[norco55]

I hear about people talking about this gun is too small for self defense. So what do you think is the smallest gun for S.D?? I believe it is a .380/ .38 sp Some think it is too small but I think it is a smart choice so the bullet doesn't travel thru the offender and the kids down the hall or across the street. I've toyed with the idea of a .40 call for the nock down power and who knows might still buy one. But am thinking a 9mm with some rangerT or some corbon ammo will be just as good. My wife shoots a .380 for nothing more then the size of it. I also have a .38 sp and a 45 acp. So am in means on the short draw for a handgun. Thanks for the thoughts

 

[Rob]

I'd say that what you can shoot comfortably and accurately is what you'd want for self defence. Better to hit with .38 or 9mm than miss with a 10mm!

 

[WarDawg45]

The penetration problem is an issue with no matter what you decide and Rob's advice is good and sound. It's all about comfort and accuracy. I have 3 weapons immediately at my disposal by the bed and which one I grab would depend on the scenario. If someone actually breaches to my bedroom door or I need to secure my outer perimeter, my 1911 with Tac light. If it's a front or back door breach, my Winchester Defender 12ga loaded with steel shot. If it's a middle of the living room breach my trusty Marlin .22 rifle with 10 rounds. Background, fire tunnels and enemy number's all play a role in my choice and it is automatic which one I reach for. Constantly train yourself mentally for all scenarios of what you would do and the problems you encounter and the solution will prevent itself to you and the answer to your question will be revealed. It doesn't really matter the calibre size, because I have seen a .25 drop a 255lbs man in mid stride and witnessed a man take six rounds from a .357 in the stomach and not only survive, but defeated his attacker with a clock radio.

 

[KentR]

I agree with Rob and Wardawg! Some people argue that .40 has more "knock down power" than the 9mm... but 9mm has less recoil, which means you get back on target faster, more rounds in the mags, and cheaper to train with... would I want to get shot with either? heck no... not even a .22... but I train regularly in recoil management so my .40 works just fine for me!

 

[blackriderhank]

Good points made by all. Gotta love wardawg. I keep my Rem. 870 w/ buckshot by my bed every night. My G17 goes every where I go including bed. Remember a .22 LR round is very dangerous, and can easily kill. I would not like being shot with any modern round of any caliber period, they can all kill. Wardawg correct me if Im wrong but most SD shootings happen from 7-10 feet and happens very fast. So about any round you use the bad guy will feel it the next day

 

[KeithD]

Theres a saying in the industry, "Ametuers talk hardware. Proffesionals talk software."

Most of caliber choice is all opinion. If there was one wonder caliber that did everything, everyone would be using it. First and foremost, handguns suck at killing people. Dont believe that take a tour of detroit metro hospitol and see how many peopl survive pistol wounds.

Wound balistics are a complex field that has so many variable its not funny. Modern ballistics are so good that there is really only small diferences in between the 3 most popular defense calibers, 9mm, .40 and .45 acp.

What we start looking at is not only the balistics of the caliber but what it offers us in other aspects.
For me the 9mm is the best all around defense caliber and here why.

Round count: Round count is almost number one. We have seen time and time again .22 caliber pistols killing someone in one shot and someone taking 20 rounds of .40 and still trying to kill officers. Rare but it does happen. The point is we dont know how many rounds it may take to neutralize a threat. Taking on an EDP, intoxicated, or multiple threats at one time I really would feel more comfortable with my g17 and 15 rounds than my g36 with 7 rounds.

So, usually a 9mm will offer more rounds in the pistol. Hopefully also reducing the chance of having to reload, which takes you out of the fight for sometimes seconds at a time depending on skill level.

Recoil Managment: Anyone that actually knows defensive shooting will tell you the most important thing is to neutralize your threat ASAP. And you do that by putting as many holes in it as possible as quickly as possible. Now, YOU may be able to shoot a .40 cal faster than ME but YOU can put more rounds on target faster with a 9mm than YOU can with a .40 cal. Like I stated before in a multiple target situation you would want to shoot as fast as possible to gain more hits on multiple targets.

Cost and availabiltiy: Can you find the ammo to shoot and train like you should to be able to protect yourself and loved ones. 9mm is cheaper and easier to find than most other calibers there for i can train more with my money.

Like I said these are my personal opinions and should be treated as such. reguardless of what you have train with it and train often.

 

[blackriderhank]

KeithD,
Good post and good points. SD is not a constant and each situation differs. I have heard many people say the best use of a pistol is to fight your way to your rifle. Depending on the site of self defense I agree somewhat with this except if attacked in my home I fight my way to my shotgun. As I earlier posted most SD situations with sidearms are very close range and happens in seconds. At the end of the day if I put down the BG in the street and get home safe, I don't care if a doctor safes his life or not. BG dies bury him BG lives he goes to prison

 

[KentR]

nice to see you on here Keith! I'm glad you noticed my suggestion on facebook!

(note to everyone: this is my instructor with the mad skills i was telling you about!)

 

[bearone2]

9mm is the smallest to me.

 

[sfguard]

I'd say that what you can shoot comfortably and accurately is what you'd want for self defence. Better to hit with .38 or 9mm than miss with a 10mm!

This one. Shot placement is much more important than caliber. Lots of people want to argue caliber. Why I don't know. If you can't score a hit in the vitals than it don't matter what you shoot them with. To spite what some think nobody is going to die instantly from a 45acp or a 10mm shot to the hand or lower arm etc. Plus if you miss altogether....well, we in LE we call misses law suits. Anyway, I have read numerous reports from other agencies having to shoot a perp numerous times with the "wonder guns" including a guy in California that was shot 20 something times with a 10mm and still kept coming.

How, all the shots were outside of the vitals. Would he eventually drop...yes, but what would he do in the mean time. Point is carry what your comfortable with and can shoot accurate. So you can score that shot in the vitals bringing it to a end.

 

[blackriderhank]

Man sfguard this site is messing me up. Not only do I agree with you, I usually agree with dprice. Thats new but welcome and I hope you both keep posting here because I find it nice to agree for a change

 

[sfguard]

I have been on forums with the idiots as well I know what you mean. Me, I just call them the way I see it.

 

[boonejeepin]

I feel comfortable with a 9mm but I do carry a .380 from time to time.

 

[99gsspyder]

I am a firm believer that some gun is better than no gun. I would take a .22 over a knife or any other type of non-projectile SD weapon any day. But I also agree with using the largest caliber that you feel comfortable with, and a gun that you are comfortable carrying and will carry every day because the biggest, badest hand cannon wont do you any good if its sitting home in your safe.

 

[Tailhunter]

Heck, .22 will kill you as dead as you can be. I like the 9mm ... nice round.

 

[dprice77]

Somethin is better than nothin. With that said the smallest caliber I currently carry is 9mm. Altho I do have an itch for a LCP which would primarily be carried as back up. Its all about shot placement a .22 cal will kill someone with the proper shot placement. Not that Id be comfortable just havin a .22 in my pocket, but its better than just havin lint in your pocket.

 

[SgtCuts]

Here is a good true SD story that an aquaintence of mine had happen to him about 3 years ago...... He was at the atm at approx. 0215hrs in the morning when a suspicious man started towards him with a gun in hand ready to do whatever he had in his mind. My friend we will call him Tim for the purposes of this post drew a meager .22LR walther p22 and with one lucky shot above the BG's right eye down he went never to come back. Needless to say the BG died on the spot but it just goes to show you that yes shot placement is much much much more important than caliber hell if you are really good with a .17hmr then carry it im sure it has enough rounds to at least slow someone down enough to retreat which is the only goal of SD (to go home afterwords not to the morgue) I'm sure there are those people out there that will say the point is to kill him but what I was always taught was that the objective is to stop the immediate threat and if that means you have to kill them then so be it but trust me when I say going to extra mile after the BG is already down will def take your case from SD to Premeditated unless you have johnny cockran on your side LOL

 

[__jb]

Somethin is better than nothin. With that said the smallest caliber I currently carry is 9mm. Altho I do have an itch for a LCP which would primarily be carried as back up. Its all about shot placement a .22 cal will kill someone with the proper shot placement. Not that Id be comfortable just havin a .22 in my pocket, but its better than just havin lint in your pocket.

That's a good line for your signature...

 

[__jb]

Here is a good true SD story that an aquaintence of mine had happen to him about 3 years ago...... He was at the atm at approx. 0215hrs in the morning when a suspicious man started towards him with a gun in hand ready to do whatever he had in his mind. My friend we will call him Tim for the purposes of this post drew a meager .22LR walther p22 and with one lucky shot above the BG's right eye down he went never to come back. Needless to say the BG died on the spot but it just goes to show you that yes shot placement is much much much more important than caliber hell if you are really good with a .17hmr then carry it im sure it has enough rounds to at least slow someone down enough to retreat which is the only goal of SD (to go home afterwords not to the morgue) I'm sure there are those people out there that will say the point is to kill him but what I was always taught was that the objective is to stop the immediate threat and if that means you have to kill them then so be it but trust me when I say going to extra mile after the BG is already down will def take your case from SD to Premeditated unless you have johnny cockran on your side LOL

What happened to your friend, Tim?

Did they bring any charges against him...

 

[Glocky]

Its whatever you can shoot well with. A .22 can kill. I carry 9mm because I shoot it better consistently than .40 and .45.