Had to ask the experts !
- Thread starter mrt949
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Big gun like a 1911 may as well be a big caliber.
Smaller gun might be whatever you can stand recoilwise.
I have hand problems so my "little gun" shoots 38SP rather than 357. Normal carry is a medium sized 9mm with a smallish grip. Recoil I can stand with useable power factor.
Smaller gun might be whatever you can stand recoilwise.
I have hand problems so my "little gun" shoots 38SP rather than 357. Normal carry is a medium sized 9mm with a smallish grip. Recoil I can stand with useable power factor.
.357sig...
In general, I'd say the .357sig is tops for most defense uses(sub compact, CC size, duty size).
It offers great specs with most barrel lengths, feeds well and has high KE levels.
Recoil & muzzle blast are the only - things you ever hear about with the .357sig.
The 9x19mm(9mm Luger) is the next "best" subcompact/duty size caliber. It also feeds very well, offers a large # of rounds, & the +P/+P+ 9mm rounds has good power/KE.
The .40S&W is okay but not as well engineered as the .357sig round, IMO.
For DA/DAO revolvers, the .44spl offers a lot. The .41 & .357 magnum rounds are proven loads too. For deep concealment or 2nd gun use, the .38spl +P is fine. Many modern JHP & special pupose loads are now out there.
CF
In general, I'd say the .357sig is tops for most defense uses(sub compact, CC size, duty size).
It offers great specs with most barrel lengths, feeds well and has high KE levels.
Recoil & muzzle blast are the only - things you ever hear about with the .357sig.
The 9x19mm(9mm Luger) is the next "best" subcompact/duty size caliber. It also feeds very well, offers a large # of rounds, & the +P/+P+ 9mm rounds has good power/KE.
The .40S&W is okay but not as well engineered as the .357sig round, IMO.
For DA/DAO revolvers, the .44spl offers a lot. The .41 & .357 magnum rounds are proven loads too. For deep concealment or 2nd gun use, the .38spl +P is fine. Many modern JHP & special pupose loads are now out there.
CF
Without getting into a caliber war here, . . . the .45ACP seemed to not make it's way onto that list.
It has "the" proven track record, . . . having created more ghosts than all the rest put together.
9mm, 40, and .357 SIG offer round count, . . . .45ACP offers proven productivity.
May God bless,
Dwight
zombietactics
New member
Just my standard response to all caliber debates/questions:
In the 9mm/.40S&W/.45ACP range, there is no difference in the actual wounds or other terminal effects caused. This assumes roughly analogous cartridge types of course. *
I base this opinion upon interviewing coroners, forensic pathologists, trauma surgeons, etc.
The almost universal opinion has been that there is no discernible difference in the actual wounds created. Forensic pathologists generally won't even testify to the round caliber, except in the most general of terms (i.e. "consistent with a handgun") unless there is a recovered projectile. They simply cannot tell otherwise, with any degree of accuracy.
All other things being equal, if anything besides the wound profile is "stopping the threat", I'd really like to know. Otherwise this information should be a controversy stopper. I am not so naive as to think it will be, however.
Shoot what you like, and learn to shoot it well. In the grand scheme of things:
* (It's easy to tell an FMJ round from a an expanded one, just nearly impossible to tell 9mm FMJ vs. .45ACP FMJ, for instance)
In the 9mm/.40S&W/.45ACP range, there is no difference in the actual wounds or other terminal effects caused. This assumes roughly analogous cartridge types of course. *
I base this opinion upon interviewing coroners, forensic pathologists, trauma surgeons, etc.
The almost universal opinion has been that there is no discernible difference in the actual wounds created. Forensic pathologists generally won't even testify to the round caliber, except in the most general of terms (i.e. "consistent with a handgun") unless there is a recovered projectile. They simply cannot tell otherwise, with any degree of accuracy.
All other things being equal, if anything besides the wound profile is "stopping the threat", I'd really like to know. Otherwise this information should be a controversy stopper. I am not so naive as to think it will be, however.
Shoot what you like, and learn to shoot it well. In the grand scheme of things:
- Placement is King
- Penetration is Queen
- Everything else is a Court Jester, dancing around trying to get attention.
* (It's easy to tell an FMJ round from a an expanded one, just nearly impossible to tell 9mm FMJ vs. .45ACP FMJ, for instance)
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+1. . .I do shoot some 357 mag in my snubbie though, but usually CCW 38 spcl +P.
To add, Wilson seems to think the smaller 1911's are best done in 9mm or 38 Super for reliability. . .Who am I to argue.
My "mini" is a larger P40 in 40 or a smaller P32 in 32 ACP. No 9's for me yet.
The Army .45 takes no jive...
Big ups to the .45acp.
It's a good caliber & a proven stopper but the .357sig is slicker & sleeker.
It's like a 911 Turbo & a F150 pick-up, .
I packed a 1911a1 .45acp for 12mo in the armed forces & shot a few .45acp pistols that were worth owning but I'm not going to say it's better than a .357sig, a .40S&W or a 9x19mm(9mmNATO) either.
CF
Big ups to the .45acp.
It's a good caliber & a proven stopper but the .357sig is slicker & sleeker.
It's like a 911 Turbo & a F150 pick-up,
.I packed a 1911a1 .45acp for 12mo in the armed forces & shot a few .45acp pistols that were worth owning but I'm not going to say it's better than a .357sig, a .40S&W or a 9x19mm(9mmNATO) either.
CF
9mm, . . . I think part of the conversation deals with the fact that they cannot be the same weight, . . . by their own inherent design.
The 9mm can be loaded down if I remember correctly to about 90 grains or 115, . . . but the .44 and .45 can be boosted up to almost 300 grains, . . . and that most definitely WILL make a difference.
Using a 125 grain round nose ball ammo (FMJ) out of a hot .357 will most likely just put a .357 hole clear through the person if it does not hit a bone.
OTOH, . . . a 275 grain soft lead hollow point coming out of a .44 or .45 at about 750 ft per second, . . . the wound channel would closely resemble the grand canyon.
But, . . . it's all academic if the shooter can't hit the target. That's the important part.
May God bless,
Dwight
The 9mm can be loaded down if I remember correctly to about 90 grains or 115, . . . but the .44 and .45 can be boosted up to almost 300 grains, . . . and that most definitely WILL make a difference.
Using a 125 grain round nose ball ammo (FMJ) out of a hot .357 will most likely just put a .357 hole clear through the person if it does not hit a bone.
OTOH, . . . a 275 grain soft lead hollow point coming out of a .44 or .45 at about 750 ft per second, . . . the wound channel would closely resemble the grand canyon.
But, . . . it's all academic if the shooter can't hit the target. That's the important part.
May God bless,
Dwight
Weight and 'dress' are often the factors I go by. I might have a Jennings 22 one day, or the Beretta or Taurus PT22's, or my 3913, or Ruger SS357 and I've even carried my SRH in 44Mag. I feel comfortable will any of them at any time.
I may even get a G27 to match a G26 I'm fond of. Wife keeps taking off with that last one.
I've also carried a Colt Commamder, 1911, and even the wife's TCP. I've found all the be accurate and reliable. Now, if I could just get an Alaskan I like!
Mostly though, I think I prefer the 9mm G26 most of all.
I may even get a G27 to match a G26 I'm fond of. Wife keeps taking off with that last one.
I've also carried a Colt Commamder, 1911, and even the wife's TCP. I've found all the be accurate and reliable. Now, if I could just get an Alaskan I like!
Mostly though, I think I prefer the 9mm G26 most of all.
carprivershooter
New member
It would depend on what was out of the safe on any given day. I have no save queens. THey all get a chance to get some fresh air.