Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruin
Oh yay... the great caliber debate.
Here's the way I see it. A weapon is only as effective as it's shooter. Sure, we always like to think bigger is better. But that's only true in one place. And since you're not at a bar looking for fun, I say a different type of logic can be applied.
Pick and use the caliber you are most comfortable shooting. I own 9mms and .45s. I have fried everything from a .22lr pistol all the way to a Desert Eagle .50AE. There's a reason I own 4 9mms. I'm a better shot with a 9mm. Sure, I can hit my target every time with the .45. But I can hit a playing card sized area with my 9mm every time.
If you're carrying a weapon for self defense, as a civilian, your aim will automatically go to hell the moment you need to use it. You're not used to combat. Adrenaline flows... "oh my god, is this guy really pulling a gun on me?" "How do I react? Can I reach my gun? Can I talk him down? What if he shoots first? What's behind him? Is my safety on? Did I keep one in the chamber?" You can sit here and answer these kind of questions all you want while arm-chairing it behind the PC. Fact is, until you need to use your weapon, you don't know what it's like.
A bullet is a bullet is a bullet. From .380 to .45 if you shoot someone with your pistol, and you can deliver multiple and accurate rounds to center mass, you WILL stop your threat (barring any odd substances like PCP, in which case a 7.62 is the smallest you want... an AK47). But, in the eyes of the law, you are responsible for every round that leaves your firearm.
Trust me, when the time comes to engage that threat... unless you've experienced it several times before, instincts and biology kick in. Want to know what it's like? Run a mile or two, and then drop and do 100 push ups (non-stop) then get up and engage a man sized target at a range from 15 feet away. See how you do.
For those of you who are thinking "TL;DR" it's simple... pick a caliber you're effective at shooting and can afford to keep practicing with. If you can afford 10mm, are a good shot, and can afford a few hundred rounds a month to maintain proficiency, have at. Personally I prefer accuracy and quantity over "stopping power" (such a relative term) any day.
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Very well said! I own a 9mm, she holds 19 plus 1 in the pipe, If there's a threat coming towards me and I can't stop it with 20 rounds of 9mm, either I'm the worst shooter ever, or what ever is coming at me isn't human. I also prefer quantity (think multiple threats) and accuracy over stopping power.
But yea a sturdy case, trigger locks for transporting, bore snakes are nice, I use Hoppe's #9 solvent for cleaning, and Hoppe's lubricating oil. I use a Blackhawk Serpa holster, extra magazines, 2 mag holster. For ear protection, Caldwell makes good muffs, I like the electronic set they make. Check out midwayusa.com they have just about everything you need for shooting, also great prices, and customer service.