (SIG) much as anything because ammo costs are kept down so more likelehood for practice and - capacity goes up (15+1) thus more available shots. Of course not such a ''potent'' round but if good shot placement possible then it can still ''do the job''.

I have avoided 40 solely because i have no loading gear but by all accounts this is an excellent round - probably a good match in many folk's eyes for the ubiqitous .45acp. That is of course for many is the ideal.

In final analysis I consider the best caliber for an individual is that which he/she shoots and likes best - because accuracy/delivery is all important. Two hits with well placed 9mm can still sometimes do as well or better than a poorly placed 45acp.

Beyond this - I won't tread further! Do a search on this and allied aspects - you'll find it has been done to death!

 

[BioDemon]

I vote 40S&W. More power than a 9mm and holds more rounds than a 45ACP. For a couple less rounds though the 45acp is still King. The 40S&W fills the gap between 9mm and 45ACP very well.

 

[SnakeEater]

May I ask why not the .357 sig?

 

[Mulliga]

I've looked at some expansion tests. Seems like most quality 9mm HPs get to about .5" in diameter, while .45s can expand to .7" in dia. Both penetrate similarly, and seem to penetrate adequately, at least for handgun rounds (13"-16" is common). Based on this, the only real tradeoff is wound channel size - .45 has a hole with twice the area, while 9mm guns regularly hold twice as many rounds. In other words, a tossup.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Caliber wars are unproductive, imho!

I don't go smaller than .380 acp or larger than .45acp for my carry guns.

I have been around long enough to from my own opinions and no longer feel the need to argue about my "personal" firearms choices.

It's pretty much all good!

 

[scubie02]

personally I doubt it matters all that much. I've had 40's in the past and just never really warmed to them that much, mostly have 9's and 45's now and am comfortable carrying either. Hell, I have several 38's that get carried at times, so either look pretty good comparatively on paper. I carry a 45 more than anything else, but don't have any problem carrying one of the 9's either.
I think you pretty much hit the arguments--larger bullet vs more of them.


You could always get a 357 mag ;P. Cheap and easy to reload for.

 

[Kjervin]

My CCW is a .40 ...

I carry a CZ40B with 180Gr Jacketed Hollow Points. I carry it becuase I shoot the smallest groups with it of all of my guns. With 2 extra mags I have 30 rounds without being too uncomfortable. I have 1911's and revolvers, etc. and I shoot at the range about once a week. I think to me, I wouldn't have a problem carrying a 38, 9mm or 45, but the most important thing to me is to carry the weapon with the greatest chance of getting lead on target. What that gun would be varies from person to person. When I was choosing what I would carry, I took all the potential candidates to the range (several trips, by caliber) and kept the gun I was most accurate with in each caliber. Then took the best of each caliber and tried them against each other (over several trips). I now carry the gun I shoot the best, I still do shoot the others, and if I get better with one of the others, I will carry that one. Remember: when it comes to self defense, it's the hits that count.
Kj

 

[CAS700850]

I carry a .38 or a 9mm. The .38 was a gift from my father and brother when I started prosecuting, as they knew I needed a good CCW handgun. The 9mm was the right gun/right price situation, when I wanted to upgrade from a revolver to an auto, and came across a lightly used Glock 19 for $350, including three full-cap mags.

Now, with ammo prices being what they are, and me not being interested in reloading, the 9mm and .38 are kept due to ammo costs.

 

[Biker]

I vote for the Raven in .25 ACP. For the price of one Glock, you can buy five Ravens that will all fit into the space that a Glock 22 would take up. Plus, you have thirty rounds available before you have to reload. How's that for capacity? Also, with a Raven in each hand, you can put *two* bullets into the BG simultaneously, and two 25s equal *Fifty* which is more than the 45 ACP. Now we're talking stopping power.
Argument settled.
Biker

 

[Bix]

One of my faveorite discussions of the calbier debate:


http://www.defense-training.com/quips/2002/20Oct02.html

 

[MICHAEL T]

I like the 45 if I am carrying a large pistol. But the 9mm is a lot cheaper to practice with and with right ammo in same ball park as 45. Sold my 40 doesnt do anything my 45 won't do with less recoil.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

As some others have suggested: if you're starting out, start with 9mm, as its less expensive, and you'll get to shoot more, more often.

As you develop skills and proficiency, and hopefully, as your pocketbook grows to accomodate other calibres, go there, too.

 

[Ala Dan]

To play devils advocate, nowdays I sometimes alternate between semi-
auto caliber's; going back and forth between .45 ACP and 9m/m Luger
handguns, but NEVER a .40 as I'm done with that caliber! In .45
ACP, my platform has always been (and continues to be) the SIG-SAUER
P220A; while its 9m/m counterpart (the P228) holds a slight advantage
over my Smith & Wesson 6906.

Having owned three .40 caliber weapons, I find that it fills a need that
really NEVER existed. All the hype and hoopla of the 1986 infamous FBI
Miami shootout brought about the introduction of the .40 S&W. IMHO,
if the agents had been properly armed to begin with (NO .38 Special
snubbies), the situation might have been different. Its very hard to
compensate with pistol caliber's when thugs are armed with Ruger
Mini-14's chambered for the .223.

 

[ABBOBERG]

Two .25's do not equal a .45. The cross sectional area of two .25's equals adds up to a .353" diameter, which is almost exactly 9mm.

 

[Biker]

ABBOBERG
You didn't detect just the slightest hint of facetiousness?

~shrugs~

Biker

 

[Brian Williams]

I personally prefer the 9x32R. It has a little more kick than 9x19.

 

[grimjaw]

Forget caliber.

Nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

jmm