Which caliber would you prefer for HD duty?

Which caliber would you prefer for HD duty?

  • Total voters
    165
M

microman

New member
Out of the two calibers which would you choose to defend yourself when the goblins break in at 3am?

I love both and think the .45 acp with a big bullet would be great but, I think I am still leaning towards the .357

What do you all prefer?
 
I prefer good locks and a security system, along with a yappy dog to give me advance notice of golbins trying to break in but...since this is a firearms forum..

I have and use both 357mag and 45acp and think both are excellent choices for home defense. I do have a preference for subsonic ammo in an enclosed area like a house so my vote would be for the .45 or the 357 loaded with 38+P ammo.
 
I think a lot depends on location and your preference.

Strictly looking at SD,

I would lean more towards the 357 where 4 legged predators could be a consideration.

Other than that, I REALLY like the 45 due to its fairly low recoil, capacity, lower muzzle blast/flash.

It is close either way. I think both will work just fine for you. It is going to come down to whether you are more comfortable with a pistol or revolver.
 
Absolutely a choice of personal preference here and I tend to lean towards the semi's. My 1911-A1 may be a century old (design-wise), but I would trust my life with it 24/7.

That being said, if I had to give up my auto's and use a .357 for HD/CCW, I would just learn the correct procedure for quick speed-loading so I could carry at least 18 rounds with me (yes--I live in one of those areas).

-Cheers
 
My vote, between the two, goes for the .45ACP. I tend to favor a wheelgun, so would look for a .45 revolver (S&W 625, 17 of 22, etc.) and stick with that.

Both are great catridges to rely on, but I would opt for the .45 because of what it doesn't offer compared to the .357, namely reduced flash and report. HD use would likely be indoors, and in the dark, where the brighter flash and much louder shot-report of the .357 would be a danger of disorienting you. Plus I would worry less about over-pen and hitting something I didn't intend to with the bigger .45 over the screaming .357, but it is still a cause for concern.

If we're talking rural defense, especially against large critters, I may think differently.
 
Both are great. Given a choice, I'd go with the .45acp due to the larger bullet size. I equate that to a bigger hole and a quicker stop but can't say that the .45 really world that much better.

From a platform, I prefer shooting my 1911 over my revolver so again, it gets the nod.
 
Since we are talking home defense, that boils down to which round I would rather shoot without hearing protection. In that case the .45 ACP wins hands down.

I shot a .357 without hearing protection once, in 1996, and my left ear hasn't stopped ringing since.

Shooting a .45 indoors with no hearing protection wouldn't be a treat either, but in my opinion, a .357 fired indoors would almost qualify as a stun grenade.
 
For HD I voted .45. Love both rounds but I think the .45 is more likely to stay in the target leaving over penetration as less of a concern. Far more desirable, especially in an urban environment.
 
I've heard a 357 indoors without hearing protection. I keep a 45acp with me around the house. Plus- my girlfriend can shoot a .45, the magnum is a different story.
 
Save your ears... .45ACP. Make it a revolver to keep it simple. My Model 22-4 with 185 gr. HPs (bottom below) is a nice backup to my 870/00 pump shotgun and is itself backed up by a Model 64 (top below) loaded with .38 special 158 gr. LSWCHP +Ps (the FBI load).

DSC01627.jpg
 
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Either one would be an excellent option, and I have carried both at one time or another. I have returned to revolvers, and IMHO the .357 Magnum revolver is the most Versatile of all. With the .357 Magnum platform you can shoot everything from lite 38 special loads to full house .357 Magnum hunting loads.

My night stand gun is an M-66 2 1/2" the first four (4) ROUNDS are 38 special +P, the last two (2) are hot 158Gr .357 Magnum LSWC.

My vote is to go with the .357 Magnum.
 
.357 Magnum loaded with 158grn JHP's. That type of loading will give you about the same effectiveness as a 125grn .357 but it will penetrate deeper (an asset in my circumstances) and have less flash and noise.
 
Ill go with the 45,ever shot a 357 indoors without hearing protection?
Ill take big and slow for indoors HD For a number of reasons.
 
I love both and think the .45 acp with a big bullet would be great but, I think I am still leaning towards the .357

What do you all prefer?
Click to expand...

If you're a geezer like me, and you're aware of the ear splitting hearing destroying blast of the .357 fired indoors (or God forbid, an automobile), then you may lean towards the .45ACP. Especially if you only have one ear left already, like me.

Yes, I know, at a time like that, who thinks about their hearing. Rememer that auditory exclusion (you aren't aware of the sound) while under high stress doesn't prevent hearing damage.

I have a friend who was hunting rabbits in a ravine and forgot he didn't have his hearing protectors on. He fired his .357 at a jack and it hurt his ears so bad, he dropped his gun and grabbed his ears.

Just one perspective that one may want to consider.

I also have electronic hearing protectors close by that amplifiy the right kind of sound and block the other kind---if I have time to get to them.:cool:

Personally, I'm armed with either a 9mm, .40 cal. or .45ACP---with .38 for BUG. I like the .45ACP just fine and my home defense gun is the one I carried that day:cool:.
 
45 ACP

Both are great calibers for the HD application. But the .45 ACP can be had in a variety of pistols that have high magazine capacity.

6-7 rounds of .357 vs 14 rounds of .45. Which will it be? Easy choice for me.
 
S & W Model 1917

I sleep on my S&W 1917 Revolver, loaded with a full moon clip of 45ACP hollow points and three more loaded full moons on the night stand.
When partially asleep, a wheel gun is virtually foolproof.
I have offered to bet I can fire 12 rounds from my 1917 faster than anyone can with their 1911. Thanks to full moon clips.
Hope I never need to use it.

Semper Fi,
Tom
 
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