What's Your Favorite Handgun Caliber?

[95busa]

Originally Posted By: troyh
Originally Posted By: Indydriver

There is no such thing as a "one shot stopper".


I have often pondered that as well. In my bedroom I have a 12 gauge always loaded with 00 buck.


Handgun serves to get me to the long-gun. If the fight isn't over by the time I get to the AR or the 870, its about to be finished business. Amen.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
I thought this was interesting info.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/beginners_stopping_power.htm

"The famous 125 grain .357 JHP bullet, the most effective one shot stopper of all handgun loads, penetrates 13.25" in ordinance gelatin and produces a football shaped stretch cavity. This is how the very best bullets perform. And bullet performance has a great effect on stopping power."


There is no such thing as a "one shot stopper". Those who believe such myths make serious tactical errors such as carrying a pistol with insufficient capacity. A handgun is a remarkably inefficient killing tool so make sure you've got lots of rounds with you, whatever caliber you favor.


Agreed. And make sure you have the optimum round developed for good knockdown. My custom loads for the .45 are extra 'special', and with 2 or 3 of them I can take the fight out of almost anyone quickly.

 

[troyh]

Originally Posted By: 95busa
Originally Posted By: troyh
Originally Posted By: Indydriver

There is no such thing as a "one shot stopper".


I have often pondered that as well. In my bedroom I have a 12 gauge always loaded with 00 buck.


Handgun serves to get me to the long-gun. If the fight isn't over by the time I get to the AR or the 870, its about to be finished business. Amen.


If I carry when out, obviously the .45. However, I have become lazy and only carry here and there which I must start doing all the time.

In the home, I am not messing with a handgun. You break in and this is my world. I don't even have a pump. I keep my semiauto (Browning Maxxis) by my bed. Often others question about not having a pump, this gun has failed me much less than my semiauto handgun... as in never. Every time I have pulled trigger goes boom... even when muddy or wet.

My point of that response was if a 00 or 000 buck in the 12 gauge variety may qualify as a 1 shot stop. Something tells me it would very well be.

 

[nwjones18]

I like my Dan Wesson in .357 Maximum, second pick would be a s&w 10mm..

 

[river_rat]

Hi, Zee.
I'd also say the .357 for revolvers and .45 ACP for automatics. Hard to pick just one. (I like .40 S&W too, but don't own one.)

cheers,
Rob

 

[ZeeOSix]

I also agree with the .45 ACP for auto pistols.

 

[Astro14]

"Favorite" is so relative...I've always liked the .41 Magnum...great performance...for that reason, I've always liked the 10mm...very similar performance in an autoloader...

But I own a .40 and a 9mm...right caliber for the purpose/time...

So many good choices, it really depends on what you want to use it for...

 

[INMY01TA]

.45 is my favorite to shoot however I shoot 9mm the most. I shot a S&W 500 once and it made me want.

 

[Cujet]

I'm a fan of the 45ACP. I simply like the 1911 and the way it shoots, especially a double stack 1911, like the Para-Ord pistols.

However, they are big.

I'm not at all convinced that there is any significant difference between the various full sized calibers. They all work, and work well, when properly set up.

But, having been the victim of an actual criminal attack, I trust what I'm familiar with, the 45ACP.

Edited to add: in my case, it was 9 against 1, I had 24 rounds of 45, 12 in the gun, 12 in my extra mag. No shots were fired and the situation quickly turned in my favor. I was prepared, and I was competent.

 

[Astro14]

Not to pry CUJet, but I would be very interested in the circumstances/details of that incident...understanding how one gets into that, as well as out of that, is important...

Thanks,
Astro

 

[bigmike]

I grew up in a rough neighborhood. By neighborhood, I really mean ghetto. No pity please, because I live in a really nice and friendly neighborhood now but sometimes I wonder how I got through all my scrapes.

I was once confronted by a mob of young gentlemen in my neighborhood. It was rather late at night, but a quick counting led me to believe on the number at 16 total. They were pretty adamant in harming me until I simply announced the following to their "leader":

I have 32 rounds and 2 guns. That's 2 bullets for each of you.

I did too. I was carrying my S&W 686+ (7 shots) and Sig P239 9mm (8+1 shots) with 2 extra clips.

After that, the apparent spokesperson for the group (omitting the typical outlying individuals shouting epithets), decided to keep his distance and speak to me.

We both knew I wouldn't be able to pull both and use them for very long. He even announced that to the group, but my reply was calm and soft. I said in a whisper, you're right, but I will start with you. It was an amicable parting of ways afterward.

It took me a while to figure out the issue they had, but apparently the problem was with a friend I knew had insulted them in some manner. How this justifies their cause, I'll never know, but eventually the problem was solved in a civilized street fight. Fortunately, my friend was a vet and handled himself quite well. Most of that group moved on over the course of a few months and I never had any other trouble from them.

 

[2cool]

.357 through a Ruger GP-100. My fantasy weapon is a Coonan .357 Auto.

 

[salesrep]

.38.......357

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

Well I have 3 different carry pistols, depending on the clothing i'm wearing at the time. All proven man stoppers and fairly easy to shoot.

Glock 23 Gen4 which is a .40
Ruger 5 shot .357 mag
Springfield 1911 .45

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
I grew up in a rough neighborhood. By neighborhood, I really mean ghetto. No pity please, because I live in a really nice and friendly neighborhood now but sometimes I wonder how I got through all my scrapes.

I was once confronted by a mob of young gentlemen in my neighborhood. It was rather late at night, but a quick counting led me to believe on the number at 16 total. They were pretty adamant in harming me until I simply announced the following to their "leader":

I have 32 rounds and 2 guns. That's 2 bullets for each of you.

I did too. I was carrying my S&W 686+ (7 shots) and Sig P239 9mm (8+1 shots) with 2 extra clips.

After that, the apparent spokesperson for the group (omitting the typical outlying individuals shouting epithets), decided to keep his distance and speak to me.

We both knew I wouldn't be able to pull both and use them for very long. He even announced that to the group, but my reply was calm and soft. I said in a whisper, you're right, but I will start with you. It was an amicable parting of ways afterward.



Sounds like in the movies!