9mm, .40, .45 what's the BEST

[VulpesForge]

1 cm

I came here to post this.

 

[TacOpsGuy320]

In my humble opinion the best is what you are most confident shooting and what gives you the best results. They are both good rounds.

 

[cesposito54]

I love my 9’s. I would never knock other rounds though, all have different qualities that equals dead paper, dead freezer meat or dead bad guys.

 

[ashby koss]

I love my 9’s. I would never knock other rounds though, all have different qualities that equals dead paper, dead freezer meat or dead bad guys.

applications rules, not caliber.

 

[JTJJ]

Shoot what works best for you, I have 9, 40, 45 and like all of them for different reasons

 

[jwright2882]

Started with 40, too sharp (uncomfortable)
Got a 45, 9, 38/357 (wheel guns)
Traded in the 45 to consolidate calibers
9mm, can carry more ammo in the field with less weight etc. Seems to be a sweet spot for handgun calibers. Also very affordable and readily available.

 

[Expat]

Sweet spot?

 

[TacOpsGuy320]

Not sure there is a best. Department I worked for carried 40 and it worked well. I personally like 9mm as with well placed shots it’s very efficient. Ultimately it’s really what someone feels the most competent with. Everyone should train the right way and carry what they feel most confident with.

 

[IndyBeerman]

Not sure there is a best. Department I worked for carried 40 and it worked well. I personally like 9mm as with well placed shots it’s very efficient. Ultimately it’s really what someone feels the most competent with. Everyone should train the right way and carry what they feel most confident with.

^^^^^^^^^
THIS!!!

People can argue all they want, There's a lot of variables involved besides the caliber you're shooting.

Weight of the firearm, size, barrel length, double/single stack along with grip circumference and length, there is no magic one size fits all.

Find the firearm/caliber combination that suits you best, that allows you to put consistent rounds on target, because if you don't/can't do that, you'll never be given a
chance to be judged by 12, you'll be carried by 6 because you worried about caliber instead of what was best for you to shoot. My goal is to be the one walking away
if I'm ever put in this situation.

I own ALL three calibers, I must have handled dozens of each one before coming to a conclusion on each particular firearm and even before I bought each one, I sought
out a chance to fire each one before purchasing.

 

[DadSmith]

The best caliber is the one that you can hit with. My father carried a 44 magnum revolver when I was home and for many years. As he got older he changed to the 45acp in a 1911. Now that he's pushing 80 he's now carrying a 38 special snub nose, and a pocket 22lr pistol. It's what he can handle now. So the perfect caliber will be different for everyone and at every stage of life it is most likely to change just as my father's carry has.

 

[warren5421]

Personally I think the .36 round ball is the best. 6 or 7 to the upper chest/ face area most times stops anyone or any animal other than an elephant.

 

[IndyBeerman]

Personally I think the .36 round ball is the best. 6 or 7 to the upper chest/ face area most times stops anyone or any animal other than an elephant.

Really, Seriously? You do realize it's 2020 and it's not the dark ages.

Plan on shooting it at a charging intruder on horseback?

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

Fotay

 

[Johnny C]

Fear not the caliber that can kill the body, but fear the caliber that can kill both body and soul. (obviously the .45ACP)

 

[TonyN]

9mm because if all things go to hell then 9mm would be the best ammo to find.

 

[braydenw]

I prefer 9mm, the myth of stopping power needs to not be perpetuated, it’s all about shot placement in my opinion

 

[ECS686]

Heres an older but good explanation from Dave Spaulding

https://youtu.be/bWMGBCVtTrM

https://youtu.be/myKGVV7xVDI

 

[NICKT93]

What in your "opinion" is the best defensive handgun round?
9mm
.40
.45

Inquiring minds want to know!

I've owned all 3 in carry gun rotations. Currently only own one pistol caliber and that's .9
I am not a fan of .40, grew up shooting .9 and .45 so i think that might be part of my bias but i had a Glock 23, i did shoot it really well and its impact was alot harder hitting than the .9 but its snappyness and cost is a negative for me. I'd rather chose the .45 over the .40, cost is around the same and I personally am alot more comfortable with it. Now for .9 its cheap the HP's ballistics are getting better and better, its very easy to shoot and the capacity for me even in subcompacts is the selling point for me.

 

[88E30M50]

9mm because if all things go to hell then 9mm would be the best ammo to find.

When things go to hell, 9mm is the first caliber to disappear from store shelves. As we’ve recently witnessed, again.

 

[Expat]

When things go to hell, 9mm is the first caliber to disappear from store shelves. As we’ve recently witnessed, again.

It sold out quick, didn't it...
357 Sig for the win