Size VS Capacity

[Abraham]

The argument that never ceases.

I know of a criminal shot with a 12 gauge slug hitting him at 2 o'clock.

He survived.

With his lawyer in tow, he surrendered himself a week after being shot.

He did not die of his wound.

9mm vs 45 ppppfffftt!

[Bitter Clinger]

Mozambique.

[ScottDLS]

In North Korea they use anti-aircraft guns for executions. They must have had too many survivors with 7.62x39.

[Charles L. Cotton]

This is such a fun pot to stir!!!!

Chas.

[rtschl]

This is such a fun pot to stir!!!!

Chas.

This one will never get old

[Lynyrd]

Well, I guess I'm the last one to this party, but here's my 2 cents.

At work I have to conceal, and can't make a mistake on concealment. So, I wear a little 9mm single stack in an IWB holster with 2 extra mags in my off side pocket when I'm going to the plant. If I am going somewhere else but still want to conceal, I'll switch to a .45 in an OWB holster but stay with a single stack. Now on weekends when I decide to OC, I'll move to a full size 1911, or a .45 double stack, or a double stack 9mm, or a .357 revolver depending on what I'm going to be doing and how much weight I won't mind hanging on my belt.

I just like the .45's better. They fit my personality better. Big and slow gets the job done!

So, as others have said............. It depends.

[bblhd672]

At a recent handgun training class was shown part of an "Ultimate Survivor" video about a perp that was shot 10-12 times, including one through the top of the head, with .357 magnum by two police officers. The officer testified that after the head shot he could see all the way through the guy's head, yet the perp continued to come after him.

So with that said I'll agree with the "it depends" response. Each incident will be different. Some people's adrenaline dump will allow them to come at you after you empty a magazine into them, whether it's 8 .45's or 17 9mm's. Some will fall after a single .380.

I admit, a .45 auto is starting to sound like a nice addition to my carry options.

[Jigo23]

I had always been a .45 only kinda guy, but with the advances made in 9mm ballistics these days I have gradually shifted more towards high capacity 135gr or 147gr 9mm HP's. My favorite gun to shoot is and always will be the 5" 1911 in .45 :) Ironically, my least favorite gun but the gun I would choose if given only one choice is the Glock 17 or 19 hands down although CZ 9mm's are rapidly gaining ground.

[parabelum]

Shot placement matters more then caliber IMHO. Any of the common calibers 9, 45, 40 will get the job done (albeit 357 Sig will do it better), if placed properly.
These days, I just prefer 357 Sig more. It is better then 45,9 or that 40 "s" something thingy.

You get the capacity and the punch.

There we go, stir the pot a bit more.

[OlBill]

The argument that never ceases.

I know of a criminal shot with a 12 gauge slug hitting him at 2 o'clock.

He survived.

With his lawyer in tow, he surrendered himself a week after being shot.

He did not die of his wound.

9mm vs 45 ppppfffftt!

Charlie Beckwith was gut shot with a 12.7mm machine gun round and not only lived...

Some people are hard to kill.

[C-dub]

The argument that never ceases.

I know of a criminal shot with a 12 gauge slug hitting him at 2 o'clock.

He survived.

With his lawyer in tow, he surrendered himself a week after being shot.

He did not die of his wound.

9mm vs 45 ppppfffftt!

AM or PM? It can make a big difference in survival rates based on the availability of emergency services.

[Mysguidednlv]

I think, like everyone else here, it came down to weighing all options and finding the best fit... everyone is going to weigh factors differently. For me, it was a matter of concealment & capacity (which are often inversely proportionate), and functionality/reliability.

My EDC is a Ruger American Pistol Compact 9MM which gives me 12 in the hole and 1 in the pipe, and another 17 on the hip if things get hairy (vs. 7+1 and 10 with the 45acp model). I looked at the S&W M&P and SA XD lines, but ultimately chose the RAPC 9 is a great balance of all things, not to mention it looks badass . Readily available and effective ammunition at a reasonable price played another big part for me going with a 9MM.

[John Galt]

If I am in the mountains, or any other wild animal area, it will be my Glock 20. For normal carry it will be a 9mm of some capacity (depending on ability to conceal).

[WTR]

If I am in the mountains, or any other wild animal area, it will be my Glock 20. For normal carry it will be a 9mm of some capacity (depending on ability to conceal).

I'm more concerned with two legged critters than four legged. I've been confronted with both black bear and mountain lion while Elk hunting. With presenting a large/loud presence I have successfully scared them of( a .300 Weatherby , a .45 and bear spray with me did increase my confidence).