[The Ghoul]

I personally carry three weapons in my vehicle/on me (depending on where I am and what I am doing)

They range from .40 S&W, .308, and 10mm. The forty is used as my back up back up/last ditch/uh oh gun. My 10mm is my sidearm, and I strongly consider this caliber to be offensive. It has NO defensive properties. It is fast, semi-big, penetrates rather deep (read:soft armor), and transfers energy well. I would never have a 10mm as a defensive caliber, due to over penetration. This is a no-no for civvie rich enviornments.

Next is .308, which isn't available for a pistol unless you have a T/C.

 

[MrMcCrackin]

well i can tell you janq is a .45 kinda guy and dabuttkrackin is a 9mm kinda guy - while i am a .40 s&w kinda guy


other than the over penetration of the 10mm its expensive and hard to find at times - but i really like the balistics studies on it!


oh - if i am heading out to the desert or the high country i might switch out to .357 sig as they are interchangable

 

[The Ghoul]

Yes, but SIG is also kind pricey.

My work orders my ammo, so that is a plus. If it were different, that would...suck some major ass, seeing how much I shoot.

 

[DJ 9iron]

I use 9mm as it is the only caliber I own at the moment. I'm going to look for an XD sub-compact this weekend which will also be in 9mm. I don't care to own a separate caliber due to streamlining ammo. Nothing against other sizes as I have really no experience with them. Having the ability to carry 15+1 rounds currently is a plus IMO. The XD will obviously carry less but I am confident enough in my own abilities and the properties of the 9mm to serve me well.

 

[Ducman]

offense or defensive, overpenatration is either a concern or it is not depending on the enviroment you are working in.

.308 in a handgun is useless unless you are hunting and even then there are better choices.

I think that .40 is a good all around caliber. I would use it for your primary and backup.

 

[fatcat]

Im a .40 guy as well but when I go into a baad part of town when im going to stay in the truck to pick up building supplys like I do every week or so I keep my AR-15 pistol with the C-mag and 30 rounds of TAP rounds and 80 FMJ after that (Talk about over penetration...)
.... I have seen alot of stuff go down there and I forgot to carry the first time I went there.... I knew they where about to jump me so I like to be over ready.


I just hope to God I dont have to fire it in my truck... my poor ears...

 

[Janq]

For a sidearm I currently roll exclusively with .45.

But I'm liking .40 S&W ballistics and it seems to be an extremely accurate and manageable shooter especially down the pipe of the S&W M&P, which is high on my own personal 'Gotta Get That!' list.
I'm just waiting on MA approval toward it, and to compare it against the .45 variant of the M&P.

9MM has it's place too allowing high capcity and/or compact carry such as in the new Springfield 1911 compact that right now costs a testicle. I used to years ago carry a Sig P226 and it's a fine piece.
As well I like .38 Super which is not all that popular anymore as it used to be. I'd love to have one in a 1911 format, that didn't cost $1K+ to procure.

Frankly I only go with .45 because I can handle it with accuracy at combat distances within sub pie plate (8") groupings while under stress, it's slow moving and unlikely to over penetrate on the street as relevant to my own civilian application, and it makes big bleeding holes in flesh.

I'd carry a 10MM as well if I were working in Mogadishu or some other place where over penetration and collateral damage is less of concern in so far as civil penalty is concerned, and the BGs were outfitted in armor as standard/normal issue.

For tht matter I'd go with .22LR (in my Marvel 1911 conversion) if thats the only ammo I could get in my hands/pockets/carry in quantity with stealth from looters & LEOs such as a Katrina type scenario or if I were dumped in the woods Survivorman style having only my wit and a sidearm to survive by.

Whatever will get the job done and myself to home plate is what I'd select for a given application.
My only preferance is for what's most likely to work.

- Janq

 

[The Ghoul]

Janq, .38 got real expensive real quick. I have an Infinity in .38, which I soon swapped out to .40, due to the fucking ridiculous amount for match ammo.

My 10mm is kind of my "oh no you didn't" type gun. When I am in the field, I have my M1A Scout Squad (soon to be my SOC-16, cause I am getting the SOC hider soon. YAY!!! ) and then my Glock 35 and 20. I have a 6" hunting barrel in my G20, and I love it. It is a beast, and if the shit startes coming in hoards, they better watch out.


My Glock 20 is on my 2nd line, but it is really my last ditch.

 

[Adler]

For revolvers 32 H&R mag and for auto 380 Auto are about the minimum, although 32acp gold dots work really well and wouldnt feel that underpowered as compared to a 380.

 

[The Ghoul]

I would rather throw not only the bullets but the gun (.380).

It'd do just as much good-a distraction if/when it misses, and on the off chance it hits, it might startle them.

 

[Janq]

Yeah .38 Super ammo is pricey now days, but dang if it ain't oh so fun to shoot with a recoil pulse smoother/easier than 9MM.

- Janq

 

[The Ghoul]

Not to mention it is semi-AP.

 

[Ducman]

Yeah .38 Super ammo is pricey now days, but dang if it ain't oh so fun to shoot with a recoil pulse smoother/easier than 9MM.

- Janq

Make your own....It cost the same to reload as .45. 9mm bullets are less than .45, but you use more powder, the only issue is the case. new cases .38 super are less, but you can always find free 45 brass at the range.

 

[Janq]

Indeed...but first I'd have to find a 1911 in .38 Super that doesn't cost as much as an AR.
I fell in love with the S&W Performance 'Doug Koenig' 1911 chambered in .38 Super but it costs $2.3K retail (!!!).

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14811&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

It's a sweet shooting and very accurate gun, but the price is bananas.
I would only pay that much if I won the lottery as then I'd feel like it was free money.

- Janq

 

[Ducman]

Indeed...but first I'd have to find a 1911 in .38 Super that doesn't cost as much as an AR.
I fell in love with the S&W Performance 'Doug Koenig' 1911 chambered in .38 Super but it costs $2.3K retail (!!!).

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14811&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

It's a sweet shooting and very accurate gun, but the price is bananas.
I would only pay that much if I won the lottery as then I'd feel like it was free money.

- Janq

You could always have one built for alot less

 

[Janq]

True...but then it would cost me like a grand which I'm also not willing to pay.
Kimber has a .38 Super 1911 that runs like $1.1K last time I looked and thats still too much. :\

I don't understand why .38 Super isn't adopted much anymore here in the states.

- Janq

 

[Adler]

Well for one it was usually a one company cartridge ie....Colt and their 1911, and although it is a very accurate round, the older Colts in that caliber were not as accurate as newer ones because they headspaced them different.

BTW.......I shot an EAA witness in 38 super that was a dream. I much prefer the CZ platform.

But for power I am a 10mm guy.......too bad there are not more guns in that caliber.

 

[The Ghoul]

Well for one it was usually a one company cartridge ie....Colt and their 1911, and although it is a very accurate round, the older Colts in that caliber were not as accurate as newer ones because they headspaced them different.

BTW.......I shot an EAA witness in 38 super that was a dream. I much prefer the CZ platform.

But for power I am a 10mm guy.......too bad there are not more guns in that caliber.

Blasphemy! Glock makes 10mm, and that is all that matters!



And Janq, from my personal experience and the experiences of others that I know, Kimber sucks.

 

[Adler]

Blasphemy! Glock makes 10mm, and that is all that matters!



And Janq, from my personal experience and the experiences of others that I know, Kimber sucks.

Glock is fine....but I like a manual safety hence my fav 10mm is the Witness and the S&W 1066

I dont like Kimber either.

 

[The Ghoul]

I like Glocks as action guns. For defensive purposes (aka home) I like to have a manual saftey, aka 1911 platforms.