Ok, here's your chance to end the debate.

Assuming you had to buy your own pistol and ammunition (type of your choice) for combined self-defense and self-defense range training use, which caliber would you choose, 9x19mm Parabellum, .357 Sig, .38 super, .40 S&W, 10mm or .45 ACP ?

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Take your time, fast. J.Hughes

I have to ask what is SD/SD Training?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Self Defense and Self Defense training.

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Take your time, fast. J.Hughes

What do you mean "assuming you had to buy your own pistol and ammo?" No one gave me mine. Or do you mean Police officers?

9mm

What about us revolver people?

What are we? Chopped liver?

The best all around auto pistol cartridge world wide, the 9mm.

Guess you didn't read the OP's list of calibers very carefully
or you would have seen the last option, "other".

I think I can read just fine.

But then I'd be the last to know.

Still, revolvers deserve better than all being lumped under "other".

But, usually when I post a poll, I leave stuff out also.

I picked 9mm because I recently acquired an LCR 9mm.

Back in the 40's the 38 super was "King of the hill".
It made the 38 look like a pea shooter..............

One reason that the 357 came into the picture for the LE people. The BG's were safe in those heavy metal cars back then.
Even the 200gr 38 was no match for that armor or windshields.

The 9mm was popular since you had more than 5 or 6 rounds, which was a no brainer.

The 10mm was great but not many could master the original ammo, one reason the FBI finally had to let it go.

Flip a coin on the 45 ACP and the 40mm...............
The old 1911 "Warhorse" has been through a lot of battles and the 40 has seen a lot of duty with todays LE officers.

I checked other, since some times I want light and fast while other times BIG, HEAVY and DIRTY fits the bill.

10mm can be loaded from 9mm level ballistics to the hottest .357 magnum level ballistics.

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

"other" = .38 S&W special DEWC..........

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There's nowt so queer as folk

9mm hands down. It's one of the world's most common autoloading cartridges if not the most common, and quite suitable for SD purposes in modern JHP loadings like Speer's Gold Dot and Winchester's Ranger-T. It's also arguably more controllable compared to the other options in the poll.

Well, the OP did say pistols.

I participated in your poll as well.

That is what I thought it was, but like others I thought it might have been some abbreviations for only for semi-autos?? As others have stated here why is there no option for 38 Special, 357, and other revolver calibers?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Negative!
You are an 'other'.
Me too!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Yes pistol = autoloader.

Don't know nuthin' bout them ree-volve-er thingys. And you say they are made of steel, not plastic? Well don't that beat all.

But seriously, poll is kind of what I expected. 9mm leading easily, then .45 ACP. But no love for the .40? It's under 5% Interesting.

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Take your time, fast. J.Hughes

Speer Gold Dot LE 124 grain 9 mm hp's. For training and EDC.

Once my Sheriff's Office changed from .357 revolvers to .45 semi-autos, that is all I have carried. When I retired they had just changed from the 645 to the 4506. I got a 4506 with 50 rounds through it, upon retirement. I cleaned it and it lives in the safe. I carry a CS 45, and keep a 4513 TSW by the bed. Sometime after I retired the Office changed to .40 Glock pistols, which is what they now carry. My carry ammunition is Federal 165 gr HydraShok.

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I often carry a 9, but prefer to carry one of my 45s.
I have no use for a .40. I own both ends of the spectrum, no need for the middle.
Nothing against the .40. I just have no use for one.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

40 S&W easy decision.

Ever notice, these polls never have a unanimous conclusion?

Must be why so many different calibers are still available.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Other- I use and train with the caliber that my personally purchased guns are chambered for.

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Israel Has The Right To Exist.

My all time favorite pistol cartridge is .44 Special.
However, we're discussing autoloading pistols, not revolving pistols, so I went with what is closest to it.

Another favorite of mine is 9x18 Makarov, especially in a CZ82.
The 82 has a better DA pull than any other TDA/DAO hammer fired gun I've shot, much less horrid striker fired trigger pulls. And, yes, I do have striker fired guns.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

As much as I like the .45 ACP, I had to vote for the 9mm. Usually a smaller package, more capacity and with todays quality ammo you are certainly not under gunned.

Pair of beauties that!

I've owned a CZ82, i regret selling it.

I now own a RAMI, in .40, its great. I love CZ's, and as well, I can't stand striker fired triggers, the "twang", and the Glock safety style....yuch. I usually sell guns like that off pretty quick.

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Israel Has The Right To Exist.

You left out all the revolver rounds.
Did revolvers suddenly become unworthy for self defense ?

My model 58 in 41 magnum is feeling a bit slighted .

I have 4, count 'em, 4 pistols in 10mm Auto. (I want to not only survive the encounter, but scare the pi$$ out of any fool that even remotely considers geting involved in the altercation).

Hmmm, why not start a poll for revolver calibers?
I got into Law Enforcement in '77. There just weren't any HP rounds, or the very few available did not expand unless you shot a concrete pillar. I carried a 1911 in .45. Now however there are good expanding HP rounds that greatly help smaller faster rounds to work better. I'm retired but maintain my commission. I carry a M5904 unless I go somewhere fancy then carry my BBQ gun, a SAA .45 Colt.

9mm gets my vote. Just sayin...