Opinions on capacity vs caliber in a ccw

[yankeefist]

everyone can shoot a Ruger mark III better than any 9mm so why not carry a 22lr over all others

[Timothy]

I've heard the .45 ACP can spin a man around on a dime as well.  Unfortunately, an off center hit on a bowling pin with the same round can leave it spinning on the table.      I think that's empirical evidence to the contrary.

I have little doubt that enough of any caliber targeted into the center mass of a living, breathing mammal will do the job.  I also concede that are times when more may be better than larger or heavier.  For me it's about what is comfy, gives me a warm fuzzy and what I believe works for me!  I first shot a 1911 when I was a young man, it's as comfortable today as it was then.  Caliber arguments are pretty commonplace around here and I don't expect that to change.

There are a few folks on this forum, though probably not inclined to brag about it, who have had the unfortunate requirement to actually shoot another human being and I would defer to their experience in the matter.

I hope that I never have the need to experience what that feels like but I'm prepared none the less.

[m25operator]

Someone and i am not going to take the time to research, you guys certainly may, decided a one shot stop, all the time, consisted of a tennis ball sized projectile weighing 2lbs, at 800fps, sounds about right to me. LIke the bean bag round, only shaped and harder. The big bean bag round, not the 12 guage.

[Fatman]

Well Timothy, I agree with both you and Rob.  I started on my uncles .45 at about 15 yrs old and shot .45 almost exclusively from that point. I'm fast and accurate with it. Better than 9mm at this point for a simple reason - my body is totally tuned to .45 after many years of shooting it on a regular basis.  I know where the sights are, where they will be after I fire, and when to fire again on recovery to poke multiple holes on target rapidly - combat shooting.  I can point fire, aim fire, fire with both eyes open, either eye only, two hands, strong or weak, etc.  I know about how much to lead moving targets with the .45.  I (comparatively) suck in 9mm for the same reason - I shot 45 almost exclusively all my life.  For me to start shooting 9 now is the same waste of time others would see trying to master 45.  To quote Jake Roedel in Ride with the Devil, "It ain't right and it ain't wrong. It just is."

As for 9 for most people, I agree for the reasons Rob pointed out.  Let's face it, most people get just enough instruction/practice to be comfortable with a firearm and be reasonably proficient. Many on this board do not fall into this category, and I'm sure your proficiency in your chosen caliber is well above average.

As an aside, seek as much professional training as you can afford and then PRACTICE what you are taught. Shooting is a degradable skill. Aim for excellence, make defensive shooting a muscle memory activity and when your body starts moving up the condition scale, you'll not regret it.

[tombogan03884]

Thanks Rob.

[Sponsor]

[Rob Pincus]

Okay, so if someone trains with a larger caliber, with less "capacity", becomes consistent with it,....."stepping down" to a smaller caliber with less recoil, would make the shooter more consistent?  Like going from a .357 to a .38? .38 to a .25?

I ask this for two reasons:

1) I rotate what I carry, somedays, a "leetle" Kel-Tec, .380, somedays, my .38 snub, or my FN9, even my M+P.40.
    QUESTION: Why exclusively excel in one caliber and not others? (For those that have several calibers available)..

2) I'm not talking record Miculek speed or IDPA super times and trophies.
    QUESTION: Wouldn't the ability to be confident, accurate and consistent, regardless of caliber, be a good thing in an SD     situation?

Training resources are always limited. Everyone has only so much time, money, access to range, interest, etc... Personally. I think there are more important ways to spend time than trying to master control over every type of gun and caliber. Even if you huge amounts of time for training, there are other things we need to train: unarmed responses, medical, awareness, mindset, etc. And, ...again... no matter how well you learn to shoot the .40, the overwhelming majority of the population will shoot the 9mm noticeably better.

[ericire12]

no matter how well you learn to shoot the .40, the overwhelming majority of the population will shoot the 9mm noticeably better.

And thats the major take away from this whole discussion.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... I really value the professionals that moderate this forum. With all those other forums, it can be really tough to wade through the internet commandos and mall ninjas to really learn something from the discussions. However, the professionals that we have here really bring a world of knowledge and experience that simply amazes me time and again. When Rob says something (and I'm not ass kissing here) we should all take note.

Yes, you may shoot a .40 well, but when someone with as much shooting experience and who has had as much experience watching students shoot says something as difinitve as the above statement.... we should all probably step back from our preconceived notions and find out if we really do shoot any given caliber as well as we think we do.


Submitted by ericire12 - who really wishes that The Pincus would stop talking me out of a 1911 each time I start thinking about buying one.

[jaybet]

Following Rob's statement that the majority of the populace will shoot 9mm better than 40 (which I agree with) then since I'm much more accurate with my 45 than with 9mm, does it logically follow that I should stick with the 45? To me that makes sense.

[tombogan03884]

Eric, you can always buy one "Just because"

From Rob's post:

"there are other things we need to train: unarmed responses, medical, awareness, mindset, etc."

Big + 10 !  My heart has attacked me twice as often as the local "ne'er do well's".
Nitro is now part of my daily carry   

( Yes, I rattle when I walk     )

[PegLeg45]

I value all opinions, as you can learn something (good or bad) from everyone........
My own personal 'bottom line' opinion is still...... shoot 'em all, but depend on what YOU shoot best.


*Eric, a good 1911 is always a fine thing to have around....even if not for SD, they are wonderful guns.   

**Tom, I sometimes squeak when I walk....that's when it's time to break out the WD-40.....