Poll: only one defensive handgun

[CC Italian]

That is the downside of the 10mm. Can't just walk into any store in Texas and buy ammo. You can always find it online but have to wait a few days. A buddy in the Navy says it is all over the place in Washington state and the Pacific Northwest. It mainly has stayed alive because of mountain hikers and hunters.

[BB 09]

I like the conceal ability of my 38. I like the cost of shooting the 9mm. I like the capacity of my 40. I love the way I can personally shoot my 45. I just flat shoot that one better than all of the rest. And if I need to have it there, I need to know I am competent with the gun. Caliber is a big concern. Ability to use the gun is more important in my book. But I did vote 45.

[Pawpaw]

Another .45 ACP vote here.

I, of course, chose the .40 S&W, but after shooting TAM's .45 I may reconsider in the future. Right now and for the last 8 years the .40 has, theoretically, been the right balance of stopping power and number of rounds.

I started this poll because I have been carrying a .40 and love the caliber,and the weapon that I carry . Today, we started the break in proccess for my wife's new Kimber Ultra CDP II (pics coming later after I take them). I put a couple of mags through it and was really suprised at how manageable the recoil was even with the 3" bbl. Kinda makes me want a Kimber for myself.

I love my Ultra CDP II! As you said, it's a sweet shooter and a very easy all-day carry weapon.

Besides... It's purdy!

[E.Marquez]

I answered .45ACP... BUT then ,,,,, if you meant only one caliber, period... at all.... then I would choose .357, and use it in a defensive hand gun and have it for a rifle as well.

[canvasbck]

I answered .45ACP... BUT then ,,,,, if you meant only one caliber, period... at all.... then I would choose .357, and use it in a defensive hand gun and have it for a rifle as well.

This is why I chose one DEFENSIVE handgun, I would also choose the .357 for one all purpose handgun.

[texasjeep44]

I will stick with what I carry most days which is the 9mm. With ammo improvements over the past couple of decades it really doesn't give up much to the other commonly carried calibers. I like being able to carry up to 18 rounds in the gun, ( there are some that hit 20, but in my case it is 18), and if need be up to 52 rounds with a couple of extra mags. Do I think I am ever going to need that many rounds, God I hope not.

When I don't carry the 9, it is a .357, and least often is the 45. Nothing against the .45, I just choose round count over size. If I am going to give up round count I will pick the .357 for its stopping power.

Everyone has their preferences. I wonder if the poll reflects what everyone carries on a daily basis.

[gwashorn]

I voted 45acp. However right now and have been carrying 9mm. I have carried my XD9SC for almost two year. Got an XD45c a few months ago but not fully broken in yet for carry. If I HAVE to pick only ONE, then 45acp. But not unhappy with my 9mm.

Gary

[mr surveyor]

since it is an "only one hand gun" poll, I would have to answer .45 cal. To be honest, I carry a S&W j-frame for daily work duties (had to dispatch a nasty cotton mouth with it last Thursday), and on my personal time I tend to carry my CW9 more and more. My other two "dedicated" carry guns are a P239 .40 cal (DA/SA) and Kimber Stainless Compact. Even though I have spent more time training myself with DA only (the j-frame and striker fired Kahr), if I had to choose only one in a "forever" situation, it would definately be the 1911 platform .45 acp. There's not many handguns that fit my deformed fingers like the 1911, and the recoil/recovery is much more forgiving than the Sig in .40 cal.

1911 in .45 acp.... hands down "only one" choice.

(I can always re-train myself to carry the 1911 full time again )

surv

[srothstein]

I chose .45 ACP because of my personal bias in favor of the 1911, combined with its proven history. I have to admit that this is a personal choice and there are a lot of other very valid choices for a single defensive handgun. I would probably be very satisfied with a .357, .44, or even a 9mm. Since I have carried a .380, I would even admit that I could live with this if I were forced to.

I personally like the argument about carrying the same round in pistol and rifle, so I would go find an old Marlin Camp Carbine in .45 also.

And I also have to admit that if I knew I was going to be in a shooting, a pistol would not be my first choice at all. A 75mm Howitzer is my choice for a known fight (with as many friends and as much support as I can get), with several different rifles as a second through whatever choice.

[Keith]

I also chose 10mm due to being able to use it for so many things. Get some Double Tapp in controlled expansion 180 grain to go hunting with. Ballistice are 1350 fps and 675 ft lbs. Or use 125 grain just like the .357 mag that is supposed to do so well. In the 10mm its ballistics from DT are 1600 fps and 700 ft lbs.

I agree ammo is hard to find in stores but as long as you keep up with your supplies its usually allways avaliable on the internet. I feel its one of the best rounds ever made. Properly loaded it has 41mag ballistics without the heavy recoil that a 41 mag revolver would have. I use the Glock 20,Smith 1066 and Kimber Eclipse all shoot great.

45 cal would be my second choice as a big hole would bleed more then a small one. Al these rounds have pros and cons.

[jbirds1210]

My preference is one of the Glock models in 9mm.

[jimlongley]

.45ACP

I figure if I can't get the defense done in the number of rounds that I have, with a proven performer cartridge, then I should have got out the shotgun.

[TDDude]

Ages ago when I was picking a caliber for carry gun, I looked at the rack of ammo behind the "bar" and noticed that 9mm was $4.00 a box. .40 cal was around $11.00, .45 cal was around $15.00, .38 spl was around $12.00 and .357 was around $18.00.

Since I'm on a fairly strict budget, the $4.00 caliber got the nod. I was shooting around 200 rounds a week and as such, over the years developed some extremely consistent muscle memory. This means that now I can draw and fire and hit center mass at 10 yards or less in under 2 seconds every time I try. Muscle memory means I don't even have to think about it. The holster, the grip, trigger pull, mag release & reload,..... It's all engrained. I have pistols in all those other calibers and I love shooting them but I “PRACTICE” with my 9mm.

I’m the first to admit that 9mm isn’t the best for putting down a bg but if it’s a center mass hit with anything above a .380 JHP, I’m not sure it matters all that much.

Had I chosen the “best” round, then there’s no way I could have put in the practice time that I did and my shooting would be way sub-par.

If you can’t hit what you’re aimin at, then it don’t matter what you carry.

[RECIT]

I chose .357mag due to proven lethality and ability to use it still will good success in a rifle too. The .45 is great but I would rather shoot .357 if I have a choice. I think felt recoil is about the same giving similar weight weapons.