THE BEST HANDGUN CALIBER FOR SELF-DEFENSE GETS REVIEWED FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPEC

[Graybeard]

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/best-handgun-caliber-for-self-defense-debate-resolved-for-good/



Posted by John McAdams

Greg Ellifritz has released the results of a study that determined the best self-defense caliber once and for all.
Shooters love to fight with each other about the best handgun caliber for self-defense. Should you use a 9mm or a .45 ACP? What about a .22 Long Rifle or a .44 Magnum? While handgun ballistics tests are great, nothing can really compare to data from real-world incidents.

Well, Greg Ellifritz conducted a study where he analyzed nearly 1,800 shootings involving a number of different handgun calibers to see what he could find out regarding the effectiveness of each one for self-defense.

Watch the video to see what he learned.

https://youtu.be/nycYxb-zNwc

So here are the summarized results:

Stay away from the small "mouse gun" calibers like .22 Long Rifle, .25 ACP, and .32 ACP.
Shot placement is the single most important factor in stopping an assailant.
Shotguns and rifles are much more effective than any handgun for self-defense.
If it's not practical to carry a shotgun or a rifle, there isn't a big difference in the performance of the major handgun calibers (.380 ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP or .44 Magnum).
Basically, we would all be better off if we spent more time at the range practicing than trying to find the best caliber for self-defense. As the results of Ellifritz's study show, there isn't a big difference between most handgun calibers.

So, you'll be setting yourself up for success if you just pick a caliber, use high-quality self-defense ammo (not FMJ!), find a reliable handgun and learn how to shoot it well. At the end of the day, it honestly doesn't matter much if you're using a .380 ACP, a 9mm Luger, a 10mm Auto or a .44 Magnum, as long as you place your shots properly.

For more information, you can read the results of Greg Ellifritz's study on his website.

[jedman]

 It sounds just like what makes sense for a hunting caliber. Use enough gun for the job but shot placement is paramount.
As a side note, A older friend of mine who was a police officer for 30 years told me of a incident when the 38 spl / 158 gr. round nose ammunition was issued, he shot a assailant thru the rear window of a vehicle and the bullet hit the guy in the back of the head and did little more than lodge in his “hairdo”.
I have not ever heard of how well different calibers penetrate auto safety glass but usually a soft cast lead bullet is effective ?

The same guy told me of several times using the 12 ga. with OO buckshot and the fight was over then and there.

jedman

[Drilling Man]

  Greybeard, I've read several studies that compared the 9mm, to 40's and 45's with the same conclusion, AS LONG as you use good quality self defense ammo...

  I'm comfortable with anything from 9mm on up, but I do like the 357 mag. in a S&W M19 about the best, even though I do use a 9mm fairly often...

  DM

[Dee]

I've carried 9mm to 45 Long Colt and in between as a police officer. In 77 I used a Model 28 Smith to settle a legal dispute with a young man from Oklahoma. The 357 magnum did everything I asked it to.
In June of 78 I ran into a couple a guys from Dallas and that meeting went south right away. That night I was carrying a custom Lightweight Commander in 45acp and I prevailed inspite of the poor performance of the round.
I like the 40S&W, don't care for the 9mm parabellem, liked the 44 magnum loaded down a bit, and trusted the 45 Long Colt.
In my 21 years I met a lotta good men who had been in fights with assorted caliber handguns, rifles and shotguns, and we swapped experiences as cops will do.
Very few cared for the 9mm, some liked the 45acp, many liked the 40 S&W, but the older guys that had been there, and done that, preferred the 357 magnum stoked stoked with the hot 125 grain jacketed hp. That would include myself.
If I thought there might be a fight, I chose either a shotgun, or a rifle, and left the pistol in its holster.

I see it like the old Ranger that was invited to the Governors' Ball in Austin many years ago. When one of Texas' higher society ladies asked: "Well Ranger, I see your wearing your pistol tonight, are you expecting trouble here tonight?" The Ranger replied: No mam, if I was, I'd a brought my shotgun.

I've never really read  any studies, I just went with the facts from the street, and listened to what they told me, and that was a hot loaded 357 magnum is hard to beat. So after all my years of experimentin, and switching around, combined with my own personal experiences, and talking to other fight winners, I ended up right back where I started.
Sure wish I had all that money back.

[Lloyd Smale]

cant argue with the logic. With that said im with dee. They all have advantages and disadvantages but the 40 sits right square in the middle. May not be the best at some criteria but its never the worse. To me its the engergizer bunny of the black guns. If it werent for the fact that americans are just soft today it would still be in the holster of every police officer and the only thing keeping it from the military are wimps women and nato wimps and women. Only arugement i ever hear against it is it kicks to much. If you cant handle the recoil of a 40 youd best stay home. I carry them all at one time or another. But if i ever had to actually use one and had two sitting before me. A 9mm and a 40sw and had the time to choose it sure would be a no brainer. To me its like the idiots that think the 270 is an ideal elk rifle. Sure it will kill an elk. Heck a 250 savage will. But if faced with a once in the lifetime shot at 300 yards on a trophy bull and there was a 270 and a 300wby sitting there i sure know which im grabbing. Now make that something that might actually hurt me or my family and ill take all the power i can get my hands on. I can honestly say ive never see a 40 10mm or 45 actually criple someone that used it in self defense. Bottom line too is anyone that can handle a  smith shields glock 43 hellcat ect can sure handle a 23 glock or m&p compact 40.

[ironglows]

.
   I guess we can get all kinds of authoritative charts, but this one has all grades of handgun rounds remarkably close, when we consider what percentage is "one shot stop" and "one shot fatal".

     Surely the major change is when going from handgun to rifle or shotgun..

  https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/alternate-look-handgun-stopping-power

  That being said, I am considering the purchase of a new carry gun..

  https://www.taurususa.com/revolvers/taurus-942/taurus-942-22-wmr-matte-stainless-3-in

[Drilling Man]

  I look at it this way...

  I wouldn't carry a 9mm loaded with just "anything" and expect it to do the job, same as I wouldn't elk hunt with a 270 loaded with just "anything" and expect IT to do the job!!

  Loaded "properly", they both work...

  DM

[Lloyd Smale]

that brings in the people claiming the 9s are so dammed good because of all the high tech bullets available. Or we could go with the 270 and the high tech bullets available. What they fail to mention is those same bullets are available in the 40 and available in a 300wby. Dont get me wrong. Im not beyond carrying a 9. I do it often but i dont fool myself into thinking some bullet made it into a 357 mag or even a 40 and i sure dont think i can make a 270 into a 300 wby. Aint happening.

[Drilling Man]

i dont fool myself into thinking some bullet made it into a 357 mag or even a 40 and i sure dont think i can make a 270 into a 300 wby. Aint happening.

  Agreed, but I don't need a 40 or a 300 mag. to get the job done..

  IF you do, that's fine with me too...

  DM

[Dee]

I don't need a 40 or a 300 mag. to get the job done..

  IF you do, that's fine with me too...

  DM

Agreed.  I don't care what anybody else carrys, or if they carry at all.

[Lloyd Smale]

i guess if you dont care or have an opinion, why even respond to a post like this. I dont need a truck that goes over 55 or 25 guns or an atv or about anything but food and water but want is different then need and ideal is also better then just whats needed. Bottom line is if guns werent more then a need but a passion most of us wouldnt be here. Im sure you could get buy selling your drillings and using a ruger american too. Thats all you need. But if you want to feel superior because you use a smaller gun have at it. Doesnt effect me having to track wounded deer. Wouldnt effect me if someone you knew was killed by a wounded drugged up criminal either. I wouldnt like it but it wouldnt effect me.

[wtxbadger]

I carry a smith .38 five shot revolver, practice with it on a regular basis and chose it for how easy it is to conceal summer and winter. If I do my part the .38 will do it's job as well in my opinion.

[Dee]

I carry a smith .38 five shot revolver, practice with it on a regular basis and chose it for how easy it is to conceal summer and winter. If I do my part the .38 will do it's job as well in my opinion.

I occasionally carry a little Smith Airweight in 38 Special. It is an accurate sweetheart, and easy to hide.

[Drilling Man]

i guess if you dont care or have an opinion, why even respond to a post like this. I dont need a truck that goes over 55 or 25 guns or an atv or about anything but food and water but want is different then need and ideal is also better then just whats needed. Bottom line is if guns werent more then a need but a passion most of us wouldnt be here. Im sure you could get buy selling your drillings and using a ruger american too. Thats all you need. But if you want to feel superior because you use a smaller gun have at it. Doesnt effect me having to track wounded deer. Wouldnt effect me if someone you knew was killed by a wounded drugged up criminal either. I wouldnt like it but it wouldnt effect me.

  Are you saying, that because YOU need a 40 or 300 mag. that means "I" need one too???

  I don't feel under gunned with a properly loaded 9mm, OR a 270 for elk, but I didn't say that's what YOU should be using either...

  Perhaps you should re-read my last post, I never said I was superior to you or anyone else.

  BTW, I think I'd rather sell the Ruger American and keep the drilling.  lol

  DM

[billy_56081]

I always look at self defense calibers and "stopping power" differently from law enforcement needs. In a self defense shooting,  if you shoot the guy and he runs off it's over. For law enforcement they have to go after the person they shot and try to bring them into custody.

[powderman]

I carry a smith .38 five shot revolver, practice with it on a regular basis and chose it for how easy it is to conceal summer and winter. If I do my part the .38 will do it's job as well in my opinion.

Mine is a Taurus 5 shooter 38 spcl, 150 gr, lead SWC loaded rather hot for defense, I feel confident in what I can do with this. I used to carry home cast HPS but ran out of bullets to load and not up to casting, and rarely reloading anymore. CHARLIE.

[powderman]

TM, good choice, I just prefer heavier bullets for more penetration. A friend gave me a handfull of 158gr JHP +ps, but I still carry my own loads. IF I had a 45 ACP I could conceal it would be loaded with 200 gr JHPS. I've had 2 reports of that load used on BGS and they were both DRT. CHARLIE. 

[ironglows]

.
  My S&W 642, carries Federal hydro-shock cartridges, and  I wouldn't want to get hit by them.

   Matter of fact, I wouldn't want to get hit by a .22 short..   

[oldandslow]

I'll go you one better IG. I don't want to get shot with even a BB gun.  I look at it this way: Carry what you want and I will carry what I want. I won't try to influence your decision and expect you to extend the same courtesy to me.

I don't care how many studies are done to determine the "best" handgun cartridge for self defense there will never be consensus on the subject. It's like the best automobile, best truck, best booze, best steak, best coffee, best anything. There will never be total agreement.

[pastorp]

Most studies and write-ups in magazines are just to make money. Truth is we could all get by with a 38 special and a 30-30 just fine.

[Dee]

Most studies and write-ups in magazines are just to make money. Truth is we could all get by with a 38 special and a 30-30 just fine.

Well, I gave my 3030 to my  oldest a few years ago, but my everyday carry is a 6 shooter. With the way things are getting here in Texas, I'm gonna pass on the 3030.

[ironglows]

.
  One quibble with the video.  The producer tended to put down the .22 rifle for a "bugout gun".  If he were rating it for a self-defense gun, that would be one case, but he distiunctly said "bugout gun".
   
  I an still convinced that the .22LR shines at that, since a bugout gun has to;

  1) Collect small game for food.

  2) Has to do it quietly

  3) should be simple to maintain

   And the big kicker...

    A person involved in "bugout" or survival...can carry 300 rounds of .22LR, for about the same weight and space needs as 40 rounds of 30/06.

[BUGEYE]

Then there's those who have severe arthritis that can't wrack the slide on a centerfire pistol.
That's me, plus my left thumb has six pins in the large joint and my right thumb needs to be pinned together too.
So I carry a .22 pistol or a .22magnum revolver. (NAA Ranger II)

[pastorp]

Then there's those who have severe arthritis that can't wrack the slide on a centerfire pistol.
That's me, plus my left thumb has six pins in the large joint and my right thumb needs to be pinned together too.
So I carry a .22 pistol or a .22magnum revolver. (NAA Ranger II)

That’s reasonable to me. Carry what you can shoot. That’s what I do too.