Caliber debate is finally over...

[thvigil11]

I love 9mm, probably the caliber I've shot the most. But it's not my favorite. That said, I've never understood people that standardize to just a couple calibers. In the military or a business standardized is great. I like a bunch of choices. I'd bet most of the folks on this forum have 5 plus calibers just in their pistols. Every time a new caliber comes out I get excited. Then I figure out it usually was solving a problem that didn't exist. Buy what makes you want to shoot.

I agree, variety is the spice of life. If you only own guns for defense, then maybe these things would concern you. But if you own guns for the fun, history, science and all those other reasons, then it is a simple joy to own a caliber called 5.5mm velo-dog.

[Irving]

Well, you know if you hit someone center mass with a 9, they'll just keep coming. Hit them in the hand with a 45 and it'll take their whole arms off.

I've heard my neighbor tell me this in person.

[thvigil11]

I've heard my neighbor tell me this in person.

Probably said a 12 gauge will send a guy flying through the air too.

[WETWRKS]

Probably said a 12 gauge will send a guy flying through the air too.

Funny...a cop told me essentially that the other night. I didn't bother to respond.

[brutal]

Well, you know if you hit someone center mass with a 9, they'll just keep coming. Hit them in the hand with a 45 and it'll take their whole arms off.

You only have to come close with a 50BMG to take their whole torso off.

[rondog]

Blasphemy!

[Joe_K]

If God wanted me to carry somethin' a bigger than 9mm he woulda made a 10mm!

Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi

[Bailey Guns]

I got news for you. Some of us "old dogs" came to this conclusion a long time ago. Not that any one of the "normal" defensive-use calibers was better than the other, but that they were all as adequate as practically possible. In the early to mid 90s when this discussion would come up (and the 9mm wasn't nearly in as high favor as it is now) people would say it was inadequate. My response was the 9mm had been killing people pretty effectively since the turn of the century. I came to the conclusion that most people, if getting shot, pretty much won't care what caliber they're getting shot with...they just want to stop getting shot. In a gunfight I doubt many people will really give a shit about a survey by a bunch of experts.

Then again, I've been using an AR-15 for home defense for about 30 years, too. There are very few things a shotgun can do in a defensive situation that a nice carbine-style rifle can't. Providing the shooter with an excessive amount of recoil is about the only thing I can think of.

When I took my first class from Clint Smith a long, long time ago he laid it all out for me (and everyone else, of course) with one word...LOGIC. Apply a little logic and some simple observational skills and the question really isn't that tough.

Some times I think the "experts" who talk the loudest and have the most fan-boys are the people I care to listen to the least.

[68Charger]

The question was simple; if you had to choose one pistol caliber for self defense and range use what would it be. The results spoke volumes-9mm Para won in a landslide. Almost unanimously.

1) Why do we have to choose 1 caliber? This is 'murica
2) self defense against what? I think they're assuming 2-legged threats (since T-Rex/velociraptors are extinct).... who wants to volunteer to use 9mm on a Grizzly bear?
3) range use (duh, it's cheap compared to other calibers)

I have guns in 9mm... I just don't want to be limited to them
but I probably should get more 9mm guns if it's going to be more common....
but then again, doesn't this mean in the next panic, there will be no 9mm to be found on ammo shelves? guess I better stockpile some.

ETA: They're also ignoring any capacity restraints...

9mm pistols hold a lot of bullets and are easy to shoot.

If you're limited to 15 rounds (or worse in other states) by some idiots in the capitol building, might as well make them more powerful... even if it's just to piss on those that told you that you can't have more rounds in your pistol.

[Fmedges]

I used to have rifles and pistols in a bunch of different calibers and buying ammunition was always really expensive and a chore. Every time I wanted to shoot something I have to buy at least a box worth of ammunition and it was just a huge pain in the ass. Now I have 5.56mm, 9mm and a single .45 and my shooting life is way easier.