Looking into getting a semi auto.I like always do not want to spend so much that I feel guilty I overspent,lol,if that makes any sense.
Anyways,I see the price on poly frames are much lower than steel.Something in my head tells me to stay away from the poly framed and stick to steel.I/m a meat and potato guy.lol
What do you guys feel about the poly vs steel?
Next,I am torn between calibers.I sort of feel I need a 40 or 45acp for protection wise,but in order to be a good shot with it ,I will need to practice alot and rounds for the larger calibers are more costly.Then there is the 9mm,which some say is kinda weak and I hear stories how the gang bangers use them and cops say they often ricochet off car windows because there lack of oomph.But,the 9mm holds more rounds and the rounds are less expensive.
So,with the above things considered,is it more wise to go to a larger caliber or would a 9mm be as effective to stop a man in self defense?

More people have some to an untimely end from the 9mm than any other handgun cartridge. Of course this is because of the very large numbers of military folks who have used it for over 100 years.
I am not trying to start the this vs that, but if I was shooting FMJ rounds, I would choose a .45 ACP. However with the plethora of various bullet types and shapes and types and materials and on and on that are available today, I would have no problem using any of those rounds. After nearly half a century of professional weapon toting, I still use a Browning HP, in 9mm of course, and a BUG of S&W 940. Just about any of the quality 9mm rounds available in JHP will do nicely, the only problem is choosing which one to use. I like 124 gr bullets because that is what the 9mm was originally built with, and most 9mm guns are most reliable with.
You cannot go wrong with any of the three-provided you keep the 3 most important things for SD with a handgun in mind: training, training, and more training.
For training, 9mm seems the most practical(cheapest).

.45 ACP. Muzzle energy.

From this and your previous posts, you have a model 67, don't want to reload, and are concerned about costs.
The 9mm is the equivalent of your .38 in recoil and basic capability.
The "combat tupperware" in 9mm is the most economical to buy and shoot factory ammo. And you are going to need to shoot a lot in practice.

The .40 and .45 are also good choices if you master the gun and can afford the ammo.

90% of the effectiveness of a handgun is the skill of the shooter. To quote Eric, "Shot placement is King, penetration is Queen, everything else is angels dancing on the head of a pin."

Beginners argue about the perfect caliber.
Amateurs argue about the perfect gun.
Pros argue training and tactics.

The government spent a lot of our tax money years back to discover that: hitting a vital area improves the incapacitation effect of all ammunition and that hollow point bullets work best.

I'll echo Erich, where you put the bullet is far more important than how big a hole it leaves or if you're using the latest & greatest generation of gee wizz ammo.

And to quote an old instructor: "We can argue all day about if one (caliber) is better than another if you get sloppy and put a bullet somewhere other than where it ought to go. What you can't argue about is that if you run out of bullets before you run out of bad guys, you're ****** dead."

For me the 9mm was not enough, the .45 acp was to much and the .40 was just right. Loaded in a Glock 23 or 27. But any of the 3 would get the job done if you put the round where it needs to go.

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I drank what? - Socrates

There are many, many factors in choosing a handgun. I would try out as many pistols as I could in your 3 caliber choices. Then I would choose the one that felt the best and the one I could hit accurately with the best. Personally I chose a 1911 Commander in 45acp. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis and can't shoot a heavy recoiling pistol comfortably. After trying all of mine and all that people at the range would let her shoot, she chose an old 9mm S&W mod 39. Its the perfect auto for her and she is deadly with it.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

For me it was the Stoeger Cougar 8040.

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YouJustCantSeeMeLaughingIsAll

For some guns you could get a .22 conversion kit.
They are available for 1911s, Browning Hi-Powers, some CZ pistols, and probably some more guns I'm not aware of.

That would mean a big caliber and cheap practice in the same gun.

Do you reload? If so, .45 ammo can be made fairly inexpensively.

I have 9mms and 45s, I own 2 40s that i don't shoot. I like my Hi-powers and CZs they fit me well and I can hit with them. I shoot my 1911s just as often but I use a 9mm for HD. I normally use 115 +P+ hollowpoints of the 124 grn stuff.

Whichever you use you need to practice with, if you live near a range with rental guns try some in each caliber. Shooters in racine has entals in .22 to 44 Mag and its cheap to rent and buy ammo and I know shooters will take the cost of the rental off the cost of any gun you buy.

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Stan

I don't want to stand in front of any of them!

I like them all. I don't currently own a .45ACP, but I wouldn't kick one out of the safe, either. What's most important is what do you feel comfortable with and shoot well? If you don't carry it, and you can't hit anything with it, then it really doesn't make any difference, does it?

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Insert short witty words here

I have and carry all three.

1. 9x19mm - Reasonably powerful, accurate in the right gun, easy to shoot. I have a Glock 19 and a Browning High Power, both of which I carry regularly. I use the Winchester White Box 147gr. JHP.

2. .40 S&W - Quite effective, MUCH more accurate than some claim, a LOT of muzzle whip. It's not unpleasant to shoot, just somewhat hard to control in a light gun. I have a Glock 22 which I carry regularly. I suspect that a heavier gun would have less "snappy" recoil. I use Hornady 155gr. JHPs currently.

3. .45acp - Very effective and accurate, easy to shoot. I find shooting and controlling my Norinco M1911 MUCH easier than my Glock 22, even with premium defense ammunition. I prefer 200gr. Hornady TAP JHPs when I can find them (I just found a box I hid from myself). I had to settle for 230gr. Speer Gold Dots last year, which was the only thing I could find.

There ya go...get a 9...anyone who says it's weak doesn't know what they are talking about...all handguns are weak compared to rifles...feel better?

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I'm a .40 fan myself. I use 9mm for plinking... and never really fell in love with .45, but still own one.

I shoot 9mm out of my G27 (a .40) using a conversion barrel, and to me the snap of a .40 isn't much worse than a 9mm. I find .40 very controllable and accurate.

Of course there is no simple answer to the original question. All three have pros and cons, and the only real way to decide which is best for you is to try them.

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- The Federalist #46 -

One of each, please......

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Went through the same as you. When I bought my first 9, a beretta 92FS back in 90 the .40 wasn't really on the radar. I chose the 9 over the .45 for capacity. Then the .40 came out and I decided that the 9 was still the way to go due to cost of ammo. Then I decided I wanted a caliber that started with a 4. I couldn't justify a .40 since I already had a 9 so I bought the .45 and am quite happy with owning both. For some reason, I really never felt ther "need" for a .40. If I could have only one-it would be a 9 due to availability of ammo as well as capacity.
But in a perfect world, I would of course own all three just because

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Forum consigliere

I rate the 9mm as a 7, the .40S&W as an 8 and the .45ACP as a 9. Out of a possible score of 1000 the difference doesn't matter one bit. Get what you feel the most comfortable with and can shoot the best.

I'd suggest looking at .30 Mauser or .30 Luger.

The other calibers you have mentioned are far too common and too hard to find in a crisis.


Just kidding.

Any and all mentioned calibers are good and are effective if used properly.

I'll stick with 7.62 Tok myself.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

...here you go, have fun...
http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollec...law_bullit.swf

Thanks guys.
Lots of helpful ideas once again.

I'm looking at these:
9mm
Beretta 92FS 9mm, 4.9in. Good to very good condition

40
Beretta 96G 40S&W semi auto pistol, VG condition.

Confucius say; A 9mm may fail to expand, but a .45 will not shrink.

Full disclosure I have examples of each caliber mentioned. When cost of ammunition is no object, make mine 10 mm.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

$100 difference between the 9 & the 40???? I'd take the 9. Spend the extra $100 on another magazine and ammo.

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Forum consigliere

That is true young grasshopper-but does the bended knee reflect the moon??

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Forum consigliere

I owned a Sig 229 in 9mm,then traded it for a 4013 S&W,and then went to a 1911 45acp.I have not shot the .40 in years,shoot the 45 very little and now all I shoot is my M 66 or my 586 that I just bought.Went for autos to revolvers and dont really miss them.If you reload the cost of ammo is really not a concern.

I second getting a 22 conversion unit. CZ makes a factory unit for their pistols, there is the Colt conversion unit (if you can find one), I have the Cieners for my HP and Colt Mark IV.
The Caliber Wars have been raging for decades with no end in sight. I always remember what Bill Jordan said:
"Speed is Fine but Accuracy is Final." Better to have a "minor" caliber you can master in a handgun you have full confidence in.

I'll butt in and try to complicate things, only to let you know of some more options, both excellent choices in my op. 357 Sig and 10mm. Over in Glocktalk there is a 45 GAP forum and those guys really love their pet.

I have been taking a renewed interest in the 45acp in the last few years with some of the newer +p loads. I like more powder behind my bullets and these look pretty good. Another plus is it has by a good margin the lowest operating pressure of all of them. Bought a Sig 220 and a Colt 1991 ss 45 three years ago, first 45's since I converted to 10mm in '87. Put me down for the old warhorse if you want to stick with the big three.

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9tenz

The Beretta 96 pistols aren't really their finest offering. My wife has an IN State Police trade in G model (decock only) that she picked up for a song. They're a big gun for only holding 11 rounds. Most agencies dumped them because of a few distressing malfunctions where no one could figure out quite why the gun failed (at least according to the gun mags).

While more expensive, a Sig Sauer P229R would probably be a better bet. Get one in .357 Sig that comes with a spare .40 S&W barrel. You can then get a Barsto barrel in 9mm fitted. You could also get a Glock 32 (if you reconsider plastic) and get .40 and 9mm barrels without much trouble.

I have a bunch of .45's, several 9mm's and a sigma 40. I shoot the 45's in colt platform or smith revolvers. The 9's are infrequently shot and the sigma is a jam-o-matic for the only 3 boxes of ammo I have tried to shoot.
I prefer the colt 45 or a glock in 45.