What's the best caliber for HD?

I would disagree with the arguments about hearing damage in regards to caliber selection. In the event of a self defense shooting your stress level is going to be very high. BAR (body alarm reaction) will be almost inevitable. BAR causes the body to undergo a stress induced physiological change which prepares the body for "fight of flight." Some of these changes include an elevated heart rate, tunnel vision, vasoconstriction, and auditory exclusion, among others. Its commonly reported among individuals who have defended themselves with their handgun that they never heard a single one of their shots. Yet at the same time, immediately after shooting, each piece of brass could be heard hitting the floor. Because of this, I think that its unnessesary to practice shooting without ear protection. The only thing thats going to do is cause hearing loss. During the stress of a gunfight, hearing loss is less of an issue.
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Auditory exclusion concerns what your mind perceives during the gunfight. It does not change the physical effects upon your ears. The same long term hearing damage will occur, whether you experience auditory exclusion or not.
 
Auditory exclusion concerns what your mind perceives during the gunfight. It does not change the physical effects upon your ears. The same long term hearing damage will occur, whether you experience auditory exclusion or not.
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Does that then mean that ANY handgun fired indoors without ear protection could lead to hearing loss during a HD situation?

It seems to me that noise is going to be a major factor in any HD situation - no one is really going to say 'hold on whileI put my hearing protection on' to a BG before firing! Therefore, assuming that someone doesn't have ear protection, IMHO the .45 wins this contest as it's less noisy and has less muzzle flash whilst still packing much stopping power. Sure, controlability is a factor but then that's where practice comes into the equation....

Actually this question could be posed as: "What is the order of importance with regards to all the factors mentioned above (controlability, noise etc etc) from most important to least important..."

My view is:

1. Stopping power
2. Noise/hearing loss
3. Controlability / recoil
4. Muzzle flash
5. Capacity
6. Cost
 
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Does that then mean that ANY handgun fired indoors without ear protection could lead to hearing loss during a HD situation?
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Yes. It will certainly depend upon the room, the caliber, the particular gun, how close the gun is to you when it is discharged, the particular person, etc. Different people have different susceptibility to hearing damage.

It is basically impossible to say how much hearing you might lose. It could be very minimal or it could be significant. If you are shooting at a perp, you are doing so because otherwise you will die right now. That is worth risking some hearing damage for.

1. Stopping power
2. Noise/hearing loss
3. Controlability / recoil
4. Muzzle flash
5. Capacity
6. Cost
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Honestly, I think you are way over-analyzing the issue. The difference in effectiveness between different calibers, different loads, and different guns is basically immaterial. What matters is whether or not you hit the perp in an appropriate place. A miss with a .45 ACP doesn't trump a hit in the boileroom with a .38. For me, it boils down to "do I shoot well with the gun?" If the answer is yes, I don't see the need for many more questions.

Spend more time practicing and less time looking for a talisman.
 
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If you just want one do it all caliber: 357 Rem. Magnum.
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Not to nitpick, but the correct name for the cartridge is .357 S&W Magnum. S&W was the first to bring out guns and Winchester was the first to produce ammunition in this caliber. There is, however, a cartridge named .357 Remington Maximum but it never really caught on.
 
What's the best caliber for HD?
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You might as well ask "what is the best caliber for HD and what is the best flavor of ice cream?"

Everyone knows the answer is .357mag and vanilla...but some deluded people will always feel the need to chime in with their misguided opinions. :D :p
 
Everyone knows the answer is .357mag and vanilla...but some deluded people will always feel the need to chime in with their misguided opinions.
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I disagree wholeheartedly, everyone knows that strawberry is the best:p
 
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I disagree wholeheartedly, everyone knows that strawberry is the best

Second best, mainly because the strawberry chunks clog the straw. I am a milkshake person.
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A properly done milkshake is too thick to be sucked through a straw anyway.
 
You're all wrong. Coffee flavored Blue Bell is the best ice cream in the world. Now that that's settled, back on track.
 
this was in an interesting article about shotgun loads:
Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.

In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.

For home defense applications a standard velocity 2 ¾-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice. We feel the Federal Classic 2 ¾-inch #1 buck load (F127) is slightly better than the same loads offered by Remington and Winchester. The Federal shotshell uses both a plastic shot cup and granulated plastic shot buffer to minimize post-ignition pellet deformation, whereas the Remington and Winchester loads do not.

Second best choice is Winchester's 2 ¾-inch Magnum #1 buck shotshell, which is loaded with 20 pieces of copper-plated, buffered, hardened lead #1 buckshot. For those of you who are concerned about a tight shot pattern, this shotshell will probably give you the best patterning results in number 1 buck. This load may not be a good choice for those who are recoil sensitive
 
This just has to be the first time I have ever seen a caliber discussion degrade into an argument about ice cream. That just has to be a first.

FYI: I actually prefer bargain brands since they are more like ice milk. You can't get ice milk anymore around here. :)
 
Second best choice is Winchester's 2 ¾-inch Magnum #1 buck shotshell, which is loaded with 20 pieces of copper-plated, buffered, hardened lead #1 buckshot. For those of you who are concerned about a tight shot pattern, this shotshell will probably give you the best patterning results in number 1 buck. This load may not be a good choice for those who are recoil sensitive
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it's not my second best choice, it's what my shotgun is loaded with, although my box says 16, not 20
 
in response to webleymkv

Webleymkv wrote: "Not to nitpick, but the correct name for the cartridge is .357 S&W Magnum. S&W was the first to bring out guns and Winchester was the first to produce ammunition in this caliber. There is, however, a cartridge named .357 Remington Maximum but it never really caught on."

Webleymkv... I beg to differ with all due respect. A 357 is also known as 357 Rem. Mag.

"Synonyms
.357 Mag
.357 Remington Magnum
.357 S&W Magnum
9x33mmR (Europe) "
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum
 
.45 Colt

I don't know if it is the best, but it is the one I'm using right now. If you know how to handle a Single Action Army Colt .45 you understand.

Some times I use a .357(Model 19/66 or SP-101), sometimes a .44 Magnum(Mod 29 or 629), other times I use a .45 ACP, 1911 mostly, sometimes a Glock 21, other times I use a 9 mm Parabellum, usually a Browning HP, or a Glock 19.

I'm a Master of all of those handgun types and more, some people that know me personally say that I'm a Grandmaster with most handgun types. I am, believe it or not, a modest person and try with the utmost of my ability to share and convey accurate information to other gun people.

The point I wish most to convey is a simple one, it's not the weapon, but the man behind it.

A fair analogy would be race cars, the fastest one around the track, is not necessarily the most powerful, it is usually the one with the most experienced and skillful driver.
 
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I too have to agree that the gun that fits your hand, and feels "good" and you can control in a dark room right after being woke up is your gun !

I like a .12 gauge pump with #9 as I really don't want to be tossing balls into the neighbors kids bedroom. Also the field is greatly enhanced by the pattern of a .12 gauge with 100 # 9 shot.
In the "tests" my wife and I have tried in the dark w/ laser and flashlight
a short barrel still demands more control than the .12 and I feel is not only more efficient but safer. I do however own several 45 ACP's
and my Taurus PT 945 with 4 ports will put 10, 230 gr balls into a 1'X1'
target at 10 feet in under 3 seconds. The porting keeps the barrel down and the gun stays in line of sight. Fun to practice with too.... puts all the fun back into shooting when expending all those grains of lead and copper. I also use a KDF on my .338 winnie and am shooting more and enjoying it more . .
Thank the Gods for the Dillon !!!
Blaze on Brothers !
 
I'm a Master of all of those handgun types and more, some people that know me personally say that I'm a Grandmaster with most handgun types. I am, believe it or not, a modest person and try with the utmost of my ability to share and convey accurate information to other gun people.
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Oh, yeah. You're modest all right. :rolleyes:
 
-All medium/large calibers will make your ears ring, especially firing in rapid succession

-All are fine for defense

-Flash will depend on the ammunition in many cases and not the caliber

I think you should go to a gun show and handle some and see what floats your boat. Don't over-think it, just find a gun you like and become proficient with it.
 
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