When I'm thinking about the ideal gun for home defense, two things cross my mind:
1. While providing the stopping power one can await from almost every major round, one would certainly not want it to be penetrating walls, doors and the like more than absolutely necessary.
2. The same applies for the muzzle blast which is a greater problem indoors than on the street.
Do you reckon there are calibers better suited for this special task? Or does the same as for the general performance apply - little difference after all, thus just a matter of personal preference...?
I, kind 'a, like this question. It touches upon topics which I have often thought about. Me? I don't worry as much about, 'over-penetration' as I do about: angles, fields, and lines-of-fire. Frankly, I consider the topic of bullet over-penetration to be a common misnomer that is often popularly misunderstood.
To my mind, 'over-penetration' highlights some of the tactical differences between entirely valid military applications, and effete socialist politics. (In other words: You can't have your cake, and eat it too.) If it works in war then it should, also, work in homeland confrontations.
In our home, and on our property, I'm keenly aware of every direction in which I have a clear line-of-fire, an open field-of-fire, AND an advantageous angle-of-fire. Here, at our present property I've got plenty of space; and, for the most part, I don't have to worry about what is beyond the target.
Years ago when we lived in the city this wasn't the case. I DID have to worry about hitting the neighbors through a partition wall; the available fields-of-fire were much tighter; and I had to adhere to carefully preselected open angles-of-fire whenever I considered pulling the trigger. Logically, the theater in which I anticipated operating strongly influenced my choice of firearm; and often highlighted the need for me to preselect available engagement zones, shoot straight, and keep my groups nice 'n tight.
(Ironically, the only home invasion I've ever experienced in my entire life found me standing in the middle of the living room, on crutches, and in my underwear! ALL of my guns were upstairs in a bedroom safe; and, if it weren't for the lifesaving fact that we, also, owned a pair of superlatively trained Pit Bulldogs, I don't think I'd be typing this right now. The guy had me; and I could tell by the leering smile on his face that he knew it, too. It wasn't until he heard the first deep growl that he realize he'd seriously screwed up! Talk about losing a smile, fast - Wow, what a, 'Kodak moment' that was!)
Muzzle blast doesn't bother me at anytime other than at night and in the dark. When I was a young man, and before the advent of low flash powders, I used to keep a long barreled 22 LR pistol with 3 magazines and 30 rounds available for nighttime home defense. At typical in-the-home distances I was skilled and practiced enough to put all 30 rounds into an object the size of a grapefruit. Today, I simply place my (C-3) EDC pistol underneath my pillow and leave things at that.
It's not personal preference that should count. Personal preferences can, often, get you in trouble. What matters most is, both, forethought and good old-fashioned luck! When, 'push comes to shove' it's more what you already know, what you've often hoped for, and truly understand that's going to matter most. As for the rest? It's up to God.
REF:
Proverbs 21:31
