Caliber debate is finally over...

[Graves]

That stuff is out there, Stu. At least I'm pretty sure. Maybe look at Circle 10.

My dream "pistol caliber carbine" would be some sort of lever action rifle chambered in 500 S&W.

http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog...mory-products/

Sorry, ray...now you gotta buy one and sell it to me when the honeymoon phase wears off lol

[ray1970]

http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog...mory-products/

Sorry, ray...now you gotta buy one and sell it to me when the honeymoon phase wears off lol

I guess I should have specified that someone on a beer budget should be able to afford it.

[Squeeze]

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.

I agree with this 100%.

For people who can't understand why there are guys like me who standardize to a couple of calibers, its really simple.

1. It guarantees quality range time - for me. What you consider quality range time may be different for you.
2. When I want to go to the range, I only have to grab 2 calibers of ammo (9mm & 5.56).
3. It makes it easy to reload for.
4. Cost effective.
5. That ammo feeds everything I own.
6. For me, in a SHTF situation, getting out of this city is priority. Makes it easy to only grab to batches of ammo and away I go (also refer to #5).

Yes, this is America and if you choose to have 500 guns in all different calibers, then rock on. It just doesn't work for me. I found this article interesting and not surprising at all.

[Bailey Guns]

I can't say that I've standardized anything. But if I was forced to grab one handgun and some ammo it would be 9mm...Gen 2 G19 or G17...because the finger grooves on a Glock grip are the work of Satan.

But, honestly, I'm an equal opportunity gun nut. I like them all. I'm not really a gun snob but I do like quality guns. Having said that, there is a place for the Hi Points and Cobras and the like because even people of very modest means should have access to something. There are people who have to scrape for months to put together $100 for something to protect themselves/family/home. And, honestly, the only gun I've ever fired in anger or in a defensive situation was a Taurus Judge .410 round...at a rattlesnake. And calling that a defensive shoot is a stretch since it was just sunning itself on the steps behind the house. That Judge is the gun of choice when I'm working or otherwise out and about on the property here. And when they were first introduced by Taurus I looked at them like a big joke...a huge handgun that fires a shotgun round that's barely adequate for squirrels. Nothing wrong with .45 Colt but why carry that gun when so many other good options are available? Needless to say, my opinion has changed about that gun. But it is dedicated to .410 only.

I also understand why some people choose a .22 over a "normal" caliber for defense. I don't see a problem if that's what a person is comfortable with and shoots well. It's not the optimal defensive caliber for me, but it might be for someone else for a variety of reasons. When someone would ask me about carrying a .22 my big thing was making sure they understood the limitations and potential problems with small calibers, especially rimfires.

[Irving]

Sounds like that snake was sunning right at you.

[Bailey Guns]

Well, I didn't like the look on his face.

[CapLock]

Experience

One officer said they had yet to have one bad guy survive who was shot with Winchester ranger. LoL
How many you think his sample size was? Tomorrow when he's shooting people try a 40 and get back to us.
Inquiring minds want to know.

[Irving]

I thought that part was funny as well. Must have been an ISIS officer.

[Great-Kazoo]

During the last great ammo shortage I noticed that the only pistol caliber that always seemed to be in stock was 40S&W.

I was tempted to diversify and have things chambered in lots of different calibers so ammunition wouldn't be an issue during future shortages. But then I realized that the ammunition shortage only affected people who didn't have the foresight to RELOAD so I decided not to invest in multiple calibers.

FIFY

I was thinking the other day that if I ever built a pistol caliber carbine that it would be in 10mm. I have no idea if mags, barrels, etc are available though.

Macon Armory does a 45 DI and i believe he's working on a 10mm