Opinions on capacity vs caliber in a ccw

[bafsu92]

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.....   

I totally agree, for the average person who maybe hasn't shot much the 9 is the easiest and cheapest to train with. My wife for example doesn't like the .40 and is very comfortable with the 9 so other than the .22 all she shoots with is the 9 so she can be as proficient as possible. Myself, I've shot mostly .45 for nearly 30 years, I'm comfortable with it, I don't have recoil issues, any muzzle flip isn't really perceived because I just instinctively know where my front sight is. I do train more with my 9's these days because I was carrying them in a pretty equal amount due to work and the 9 has become so much easier to shoot. Because if this dynamic of either .9 or .45 in my house the .40 was the odd gun out. I don't have anything against the .40 personally but didn't see a need to keep any and also have to stock yet another caliber of ammo (still 2 boxes of .40 left if you need any). I had 4 pistols in .40, I sold 3 and gave one to my dad (my Glock 27 to accompany the 22 he already owned). It was the best move for me. We have gunvaults at strategic points in our home and they all have 9's in them for my wife's ease of use. The one on my nightstand has a couple .45's and everything else (.22's and revolvers etc.) lives in the big safe.

[Rob Pincus]

All other things being equal, for EVERYONE 9mm is easier than .40 when you're talking about multiple shot strings... its physics... don't know how else to say it guys.  Some people and some platforms may make the difference negligible, but it must be there.

The idea that you "shoot X caliber more accurately than X" (obviously talking about defensive accuracy here, not Camp Perry) is either in your head or a factor of the platform (eg- comparing accuracy from a tuned 1911 .45 with a good trigger and a H&K DOA USP in 9mm is apples and oranges...). It is also possibly missing the point that we are talking about multiple shots, so accuracy is only one factor, recoil management is what I am focusing on (given that .38, .357, 9mm, .40, .45, 10mm and .44 are all capable of being fired accurately in a self defense situation) ... based on the empirical evidence.

With that, I'm going to bow out of this one and probably lock the thread down in a day or so if no new info is added.

Good discussion and, I think VERY THOROUGH... we're close to a "'nuff said" on all fronts.

-RJP

[DonWorsham]

But we never got around to wisdom and education.

[Michael Bane]

Wisdom is available by the fifth, I'm told...

Tend to agree with Rob on this...my own personal strategy is multiple hits, and I can et them faster with a 9 than a .40. OTOH, when I'm in a situation with an enhanced threat level, I go to a .45, either a 1911 lightweight Commander or an FHP-45.

Michael B