9MM or 45.

[cerberus65]

I highly recommend buying several of each. Or if you have a range with a well-stocked rental case you could rent several of each. Eventually, you will find one that speaks to you.

 

[romma]

What caliber for caliber war threads?

 

[AStone]

Find a a pistol that fits your hand, train with it, and stock up on some ammo.

Best advice of the thread, so far in terms of the pistol caliber question ... IMO, of course.

Reasonable points being made about the most appropriate gun for one of those hypothetical situations.

It's not clear, Shevrock, from your OP whether you already own other guns and are just looking to add a pistol, or whether this pistol is to be your primary (or even only) weapon. If the latter, then that changes things, potentially substantially ... again, IMO.

Can you clarify that?

 

[harbinger_j]

*SIGH*

SHTF how long do you think you will really last? Is it really relivant what caliber you have? Not really. Just buy a gun stock up on ammo and dont worry about it. You can always shoot other folks that have ammo and take it from them.........oh wait thats not a very nice thing to do.

+1 Eric F

 

[Mark K. C.]

It is all about shot placement. I would rather take a .45 slug in the leg or arm than take a .25 somewhere between my top lip and eyebrows.

 

[Mongrel]

Not much to add other than to respectfully submit that as someone who shoots .45 ACP in a Commander sized package, I find similar sized service pistols in 9mm to have a noticeably sharper recoil and report.

The easiest way I have found to describe it is using the analogy of a large dog (.45) that goes "WOOF" and a smaller dog that goes "YAP". I personally find the "woof" of a large dog comforting and easy to control. I find the "yap" of a small dog rather annoying and 'snappy' in the wrist.

Interestingly enough, if I had to be honest about it, the .357/.38 special 'platform' (geez did I just say that?) seems to offer about the most options for any given situation simply by changing bullet types. This makes the 9mm "penetration" is superior to .45 and the .45 "knockdown" power is superior to 9mm arguments relatively inconsequential. Considering how cheap it is to shoot .38s and the penetration of the .357 magnum you get the best of both worlds in one handgun that is available in a multitude of frame sizes-some of which even offer 8 round cylinders. And while 9mm and .45 ACP carbines are getting harder to find, there are a good number of .357/.38 carbines available in a trustworthy and benign looking lever-action.

Obviously, concealabilty of large frame revolver is slightly more difficult...but you did say SHTF did you not?

 

[OFT]

:banghead:

 

[chubbmann]

I have both and like to shoot them both. They are good in there own right and the recoil is almost the same. I have to say I like shooting my .45 more though.

 

[Kosh75287]

I'd spend some extra money, buy a well set up M1911A1 with a .22 LR conversion kit, and practice with both until you're proficient. THEN, I would shop around for a well set up Browning P-35 in 9mm, and practice with IT until proficient. With those three calibers, you're pretty well assured of being able to find ammo for ONE of them. Adding a 4" barreled (or longer) .357Mag would also broaden your ammo scrounging choices. The gent who mentioned getting a .357 carbine might have been halfway joking, but that would be a good addition, too.

 

[Magnus1959]

I decided to get the .45 first. It's a Glock 21 with 13 round magazines so not worried about running out of ammo. I plan on getting a 9 MM somewhere down the line. Mainly for the range.

 

[Kosh75287]

Magnus1959, there's SOMEone out there, making .22 LR conversion kits for your Glock. It sure makes learning how to shoot it a lot more pleasant, and probably faster.

 

[FerFAL]

SHTF/TEOTWAWKI aren’t popular words around here, so lets try to rephrase that a bit.

What would be the do it all, readily available in spite of ammo shortages caliber? Something that works, it’s chap to buy lots of and keep handy for a rainy day, or if ammo prices go up to prohibitive levels.

Yes, that would be 9mm. You can buy a lot of FMJ for practice and enough JHP to last you a lifetime and the ones of your grand kids.

Premium JHP 9mm works very well for self defense.

This reminds me of something.
A friend of mine inherited a double barrel .32 shotgun pistol. Cool looking gun.

Grandpa was wise enough to leave LOTS of ammo for that thing.

We shot a lot of that stuff, .32 paper shotshells over 50 years old. Very few rounds refused to go off, like 1 in 200 or so.

The gun isn’t tactciool or anything, but blows big holes and is better than a sharp stick.
I’ll make sure my kids have guns that last 100 years too, and ammo for them

FerFAL

 

[shevrock]

I'm leaning towards 9mm, which i fired my grandpas 9mm. it's nice. Do 1911's and glock come in 9mm.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

YOU CAN GET A 9MM
in just about anything

glock ,xd ,1911 platform, just about anything

 

[357wheelgunner]

You can get a pair of Sig P6s in 9mm now, for less than a new Glock. They're great guns

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SIG-225.aspx

9mm > .45

Especially for SHTF, etc., because 9mm is much cheaper to practice with and stock up on than .45. If you want a handy carbine, 9mm really moves out of a 16" barrel, and they both take the same ammo. Hopefully I'll be buying a fun little Vector Uzi soon, to go along with my new Sigs.

My lolSHTF handguns are .357 (4" K-frames), because .38 LSWCHP+P is so cheap to stock up on, and has been putting badguys where they belong for many decades. My lolSHTF longuns are 12G shotguns, also very very cheap to buy slugs and buckshot on sale. 12G slugs and buckshot have also been putting badguys where they belong for many decades. Neither S&W K-frames or Remington 870s look evil (unless someone has made them all "tactical" and whatnot). Both are very easy to learn to operate.

 

[DougDubya]

Round and round the mulberry bush,
Deesie dosie daisy
I'll just keep a .38 Special
'cuz I'm mentally lazy!

 

[seeker_two]

What caliber for caliber war threads?

Doesn't matter.....you can't kill a thread like this with any weapon known to man....

 

[Eric F]

TEOTWAWKI

What does this mean? some one send me a pm...............oh yeah this thread sucks. Sory for the language just how I feel right now.

It means, "The end of the world as we know it."

 

[AK-47Ghost]

Well, if you really want to open a can of worms, what about 10mm Auto???

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

This particular thread had a good response or two to be sure in my opinion, but being but one of what seems like 10K 9mm vs. 45 threads, it was already going downhill fast and there are so many similar caliber discussions (wars, debates, opinions or whatever) that yet another carbon copy does nothing, especially considering how these things eventually generate enough angst to wind up getting folks in trouble and generate a pile of complaints for the moderators. Let's just say that this latest resurrection of this neverending caliber discussion has run its course and move on to something else.

Thanks in advance.