Best all around semi auto caliber

m41 · Jan 21, 2011

I was wondering what members in the forum thought was the best all around caliber for semi auto the 9mm, 40, or 45. I have all three but for home defense, target shooting and ccw I am looking for a large capacity auto and couldn't make up my mind which caliber to buy.

moonclip · Jan 21, 2011

The one you shoot the best and can afford to shoot the most.

......moon

one eye joe · Jan 21, 2011

IMHO, .45 ACP, .40, and lastly the 9mm. The .45 ACP has been doin' it all for 100 yrs.....

novalty · Jan 21, 2011

9mm firearms are going to have a higher capacity due to round size, and are cheaper to shoot due to ammunition costs. When the ammunition shortage was the worst, only 40S&W seem to be more commonly available. I like 9mm and 45acp, found that my arthritic hands didn't care for the recoil "snap" of the 40S&W, but I am an admitted "wussy" so you can take that with a grain of salt. The highest recommendation when it comes to home-defense and CCW, is to pick the firearm that is the most reliable, and you are most compitent with.

Chuck Jones · Jan 21, 2011

.45 ACP is THE standard to which all others are compared and aspire.

/c

18DAI · Jan 21, 2011

There are as many opinions on this topic, as there are combinations of ammunition and models of handguns to shoot it from.

In my experience, the "best all round semi auto caliber" is the one you shoot most accurately and practice regularly with. Everything else is internet conjecture.

I've seen folks DRT from .22 on up. Shot placement did them in, nothing else. Regards 18DAI.

oldtexan · Jan 21, 2011

m41 said:
I was wondering what members in the forum thought was the best all around caliber for semi auto the 9mm, 40, or 45. I have all three but for home defense, target shooting and ccw I am looking for a large capacity auto and couldn't make up my mind which caliber to buy.

Read this thread:

Service Pistol Duty and Self-Defense Loads - M4Carbine.net Forums

Lots of good info there.

BLUF: all three will do the job with the better loads available if the shooter puts the bullets where they need to go. IMO the differences among them aren't that great.

If you have to shoot through automobile windshields, .40 and .45 are somewhat superior to 9mm. Otherwise all three are good choices.

9mm is cheapest to buy, produces the least recoil, may allow you to shoot faster with the same accuracy than the other calibers, and will allow you to carry the most onboard ammunition.

45 ACP crushes more tissue per shot assuming best available loads in each caliber, but has greater recoil, lower capacity, is more expensive, and for many shooters, slower recovery between shots.

40 seems to split the difference.

If you have a strong preference for a particular platform, picking the platform first, then the caliber, may be a good idea. This is because some platforms work better in some calibers than others. For example, getting a 1911 to function reliably seems easier if it's a .45 than if it's a 9mm or .40. Glocks have typically been more durable and reliable in 9mm than .40.

I standardized on 9mm several years back to simplify supply and because my wife shoots 9mm much better than the other calibers.

Nframe357 · Jan 21, 2011

45 ACP, followed by the 9mm the 40 is worthless in my eyes.

bad_man_ one · Jan 21, 2011

Everybody knows that I'm partial to .356 TSW.
Capacity of a 9 m.m. framed firearm, fire power of a .357 Magnum.
Chronographed a 3.50" barrel 3913 conversion yesterday Federal 147 gr. flat point match ammo - 1250 fps.
Cor-Bon used Speer 124 gr. GDBHP's @ 1450 fps.
What more could you ask for?
Regards,
BM1

mlk18 · Jan 21, 2011

I agree with what 18DAI said but add that I am not a fan of the .40 round. If you want capacity get the 9mm, if you want power get the .45. The .40 is simply a comprise round without the power the latter or the capacity of the former.

BlackSky · Jan 21, 2011

What Moonclip said, the one you shoot the best. For me, that's .45ACP.

Lost Lake · Jan 21, 2011

Whichever you shoot best is well said. And if you feel caliber makes a big difference then go that way. I used to think only a .357 mag with wild hand loads would be best, but now I protect me and mine with a .40. I have faster reloads and more shots per load than my .357.

Undoubtedly a magnum rifle will put out the most penetration and power, a shotgun the most forgiving aim, and a machine gun the fastest follow up shot. I have shot all of them, and actually shoot them quite well. If the apocalypse happens tomorrow I'll gather a couple machine guns and grab as many 9mm pistols as I can find because 9mm ammo will be the most common on a battlefield. I'd also get a rifle that shoots full metal jacketed rounds capable of penetrating vehicles.

But lets get back to what you need a weapon for now, pre-apocalypse.

You want something that you can shoot well and often, and you can teach others to shoot. If the weapon isn't second nature to you, if you can't completely operate it in the dark, if you have any hesitation, then you have the wrong weapon.

BTW, I just ordered a BG 380 a bit ago, and will carry that. Sure the power isn't the most, but it's nice and small and I never expect to need to pull it out. It's a tool I need to carry everywhere but probably never use. Comfort first in that case. If I ever do need to use it, God forbid, well then I will be proficient enough to place 6 good shots and increase my chances of going home.

beemerphile · Jan 21, 2011

The 10mm, of course. Chock full o' DoubleTaps. I put mine to work this evening to dispatch a critter that shouldn'ta ought been there. Fell like a box of rocks. Yeah, I could have sprayed a bunch of nines at him, but I had other things to do.

mrsig · Jan 21, 2011

Everyone laughs at a 9mm because of its bigger brothers- the .40 & .45. I will tell you it is controlable, lighter recoil and has up up to 17-18 rounds. With today's ammo a 9mm 124 grain +P+ is an effective round and I would not volunteer to stand in front of it. I own multiples of and shoot all three. Bottom line is shot placement is everything so carry what you can handle and recover from for an accurate second and third shots. The S&W M&P 9, Glock 19, and H&K P30L are my choices.

dacoontz · Jan 21, 2011

beemerphile said:
The 10mm, of course. Chock full o' DoubleTaps. I put mine to work this evening to dispatch a critter that shouldn'ta ought been there. Fell like a box of rocks. Yeah, I could have sprayed a bunch of nines at him, but I had other things to do.

Yes, what he said.

CDawg · Jan 22, 2011

Have them all and like them all. Most people can afford to shoot the 9mm more often. For defense, I would prefer a caliber that begins with a 4, but a 9mm will certainly work. People saying the .40 is worthless is ridiculous. My 4013 is far from worthless.

novalty · Jan 22, 2011

bad_man_ one said:
Everybody knows that I'm partial to .356 TSW.
Capacity of a 9 m.m. framed firearm, fire power of a .357 Magnum.
Chronographed a 3.50" barrel 3913 conversion yesterday Federal 147 gr. flat point match ammo - 1250 fps.
Cor-Bon used Speer 124 gr. GDBHP's @ 1450 fps.
What more could you ask for?
Regards,
BM1

I personally have nothing against the .356TSW, but sure would love to find it on a local gunshop's shelf once in awhile. Unless you reload or buy online, having the .356TSW seems like living in constant ammo shortage.

The 10mm is another good round, would certainly be a powerful round for home-defense or concealed carry. However would be very costly for a range gun, produces lots of recoil, and isn't available in as many stores as the: 9mm, 40S&W, 45acp.

The .357 sig is another round that is commonly available everywhere, but man are you going to pay. It produces a very snappy recoil, and most people tend to not like the bottle-neck casing.

I don't think that any round is useless, if someone is protecting their family or themselves, any caliber is better than nothing at all.

Revolver-time · Jan 22, 2011

This is why so many great pistols are made in great calibers. I don't think there is a perfect combo for all uses. For me, the 45ACP is the best all around cal. My CCW is a ten shot PT 145, house gun is a Colt 1911, and at the range I use a 25-5 and a 1917 Classic so I don't go chasing the cases. Of course many other guns and calibers go to the range with me and my hunting stuff is different yet. But, if you need to put a hole in something why not put a big hole in it?

TacticalBacon · Jan 22, 2011

mlk18 said:
I agree with what 18DAI said but add that I am not a fan of the .40 round. If you want capacity get the 9mm, if you want power get the .45. The .40 is simply a comprise round without the power the latter or the capacity of the former.

Wouldnt the opposite of what you are saying also be true? The 40 is a compromise round with more power than the 9 and more capacity than the 45? Looking at it this way, it would make it the superior round. It all depends how you look at it.
Me, I'll take the 10mm over any of the rounds above. If you hand load, you can use bullets ranging from 125 gr to 220gr and load them as timid or as hot as you want. You can have loads as light as a 9mm or as hot as a 41 magnum. What other caliber can you say that about?

Palmetto Sharpshooter · Jan 22, 2011

Wait....let me get my popcorn! This debate used to be 9mm v. 45 ACP. Now we have an interloper, the 40 S&W. IMHO, shoot the one you're best with, and buy good quality defensive ammunition to use when you're carrying it.

Best all around semi auto caliber

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