For Self Defense, what weight, in what caliber is more often preferred?

[texas bulldog]

This is personal preference, of course, as are all of the above answers, whether they admit it or not:

.357 = 125g JHP
.38 = 158g LSWCHP
.45 = 230g (unless it's a 3" model, in which case 200g or 185g)
12G = 00, 0, or #1 buck

Those are the only calibers I regularly use for defense, so I won't comment on any others.

Good luck!

 

[stinger 327]

This is personal preference, of course, as are all of the above answers, whether they admit it or not:

.357 = 125g JHP
.38 = 158g LSWCHP
.45 = 230g (unless it's a 3" model, in which case 200g or 185g)
12G = 00, 0, or #1 buck

Those are the only calibers I regularly use for defense, so I won't comment on any others.

Good luck!

That looks good to me.

 

[Zerodefect]

5.56 70+gn.
45acp 230gn
.40 180 gn.

 

[Russ Jackson]

I would use the one that is most accurate and reliable in my gun...Russ

 

[jon_in_wv]

If the magazine has to work everytime or ammo misfires then you just eliminated autos. Better stick with the revolvers.

Wow. I guess its impossible to have ammo misfires in revovlers? or a bound cylinder? or a botched reload binds it up? Better eliminate revolvers too. I guess your better just carry a knife.

 

[Maverick223]

If the magazine has to work everytime or ammo misfires then you just eliminated autos. Better stick with the revolvers.

While I am not a big pistol shooter, the pistol with the most rounds through it is my H&K USP45-FS (lost count, but it has many thousands through it). It has never had a failure of any kind...I have also shot several revolvers that did have a failure (one "well made" revolver physically broke in my hands), as well as some other autos that have choked up (particularly when fed ammo they didn't like). I believe that the manufacturer makes more of a difference than the type of operation, and ALL should be proven reliable before being pressed into service as a SD or HD firearm.

 

[jon_in_wv]

My M&P 9C, which is my regular carry gun had one FTE early on. Its been 100% through more than 5000 rounds since then. I don't feel the need to rule out autos any time soon.

 

[stinger 327]

Just another reason why .22 LR or .22 Mags aren't good reliable ammo for protection because of the high rate of misfires due to it being rimfire ammo.

 

[Erik M]

if I am carring purely for defensive reason I pack a .38 with 158gr +p rounds. If I have more options I will up the ammo capacity and carry a beretta 92 with 18 rounds of Federal 124gr +p+.

 

[stinger 327]

if I am carring purely for defensive reason I pack a .38 with 158gr +p rounds. If I have more options I will up the ammo capacity and carry a beretta 92 with 18 rounds of Federal 124gr +p+.

So is 124 grain the standard for the 9mm load?

 

[smartshot]

for me personally......45acp-230 gr, 357 mag, 38 spl-158 grain chicago load, 380acp-102 grain golden sabers, 9mm-115 grain or heavier, 40 cal-180 grain

 

[Maverick223]

So is 124 grain the standard for the 9mm load?

I believe that 115gr. is still the most common overall, but for defense rounds it seems that 124gr. has become more popular.

 

[Water-Man]

My preference:

230gr - .45acp
158gr - .357mag
147gr - 9x19

 

[Prosser]

Question For Self Defense, what weight, in what caliber is more often preferred?
i.e. .45ACP in 230 or 165, 200 grains?
.357 in 110 grains, 125 grains or 158 grains or 180 grains?
9mm in 115 grains or 124 grains?

Is the heavier slug traveling at the lower velocity more deadly than the lighter slug traveling at hyper speed?

There are many more choices now than just the traditional .45 ACP in 230 grain bullets or .357 in 158 grains.

The question appears to be what is the industry standard for SD?
230 grains for 45 ACP.
.357 seems to be 125-158 grains, at least according to M&S.
9MM, world wide, is pretty much 124-130 grains, due to all the mil ball ammo out there.

Majority of this industry standard stuff is based on military requirements based on using ball ammo.

Self-defense ammo should be tailored to each gun, and shooter, since gun design and barrel length and design, affect ballistics, and therefore effect on target. Shooter ability affects accuracy, and therefore may limit choices.

 

[mjbskwim]

The caliber and gun you can place your shots where you want them consistently.

For me it's a 45 in either a G36 or a 1911.
I would replace it with a 40 or a 10 in a glock compact

If you have small hands and can put a 22lr on target all you want,then it can work.Not recommending it though.

But any caliber is deadly when placement is perfect.

 

[Jonah71]

The Hornady XTP 230 gr. works real nice in my old Kimber and I'm sure it would get the job done. I just hope I never have to find out for sure. Firing enough of them for me to feel confident did get a little expensive with the budget I have to work with.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Years and years ago, I bought a Lee 6-cavity mould for the tumble lube 230 grain bullet. I make friends with my local tire dealer and he keeps me in wheel weights. I buy Bullseye in 8-lb kegs, primers in bulk. That bullet loaded ahead of 4.5 grains of Bullseye shoots to the same point of impact as my carry load.

 

[Ben86]

But any caliber is deadly when placement is perfect.

True, but killing a threat eventually and stopping a threat quickly are two different things.

 

[Maverick223]

True, but killing a threat eventually and stopping a threat quickly are two different things.

Not really my choice cartridge (I like the .45ACP in a pistol), but a shot in the head with a .22LR might change your mind.

 

[JQP]

.40S&W hits like .45ACP and can be carried in high cap mags on some of the most reliable SAs on the market, such as Sig, Glock, HK and S&W - even in small-ish sized CC sized handguns.

Millions of LEOs in large PDs and Federal Agents carry the .40S&W, as a result of the 10mm being too hot for some, and the extensive research that was done to neck down the 10mm resulted in what's now an excellent caliber as has stayed as this primary sidearm cartridge of these LEOs for over a decade now.

What more could one want?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Not really my choice cartridge (I like the .45ACP in a pistol), but a shot in the head with a .22LR might change your mind.

The problem with choosing a small caliber and hoping for a CNS hit is that while you're hoping, you may take several hits with a larger caliber.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I don't put a lot of faith in the "bigger holes = better stopping" idea. The human body can move and function quite a long time with severe trauma to vital areas. The bloodstream has enough oxygen in it for the brain to keep working for more than 30 seconds even if the heart is gone. Same with the lungs. Stomach, intestine, kidney, etc are all painful shots but don't do anything to incapacitate body movement. And even causing severe bleed-out still leaves enough oxygen enriched blood getting to nerve centers to allow the subject some form of movement from anywhere from several seconds to even minutes. If that movement involves pulling a trigger in your direction...you haven't really done much to save your life.

Nerve center hits are the only true way to stop a threat immediately. The CNS (spinal cord, brain stem, and brain) all control movement and bodily functions. Only damaging those nerves can actually stop motion (short of severing the limb/muscle in question). I pick my caliber and weight that gives me the most chances of getting a bullet through the body, and into a nerve group like the brain or spinal cord. Everything else is fluff. A big .45 caliber wound to the stomach isn't going to stop a bad guy from flexing his trigger finger. A round of any sort that makes it to the spinal cord and causes enough damage on the other hand, will. So again, I pick the round that gives me the most chances of doing exactly that. Four 9mm shots, where 3 are mediocre but one severs the spinal cord, are far better than bigger bullets causing messy wounds but not truly incapacitating the target. IMO, more chances to hit the CNS trumps fewer chances that make messier holes.

Ever wonder why we aim for center mass and not slightly offset at the heart? CNS shots. Always shoot for the CNS. Everyone always says that shot placement trumps caliber. And they're right. Ask yourself, which caliber has the lightest recoil, and thus gives me a better chance for accurate followup shots? Which caliber gives me the most chances as good followup shots? If one truly believe shot placement is more important that caliber, one should pick a round that gives them the most and best chances at accurate shot placement, and not the one that gives you fewer chances to make a big messy hole.

 

[Maverick223]

.40S&W hits like .45ACP and can be carried in high cap mags on some of the most reliable SAs on the market, such as Sig, Glock, HK and S&W - even in small-ish sized CC sized handguns.

Millions of LEOs in large PDs and Federal Agents carry the .40S&W, as a result of the 10mm being too hot for some, and the extensive research that was done to neck down the 10mm resulted in what's now an excellent caliber as has stayed as this primary sidearm cartridge of these LEOs for over a decade now.

I and many other folks can handle the .45ACP better than the "snappy" .40S&W, and it affords sufficient if not excellent capacity in some pistols (the USP45-FS holds 12+1, and FNP holds 14+1).

BTW, the .40S&W is not a necked down 10mmAuto, it is a shortened 10mm. By contrast the .357SIG is a necked down cartridge (based upon the .40S&W).

The problem with choosing a small caliber and hoping for a CNS hit is that while you're hoping, you may take several hits with a larger caliber.

True, which is why I am not necessarily advocating the .22LR (though I won't condemn it either), just pointing out that it can get the job done if placed properly. Me, I prefer to slightly better my chances of hitting something important by using the largest, best expanding, projectile practical (for me that is generally the .45ACP).

 

[mjbskwim]

My point was if you can't shoot a 45acp or even a 9,it isn't very deadly.

Where as if you can place a smaller caliber every time it is a way better round for you.

There is a reason cops don't used big bore handguns.

 

[Prosser]

Yes. Most LEO don't shoot much, and, they have to have a one size fits all
cartridge, girls, boys, etc.

SFPD still has guys carrying .41 Mags, since it is THE best LEO round.