Favorite carry handgun caliber

[Marine Cpl]

How does the frying pan test go with JHP's? A .45 fmj might not penetrate like a 9mm fmj but .45 hardball makes a larger hole. It's a give and take I guess. Many look at that kind of penetration as a negative. If I'm ever in a shoot out in a frying pan factory I will take a 10mm or a .357 sig. In a free state I'm a 9mm guy for most situations. In this dump of a state I will take 10 230 grainers.

This is a creepy name for a channel but interesting results.





Edit: I see he used JHP and FMJ in frying pan test.

You might very well be in a frying pan factory. Someone might be taking cover behind a car, a storage container, a shed, a steel garbage can or dumpster, or something similar while shooting back at you.

I don't think HP vs FMJ matters. Why would it? It's a speed issue.

He shot two .380 ACP's which have a velocity similar to 230 gr .45 ACP at around the 800 to 900 fps range in both HP and FMJ and neither penetrated the pan.

The 9mm had no such problems which is basically the same bullet as the .380 with less velocity.

There are tests out there that show the .357 Sig outpenetrating the 9mm in thicker steel. Both bullets are the same but the extra 300 to 400 fps the Sig has allows penetration on thicker steel.

A smaller rifle bullet will zip through a vest while a handgun bullet will not.

Speed Penetrates hard objects.

Perhaps if a .45 ACP 185 gr at a velocity of a little over 1000 fps was used, it would have penetrated the pan.

 

[Phauxtoe]

everyone knows the 357mag is the best carry caliber
...and a Smith model 60 the best handgun for said round.

 

[Podmonkey]

Technically kinetic energy behind the smallest possible frontal area and a rigid, tough structure is what penetrates hard surfaces. A 6mm 105 gr projectIle at 1500 fps would zip through more hardened media than a 9mm 90gr projectille at 2000 fps would I'd wager.

 

[Catskillkid]

9mm...40S&W....45ACP...it's like asking what do you like more...blondes...brunettes...or red heads. Each one of them in my opinion gives a little something and has some detractions as well (and yes, that's in reference to both cartridges AND hair color).

Lately I've been shooting a lot of .45 and I like the round. I have confidence it will knock the bad guys on their ass regardless of what they're wearing. Having said that my favorite gun to shoot right now is my Sig P226 chambered in .40. But I wouldn't necessarily be carrying it most if not all of the time. 9mm is great and more versatile round than many give it credit for. A defensive load in hollow point by a good manufacturer will more than likely stop any threat that comes your way, even if you're only limited to 10 rounds. Of course it's also about shot placement too (with regards to neutralizing the threat). A .22 LR can kill just as easily as a .45 can if placed right.

Now I'm really going to stir the pot some. Only semi-auto rounds are listed here. Nobody carries a 5-shot .38 or .357 Mag snubby like I do? I'd bet my life on the .38 Special +P round just as much as any of the others listed here.

 

[ECU Pirates]

You might very well be in a frying pan factory. Someone might be taking cover behind a car, a storage container, or something similar while shooting back at you.

I don't think HP vs FMJ matters. Why would it? It's a speed issue.

He shot two .380 ACP's which have a velocity similar to 230 gr .45 ACP at around the 800 to 900 fps range in both HP and FMJ and neither penetrated the pan.

The 9mm had no such problems which is basically the same bullet as the .380 with less velocity.

There are tests out there that show the .357 Sig outpenetrating the 9mm in thicker steel. Both bullets are the same.

A smaller rifle bullet will zip through a vest while a handgun bullet will not.

Speed Penetrates hard objects.

Perhaps if a .45 ACP 185 gr at a velocity of a little over 1000 fps was used, it would have penetrated the pan.

To be fair he used some of the slowest .45 acp known to mankind from a commander barrel. Did you watch the laptop/wood video? Slow and heavy can out penetrate over fast and light in some circumstances. It depends on the barrier.



"The general rule of thumb is, light and fast tend to penetrate hard and elastic substances like sheet metal and car tires better, and slow and heavy tend to penetrate soft and cushioning substances such as heavy clothing, wood, tissue, and windshields better. If you want to improve on your ability to penetrate hard and elastic substances, increase your velocity and choose a smaller bullet diamter.....ie 9mm, .357sig, 7.62x25, 5.7mm. If you want to improve your ability to penetrate soft and cushioning materials, increase your caliber size and your bullet mass....ie .40S&W, 10mm, .45acp, .45gap. You might also notice from the above tests in regard to pentration in bare gel, mass and sectional density effect penetration more than velocity.....the same applies to actual tissue.

When you take into account realistic scenarios in a gun fight, whether you be a civilian, law enforcement, or military.....the majority of the time heavier and larger calibers will be more useful given the likely barriers you might encounter. Heavier bullets with good sectional density also do better at breaking internal bone structure as light and fast loads use up a lot of their momentum in the initial stages of penetration. The 1994 Canadian study proved this. There is also a measurable advantage to using larger calibers on soft targets as the wounding ability is greater."

 

[Podmonkey]

.357 mag is king but I'll take 9mm over .38 any day. Ballistically speaking, given the differences between respective platforms there is more to that argument.

 

[Marine Cpl]

everyone knows the 357mag is the best carry caliber
...and a Smith model 60 the best handgun for said round.

You might want to get a 4 inch barrel. Otherwise what you are shooting will only get up to the velocity of .38 +P's.

That extra inch gets you about 200 fps.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .357 Mag Results

 

[Phauxtoe]

You might want to get a 4 inch barrel. Otherwise what you are shooting will only get up to the velocity of .38 +P's.

That extra inch gets you about 200 fps.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .357 Mag Results

now you sound like my girlfriend!
she is a shooting instructor.

and then there is this...

Buffalo Bore Ammunition | Strictly Big Bore - Strictly Business

 

[Marine Cpl]

Heavier does penetrate softer objects better but unless you are using FMJ's or Flat Point Hard Casts for woods carry, it's not going to matter since almost all HP's are designed to penetrate between 12 to 18 inches no matter what the caliber.

 

[Greywolf224]

Now I'm really going to stir the pot some. Only semi-auto rounds are listed here. Nobody carries a 5-shot .38 or .357 Mag snubby like I do? I'd bet my life on the .38 Special +P round just as much as any of the others listed here.

I switch ot my Kahr K40 with my Ruger SP101 357 from time to time. I do a lot of practicing with the 357. I notice that it has helped me overcome the anticipated recoil on the.40 making the .40 feel comfortable and more accurate when doing double and triple taps.

 

[Podmonkey]

You might want to get a 4 inch barrel. Otherwise what you are shooting will only get up to the velocity of .38 +P's.

That extra inch gets you about 200 fps.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .357 Mag Results

This has been tested, no matter how short the barrel. 357 mag will always be faster, and thus have more energy, than the .38 special. More powder=bigger boom=more velocity. But there is no doubt that much of the .357 mag's potential is lost in a snub barrel. And with the increased muzzle blast I think the .38 is better in snubbed regardless.

 

[Marine Cpl]

now you sound like my girlfriend!
she is a shooting instructor.

She's complaining that you are an inch too short?

 

[Podmonkey]

The .357 SIG is also a cartridge whose potential has yet to be realized. In fact the .357 SIG, .40 S&W and 10mm Auto could all benefit from bullets tuned to keep penetration in the 14 inch range while expanding to a much greater amount than the 9mm. I bet we will see this eventually.

 

[NirvanaFan]

9mm...40S&W....45ACP...it's like asking what do you like more...blondes...brunettes...or red heads. Each one of them in my opinion gives a little something and has some detractions as well (and yes, that's in reference to both cartridges AND hair color).

Easy... Blondes

Wait... I married a brunette!


If we're talking strictly carry guns for personal protection. I'd choose 9mm. Easy, cheap, and very effective. The guns are generally smaller and a little easier to conceal. In a free state, you get way more capacity as well.

 

[Phazer]

To be fair he used some of the slowest .45 acp known to mankind from a commander barrel. Did you watch the laptop/wood video? Slow and heavy can out penetrate over fast and light in some circumstances. It depends on the barrier.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I'd just like to be allowed to carry in this anti-constitutional state.


(I know....I know....."Same song , different thread. Sorry.)

What size laser do you prefer and why out of your phazer? Do you like thin lasers or wide rays?

 

[Darth]

20mm, 10mm, 9mm. In that order.

 

[Phazer]

M41A Pulse Rifle:

Okay...may be the real life version:

 

[GOPerfect]

Very glad that the 9mm is winning in this very scientific poll. I figured it would, lots of smart fellas here!

 

[carpediem]

What size laser do you prefer and why out of your phazer? Do you like thin lasers or wide rays?

View attachment 403 View attachment 404

You forgot red or green! I personally prefer the red as it's scarier looking!

 

[ECU Pirates]

Very glad that the 9mm is winning in this very scientific poll. I figured it would, lots of smart fellas here!

Lots of women here I guess.


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[prambo]

I prefer .45 ACP over 9mm, but the older I get the less I like, and can control, recoil. So I carry a 9 milli and use Federal HST 147 gr. +P which is very accurate, and by all tests I've seen, doesn't plug in clothing, and expands very well, without pass-through.

 

[eagleridge357]

9mm. Anything less powerful is for wimps. Anything more powerful is for gun nuts with a personality problem.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Lots of women here I guess.


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I prefer a truck with beat up shocks and loose steering because I'm a man.

 

[ECU Pirates]

I prefer a truck with beat up shocks and loose steering because I'm a man.

I drive a Subaru. Haha


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[Marine Cpl]

I drive a Subaru. Haha


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Lesbian

 

[ECU Pirates]

I actually carry a sissy boy 9mm about 60 percent of the time. I carry 124 gr golddots (standard pressure). Anyone who carries anything different clearly has no clue what they are doing.


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[ECU Pirates]

Lesbian

Airborne drives one also. Couple of lesbos we are. Haha I prefer smart consumers. Subbies are the best!


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[Marine Cpl]

I actually carry a sissy boy 9mm about 60 percent of the time. I carry 124 gr golddots (standard pressure). Anyone who carries anything different clearly has no clue what they are doing.


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Why not+ P? Too much recoil?

 

[Marine Cpl]

Airborne drives one also. Couple of lesbos we are. Haha I prefer smart consumers. Subbies are the best!


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No BS, I drove a Crosstrek for 2 years. Traded it in last week. I used to get clowned on about the Suburu at work by some of the guys