Posted on 12/26/2012 7:00:26 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Most caliber wars are fought for the pleasure of the participants. I don’t own any semi-automatic handguns. I shoot revolvers because I enjoy them more, and a defensive gun ought to be one you don’t have to think about. I’ve never felt undergunned in the night with my 7-shot 686+, or even my 6-shot single action guns.
All that said, the 9mm is a fine round and the guns that use it have a proven track record. I may carry a 5-shot J-frame, but 15+ rounds of 9mm is nothing to sneeze at. And the ammo is about the cheapest ammo you can buy commercially. That encourages lots of shooting...
The one time I’ve pulled a gun, it was a 22 that I happened to be carrying with me while hiking that day. I had probably shot 10,000+ rounds thru it, and I suspect part of the reason the 8 guys stopped trying to surround me was that there was something in my body language that said, “I won’t miss!” The familiarity of a fine gun in your hand that you’ve shot a few thousand times is a wonderful thing if you need to make 5 or even 15 shots get the job done.
The article is wrong about needing the largest caliber pistol to stop an assialant... Serious studies of real shootings have show that an accurate shot with a lower caliber is just as likely to take down the bad guy. And - as the author pointed out with shotguns - a 20 ga. shotgun would be better handled of many people (smaller stature, less strong, etc.) and yet not lose much knock down at relatively close range versus a 12 ga....
The best defense caliber is one that does not cause the shooter to close their eyes, flinch or hesitate... Few people are accurate shooters in a sudden unexpected terrifying situation - adrenaling pumping, frightened, etc. So having many smaller caliber rounds - means in case of 9mm up to 14 rounds in a Browning HighPower... vs about 1/2 in a powerful .45 ir 357. I think any gun that hits where it is pointed by an average person because the recoil did not knock his/her arm and head back is the best most reliable defense. There is power in numbers... Note: .22 cal. killed Robert Kennedy and nearly killed Reagan ...
Good choice. My Dad used one in RVN. I have a ‘Maverick’ for the safety on the trigger guard, and an AT top-folding stock.
I believe if Martha Stewart recommended a ‘Home for the Holidays’ firearm, she would go for the boom-stick.
I have the Hi-Point 40 S&W and love it and when my alarm went off recently it came in very hand as I checked things out. I love the thing and it is like carrying a M-14 or M-16.
I have a Marlin Camp Carbine in 9 mm and love it.
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What’s going on?
My local Wall Mart has been out of 9mm since last Friday plus a bunch of other cals.
Looks like they haven't restocked since Friday.
As a postscript, the 12 gauge has four times the muzzle energy of a .44 magnum, so ‘candycane’ slugs with 00 and you’re loaded for bear.
bkmk
.22 LR is the preferred round for assassins, spies, hitmen, etc.
Browning High Power with fail safes....backed up by a 16 gauge semi auto loaded with 00 Buckshot. Won’t be any repeat visitors!
Can always patch drywall. No so easy to plug 2dozen chest leakers. Although I hope I never have use em!
25 years ago when I patrolled,the .357 125 JHP was the Indiana State Police issue,but the revolvers were retired in favor of semi-autos in 9mm and then ,I think, switched to .40 sometime later.
.357 had the highest rating in terms of one-shot stops,
Politics won over ballistics in moving Americam miliatary and police from proven .45 and .357 to the European/NATO 9mm.
Copying Europe is not the best path for America;I thought THAT was decided in 1776 !
I have a Hi-Pointe 9mm carbine w/ATI furniture that I like...but I would not run +P through it. It would actually be my #2 choice in a home invasion scenario, after a shotgun (shotgun for guarding, then carbine; pistol for investigation).
The Hi-Pointe 9mm would be one I wouldn’t mind losing to an investigation, unlike the others. The SHTF weapons are just that...I wouldn’t waste the ammo on just one or two thugs.
“AR - be sure to have something like Hornady TAP ammo or maybe some frangible ammo for inside the house.”
Even with ball ammo the AR round will fragment fairly quickly. There’s a video on youtube of a guy testing the different rounds. The AR round broke after the second wall and completely fragmented after the third failing to penetrate a fourth wall.
...or anyone who lives in a neighborhood with small homes close together.
A couple of Mondays ago, a nameless friend bought a Sig Sauer M400 model (OD green Magpul) for $999. The same model is selling on GunBroker for almost $3000 now. The new gun hasn’t been out to the range yet, simply because cheap ammo is just about non-existent right now.
I like shooting the carbines very much and have the .45 loaded and ready for home use.
yep.
A buddy has this same gun chambered in 9mm...smooth little gun, and a pleasure to shoot.
I have seen the .45 version on guns america, etc...if you can get one of these for less than 500 bucks, get it.
Exactly .22 LR long barrel pistols or rifles can be equipped w ith home made siliencers (PVC pipe and fittings) ...make next to now noise - fairly accurate at near to medium range...
But back to large caliber weapons... no doubt a big .45. 50 or .357 / .44 magnum will knock down a bad guy - and he will probably stay down. Experienced and trained and in shape shooters can hit what they aim at with these ‘Make my Day’ guns... But most people in home defense situations are not of this cut. For home defense for most women I recommend one of the .410 shotguns with a pistol grip and as short a barrel as the law allows. Or one of the revolvers that shoots the .410 round ... both using big shot - not necessarily buck shot and certainly not bird shot.
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