Caliber of choice

[jeffd]

maybe this is a basic question, but i couldnt find an answer performing a search. My wife picked out her gun of choice this past weekend - a taurus 24/7 pro 9mm. when looking, it was available in a 9mm, .40 cal and .45 cal.

for what reason would you pick a different caliber (besides maybe personal preference or a stockpile of ammo)?

thanks in advance
Jeff

 

[AStone]

Welcome to THR.

.38 spl/.357 mag.

I'm a revolver guy.

 

[jeffd]

i have an old revolver - Colt model 1925 Official Police .38 that is still in excellent condition (so much so I dont want to fire it too much). IIRC when i looked up the serial number it was manufactured in 1957 and was a service revolver for a NJ policeman. (my friends uncle).

i also have a 1903 Colt .32 that my great grandmother carried in her wheelchair until my grandparents took it away from her at the age of 94 (i found she had a full clip and 1 in the chamber)

i like both of them - but we wanted something made this century

my biggest thing was why would you want a 45 over a 40 over a 38 or a 357 or a 9mm or a 22?

 

[Hypnogator]

I would personally go with a .45 ACP.

But then, I'm not your wife. If she chose 9mm, why are you second-guessing her?

The 9mm will do what needs to be done if fed premium JHP loads, and is quite a bit softer shooting in the same model pistol than either the .40 or .45. It doesn't give quite the same stopping power as the more powerful loads, but it holds more rounds -- a fair trade-off. Plus, you'll find range ammo dirt cheap compared to the .40 or .45.

 

[jeffd]

well my question was partially for me. she picks hers up thursday and i plan on getting mine in the near future. the purpose for hers is home protection and carry in her purse. she really hated the tiny guns - and i think the dealers finally realized that not all women want a pretty pink .22 to carry.

i was asking more for why you choose a different caliber. is a .45 that much more powerful than a 9mm? some of the officers i talked with mentioned the different guns they had, and i guess i didnt realize many of the models came in the different calibers. for example - she picked out the taurus - and then they asked if she wanted the 9mm, .40 or .45 cal.

 

[jeffd]

, why are you second-guessing her?

i know if she is happy - i am happy

she is more than excited to have her own - and though i like hers and its a bonus that it also fits my big hands well, i know this means i need to get my own and stay away from hers oh darn

 

[AStone]

i like both of them - but we wanted something made this century

Both of mine were made in this century.

And there's a good reason for that: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If you're interested in an honest opinion about handguns, post in 'handguns: general discussion' - as you did.

If you're interested in semi-autos exclusively, then go to that forum.

In either case, you'll do do much better here and avoid nasty notes from the mods if you check the snarky attitude at the door.

Werd up.

my biggest thing was why would you want a 45 over a 40 over a 38 or a 357 or a 9mm or a 22?

I owned 9 mm, then traded up to .38 spl/.357 mag.

 

[jeffd]

it wasnt a snarky attitude so much as i dont want to carry something that is a bad choice. from what i have read - i could get my revolver to fire with the safety engaged. everything has a purpose. i havent seen a single thread recommending my 60 yr old revolver to carry - or my 93 yr old pistol. theres just a few things i am trying to learn

now back on target -

 

[Chris Rhines]

90% of my handgun shooting is 9mm - inexpensive, accurate, easy to shoot, easy to reload, and inexpensive. For a defensive gun, I see no reason to pick a .40 or .45 over 9mm - you're giving up capacity and ease of shooting for a mostly-incidental increase in terminal effect.

-C

 

[jeffd]

thanks chris - thats the type of info i was looking for.

so am i wrong in assuming a 9mm **might** take a couple well placed shots while a 45 would do more damage with 1?

 

[Proud Southern Son]

Here are my priorities in a combat handgun: 1) reliability, 2) accuracy (in your hands), and 3)power. I'm willing to give up some of number 2 and a little more of number 3 to get number 1.

There is a theory that the 9mm is inherently more reliable than the other two calibers you mention because of its tapered case (the .40 is "rebated" and the .45 is straight-walled) and its bullet profile. It makes sense to me, but I don't have any "relevant data" to support this theory... it just makes sense to me. I've had a lot of handguns, and it seems the 9mms have tended to be more reliable than some of the .40s and .45s, and more accurate than most of the .40s. I've had reliable and accurate .40s, I carry one these days as my working gun, but it seems like the ones less prone to issues were the nines. With a 9mm, you get cheaper ammo on average, and higher capacity in similar weapon platforms. I also believe that the 9mm is probably more ammo dependent when you talk about its effectiveness, but there are several choices in good, modern hollowpoint designs out there, and chances are you can find one that works well in the gun you choose. Just one man's opinion. Smarter people than I will give you a different one.

 

[Nushif]

for what reason would you pick a different caliber (besides maybe personal preference or a stockpile of ammo)?

I'd pick a different caliber if I didn't want my wife to get the gun she picked out.
That's about the only time.

 

[winchester1886]

As a Firearms Instructor back in the late 90's I found that most females ether couldn't handle the recoil or just didn't like the recoil of a 40 or a 45.I would recommend 9mm or a 380 auto. With any round from any firearm shot placement is the key.

 

[jonmerritt]

I have .22lr, .22m, 32s&w long, .38spcl,.357mag,.380, 9mm, .45acp. some are revolvers, some semi auto, a couple derringers. At one time or another I will carry either one, or two. depends on what I feel like. But I know I am capable of defending my life, or anyone elses with any of them (even a stick if I have too). Training and paractice is what makes the differance, preferance comes later.

 

[Skinsanity]

My PERSONAL preference is a .45, but if I were in your shoes I would take the 9mm..reasons being

1) Can stock up on one type of ammo , and 9mm is cheap and easy
2) Both of you would be familiar with the others gun
3) Can share Magazine and spare parts if needed

You arent undergunned with a 9mm, its a perfectly acceptable defense round, though some may disagree. I prefer a .45 for strictly personal reasons, but I carried a 9mm for a long time, and never felt like I wasn't packing enough to stop what needed stopping..

 

[Geckgo]

Skinsanity said it already, so this is mainly a +1 post.

Is money or storage space a problem? If you are both going to have only one handgun there are advantages to getting the same calibre. I have my .45ACP and my wife is in the ARMY and looking toward 1911s, so if she gets one then we'll be able to share ammo, defense and practice, plus it's one set of dies for the reloading press, one type of primer/powder, etc! If she changes her mind and wants a 9mm or a 380 that will be fine too.

If you really want a .45, then get a .45, but you will be giving up a lot to punch a slightly bigger hole.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For defense and carry, I go with .45 ACP.

In the woods or riding horseback, I usually carry either a .22 (Colt Woodsman) or a .45 Colt.

As an alternative to the above, I sometimes carry a Colt M357.

And now and then, as I'm going out the door, I drop a Colt Detective Special (.38 Special) in my pocket.

No need for anything else.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Generally you want as large a caliber as you can shoot well with as many rounds in it as you can. But...If you are going to carry it then compromises have to be made. Then ego gets in there as well. 9mm is probably a little less effective as a stopper than .40 or .45. I don't shoot .40 well and given a choice will never use it, but that is me. .45 would be my choice except you give up a lot of rounds in .45. A .45 in the same gun is going to have a lot less rounds in the same gun because the rounds are bigger and go in the same size magazines. I carry 9mm and its been a long time since I've owned any other caliber handgun.

 

[jeffd]

thanks all for the input sp far - it is appreciated. and a couple points were raised that i didnt think about (i.e. same caliber for both of our guns would mean 1 type of ammo and same gun would mean we are both familiar with eachothers weapons).

 

[David E]

Jeff, exactly.

For you, right now, get the same caliber. Mags and holsters, etc, interchange.

Friend and his son bought two M&P's, one in 9mm, one in .40. They have to decide which gun they're going to buy ammo for each time. Even when they buy 500 rds each, that's not the same as having 1000 rds on hand, even divided between two guns.

At a gun class or at the range, they can't get their ammo OR mags mixed up.

 

[jeffd]

David - I like, and agree, with your quote in your sig.

i could carry a .50 cal - but if i cant hit the target - it means nothing.

 

[357mag.]

I urge her to re-think her carry method,purse is a bad option imo.Hard/slow to get to pistol,get stolen often and probley the first thing a B/G is going to take from her.

 

[357_]

If the purse is designed for CCW it is perfectly acceptable. They are VERY fast to get into action if designed for it and practiced as such.

As for the purse getting stolen, as hard as you try you'll find a flaw in every method

p.s.~ Nice handle!

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

have her run a box of 'practice' ammo through it then strip down to clean includeing magazines. do it again.
then run another couple mags of good 124gr ammo to check functioning.
you should select a 'nato spec' 124gr fmj ammo for sd-hd use. cost ya' a bit more but worth it. fmj is as good as it gets. no telling what she (or you) will have to shoot through.
I have nephews that have 9's and I do too (prefer .45 Super revolver though) that stake their lives on the 9mm and carbines chambered in it.
mostly S&W 5900 series, +P capable.

 

[Hypnogator]

you should select a 'nato spec' 124gr fmj ammo for sd-hd use.

Riiiight! Guaranteed to go thru walls and bad guys, endangering family members and neighbors, while leaving pitiful little narrow wound tracks that may prove fatal, but probably only a couple of hours after the bad guy has taken it away from you and beaten you to death with it!

Think about it. Do you know ANY police department that issues 9mm FMJ's for other than specialty rounds for use against armored threats? Modern premium JHPs will expand reliably, create larger wound tracks disabling the perpetrators faster, while minimizing the risk of unintended injuries due to overpenetration. At worst, if the JHP doesn't expand, it'll still be more effective than a similar FMJ due to its broader meplat.