PatrickBateman said:
Pretty much deciding between 9mm, 357sig, 40s&w, and 45ACP. Which would you say is the best caliber in terms of effectiveness (for carry and home protection) and cost? Im new to guns and am looking for some opinions! Thanks!
Welcome to TFL.
The caliber question has been discussed, debated, argued, and dragged out to the point that I think the topic itself is a member of the undead.
In leiu of silver bullets and wooden stakes, allow me to give some very basic facts.
Of the calibers you mentioned, 357 Sig is the least common as a defensive caliber, and tends to be harder to find ammunition.
Of the remaining 3- 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP- 9mm is on average the cheapest and smallest, while 45 ACP is the most expensive and biggest, with 40 S&W as a middle road between the two.
Selecting between calibers is a balance of capacity and power. Some opt for the highest capacity possible, citing the fact that modern defensive ammo kills people just as dead with little regard for caliber. Other select the most powerful round, stating that they would rather have the most powerful round available to inflict the most damage. Still others opt for the middle ground, seeing it as a compromise between the two.
In terms of cost, I use gunbot.net as a price guide. They publish a "good deal" threshhold in terms of cents per round. They are as follows:
9mm: 28c/rd (or $14 for a box of 50 practice rounds)
40 S&W/357 Sig: 40c/rd (or $20 for a box of 50 practice rounds)
45 ACP: 43 c/rd (or $21.5 for a box of 50 practice rounds)
I am doing my best to provide simply facts here. Others will throw in their 2 cents and reasons for selecting their caliber, but this I think strikes at the heart of your question without getting into my personal opinions.