There Is No Magic Bullet
The constant argument with guns, especially handguns, is which caliber is superior to others in a gunfight. This subject can, and often does, reach rather stupid and emotionally-charged levels. Of course, whatever caliber I choose to carry must be the best, whatever that means, and all others are inadequate. I can choose virtually any standard handgun caliber and make a valid argument, with historical citations, as to why it should be considered better than all others. Which is exactly what I would like to do, since it would irrefutably validate my decision to carry a gun in that caliber.
Let's find out, as my intention is to be so convincing that you would have no other logical choice than to agree with me. The caliber that I believe to be best, and will prove just that, has been used for many years by both military and law enforcement. Others have prevailed in gunfights while using it. It fires a relatively high-velocity bullet that can do extreme terminal damage. Handguns in this caliber can be easy to carry and can hold a lot of cartridges. There is really no other choice for a defensive handgun.
All of that is true. What I left out was the caliber itself, because it doesn't matter. You pick one and that's the one. Most handgun calibers, whether 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 45 ACP (to name some common calibers) are really not much. I know you have heard about "one shot stops" with whatever, or what works in ballistic gelatin, but if you happen to be shooting living creatures, anything from about 380 ACP on up will do pretty much the same thing - it will punch a hole into whatever you happen to hit.
None of these calibers will just blow the bad guy down with one shot. If you want to do that, you are better off with a 12 gauge riot gun loaded with buckshot, though there's no guarantee it will work either. Handguns just do not have the power of a shotgun or a rifle, and there is so little difference between the various handgun calibers that your choice should really be based on what you shoot best, since hits count and nothing else really matters. Don't worry about what some expert says. It's what you can use effectively to deliver multiple hits into the target until the target falls down that should be important - actually vital - to you. What do you shoot best?
Let's find out, as my intention is to be so convincing that you would have no other logical choice than to agree with me. The caliber that I believe to be best, and will prove just that, has been used for many years by both military and law enforcement. Others have prevailed in gunfights while using it. It fires a relatively high-velocity bullet that can do extreme terminal damage. Handguns in this caliber can be easy to carry and can hold a lot of cartridges. There is really no other choice for a defensive handgun.
All of that is true. What I left out was the caliber itself, because it doesn't matter. You pick one and that's the one. Most handgun calibers, whether 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 45 ACP (to name some common calibers) are really not much. I know you have heard about "one shot stops" with whatever, or what works in ballistic gelatin, but if you happen to be shooting living creatures, anything from about 380 ACP on up will do pretty much the same thing - it will punch a hole into whatever you happen to hit.
None of these calibers will just blow the bad guy down with one shot. If you want to do that, you are better off with a 12 gauge riot gun loaded with buckshot, though there's no guarantee it will work either. Handguns just do not have the power of a shotgun or a rifle, and there is so little difference between the various handgun calibers that your choice should really be based on what you shoot best, since hits count and nothing else really matters. Don't worry about what some expert says. It's what you can use effectively to deliver multiple hits into the target until the target falls down that should be important - actually vital - to you. What do you shoot best?
Comments