Best Defense Caliber

Best Defense Cartridge? (See post)

  • .380

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 9mm parabellum

    Votes: 15 13.2%

  • .357 SIG

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • .357 Magnum

    Votes: 20 17.5%

  • .40 S&W

    Votes: 16 14.0%

  • 10mm Auto

    Votes: 7 6.1%

  • .44 Magnum

    Votes: 4 3.5%

  • .45 ACP

    Votes: 38 33.3%

  • .50 AE

    Votes: 6 5.3%

  • Other (Please Describe)

    Votes: 7 6.1%
  • Total voters
    114
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Best Defense Caliber

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I'm not going to pretend like this is a new subject or question, but as time goes by things change. This is in a way the reason im making this post, because technology changes rapidly. In YOUR OPINION, which may be personal preference, or may be based on empirical evidence, which is the best personal defense caliber to STOP an attacker, preferably stop a linebacker high on drugs.

Concealability, recoil, noise, and price are of no concern. Stopping the bad guy is the task at hand.

I put revolver and automatic calibers in the poll so thats why I put this in general gun discussions.
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Based on your parameters I don't think there is much to disscuss.
If it's just about stopping power I think you already know how people will vote.

I don't think we will be seeing many .380 votes:rolleyes:
 
The point is that caliber is not the most important attribute of a personal defense weapon. What are the important attributes depend on the individual. Basically it's whatever you can reliably hit what you shoot at.
 
I think recoil is of concern, if I'm gonna shoot a linebacker high on drugs I will probably need to shoot him more than once. I voted 9mm because thats what I have and thats what I shoot best with.
 
I think if you can shoot a Ruger MK II 22/LR pistol with consistant accuracy, your better off using it as a personal defense weapon than a Colt 1911 45 ACP that you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn door with.
 
well if your state has a concealed rifle license, please let me know so i can move there.

the point is bigger is not always better, i was just looking for some reasons why....
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You said concealability is not an issue, nor is recoil.

I'm gonna vote for .308, preferably in an autoloading rifle.


If we're being limited to handguns, then .500S&W Magnum.
 
If this is the case:
well if your state has a concealed rifle license, please let me know so i can move there.
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You shouldn't have said this:
Concealability, recoil, noise, and price are of no concern. the point is bigger is not always better, i was just looking for some reasons why....
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From what I've gathered, bigger is, in fact, better in the case of deciding the "Best Defense Caliber" when the question is "based on empirical evidence, which is the best personal defense caliber to STOP an attacker".

I think most people assumed you were also implying that you have one shot to stop said linebacker. Reloading that .50 BMG pistol would take a bit of time if you missed, although if we are talking "one shot stops", a hollow-point .50 BMG would take the cake, unless you consider an underfolder 40mm grenade launcher with a 27 pellet round of 00 Buck to be a pistol. ;)
 
You specifically stated that concealability is NOT an issue. As such, rifle is obviously the weapon of choice.


The ONLY reason that handguns exist is because they're lightweight, portable, and concealable. If your main objective is to stop an attacker, a rifle is almost universally better in all ways.
 
I could walk around open carrying a rifle if I wanted, there's no law against it in Pennsylvania.

People might look at me weird, though.


And you didn't ask for the best sidearm defense caliber, either. So that makes us even.
 
I chose the 9mm, not because it is the best caliber for stopping bad things fast. More because it is IMO the best compromise between power, capacity, carry-ability, recoil, and availability.

However, if I only had one cartridge left, and it had to save my life, I would go with something bigger. However, I currently have 11 cartridges in my gun as we speak, and I think it will suffice.
 
I thought the point of your question was to figure out what the preferred "best defense caliber" was. People reply with lots of good answers, then you blast them because you didn't want rifles included. Well, if you didn't want rifles included, then you should have said "handgun only."

And I even stated in my original reply that if handguns were the only choice, I'd choose a .500S&W Magnum. Is there something wrong with this choice too?
 
ok so as usual its impossible to ask a simple question on a message board without people purposefully taking it out of context to give a smartass answer. i meant dont tell me a 9mm just because "you can conceal it easier than a .45".

i swear i dont know why i ask questions on here all you ever get is stupid answers. did you really think i meant rifle? seriously?
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All the answers are in context of your poorly phrased question.

Ask pointed questions and get pointed answers.

Ask pointless questions and get pointless answers.
 
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