4 years 37 weeks ago, 3:34 PM
Hunter59  |
Best Pistol Caliber for Home Defense
Which do u consider as the best pistol round for home defense(9mm,.40S&W,.45ACP,etc...)? "Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death." — Gen. Omar Bradley |
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clintlebo
Hunter59,
I favor the .45. But in the end, I would not want to shot by any of the calibers.
I grew up with the .45 and it is what I am the most familiar with. I reload my ammo so I also have a better idea of what physics are playing into the round. There are good arguments for all calibers. I would say buy a pistol, get an extra barrel, (just kidding...maybe) and train with it.
Clint
Reaper308
agree. all will do the job. consider the ballistics and magazine capacity. i prefer .40, but also like .45+P. what ever caliber you decide on, just make sure you get some good ammo (hornady fpd, federal hst, corbon dpx, winchester sxt etc...). I prefer hollows with good expansion and energy delivery.
samD
I learned in my CCW class that if you have to shoot someone, it is imperative to have Personal Defense Ammo in your weapon. ie: Win silvertips or hydro-shok, etc. Because if it goes to trial for some reason, and it is not Hunting Ammo or Black Talons as they the Juries will see this as Offensive ammo and are more likely to convict in a civil trial. Remember that shot you take,will take $65,000 minimum to defend if some silly court or Grand Jury holds you over.
Besides the Personal Defense ammo is less likely to go through, because as a licensed person you are responsible for where that bullet stops, pray to God it isn't in some poor innocent passing by behind your bad guy. You will pay for the innocent... Civilally and Criminally!
samD
skeeter51
Another point to make is that if you "absolutely" have to shoot someone make sure they won't be around to talk about it. Not to say it's cool to take a life but if you are put in that position then don't shoot to immobilize because that will only cause more grief for you in court.
DEMO
My CCL class pointed out some very concerning issues in NY. If a criminal breaks into my house, I am to let him have anything he wants, let him leave. The homeowner has the burden of proving his life was in danger. If there is reasonable doubt my life was not in danger, I am screwed. Both in criminal and civil court. The exact plan of action was to call the police, warn the intruder and not intervien unless a threat to life was occuring.
I can not say I understand the right to self defense in my state. The law does not draw a line between homeowner and intruder. The concept is 'net lifes'. If the intruder breaks in and kills you, the net life loss is 1. If you shoot the intruder, the net life loss is 1. The State does not see a difference between the two scenarios.
This legal concept is based on a blind value of social and economic status. If you are breaking into houses you may be underpriveledged or uneducated. Should you lose your life for breaking into a home? Thats liberal ethics at its worst...any ideas?
I studied law and still can not get it.
sytasyn_syn
Thanks for the heads up Sam
reysanz630
another important info
Hunter59
Does anyone know if they make conversion barrels for XD's yet?
craigman9mm
No not yet, but if demand is in question give em time. Besides the .357 sig/40s&w they sell more 40's than they do the sig caliber. and as for the 45Auto and the 45 Gap the Acp is also the more popular caliber. And as for the nine, well they sell plenty of them not to even worry about a conversion for that firearm for whatever caliber.
Reaper308
nope. that one of the main things glock still has over XD
sytasyn_syn
There are sites out there that make conversion barrels for the XD and other weapons, there just not made by the company that makes the weapon. Only down side.
Reaper308
where? can you post a link
sytasyn_syn
I'll try to find it in a minute, hold on.
sytasyn_syn
http://www.gunbarrelstore.com/Content.aspx?ckey=stormlake
Reaper308
i just see standard barrels, ported barrels and extended barrels. no conversion barrels that have a different diameter so you can shoot different calibers out of the same weapon
Reaper308
ok. i finally found a conversion barrel that allows you to convert an xd .40 to a 9mm. it will not work for the xdm... you will have to cut down the barrel to make it fit, or it will extend 1/2" too far.
http://www.pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=00PG2
i don't know how quality it is. most of the better barrel manufacturers (bar sto, strom lake, efk dragon fire etc...) don't offer conversions for xd's that I know of. I've also been searching for conversion barrels that allow you to go from .45acp to 10mm, like you can do with glock. nothing yet.
Hunter59
I found it!!!
http://www.barsto.com/category_main.cfm?ID=XD&cco=63
LLE
You can ask 20 different people this question, and get at least 10 to 15 different answers. The most important aspect of this question is FIRST--being prepared for the possible eventuality of an in-home attack. If you are not in what most people call condition yellow, you probably will not be properly prepared, and if you are not prepared, it does not matter one whit what kind[s] of "pistol[s]" you have because dollars to donuts, you will not have it/them immediately available for action.
Remember the old cliche about...rather having a gun and not needing it, than needing it and not having it.
I, and my wife, want to be in a position of access within seconds, and ready to attack, no matter where we may be in the home. That means at present, something as poor as a .22, better in .38 special and 9mm, and better still in 40S&W or 20GA. This, plus the castle doctrine makes breaking and entry, at best, a crap shoot for the perp.
Anonymous
A real life saver.
ssdd71
The most important issue is to be armed. But also to be armed with something you can use in a high stress situation without hesitation. Something you handle well and without having to look at to be sure you are doing it right.
LLE
I certainly agree with that. The problem is obtaining competent training, under induced stress, so that the shooter is reasonably sure of the results you endorse. Unfortunately, there are only a few places to obtain such training for non-LEOs.
ssdd71
I agree, good training is hard to find, but not impossiple. take a look at these...
Try these:
www.gunsite.com
www.thunderranchinc.com
www.frontsight.com
There are many but here is a good start.
ssdd71
If I had the money and the time, I'd go to all of them so I could tell you which one I liked the best. It would be so much fun and I'm sure I'd learn alot.
Anonymous
the DVD from front sight wish i could go to vegas for that traning.
ssdd71
looks like a good time Huh...
ssdd71
Where are you from, might be someone close by .
LLE
...........to Front Sight right now, but have had my cc permit for years.
ssdd71
Yeah
Front sight and Gunsite...wow.... I'd book right now if I was that close to those places. Gunsite would be my choice
Pkato
Sounds like the CCW class was worthwhile...I never gave that any thought. I was always taught that if you pull your weapon out, you are shooting to kill.
Patrolman Kato
In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. -Voltaire (1764)
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself.
They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone
under independence. -- George Washington
Reaper308
i agree Pkato. don't draw unless you plan on shooting to kill
evilone
i like the 40 for cap but i also like the45 for stoping
Big Mernie
evil that is why you get an XD because you get capacity and .45 all in one! I should be getting one soon can't wait!!!!
Anonymous
well for me it is the 12 gauge over the steel reinforced front door,or the SKS that is on a rack above my head,or the .22MAG revolver under my pillow or the .41 Action Express in a cz75 copy in my night stand!if i dont getcha mrs smithandwesson has you covered with her .380 and CS gas that i have conveniently mounted to a 5 cell MAg light!in this case if the spray dont stop you,getting beat over the head by a MAG light with 5 d cell batteries in it will stop ya! by then i have a weapon in hand.in my case if i step in late i may even have a vintage tomahawk in my hands!or a real sharp skinning knife!
Reaper308
a country boy can survive
Anonymous
that is the song that as we were walking down the aisle to be married was played!i live by that credo!thanks reaper!
Reaper308
only you grease. that shits funny
Anonymous
you know you got a good woman when she will let that be played during her wedding!no lame ass shit in greasys wedding!
skeeter51
That's probably the coolest thing I've ever heard done at a wedding!
KENCOOL2
my home defense caliber is 357magnum but any caliber with hotload hollowpoints like 9mm, 357sig, 40sw,10mm,45acp,38super,45gap should do the job
TITO_NY454
GO FOR THE 357 MAG...HAS AT LEAST 91% STOPING POWER..OR FAR BETTER A 12 GAUGE MOSSBERG 500..AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO USE YOU ALWAYS SHOOT TO KILL..THATS WHAT THEY ALWAYS SAID IN THE CCW CLASS..
boxabullets
Just depends on which room we should find each other in, I prefer the stopping power and mag capacity of my astra 45 which is my cw choice too, I don't want to have to shoot anything less than a 38 at anything living.And when confronted with a situation where you have to fire on someone be certain of the laws reguarding use of force for your specific state, In my ccw we were taught shoot to stop at center mass,different states have different rules as to when deadly force is deemed justified,know yours before you squeeze the trigger.
LLE
at FreedoMilitaria's Gel Test comparisons. The Sig.357 and 45acp's are very efficient, but the others are not too far behind.
The two best schools teach 2 rounds to the chest cavity area, in a total of 1.5 seconds, including the weapon draw. Judgment must be applied as to whether a followon might be necessary to the "pumpkin".
fordvg
I like a 38 or a 357 and the 45 acp plus the 40. All are a good home defense round. I'm like Reaper308 about the 40 with a higher round count in a magazine.
Crusading Knight
I fell comfortable with a 9mm. 12 gauge will due
Anonymous
Yup I agree
Anonymous
didja find yer coil pack?
Generalswanny
I would much rather have a pump action shotgun there isn't a bad guy on the planet that doesn't know that sound.
TITO_NY454
that sound will scare anyone with haf of brain..
Blackblood127
I Really Think A 9mm Would Do, But if you need more, Try 45. If You Want to, add a Silencer/Supresser. If You REALLY Need Home-Defense, 12 Gauge Pump/Semi-Auto.
357. Magnum iS Pretty Good.
Ps. 12- Guage Shotgun, Loaded Or NOT will fking Scare The Person that broke into your house.
TXLUCKYGUY
1. Sounds don't stop determined attackers, i.e. people you'd be justified in shooting. Besides, most of the ones I deal with don't have the aforementioned braincells.
2. 'Shoot to kill' is a useless doctrine in any self-defense scenario. If they die after they've robbed you, raped you or shot you, it's pointless. Plus, with regards to criminal trials and civil liability, any attorney would LOVE to find out you were 'trained to kill', rather 'shooting to stop' like almost every vetted, sound, peer-reviewed and sucessful defensive firearms training program. if you were taught 'shoot to kill' as a civilian with a CCW/CHL/etc., then you and your state regulatory agency should take a hard look at whoever taught that and how in the hell they are still licensed to do so. Try out 'dead men don't talk' on the witness stand and lemme know how the prison food and shower rapes are suiting you.
3. No caliber/cartridge is foolproof...that is to say that if a fool loads poor ammo in it, it will not have adequate wounding effect. Load the .45LC, 12ga. or any other 'bigger is better cartridge' with the wrong ammo and it will NOT do the job you need it to.
The best handgun caliber is the proven one that meets your mission requirements, is in a platform that meets your mission requirements, and is in a weapon that you have realistically and repeatedly trained with until your proficiency under stress meets your requirements.
If you haven't addressed the above, then the 'best' is most likely someone trying to sell you something. Bullets aren't magic, people are often tough to stop, and there is an industry standard and/or best practice for defensive firearms training (and you probably won't get it from any standard state-sponsored CHL/CCW class).