Balrog
Senior Member
We have an ongoing 380 ACP v. .38 Special thread in which some good points have been made, as well as some points that although technically accurate may make little or no practical difference in a real world self defense scenario. Here is a summary of my opinion on the use of handguns for self defense.
1. Always carry, even if it is a small gun in a weak calendar. When crap goes bad, I would rather have a .32 in my pocket than a 1911 in the nightstand back at the house. 1911's are great pistols, until it is 95 degrees in August and you have to figure out how to conceal it.
2. Reliability is the single most important factor of a handgun. It must always go bang when I pull the trigger. Clearing a stoppage is plenty stressful in timed competition, and I don't even want to think about what it would be like in an actual self defense scenario. Many will say a revolver is more reliable than an auto, which I have found to be generally true, but I have had revolvers lock up, and when they do, you generally can't clear the stoppage without disassembly of the revolver once you get back home. Stoppages in semi-autos, though stressful, can usually be cleared in a manner of 1 or 2 seconds in the field. For these reasons, I generally prefer a well made semi-auto, that I have personally fired enough to certain it is reliable with the defense ammo I intend to use.
3. Shot placement is only 2nd to reliability in importance, and always trumps caliber. Much time is spent discussing the relative benefits of one caliber over another. I certainly have my favorites. I love 357 Magnum and 45 ACP. However, an ill placed shot with a 357 is always beat by a well placed shot from a mousier caliber.
4. Follow up shots are important. Anything worth shooting once is worth shooting twice. Shoot until your target is no longer a threat. If you can control a 45 ACP and get accurate follow up shots as fast as you can with a 9mm, then go for it. Be realistic about this though, and don't let your pet cartridge be your choice if you can't really do this. I think 45 ACP is a better stopper than 9mm, but I think I can control 9mm better and get faster follow up shots. I would rather have 2 hits with 9mm than one with a 45.
5. Capacity of the handgun is becoming increasing important. Historical averages have generally been that when there is self defense use of a handgun, somewhere between 0 and 2 shots are actually fired. However, I increasingly read reports of multiple assailants attacking someone. A six shot revolver may well be enough to still break up such an assault, but I doubt anyone has ever said "I wish I hadn't had so much ammo" after a gunfight.
6. Modern hollow point ammo is better in calibers less than 45, as long as it does not interfere with reliability.
7. At the end of the day, all that really matters is what works for you. It doesn't matter what pistol or caliber gun writers or internet gurus say is best. There is no such things as a perfect handgun or perfect cartridge for every situation. You need to find a reliable gun that you shoot well, and then shoot it a lot and carry it always.
1. Always carry, even if it is a small gun in a weak calendar. When crap goes bad, I would rather have a .32 in my pocket than a 1911 in the nightstand back at the house. 1911's are great pistols, until it is 95 degrees in August and you have to figure out how to conceal it.
2. Reliability is the single most important factor of a handgun. It must always go bang when I pull the trigger. Clearing a stoppage is plenty stressful in timed competition, and I don't even want to think about what it would be like in an actual self defense scenario. Many will say a revolver is more reliable than an auto, which I have found to be generally true, but I have had revolvers lock up, and when they do, you generally can't clear the stoppage without disassembly of the revolver once you get back home. Stoppages in semi-autos, though stressful, can usually be cleared in a manner of 1 or 2 seconds in the field. For these reasons, I generally prefer a well made semi-auto, that I have personally fired enough to certain it is reliable with the defense ammo I intend to use.
3. Shot placement is only 2nd to reliability in importance, and always trumps caliber. Much time is spent discussing the relative benefits of one caliber over another. I certainly have my favorites. I love 357 Magnum and 45 ACP. However, an ill placed shot with a 357 is always beat by a well placed shot from a mousier caliber.
4. Follow up shots are important. Anything worth shooting once is worth shooting twice. Shoot until your target is no longer a threat. If you can control a 45 ACP and get accurate follow up shots as fast as you can with a 9mm, then go for it. Be realistic about this though, and don't let your pet cartridge be your choice if you can't really do this. I think 45 ACP is a better stopper than 9mm, but I think I can control 9mm better and get faster follow up shots. I would rather have 2 hits with 9mm than one with a 45.
5. Capacity of the handgun is becoming increasing important. Historical averages have generally been that when there is self defense use of a handgun, somewhere between 0 and 2 shots are actually fired. However, I increasingly read reports of multiple assailants attacking someone. A six shot revolver may well be enough to still break up such an assault, but I doubt anyone has ever said "I wish I hadn't had so much ammo" after a gunfight.
6. Modern hollow point ammo is better in calibers less than 45, as long as it does not interfere with reliability.
7. At the end of the day, all that really matters is what works for you. It doesn't matter what pistol or caliber gun writers or internet gurus say is best. There is no such things as a perfect handgun or perfect cartridge for every situation. You need to find a reliable gun that you shoot well, and then shoot it a lot and carry it always.
