MAgic bullet? Magic caliber? Magic gun? You know the answer.

IDPA Club member | May 4th 2006 | Irv Lehman

[ExSoldier]

The .45 ACP is the best man stopper in the world! The Delta Boys use the awesome 9 MM because it has proven its worth in numerous fights. And it goes on and on like a broken record, beating a dead horse until it’s Elmer’s (not Elmer Keith).

Does it matter? My opinion for what it is worth.

There is no such thing as a magic bullet or caliber unless it is flying under the wings of an F -16. Our handguns are a "weak and inefficient piece of sh**" to quote Mr. Randy Cain. The purpose of a handgun is being able to carry it because it is portable and light, it can also be concealed quite easily but if you knew you were going to be in a shoot out and you had a choice of weapons I would bet you would choose something else as a first choice. Do you really think that you can make me believe that you will show up for a gunfight with a pistol in your hand if you have the choice of any weapon. Really? However, for practical purposes we are stuck with the handgun to defend ourselves, we may pick any gun we wish in any caliber. How do we make a rational decision?

First of all the weapon we choose must be reliable. (This is listed first because it is the most important criteria but would generally be tested after the following are met.) Now what does that mean? Go to the range and shoot a box of ammo through it? No, our weapon must go through a minimum of a class (approximately 500 rounds with at least 100 of those being the ammo we will actually carry in the gun for personal defense) without a failure after it has been broken in which usually takes 500 rounds or so. Remember we are betting our life on this blaster and we can’t afford a malfunction, EVER!

Now for the hard part; what gun to select? What caliber to choose? Unless we have untold sums of money we are best to borrow friends guns at the range and shoot a few boxes of ammo through them. Shoot a couple of school drills: one target , multiple targets, speed magazine change, etc. We are looking for a gun that fits "our" hand not the other guys. We are looking for a gun whose controls fall naturally under our fingers. We are looking for a gun that points naturally at the target we are pointing in to. This is hard for us but we must close our eyes and try to point the gun at a specific point about 10 feet away. When we open our eyes the gun should be within a few inches of the point we are aiming for. It may take a few tries and if we have become accustomed to another weapon this may take a little longer as we might have trained our hands to point that specific weapon but it must come to us if we are to be proficient with that weapon if it doesn’t then that weapon is not for us.

Now we have a gun that is reliable (although this is usually proven after the other decisions are made). It fits our hand and points naturally, the controls fall naturally to our digits and we are reasonably accurate with it. Training will improve our skills. Only problem is that we have been using a .22 rim fire.

Let’s get one thing straight , we will not even entertain using a weapon as our primary if it is not at least a 9 MM, anything lower than the nine is a crap shoot and we know our life is worth more than a crap shoot. So we now have a lot of choices 9 MM, .357, 40 S&W, both .41 Special and Magnum, .44 in both, .45 ACP, 10 MM plus others like the 45 GAP. Most of us will gravitate to the 9 MM or the .45 ACP as these are common and proven.

But which one shall we choose? Easy! We choose the largest bullet we can shoot accurately and quickly. Some of us will find that the .45 is more difficult because of recoil so we will use the 9 MM, those of us that can will shoot the .45, and we will all be happy.

Why? Because it isn’t the bullet but where you place it! People have been killed with every caliber of ammo manufactured if it hit the right place. A .45 that misses is not nearly as good as a 9 MM that strikes the point we are aiming for. Or as has been said many times "you can’t miss quick enough to win". Many of us will find that we can shoot the 9 MM quicker and more accurately than the .45. Depending on the difference depends on what our choice will be but always remember that the final resting place of that bullet is the critical point.

Another point is how many rounds should my weapon hold? We know from FBI statistics that most gun fights are over in two to three round but that doesn’t mean ours will be. Our choice should hold as many rounds as possible all other things being equal (which they are not). Depending on your skill you may feel confident with a magazine of seven rounds while another may not feel confident holding 15 rounds. This is an answer that you will have to please yourself with. My primary pistol holds eight rounds total and I carry once spare mag and I feel I have plenty of firepower.

In essence we have solved the worlds largest debate over which bullet to use and which gun to use. We use the gun and bullet that we can shoot best. Problem solved. Well, almost because now some smart ass will bring up "hollow point" or "ball"? OK, we decide to tackle this problem and we ask are we sure that the hollow point will open because it if doesn’t it is just ball ammo? Are we sure that over penetration won’t be a problem? Are we sure that our round will penetrate far enough? Maybe our climate and time of year will be a factor here, heavy winter jackets and layers of clothing.

These question have no definite answers and we can argue both sides. We buy our ammo and take our chance, with proper shot placement we should prevail as long as we get penetration of about 12 inches or more.

So now we have solved the world’s problems. Easy wasn’t it. If anyone ever asks which gun should they shoot we will just tell them "the one you shoot best, at least a 9 MM and that is so reliable that it will go through a three day handgun class without a hiccup".

My personal choice and this is not a recommendation to anyone else is: 115 grain Cor Bon in the 9 MM (for our warm south Florida weather) and 230 grain Winchester Ranger SXT in the .45. However I would be happy shooting ball in either and I would be very aware of rule number four: "be sure of your target and what is behind it". A professional instructor can make your improvement much quicker than you can by spending hours at the range. Most of all, get professional training and save yourself wasted training time and money.

It isn’t the arrow but the Indian!

[ExSoldier]

Irv is sort of a club mentor and I take his words very seriously. He's been around longer than I and that almost qualifies him to the title of Old Fart. This is a cogent, well presented essay done by an older guy who's been around the block. Well....Older than me, anyway. I'll be 49 next week. I enjoyed this and I hope you do too.

BTW, I added the 40S&W to his self defense list since the omission, I believe was an oversight. I tagged on the 45GAP as an example. Those are the only changes. All emphasis is mine, however.

[dangerdoc]

bump

[ßuddaßudd]

mark for later reading. . .

[ExSoldier]

Ping your gun lists, this is a pretty good statement of opinion with which I largely agree.

[Rodney King]

My opinion is that the .40S&W is a good intermediate choice. Personally, I prefer the .45 in a 1911 frame. However, if one is not comfortable with the size of the weapon for concealed carry, or perhaps if one has small hands, there are a lot of smaller guns availabe in the .40S&W which is a significantly more powerful cartridge than the 9mm.

[joesnuffy]

I think the decision is pretty much been made in favor of HKs
USP varient....45 ACP

[claudiustg]

How about 357 SIG?

[ExSoldier]

I think 357Sig is clumped in with the others like the 45GAP. Did mention 357 magnum and the 357 Sig is often favorably compared....

[theFIRMbss]

>MAgic bullet?

Metal Storm's fully loaded barrel tubes are essentially serviceable weapons, without the traditional ammunition feed or ejection system, breech opening or any other moving parts. ... The company has invented a ballistics technology that has no known conventional equivalent. Metal Storm is working with government agencies and departments, as well as industry, to develop a variety of systems utilising the Metal Storm non-mechanical, electronically fired stacked ammunition system. Metal Storm barrels can be effectively grouped in multiple configurations to meet a diversity of military and commercial applications. The company's focus on internal development in the past 12 months has been focused principally on 40mm and 9mm calibre areas. Applications for Metal Storm technology in these areas include 40mm caliber applications for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In the last 12 months Metal Storm has conducted demonstration firings from both UGV and UAV robotic platforms. Metal Storm enabling technology is also central to the development of a 9mm personalized handgun and an individual combat weapon. Metal Storm weapons are digital, lightweight and being multi barreled provide for a choice of munition options. Importantly the weapons are all capable of local or remote operation through a computerized fire control system.

[joesnuffy]

Gold Dots loaded to Mike McNett's Double Tap Ammo specs....

[Gefreiter]

I don't have alot of handgun experience, but I found the .40 to be a little too...snappy for my liking. I believe I was shooting 180 grain (185?) Winchester .40. I find 230 grain .45 a little easier for some reason.

Although I wonder if I had mag problems. I bought a used Sig P220 (cop trade-in) but over 200 rounds had 2 or 3 failure to feed problems.

[OXENinFLA]

Many of us will find that we can shoot the 9 MM quicker and more accurately than the .45.

I shot with better accuracy with my Glock 30, a .45, than I do with my Glock 34, a 9mm.

I don't think it's cause the G30 is a .45 but that the G30 is a very accurate gun.

Most Glock owners that have one will say it's a nail driver.

[ExSoldier]

I flat out LOVE my 45 USP standard (full size) version. I carry it regularly. But I'm also looking at a Sig P229 in 40 with the SAS finish and DAK trigger. I also like the new H&K (H&K45) that is supposed to replace the M9 for our military. This months SHOTGUN NEWS has a pic and a report.

I got my USP about six months ago. Was told by my buddy (retired SF 05) that if he could take one handgun straight from the box to war, it'd be the USP45. So I decided to test this assertion.

With only the factory lube I went out and started to shoot the gun at matches. I was going to run it until I experienced some form of malfunction before I cleaned or lubed the gun. Two THOUSAND ROUNDS later and no jams...I had to break down and clean her up because I felt like I was showing disrespect to a fine firearm. I have to agree, H&K USP rules.

[OXENinFLA]

I shot = I shoot

Oops forgot an o

[Graycliff]

Carried several weapons over my 22 years with the Sheriffs Office. Started with a 4 inch Model 19, then bought a 4 inch Python, then went to a Colt 1911, my last weapon was a 220 Sig. Since i retired it seems my old 4 inch 19 is most likely to be the weapon, you'll find in my truck. You just can't beat it's power and reliability. In my opinion.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

While I agree with most of what Irv says, I would use a pellet gun if that was what I had available and a rock if necessary.

My choice, though, is a 1911 in .45 with a Makarov 9x18mm backup. There's a .45 caliber Sig waiting in the future and I'm hoping for a phaser.

Michael Frazier

[saganite]

Do some checking on the sigs before you commit. I've read some info about reliability problems there.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I've been on a serious .38 Super binge recently. With a proper bullet it's a great round.

[saganite]

I watched a program on discovery channel last night (I think the name is "Future Weapons" with a former Navy Seal narrating) and there was a segment on metal storm. It has awesome firepower. It's probably going to obsolete current gun technology.

[HipShot]

Don't forget us old wheel gun types. A 5" stainless S&W .357 loaded with 158 grain SJHPs is my favorite medicine.

I freely admit that the .45 has proved itself superior repeatedly, but there's an intangible comfort and familiarity that evades description.