Best bullet (defense + target range)?

[JEDI]

38 caliber- Mainly for revolvers and is the standard ammo for Police revolvers (aka '38 Special')
9mm- Most popular ammo
40 caliber- Current standard ammo for most law enforcement
45 caliber- ammo used in the M1911, which was the standard US miliary sidearm for ~70yrs till 1985.

Current rates at my local gun range (per box of 50 bullets):
.38 special (Semi-Wad Cutter) 8.99
9mm 11.99
40 S&W 13.99
.45 ACP 16.99

If you can only have 1 type, which size bullet for target range, home defense AND on the street (ie: concealed weapons license)?

Edit:
I'm 5'9" and weigh 150lbs

Edit2:
Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used.
Hmm.. 9mm Hollow point > Standard 40 caliber?
Plus the 9mm has less recoil than the 40 caliber.

THUS Regular 9mm for range, and 9mm Hollow Points for defense, FTW???

 

[crumpet19]

9mm frangible for home/apartment mags. 9mm hallow for carry. greater shot capacity, faster shot recovery, cheap range ammo. (and you can shoot it sideways gangsta style and everyone will know its a 9!)

 

[JEDI]

faster shot recovery?

 

[lyssword]

get ak47, the choice of the champions

 

[skyking]

The 9 is widely available, relatively inexpensive, and would be my choice if I could have *only* one.
If I could have two, it would be .22 LR and probably the .40

 

[JEDI]

.22LR?

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: JEDI
.22LR?

linky
yeah, 22LR for the range, the .40 for the rest.

 

[Tom]

"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

 

[JonTheBaller]

I only have one pistol and it's a .45

 

[pontifex]

i'd go with 9mm also

widely available and cheap.

 

[0roo0roo]

biggest clip wins. i mean u'll hit em somewhere soft eventually.

 

[ScottMac]

Stay with a revolver.

Buy a 357, load it with .38s.

Wadcutters for the range (most of the time) Glaser Safety slugs for defense.
I say wadcutters most of the time, because you also need real experience shooting the loads you'll use for defense. Every bullet & load shoot differently and have different aim points, for example.

If you are not "into" firearms, a revolver is much easier to clean and maintain. It does not require disassembly to clean, it's a simple mecanism, it's easier to know that it's not loaded (swing out the cylindar versus drop the mag and clear the chamber), it doesn't have a all the buttons & levers to get you in trouble when you are under stress.

If you decide to go semiauto, then also budget time & money to work with someone like an NRA certified trainier to learn all the caveats (clear a jam under stress, for example).

If you truely want practical, get a revolver. If this is just a testosterone-fueled excercise, or you plan on expanding your interest in firearms, then get a semi-auto. Just make sure you know how to properly use it and maintain it, or you'll be in for some ugly surprises if / when the time comes to use it.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[swimscubasteve]

I would say the .40. Much more stopping power than the 9 and fun at the range as well.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Stay with a revolver.

Buy a 357, load it with .38s.

Wadcutters for the range (most of the time) Glaser Safety slugs for defense.
I say wadcutters most of the time, because you also need real experience shooting the loads you'll use for defense. Every bullet & load shoot differently and have different aim points, for example.

If you are not "into" firearms, a revolver is much easier to clean and maintain. It does not require disassembly to clean, it's a simple mecanism, it's easier to know that it's not loaded (swing out the cylindar versus drop the mag and clear the chamber), it doesn't have a all the buttons & levers to get you in trouble when you are under stress.

If you decide to go semiauto, then also budget time & money to work with someone like an NRA certified trainier to learn all the caveats (clear a jam under stress, for example).

If you truely want practical, get a revolver. If this is just a testosterone-fueled excercise, or you plan on expanding your interest in firearms, then get a semi-auto. Just make sure you know how to properly use it and maintain it, or you'll be in for some ugly surprises if / when the time comes to use it.

Good Luck

Scott

:thumbsup: Good advice

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that an assumption, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

 

[Unheard]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that a theory, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

Is this a troll attempt, or are you serious?

 

[FelixDeCat]

I have a preban Browning 9mm Highpower with two 15 round clips. They are loaded with hollow points for a reason.

I was watching a show on the discovery channel about he history of guns and ammunition and they show the extreme difference between FMJ rounds and hollow points. I bought some that day.

Next purchase....body armor. :shocked:

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Stay with a revolver.

Buy a 357, load it with .38s.

Wadcutters for the range (most of the time) Glaser Safety slugs for defense.
I say wadcutters most of the time, because you also need real experience shooting the loads you'll use for defense. Every bullet & load shoot differently and have different aim points, for example.

If you are not "into" firearms, a revolver is much easier to clean and maintain. It does not require disassembly to clean, it's a simple mecanism, it's easier to know that it's not loaded (swing out the cylindar versus drop the mag and clear the chamber), it doesn't have a all the buttons & levers to get you in trouble when you are under stress.

If you decide to go semiauto, then also budget time & money to work with someone like an NRA certified trainier to learn all the caveats (clear a jam under stress, for example).

If you truely want practical, get a revolver. If this is just a testosterone-fueled excercise, or you plan on expanding your interest in firearms, then get a semi-auto. Just make sure you know how to properly use it and maintain it, or you'll be in for some ugly surprises if / when the time comes to use it.

Good Luck

Scott

And the best thing is you wont leave shell casings around with your fingerprints on them if you have to bust a cap and split. :laugh:

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Unheard

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that a theory, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

Is this a troll attempt, or are you serious?

I'm serious. Some things I can understand, like a shotgun having more stopping power, or a larger caliber having more stopping power.

And I can imagine that a larger wound cavity is more likley to cause death, eventually.

But I want to know specifically why it's supposed to deliver more stopping power ? And if the rationale is a theory, or if it's been proven to be true.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that an assumption, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stopping_power

Stopping is caused not by the force of the bullet, but by the damaging effects of the bullet which are typically a loss of blood, and with it, blood pressure. More immediate effects can result when a bullet strikes a critical organ such as the heart or damages the central nervous system such as the spine or brain.

A good start. The amount of damage a bullet causes is what slows, or stops your attacker. The more damage, the less likely they are to be able to carry on with their attack. Therefore the larger the wound, the more likely your attacker will be injured beyond the ability to keep attacking you.

It's common sense, really.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Unheard

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that a theory, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

Is this a troll attempt, or are you serious?

I'm serious. Some things I can understand, like a shotgun having more stopping power, or a larger caliber having more stopping power.

And I can imagine that a larger wound cavity is more likley to cause death, eventually.

But I want to know specifically why it's supposed to deliver more stopping power ? And if the rationale is a theory, or if it's been proven to be true.

The reason a shotgun or larger caliber has more stoppping power is because it causes more extensive damage, thus wounding your attacker to the point that they no longer have the ability to attack you.

 

[Kilgor]

I'd go with a Ruger GP100 revolver for a first gun. It will take .38 and .357 and it's built like a tank. I think it's a good first gun to learn with. If you really want an Semi-Auto I'd look at a Glock 17 9mm. Neither are very fancy but both are very reliable and easy to learn and use. You can spend more money on the SIGs, S&Ws and HKs later if you intrested.

 

[NL5]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Unheard

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Tom
"Disadvantage of the 9mm: small wound cavity size when nonexpanding bullets are used. "


What does that have to do with home defense ?

Stopping power. The smaller the wound, the more likely your attacker will be able to continue his attack.

Is that a theory, or is there evidence that a larger wound "cavity" stops more attacks ?

Is this a troll attempt, or are you serious?

I'm serious. Some things I can understand, like a shotgun having more stopping power, or a larger caliber having more stopping power.

And I can imagine that a larger wound cavity is more likley to cause death, eventually.

But I want to know specifically why it's supposed to deliver more stopping power ? And if the rationale is a theory, or if it's been proven to be true.

I don't get it either, just because you blast a hole 3 times the size into somebody, how does that make more stopping power?

I'm so confused.....

/end sarcasm

 

[K1052]

9mm semi auto loaded with +P+ jacketed hollowpoints for defense as a general carry weapon. Preferably a SIG 239.

I'm pretty skinny so any large frame pistol is goint to stick out like crazy on me. I also dislike revolvers so those are out for me.