Out of all of em' 9mm is hard to beat.

[xJokerG23x]

I have owned and shot many different calibers over the years. I know there are more powerful rounds out there but the 9mm has became my overall favorite. The price of range ammo is so cheap and that means more training time! With advancements in ammunition and today's technology, 9mm hollow points perform as good as the rest. I love my 1911 .45 but when I can pick up my Glock 19 with 16 rounds in an overall lighter package, it's hard to pass it up. I love .40S&W as well; I think it's an awesome round but today's 9mm is as good if not better in certain tests. I know some claim 9mm is too small for self defense and then there's the crap about the .40 being "too snappy", (my Beretta 96 and G23 shoot sweet!) and then .45 is big and slow... They all perform great and serve their intended purpose but what's your favorite caliber and why?

 

[Deaf Smith]

.357 Sig. From a Glock 35 with Storm Lake .357 Sig barrel and Double Tap 125 gr ammo at 1600 fps it tops the charts in power.

Deaf

 

[Valkman]

I don't own any guns in .40 or 9mm. All my carry and defense guns are .45acp and I've been shooting it so long I've just never tried the other calibers. Also, I reload so cost is not a factor so I shoot 10mm and 44 Mag/Spl also.

 

[DSAPT9]

A number of years back I went to all 9mm hand guns for somewhat the same reason as you did. Ammo is cheaper and I like to shoot then combined with the Plus P defense ammo it will do the job very well.
The 9mm is a good choice when the Zombie Apocalypse happens because all the NATO countries run 9mm so ammo will be much easier to get. (Just saying if it ever happens)

My toys:
S&W MP 9 full size
S&P shield
Springfield XD9
Glock 19 (daily carry gun)
S&W model 659

 

[AStone]

Subscribed

 

[Manny]

I use to disdain the 9mm for a long time believing in the old school big bore superiority. When ammo prices started going up so much I grudgingly tried 9mm to stretch my shooting dollars. In short order I became a firm 9mm fan and the more I learned about how well modern 9mm works the bigger fan I became. These days the only semi auto pistols I own are chambered in 9mm and I'm a bigger fan than ever.

 

[samweller]

I think with the ammo choices available a 9 MM is fine for self-defense for many of the above reasons. A BHP 9 has been my main carry for a few years now, although I do still carry my Colt Model 70 .45 a good bit because it is a sentimental favorite. After experimenting with a number of loads, I settled on 124 gr. XTP's for my BHP. My pistol likes them, I shoot good groups with them, and they seem a good compromise between them lighter, faster stuff and the ponderous 147 gr. stuff that seems like a whopping big load for a 9. I don't shoot Plus P's in semi-autos. Personal choice, but I think they beat the gun up over time, and I shoot a lot.

 

[jmr40]

9mm or 10mm for me as go-to calibers. I feel 9mm is as good as anything else virtually all the time. The 10mm is for those times where I want magnum power in a semi auto.

I still own and shoot some 45ACP 1911's as range guns because I like them. But 9mm is every bit the equal of 45 when it comes to performance and 40 S&W or 10mm beats 45. I see no reason to own 40 when 10mm is available.

 

[strambo]

I like 9 as well. The combination of lower cost, good terminal performance, lower recoil and higher capacity make it a winner in my book. I really like .45 ACP also, just don't have one at the moment.

 

[Wishoot]

what's your favorite caliber and why?

All of them. Because I like shooting guns. All guns.

But I shoot 9mm more frequently than any other.

 

[Hangingrock]

Everybody likes or favors this or that. Opinions are like back sides everyone has one. The caliber wars are what they are. If you like and believe in what you have be happy with it. The simple truth is you're most likely not going to have to put your caliber theories to the test and be happy with that possibility.

 

[.45cultist]

I like .45, especially 200gr and plain old hard ball. 9X19MM in 124gr, but some 147 loads are good too. .22LR is handy, and I'm learning to like .38/.357 N frames. I ventured into the '80's with a G21 decades ago, am considering a G19. The 9's are coming back in LE use due to the complaints of the .40 and HP technology improving.

 

[Luger_carbine]

Neither John Browning nor Georg Luger had the benefit of knowledge of modern ballistic designs when they were designing firearms. The .40 S&W was created when much of that knowledge was becoming available. The .45 +P and the .40 S&W rounds produce superior terminal ballistics to the 9mm Luger, yet the FBI and many police agencies are switching to the 9mm Luger now, many agencies are switching back to the 9mm Luger.

I believe people underestimate the true genius of Georg Luger. When he created the Pistole Parabellum and the 9x19mm cartridge, he very nearly hit upon the perfect cartridge firing the perfect caliber projectile.

 

[bannockburn]

Of all my handguns I have the most in 9mm. One of my favorites is the Browning Hi-Power. Perfectly shaped for my small size hand and has all of the reliability and accuracy that I'm looking for in a semi-auto. One of my "sleeper" favorites is my Colt Commander in .38 Super. Lighter weight and easy to carry concealed, with handloads it can give me slightly better performance than the 9mm. while still giving me the flexibility to convert it to 9mm. with just a barrel change and a magazine.

 

[ku4hx]

I don't have a favorite caliber, I have favorite ranges and clubs. Being an avid shooter since 1959, and a hand loader and boolit caster, since 1970 I shoot many handgun calibers: the various .22 rim fires that are not reloadable, 9x19, 38 Special, .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .44 Russian, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm, 10mm Magnum, 45ACP, .380 ACP and .454 Casull.

Considering the entire process for component procurement to fired round, the concept of a favorite caliber is just plain foreign to me. They're all equally fun, equally challenging in one way or another and equally useful within their own design criteria.

Once upon a time we had a least favorite gun: Walther PPK/S .380 ACP. That little popper cut into both our right thumb knuckles and tore bits of skin and flesh right off. THAT was a least favorite gun for obvious reasons. I wouldn't know how to determine what caliber is either least or most favored. I guess number of rounds loaded and fired maybe might point somewhere but those results would be inclusive.

 

[xJokerG23x]

I agree with the ones saying you like all calibers because I do too as well! A lot of this stuff is opinion based and I was just curious as to what a lot of you choose as a "go to" caliber. I appreciate all of the replies and feedback. Have a great day everyone and God bless you all.

 

[BSA1]

Oboy! A new poster starting another caliber debate.

I submit the basic premise that all handgun cartridges are poor stoppers compared to shotguns and rifles.

I also submit that you can not apply static measurements to a subject that has so many variable, undefined and immeasurable factors.





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just call me Elmer.

 

[xJokerG23x]

Not starting a debate at all. Just curious as to what everyone's go to is. I've been a member for quite a while, I just don't post a lot. Handguns are considered week and a tool to get you to your bigger gun, be it a shotgun or rifle. As stated before, I love all the handgun calibers it's just 9mm is an all around winner.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

No 9mm at my house at all. My choice is .357....I don't like picking up brass.

 

[ljnowell]

I don't own any guns in .40 or 9mm. All my carry and defense guns are .45acp and I've been shooting it so long I've just never tried the other calibers. Also, I reload so cost is not a factor so I shoot 10mm and 44 Mag/Spl also.

I reload too and cost is still a factor. The brass is 1/3 the cost. The bullets are 2/3 the cost. It adds up. Even casting I'm using less than half the amount of lead. It's much cheaper.

 

[ljnowell]

Not starting a debate at all. Just curious as to what everyone's go to is. I've been a member for quite a while, I just don't post a lot. Handguns are considered week and a tool to get you to your bigger gun, be it a shotgun or rifle. As stated before, I love all the handgun calibers it's just 9mm is an all around winner.

I had never owned a 9mm handgun until about a year ago. I was always a 45/38/357 guy. I carried 1911s, Glock 21, or a J-frame.

Then I bought a compact single stack 9mm. I've carried it 99% of the time since. Two days ago I ordered my first full size 9mm. I'm looking to switch to it for police combat matches next year. Cheaper to practice and compete with.

 

[Mike J]

I own & like 9mm, .40, .45 & 38/.357. If I'm using a gun for carry I like 9mm in a small subcompact pistol. If I am carrying a midsized pistol I tend to favor .40. I enjoy shooting .45 from a 5" 1911 or .357 from a 4" barrel. If I'm carrying a bigger gun I like to have the bigger caliber. It is arguable whether it is more effective or not but I still like it.

 

[jeepnik]

Again, I always wonder if the OP or any responders have actually used a handgun for self defense much less offence.

The 1911A1 worked when needed, I suspect it will always do so. Therefore, I do prefer it.

 

[ljnowell]

Again, I always wonder if the OP or any responders have actually used a handgun for self defense much less offence.



The 1911A1 worked when needed, I suspect it will always do so. Therefore, I do prefer it.

That's an absolutely ridiculous comment.

One time I hit a dog with a baseball bat that bit me. The baseball bat worked and I suspect it always will. Therefore, I do prefer it.

 

[C0untZer0]

Again, I always wonder if the OP or any responders have actually used a handgun for self defense much less offence.

OK, wonder no more, I have never used a handgun for self defense much less offense.