SHTF 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP

Here is a topic that has been beaten to death.  This post is not to beat the dead horse, but rather to give you some perspective on it.  Caliber choice is a delicate matter for most people and at times, people like to insist that one caliber is better than the other or somehow "superior" just because they chose to fall in love with that caliber.  Basically, as human beings, we like to think that we have made the best choice.  And since we live with limited choices to make, some people have to feel that their caliber is superior somehow.

While shot placement is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect to any defensive shooting, I'd like to cover the pros and cons of each caliber.  Yes, size DOES make a difference.

Now, there are the more non-mainstream calibers such as the .357 sig, .38 special, .357 mag, .44 mag, .50 AE (point 5 oh!) .22wmr, .32, .380, 9X18, 7.62X25 Tokarev, 5.7X28, 10mm, etc. that are VERY EFFECTIVE in the right hands, I will be focusing on the most popular and most readily available pistol calibers here in United States.

9mm

A favorite among many shooters, this is the most widely used in the Western world and also the most openly criticized by Western men.  It's almost as if some men feel that they have to compensate for something else?

The Advantages:
-NATO Round
-Cheap to shoot
-Many cartridge options
-Available in +P and +P+
-Great penetration in +P+
-Low recoil
-Accurate

The Disadvantages:
-Some lack confidence in its "stopping power"
-Lack of penetration against cinder block
-Delivers less terminal energy than the other two

Although there are some "macho" types that claim that the 9mm is a round for women, it is a caliber used among special forces in their MP5 and U.S. Military in their Beretta.  Contrary to popular belief, the 9mm when the shot is properly placed with a hollow point bullet is enough to bring down any human size threat.

.40 S&W

Some people swear by this, some people swear at this.  This caliber is used by the FBI and some law enforcement agencies throughout the country.  Although it started out as the 10mm AUTO, some smaller sized people complained and the .40S&W was born.  It is pronounced 40 Smith and Wesson, some choose to call it 40 Short and Weak... especially by those "macho" types who despise it as a 9mm round.

The Advantages

-As an in-between the 9mm and .45acp, it has a little more punch while retaining speed

-Readily available in the U.S.

-Great penetration

-Great terminal energy

The Disadvantages

-Has a sharp "kick" that's more of a snap than the .45acp thus affecting shooter accuracy in some people

-Has more PSI than the 9mm and 45acp which gives it the highest possibility of a KB in a chamber that is not fully supported

-Does not have a +P option

It is a disappointment because while the .40 S&W has a great terminal energy delivered on tissue as well as great penetration on barriers, the snappy recoil and chamber PSI makes some shooters wary.  Although KB's can happen in any gun, this has the highest possibility.  Still, these issues can be mitigated through training and using pistols with fully supported chambers.

NOTE: While some choose to hunt with it, the results are not as satisfying.

.45 ACP

Considered the "real man's caliber", this caliber is thought to be a one shot man stopper by many shooting enthusiasts.  While shot placement is what ultimately matters, the .45ACP a.k.a 45 Auto gives many people peace of mind that they're "carrying enough gun" as a person defense pistol.

The Advantages:

-Great man stopper as it maintains kinetic energy well

-Already subsonic for shooting suppressed

-Bigger diameter for greater damage

-Lowest PSI for least possibility for a KB

-Comes in a +P

The Disadvantages:

-Bigger diameter means less able to carry

-Heavier

-Ammo costs more

Some tote this caliber around for bear defense when in the woods.  Some hunt hog with this.  However, there is still a limitation.  There is a reason this is called the "man stopper" and not the "bear stopper".

Pistols are pistols and rifles are rifles...but then again, we have revolvers to fill that "woods carry" gun category.  There are really no superior calibers, it's just that people try to take one caliber and make it do the impossible.  In my humble opinion, if money were not an issue, I'd have the 9mm in +P+, .45ACP with suppressor, and the .44mag with a 6" barrel for my handgun category...but that's just me.

~MrDailyPrepper