I thought I'd find out what your decisions would be for the best defensive calibre. Mine would be between the 357 sig or the 40 s/w with an emphasis on the 40 because of the greater diamiter of the round. And in the 155 to 165 grain full power loadings it's every bit the 357 sig.
Best defensive calibre
- Thread starter Gun Nutt
- Start date
Gun Nutt,
Welcome to TFL!
Nothing wrong with any of the choices listed above.
Different strokes for different folks.
I happen to like 10MM.
Be safe and shoot safe...
------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...
[This message has been edited by foxfire (edited March 17, 2000).]
Welcome to TFL!
Nothing wrong with any of the choices listed above.
Different strokes for different folks.
I happen to like 10MM.
Be safe and shoot safe...
------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...
[This message has been edited by foxfire (edited March 17, 2000).]
Dave Williams
New member
Lavan,
I'm a .45 Colt fan also. Which load in particular do you favor??
Dave
I'm a .45 Colt fan also. Which load in particular do you favor??
Dave
Jody Hudson
New member
Make mine a .22 Quick-Shock! In addition the affordability allows enough practice to enhance proper shot placement and the size of the arm allows it to always be present.
OK now.... Flames ON!
I think I will soon smell fried mouse (gun). 
Now when I KNOW that I'll be likely to meet a BG I do also carry my major caliber... 9x18 Makarov.
Take care,
Jody
------------------
Talk is cheap; Free Speech is NOT.
[This message has been edited by Jody Hudson (edited March 17, 2000).]
OK now.... Flames ON!
I think I will soon smell fried mouse (gun). Now when I KNOW that I'll be likely to meet a BG I do also carry my major caliber... 9x18 Makarov.
Take care,
Jody
------------------
Talk is cheap; Free Speech is NOT.
[This message has been edited by Jody Hudson (edited March 17, 2000).]
j.s.parker
New member
Gun Nutt; Of the two you metioned I've give the nod to the .40 cal. I guess I just like heavier bullets. 40 cal ammo might be a little cheaper too. With all the good ammo on the market these days the gap between calibre's has narrowed. Anything above 38 spl "can be" very effective. Location, location, location. Good Luck, j.s.
Uncle Jack
New member
.45 ACP 200 grain Gold Dots or Hornady XTP's at 1000+ fps.
------------------
Uncle Jack
"If you put the first two where they belong, everything else is rhetoric and theory."
------------------
Uncle Jack
"If you put the first two where they belong, everything else is rhetoric and theory."
Gun Nutt,
You wrote: "I thought I'd find out what your decisions would be for the best defensive caliber".
This topic is a "frequent favorite" at TFL. I would ask all my fellow TFL members to consider this question ANALYTICALLY by asking: "best in what defensive scenario?"
For example:
> I favor the 230 grain .45 ACP Hydra-Shok at home, but it would not be an optimal defensive round to penetrate glass or steel car parts.
> The 158 grain FMJ .357 magnum would be much better in the automobile scenario, but it has a real risk of dangerous "carry through" in a multiple dwellings, particularly with non-masonry wall between units.
> In that multiple dwelling, the venerable 130 grain .38 Special might be the optimal defensive load, due to "carry through" concerns.
These illustrations are intended to make the point that the firearm/load combination must be specifically designed for the likely "mission".
In 30+ years of Naval aviation operational and project management experience, I have learned that one selects ordnance based on the scenario -- cluster weapons are ineffective against armor but very successful against troops in the open, while GPS-guided bombs are efficient against fixed targets but relatively useless against mobile ones, and so forth.
This exact type of weapon/ammunition to target analysis is required to determine the best defensive combination (firearm/caliber and round).
[This message has been edited by RWK (edited March 18, 2000).]
You wrote: "I thought I'd find out what your decisions would be for the best defensive caliber".
This topic is a "frequent favorite" at TFL. I would ask all my fellow TFL members to consider this question ANALYTICALLY by asking: "best in what defensive scenario?"
For example:
> I favor the 230 grain .45 ACP Hydra-Shok at home, but it would not be an optimal defensive round to penetrate glass or steel car parts.
> The 158 grain FMJ .357 magnum would be much better in the automobile scenario, but it has a real risk of dangerous "carry through" in a multiple dwellings, particularly with non-masonry wall between units.
> In that multiple dwelling, the venerable 130 grain .38 Special might be the optimal defensive load, due to "carry through" concerns.
These illustrations are intended to make the point that the firearm/load combination must be specifically designed for the likely "mission".
In 30+ years of Naval aviation operational and project management experience, I have learned that one selects ordnance based on the scenario -- cluster weapons are ineffective against armor but very successful against troops in the open, while GPS-guided bombs are efficient against fixed targets but relatively useless against mobile ones, and so forth.
This exact type of weapon/ammunition to target analysis is required to determine the best defensive combination (firearm/caliber and round).
[This message has been edited by RWK (edited March 18, 2000).]
Ballistically, I would go for the .40 S&W. Some people call it an answer to a problem that never existed, but I think it gives the best of both worlds. You are getting the velocity and expansion of the 9mm, and the hitting power of the .45acp, sometimes more. I love the performance of my Glock 22. For me .40 is the way to go.
Desert Dog
New member
my personal favorites are .50 BMG, 20MM, and 40MM. The 105MM is a little big for concealed carry...
Here we go again....
Here we go again....
The best defensive calibre is a 12 gauge.
I favor double-ought buckshot.
In my own (very humble opinion) the critters can't tell you the difference between getting whacked with a .38 Spec and a .41Mag.
The best defensive pistol calibre is the one that you can fire accurately, and carry comfortably.
LawDog
------------------
"Go ahead, rely on Windows Sniper 4.0, if you want to, but I prefer not to need software patches when I'm in a firefight."
-Wolfgang Kies
I favor double-ought buckshot.
In my own (very humble opinion) the critters can't tell you the difference between getting whacked with a .38 Spec and a .41Mag.
The best defensive pistol calibre is the one that you can fire accurately, and carry comfortably.
LawDog
------------------
"Go ahead, rely on Windows Sniper 4.0, if you want to, but I prefer not to need software patches when I'm in a firefight."
-Wolfgang Kies
I kinda like the old 9mm... fast bullets, cheap ammo, abundant ammo, not as noisy, same bullet as .357 Sig, and less recoil.
I also like the 185 grain +P .45's AND 135-165 grain .40 S&W
Absolutely NO 180 grain .40's here,
Ben
------------------
Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
[This message has been edited by Ben (edited March 18, 2000).]
I also like the 185 grain +P .45's AND 135-165 grain .40 S&W
Absolutely NO 180 grain .40's here,
Ben
------------------
Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
[This message has been edited by Ben (edited March 18, 2000).]