Self defense handgun choices and why.

My own self-defense criteria:
1) I really don't wish to kill anybody; I just want them to go away and leave me alone; I fire to disable, disarm or disengage
2) I don't wish to harm any persons or property not involved in the incident; ie if I miss the intended target or if the bullet doesn't stop in the target
Application of my criteria:
1) ammunition: hollow-point 380 ACP or 32 ACP
2) firearm: compact semi-auto; M&P 380 E-Z, Bersa Thunder, Walther PP

wiscoaster said:

My own self-defense criteria:
1) I really don't wish to kill anybody; I just want them to go away and leave me alone; I fire to disable, disarm or disengage

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In 1969 I led my troops across a vegetable patch after a platoon of NVA. There was an NVA lying between the rows and I stepped over him. A couple of seconds later, I heard "He's ALIVE!" Ratatattat! He had risen to a sitting position and was trying to shoot me in the back.

Sometimes disabling, disarming or disengaging doesn't work.

JTHunter said:

Vern - there were news stories some years ago, when "angel dust" (PCP) was widely distributed, of how some perps were able to run on one or more broken legs because of how powerful a pain-killer PCP was.
You are correct about "disabling, disarming or disengaging".
That is why, depending where I am, there are a little .25 ACP, a .380, or a .357 close at hand. Plus a pair of 12 gauges.

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I'll go with the .357, if I have a choice -- as a backup to my Ithaca M37.

Vern Humphrey said:

Sometimes disabling, disarming or disengaging doesn't work.

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Yes, I understand that, and also that deciphering which scenario it is takes place in a split second. I dunno. I suppose it comes down to doing what you have to do in the heat of the moment. I just don't want to predispose myself to a single outcome. I know most will disagree with me. I just think that the larger calibers are too likely to result in a bad outcome for someone else than the perp. One of the safety rules is to take into account what's beyond your target, and in the heat of the moment you just don't have the time to evaluate that.

I've got 4 I can choose from. A Walther P99, a Walther PPKs in .380, a Ruger LCP in .380 and a Ruger EC9s. The P99 has resided mostly in the bedroom the last couple years. The PPKs seems to have found a home in the safe since I got the Ruger EC9s which has become my regular holster and car gun. I like Federal Hydra-shok except for the LCP.

The EC9s is a nice size and fits my hand. I've had success with shooting it. It's small enough to carry and conceal comfortably in a holster. 9mm is a good caliber in my view.

The LCP I can carry in my pocket when clothing is not amenable to holster carry. It's a mouse gun, but .380 is ok, not very accurate at over a few paces. But it's better to have it than not to have it. I feed it ball because I've had other smaller caliber, small pistols that have had trouble with jamming with hollow point ammo, primarily Berettas in .32 and .22. I haven't bought any hollow points lately in .380 and see how it works with this pistol. I haven't been to my regular store, but it's likely to be scarce. Maybe I should stop by and see.

Got use to using my brother's SIG P228 for home defense so when he wanted it back I decided on getting one for myself. Came across an awesome deal on a P229R with the SRT, E2 grips, and night sights (along with 3 spare mags), at an unbelievable price and so I got it! Added a SIG laser/light module to it and it's still my current go-to choice in the house.

Have several compact size 9mm.s that I like to take out on occasion (Ruger SR9c, CZ P01, or a CZ P07), but for the most part it's between a Kahr CM9 or a S&W Model 638 for concealed carry. When I want to go even smaller at times, I might opt for a SIG P238 or a KelTec P3AT.

Out in the back woods I would go with either my Ruger Blackhawk Flattop .44 Special or my Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum.

Well...

On the theory that it will either be 3:00A; at my desk; or just sitting down to a meal?

My Compact GLOCK G36 .45 ACP is always at hand:


... and the SA 1911-A1 is in the desk.

GR

Regarding big-versus-little bullets, I am comfortable with knowing that all of the leading duty cartridges are designed and built to perform so very much alike, by now. I do not foresee 9mm +P 124-grain Gold Dots, fired from my Glocks, as being less-capable than .45 ACP 230-grain Gold Dots, fired from my 1911 pistols. I know that I am more likely to be more accurate, with a 1911, and the Glocks hold more per magazine, which simplifies logistics, and, in the rare event of a real-life gun-fight, might mean less manipulations will be necessary.

Of course, the revolvers I carry, more often, in real life, contain fewer cartridges than 1911 or Glock autoloader magazines. That means even more manipulation may become necessary, if one of those rare personal gunfights were to happen. I accept that, in exchange for other positive characteristics of revolvers,

I did, of course, used to largely believe in Big Boredom, in the Eighties, and, bullet performance science in those days being less-advanced, it may well have been better to be armed with larger-diameter, heavier bullets. I just wish I had not wrecked my right thumb and wrist by training so much, holding N-Frame Magnum revolvers imperfectly with my K/L-sized hands. If I could go back in time, and tell my younger self one thing, regarding firearms, it would be to stick with medium-frame .357 revolvers, which I’d had to use during the academy, for my whole LE career. (I only had to fire one defensive shot, in 33+ years of street patrol, and it was a 125-grain .357 Magnum, a “little” bullet. This was after I had phased-out my big-bore Magnums.) No worries, I would not have been deprived of 1911 pistols, as I was already a 1911 owner/fan before I had to learn DA sixgunning, when I started LEO-ing.

Today, I carry what fits in my favored handguns, and do not worry about bullet size. The care and feeding of 9mm 1911 pistols is more complex that I like, so, I use .45 ACP 1911 pistols. The larger-frame Glocks are too large for my hands, so, I use 9mm Glocks.

I use my XDM 45acp 3.8" compact for my night stand gun and IBW carry. On the night stand it has a 13 round full length magazine. When I carry it I use a 9 round magazine.
Most of the time I pocket carry a LCP2 380 or a S&W 442 38+p.
Woods carry a S&W 686+ 357 or Taurus 415 41 mag.

I'm going to start looking for a Ruger Redhawk 44 mag 5.5" barrel for hunting/woods carry.

Brutus51 - it looks like you and I have a pretty similar MO. For me, XD in 45 with tritium sights, S&W Bodyguard 380 with laser, S&W Mountain gun in 45 Colt.

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Kleanbore said:

When one is "going shooting", planning to pick up a gun and shoot at a target in front of one, it is fun to vary.

When one is not going shooting, wen one has not been thinking about shooting, when one is not going to pick up a firearm leisurely, knowing what it is, and when it is necessary to quickly detect and react to respond to an unanticipated sudden threat, and to move, draw, and fire, instantly, variety will not be helpful.

It is much better to dispense with the process of identifying which gun one is carrying, adapting to its grip, balance, sight picture, and trigger, after becoming alert to the emergence of a sudden threat and reacting to it.

It is a basic tenet of human factors engineering that one should have to do the same thing the same way with very similar equipment every time when serious emergencies arise.

"Lessee.... I reach for the ejection seat control....".

One should get one's priorities in order.

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Funny you should mention that -- transitioning from one aircraft to another requires training, because controls are in different locations on different aircraft.

On the Apache gunship, the trigger was where the radio switch had been on the Cobra. On the very first tactical run with Apaches, the lead pilot called the trail pilot to let him know he was going in. Now even with radio, you have a tendency to turn and look at the person you're talking to -- and the gunsight is slaved to the pilot's helmet. Fortunately, there is a stop on the 30mm Gatling gun, so he didn't quite hit the other ship.

There is a lesson in there.

Kleanbore said:

"Lessee.... I reach for the ejection seat control....".

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Sim instructor: "OK, I froze the sim, let's back it up and repeat that IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEM again until you get it right!!"

In the home:
Springfield MC Operator (Full-Size Steel 1911 w/rail)

Concealed carry:
Springfield Compact 1911 with night sights.
or
Sig 938

Woods carry:
S&W Model 637

G30 (45 acp) with 9 rd mag half the time, g20 (10mm) the other half of the time, g42 (380) if it's hot or I'm just wandering the yard. Mossberg 500 (12 gauge) in my room along with whichever handgun I carried that day.
Since the curse of 2020 has been upon us it's been the g20 everyday with a spare mag in my front pocket.
Stay safe out there.

I have a 45acp by the bed, and a 9mm parabellum if I’m dressed. Both share the same type of controls, and I feel comfortable with either.

For a while, I carried a 1911. Lately, though, it's a plain ol' .38 M&P. Why? Because is suits me. And a fast-moving 158 grain SWCHP ain't nothin' to sneeze at.

I have pretty much settled on my 1911 for bump in the night duty, for much the same reasons as OP. I mean, if I really need more than 8 rounds of .45 hollowpoint......

Then there’s always the SKS behind the door.

usually at home I just stick a little .32 ACP CZ-70 surplus pistol in my desk, right next to me, and then put it on my nightstand when I go to bed. in the last few months I switched and that is now a Beretta 92, with 3 15 round mags. I just figure 45 rounds of 9mm, ups my odds of getting to my 30-30

I used to carry the .32 ACP or a .38 Special, for entertainment carry, is what I call it. Never thought I might use them, but just liked them and you never know. Feel like risks are more real in the last several months, and it is no longer entertainment, it feels more serious, so - the 9mm goes with me and the others sit in the safe for range toys.

hso said:

The question is complex

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115gr + 115gr = 230gr.. problem solved

right now this second. There is an STI OMNI in my nightstand safe w/RDS and X300, a G19c in my wife's safe on her side of the bed w/Streamlight. A Larue AR behind the door.(Only added since COVID and shenanigans) P2000sk on my dresser and a Kimber EVO in a kitchen cabinet where I remove my EDC, keys, wallet, etc.

Forgot to add The wife sleeps with a SW M&P EZ under her pillow