@Smiddy I agree about a multiple trigger tap to stop a threat. I can “run & gun” in my own home setting up different scenarios with my GSight Laser system. I have made my own full size targets and practice a double tap for “center mass” then one in the “electrical box”. But as you can see, I am basically trying to stay in the red “T”. Which includes the spine and throat.
And yes, like most of us I pray I never have to actually do this. But that won’t be my choice… judicious marksmanship will be though.
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I carry .45 ACP, because I don’t want to shoot twice… It also makes me feel warm fuzzy inside.
(All Jokes aside, I really do carry .45. I carry a Shield. I had 9mm. I decided to get a back up carry gun. I wanted something similar, but different.
I bought the shield .45. I simply like my shield 45 more. It’s really that simple.)
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I’m surprised no one has mentioned Greg Ellefritz’s study on Handgun Stopping Power…
The TLDR; is that most of your common handgun rounds (.380 and up) all stop the attacker with roughly the same percentage, and all averaged near 2 rounds to achieve the stop.
A video recap…
And I think this is the original article
Over a 10-year period, I kept track of stopping power results from every shooting I could find. I talked to the participants of gunfights, read police reports, attended autopsies, and scoured the newspapers, magazines, and Internet for any reliable accounts of what happened to the human body when it was shot.
Since it was my study, I got to determine the variables and their definitions. Here’s what I looked at:
- Number of people shot
- Number of rounds that hit
- On average, how many rounds did it take for the person to stop his violent action or be incapacitated?.. (snip)
Referencing the percentage of attackers being incapacitated after being hit by .22s, he talk about what Active Self Protection now called the FIBS/FIBSA (F*&# Ive Been Shot/F*&# Im Being Shot At) Factor…
In a certain (fairly high) percentage of shootings, people stop their aggressive actions after being hit with one round regardless of caliber or shot placement. These people are likely NOT physically incapacitated by the bullet. They just don’t want to be shot anymore and give up! Call it a psychological stop if you will. Any bullet or caliber combination will likely yield similar results in those cases. And fortunately for us, there are a lot of these “psychological stops” occurring. The problem we have is when we don’t get a psychological stop. If our attacker fights through the pain and continues to victimize us, we might want a round that causes the most damage possible. In essence, we are relying on a “physical stop” rather than a “psychological” one. In order to physically force someone to stop their violent actions we need to either hit him in the Central Nervous System (brain or upper spine) or cause enough bleeding that he becomes unconscious. The more powerful rounds look to be better at doing this.
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In my world view, I shoot the caliber that fits in the pistol I currently own.
Intimate familiarity and competency with what I carry atones for theoretical issues.
At least so far.
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That was a great video. Thanks Harvey. Makes me think a little differently on 380 
.
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I carry a 45 cause they dont make a 46 
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I use my 1911 for home defense & carry a 9mm. I shoot both calibers equally. I have shot 1911s since 1974 when I joined the Navy. I was on a regional pistol team & of course we shot the Colt Gov. issue 1911. I have two 1911s & they are my favorite model of handgun to shoot. I also enjoy 9mm service pistols & carry guns. I have, on occasion, carried my 1911 when I am wearing a sport coat or overcoat that conceals it. I like the Walther CCP, Glock 46 & Ruger LC9s . I have not bought a 45acp carry gun. The Hornady critical defense 115gr is a wicked round & penetrates very well. The 45acp is the superior round but the 9mm is lighter, holds more rounds & has less recoil so I carry a 9mm
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Technically, no there isn’t in current production a firearm that uses a .46 caliber bullet, but there is the .460 S&W Magnum, which is a .45 on steroids. I did find this, in my search, Spencer heavy barrel sporting .46 caliber rifle. It was made in the mid to late 1800s.
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The caliber debate is pretty much dead. Just read the FBI docs on it or watch the Lucky Gunner videos. Basically, they all work. But it is also naive to think that the advancements in 9mm do not also apply to other calibers. Heck, even the .380 is no longer the pop gun that it was once considered. I have more guns than any person should have and have carried everything from .380 to .45 ACP and most calibers in between. The exceptions being the basically proprietary calibers like the .357 Sig and .45 GAP. I dont feel undergunned. I dont feel inadequate when I carry a 9mm vs .45 ACP. In all honesty, it doesnt matter. First, carry a gun. Second, practice as much as your schedule and pocketbook allow. Third, feed it the best ammo you can. This means a good factory loaded self-defense designed round that has been shot enough in your EDC to satisfy yourself that you will have no reliability issues. Fourth, be happy with your gun and caliber options. I suspect with the ammo available, the debate is more about insecurity about ones choice and the desire to have “the best one.”
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Yes, I did not read any posts claiming that any particular caliber is better than the other. The biggest take from this, is as you said, practice and proficiency. If you can’t hit the target, caliber is irrelevant. Preferences are only based on one’s experiences. Some firearms are more fun to shoot, and one is able to handle certain firearms better than others.
When I need/want a small handgun, I take my 9mm sub-compact, otherwise, I take my .45 full-frame. I like the way it handles better, not because it is a .45, but that might be why it handles better. I can cc both, so that isn’t an issue.
As to the current ammo issue, I still see .45 more often than 9, though I don’t need any currently, so I will let others buy at these inflated prices.
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In my opinion, caliber doesn’t make as big of a difference as ammunition choice. Some rounds have a lesser expansion success percentage than others, some lose mass more than others, and some expand better than others. Everyone has a caliber and/or brand they swear by, but in the end, these days they are all pretty effective.
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That was a very well written, and probably 1 of the best summations of the (lack of,) importance regarding calibers. It sums up very well how I, as the OP on this little thread, feel about how anyone should choose to carry, and then actually carry.
I concur!!!
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