Handgun Chambering Choices -- Serious Qs

[David Milisock]

I really like the 40s&w, it’s been available when other’s weren’t and it downloads well like 45acp.
Is it a advantage over 9mm?
Not anymore.
I have no interest in 10mm but a 10mm carbine sounds fun and probably a good house gun.

I really like the PCC especially for home defense, in my opinion stick to real soft projectiles, the 9mm+P with achieve full power 357 Sig velocities.

That's a rib breaking energy dump against even level 3 soft armor.

 

[David Milisock]

Thanks to all who replied so far at my age I check my sanity on occasion and this was one such occasion, let me offer these insights from an old fart.

I comply with all requirements of the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground Laws.

There are some rules my father taught me, avoid rather than confront, tactically retreat rather then attack, decisively attack only when necessary to save a life. The safety of all non assailants is the priorty.

For combat hangunning I've moved to the concept of a high energy dump. I find it the logical solution to body armor, once armor is established, stay off the vest, pick soft spots, for this my choice is a 125 grain at 1,475 FPS in a 357 Sig. Don't worry about penetration, the energy on target (even through vests) can break bones, on soft points it will destroy nerve clusters and arterial structures with primary wound channels bigger than a nickel and only needs 4 to 6 inches of penetration, the secondary wound channel will be size of a golf ball. The 124 grain .355 caliber reduces tork and produces recoil that is very easy to train for.

All other carry choices are decisions made by the expected conditions.

I never pull my handgun unless I've made a decision to shoot.

I never point any firearm at anything that I'm not going to shoot. THEREFORE I don't mount flashlights on my firearms. If you do mount flashlights on your firearms, thanks in advance for the free target.

In non-hunting environments I only carry 100% reliable firearms that can be 100% concealed.

Study and practice the proper post shooting interactions with law enforcement.

There are basically two types of shooters, Coopers, those who practice his (Jeff Cooper) methods or methods that have evolved from his teachings. Then there are Applegates, those who practice his (Rex Applegate) methods or those that evolved from his teaching.

I'm an Applegate, (I always thought Cooper was better at self promotion then firearm training) if I can't hit you at 30 feet using peripheral vision, I'm not practicing enough!

 

[J.D.Erwin]

I agree that when you pull you have to be ready to fire, BUT my point is that a pulled gun may defuse a situation before it has to be fired in many situations. In any event, my main point was practice practice practice with whatever you carry!

DGP4
you pull your weapon and you don't fire at the threaten of life causing you to pull, you had no reason to pull anything you could have simply walked away. when your in a fire fight the only way to defuse a situation is to disable the threat . it just like all of the people that carry with a unloaded weapon I personally carried a 1911 colt defender for many years with it cocked and locked. be safe out there and stay alive.

 

[BigBolt]

I've heard good things about the 500, but I've had my 44 magnum for well over 30 years and to replace it I'd need a mortgage.

I have been experimenting with .500 S&W specials. w/350 grain Berrys. The recoil with the specials is like shooting the 44 mag with and average 862 FPS. Some of the full loads with the 350 Berry's are reaching up to and above 1800 fps using my friend's chronograph in the pistol and higher in the carbine.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

As long as you're smart enough, have guts enough and good enough to use it properly.

Stay off the armor.

If you don't have the smarts, guts and good enough, you shouldn't be carrying at all!!

 

[David Milisock]

If you don't have the smarts, guts and good enough, you shouldn't be carrying at all!!

I agree!