My Personal Handgun Caliber Dogma

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LookAtYou

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9mm/The King: Adequate ballistics for self-defense use with quality Hollow Points, which are plenty. Best capacity, the variety of gun size options, recoil is mild (depending on size of gun).


.40/The Optimal Powerhouse: This is the best go-to if what you desire is best firepower. Big expansion (more than .357 generally), RELIABLE expansion (more reliable than .45), better capacity than .45 ACP or .357mag. Comes with more recoil than 9 (and .45 depending on specific loads), but still considered controllable by many. Less recoil than .357sig or 10mm, allowing for quicker rapid shots. More ccw sized guns compared to 10mm or .357sig. This is for those who don't wanna think twice if their weapon will "perform" if needed. I'd settle for this over .357sig or 10mm. More power than this, and I'd go for a .556 rifle.


.380/The Useful Little Guy: Of course less powerful than the other calibers listed, but it's still powerful enough for self-defense. Almost non-existent or more recoil depending on size of gun, very concealable. Can even be pocketed with ease.

.357 Mag: Powerful and effective, but it doesn't beat .40 as far as overall firepower. Not just thinking foot pounds of energy, but also capacity, reliability and size of expansion, ease of shooting (effective shots). .357 mag has more force and reliable (yet smaller) expansion than .40 (because of higher velocity). But 7 shots? Can have twice as much of .40.

.38 Special/The Go Between: Less powerful than 9mm, and more powerful than .380 (generally). Great variety of gun sizes (can be pocketed), recoil is mild/moderate depending on load and gun size, capacity is meh.

.45 ACP: It works. Capacity is decent, less than 9 or .40 tho. Good sized round, but expansion reliability has proven to be iffy in under relatively long barrel lengths (4.5-5"). Recoil can be less or more than .40, depends on load.

All with self-defense against humans in mind.
 
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9mm/The King: Adequate ballistics for self-defense use with quality Hollow Points, which are plenty. Best capacity, the variety of gun size options, recoil is mild (depending on size of gun).


.40/The Powerhouse: This is the best go-to if what you desire is best firepower. Big expansion, RELIABLE expansion (more reliable than .45), better capacity than .45. Comes with more recoil than 9 (and .45 depending on specific loads), but still considered controllable by many. This is for those who don't wanna think twice if their weapon will "perform" if needed.


.380/The Useful Little Guy: Of course less powerful than the other calibers listed, but it's still powerful enough for self-defense. Almost non-existent or more recoil depending on size of gun, very concealable. Can even be pocketed with ease.

.357 Mag: Powerful and effective, but it doesn't beat .40 as far as overall firepower. Not just thinking foot pounds of energy, but also capacity, reliability and size of expansion, ease of shooting (effective shots). .357 mag has more force and reliable expansion than .40 (because of higher velocity). But 7 shots? Can have twice as much of .40.

.38 Special/The Go Between: Less powerful than 9mm, and more powerful than .380 (generally). Good variety of gun sizes, recoil is mild/moderate depending on load and gun size, capacity is meh.

.45 ACP/It works: Capacity is decent, less than 9 or .40 tho. Good sized round, but expansion reliability has proven to be iffy in under relatively long barrel lengths (4.5-5"). Recoil can be less or more than .40, depends on load.
you may want to determine your size/weight parameters before choosing based upon your criteria. there is a reason people choose what they choose other than firepower.

luck,

murf
 
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine differs somewhat from the OP's but I won't bore anyone with it. Put any of the calibers mentioned where it is supposed to go and it is game over. The problem with any of them is placing them where they need to be placed and that isn't a caliber problem.
 
9mm/The King: Adequate ballistics for self-defense use with quality Hollow Points, which are plenty. Best capacity, the variety of gun size options, recoil is mild (depending on size of gun).


.40/The Powerhouse: This is the best go-to if what you desire is best firepower. Big expansion, RELIABLE expansion (more reliable than .45), better capacity than .45. Comes with more recoil than 9 (and .45 depending on specific loads), but still considered controllable by many. This is for those who don't wanna think twice if their weapon will "perform" if needed.


.380/The Useful Little Guy: Of course less powerful than the other calibers listed, but it's still powerful enough for self-defense. Almost non-existent or more recoil depending on size of gun, very concealable. Can even be pocketed with ease.

.357 Mag: Powerful and effective, but it doesn't beat .40 as far as overall firepower. Not just thinking foot pounds of energy, but also capacity, reliability and size of expansion, ease of shooting (effective shots). .357 mag has more force and reliable expansion than .40 (because of higher velocity). But 7 shots? Can have twice as much of .40.

.38 Special/The Go Between: Less powerful than 9mm, and more powerful than .380 (generally). Good variety of gun sizes, recoil is mild/moderate depending on load and gun size, capacity is meh.

.45 ACP/It works: Capacity is decent, less than 9 or .40 tho. Good sized round, but expansion reliability has proven to be iffy in under relatively long barrel lengths (4.5-5"). Recoil can be less or more than .40, depends on load.
I like the names you gave them, but the borders between the calibers as you go up in size and power get so muddied by bullet weight, powder load, specific gun, and shooter capability, that they can't be seen because they overlap so much.

I don't own a .380, and I don't care much for 9mm. .40S&W is what I carry as a "daily driver", but I'd rather have something heavier in the woods, and it would be nothing less than 10mm, and .41M is an option for me. .45 Auto may not float a lot of peoples' boats, but it did well enough in two World Wars and a bunch of brush fires in between them that I feel it has proven itself as entirely adequate as a man stopper.
 
If you can handle a 40 then get it. More stopping power. But if can’t handle it then a well placed 9, 380 or whatever beats a crap shot with a 40 any day. Why not a 357 sig? Not sure if it beats 40 cal or not. Just a thought.
 
If you can handle a 40 then get it. More stopping power. But if can’t handle it then a well placed 9, 380 or whatever beats a crap shot with a 40 any day. Why not a 357 sig? Not sure if it beats 40 cal or not. Just a thought.
Same reason I prefer .40 over 10mm, less recoil. Also more capacity. Also .40 generally expands larger than .357 sig. I really like the Winchester Defender 180 Grain Ballistics. Pretty much whoever tests this round gets great results, here's one from a 3.5" barrel.
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Same reasons I prefer .40 over 10mm. Less recoil, more capacity. Also .40 generally expands larger than .357 sig. I really like the Winchester Defender 180 Grain Ballistics. Pretty much whoever tests this round gets great results, here's one from a 3.5" barrel.
Last 40 I had loaded up w Wally World special hollow points. Had a negligent discharge. Went through two panels of Sheetrock a dress and stopped. Thankfully thats all it went through but wasn’t impressed. Oh and it was a sun dress not some super thick winter deal. Could have been the crappy ammo. Still have the bullet somewhere.
 
That depends entirely on the gun. The G20 doesn't seem to have more felt recoil than the G22 to me. Same capacity.
True. I keep in mind ability to CCW as well. So for .357 sig I imagine the Glock 32. And .40, like a M&P Compact or Glock 23.
 
I like the names you gave them, but the borders between the calibers as you go up in size and power get so muddied by bullet weight, powder load, specific gun, and shooter capability, that they can't be seen because they overlap so much.

I don't own a .380, and I don't care much for 9mm. .40S&W is what I carry as a "daily driver", but I'd rather have something heavier in the woods, and it would be nothing less than 10mm, and .41M is an option for me. .45 Auto may not float a lot of peoples' boats, but it did well enough in two World Wars and a bunch of brush fires in between them that I feel it has proven itself as entirely adequate as a man stopper.
My preferred loads for each.
.380: Winchester 95 Gr Flat Nose FMJ/Any gun
.38 Special: Federal 158 Gr LSWCHP +P, or a 148 Gr Wad Cutter/3" Barrel.
9mm: Winchester Defender 147 Grain JHP/3.6" Barrel
.40: Winchester Defender 180 Grain JHP/4" Barrel
.357 Mag: Hornady Critical Defense FTX 125 Grain, or Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 Grain/3" Barrel.
 

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I feel it's much more recoil than necessary over the .40, also less capacity. If I wanted power, I'd settle for .40.
10mm has less magazine capacity? I dont think so... The 40 is a 10mm short. They use the same bullet and case diameter. The difference is grip size.

To me, 9mm is for duty work. Its boring. If im shooting a .355 bullet, its gonna be 38 Super!

Recoil is subjective. Small guy with small hands is likely to dislike the 10mm. Big guy with big hands will soak up that recoil.
 
.357 mag 7 shots.
.40 (M&P40 Compact) 14 Shots.
Seems to me this is an argument in favor of "spray and pray" vs "marksmanship" theory of gun fighting, but, okay.
357 mag has more force and reliable (yet smaller) expansion than .40 (because of higher velocity). But 7 shots? Can have twice as much of .40.
What about .357 Sig? Exact same capacity as the .40 Short & Wimpy with identical ballistics to the 125 grn .357 Mag.
 
I can do everything that I need to do with a 9mm and a 10mm pistol. 9mm is available in guns small enough to be easily concealed, or in full size pistols holding 17 or more rounds. 124 gr +p loads come within 50 fps of real world 357 mag 125 gr velocities. That is good enough for me to be comfortable with for SD against human threats.

The best 10mm loads push a 200 gr hardcast bullet at 1300 fps and is more than enough for black bear protection and there are lighter loads if full power loads aren't needed. Plus I can shoot 40 S&W in the same pistol.
 
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