Which Gun to Grab: 380? 9? 45?

[Redcoat3340]

Had an interesting experience last night kinda proving for me at least "bigger is better." Sort of. Maybe.

Was pushing a deadline to get my newspaper column done so I was at my desk writing around 2:30 am.

Heard a distinct, and loudish, four or five note whistle from outside my window, sorta like a bird but no bird I ever heard. My computer speakers were off, Alexa was off. Never before heard that sound from my phone.

Now maybe I've been watching too many old westerns, but I couldn't help but think it was a signal of some sort, maybe from someone(s) around the house? (But none of the motion detector lights were lit.) A bit of an adrenaline rush and it was time to pull out some self defense.

In my desk were three guns a Smith .380 EZ; Walther 9mm Q and an M&P 2.0 in .45.

I looked at the .380, thought no; considered the 9 and thought "not big enough bullets;" went to the .45, put the mag in, racked slide and sat with the lights out for half hour an hour. Nothing more. Still a mystery. And all that adrenalin gone to waste.

My point is how naturally I went for the biggest "stopper" bullet almost by reflex, but with a couple of nano-seconds of semi-logical thought. Sort of making me rethink my carry guns....as I rotate 380, 9, and 45 depending on what I'm wearing. (I've got a Smith 442 PC for pocket carry.)

I appreciate the added capacity of my 9s...but when I thought something might really be happening it was the .45 I felt safest with. Interesting.

Looks like the 45 Shield and S&W 4513TSW could see more holster time.

 

[andy52]

For EDC I use a Shield 9 exclusively in my house or shop I suppose it would be whatever was closest.

 

[BAM-BAM]

IMHO it was a simple choice.......................... .45 in hand and the 9mm tucked into the small of your back/ belt for a NY reload...............


IMO.380 is a great; small, always with you 'self defense" round/gun....when you are going about your activities of daily living...... when you think there may be a threat......... and you can't/don't have a long gun...........not so much!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[03hemi]

Makes no difference at all if you miss what your aiming for.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The gun that was loaded and ready to go would have been my choice. Then, again, they all would have been ready to go if they were in my desk.

 

[Watchdog]

Which Gun to Grab: 380? 9? 45?

Making that choice would be a non-issue for me, no matter what the circumstances might be. Of the guns I keep within reach for self/home defense, none are smaller than .45 caliber. My everyday carry pistol is also a .45acp.

 

[Donn]

A caliber war by any other name,,,,,,,

 

[fredj338]

Well if I had a choice, I would never go into a potential fight with just a handgun, much less any 380. I would have no issue with any caliber 9mm & up with good jhp. Limit me to solids, then 45acp all the way.

 

[Sevens]

Well I believe you are already behind the curve... in the same situation, I've already got my EDC on me.

And heck no, I'm not investigating anything with a long gun that requires both my hands. A long gun at home is for "holed up, backed in a corner, and fighting them off."

If I am mobile, it's absolutely a handgun.

 

[white cloud]

I think Clint Smith said something along the lines of until there is a fight your gun can't be too small and when there is a fight it can't be too big. I have started carrying a more substantial revolver when possible.

 

[peterGun]

I would grab the one that was loaded and ready to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ruger 22]

Assuming all are ready and loaded, I would pick the one I can shoot the best---meaning accuracy and repeat shots. My drawer gun is my old BHP, (9mm); my always on me pocket gun is a 649-2, (38Spl). Both these are enough for me, although If I could only have one of them it would be the 649.

 

[steelslaver]

I would have to grab a 45. Don't own a 380 or 9mm.

 

[jim lock]

Assuming I shot them equally there's something to say about "lots of bullets", but that ole'45acp says "take me" and I would.

 

[murphydog]

Maybe someone was watching "A Fistful Of Dollars" outside your window. .

But seriously, the first thing I would have grabbed was the phone, to call 911...then any of the above, while proceeding to a secure place in your home.

 

[Redcoat3340]

Many thanks for the comments, especially the one about grabbing more than one gun. My thought was, "I gotta take a gun out of the drawer." Can't imagine why I didn't think "Gotta take two guns from the drawer." I'll never make that mistake again.

Also, I have no problem at all hitting what I aim at with all three. So accuracy isn't an issue.

Finally, I had the phone...but calling 911 for a noise, just one strange noise, one time and no other indications of a problem didn't seem a prudent reaction. Had I seen a shadow or a person or a motion detector light go on (have them on all sides of our modular home, ya can't get close without being lit up)...it would have been my wife and I in our safe space with the sheriff on the way.

I have confidence in my 9mm defense loads, or at least always told myself that. So, what I was surprised at was my decision to go for the .45 and not the 9.

I still love my 9s....but I guess I trust my .45 a bit more. A good lesson easily learned.

 

[HCH]

Looks like the 45 Shield and S&W 4513TSW could see more holster time.

Copy that.

 

[TomkinsSP]

JMO: priorities...
1. You can/will ALWAYS carry it.
2. It ALWAYS goes bang when trigger is pulled.
3. It NEVER goes bang unless the trigger is pulled.
4. You can HIT what you aim at when it goes bang.
5. Capacity, ease of Reloading.
6. Caliber.

 

[Rastoff]

...put the mag in, racked slide...

The immediate question is, why wasn't the gun already loaded? Those actions and lost time could have cost you, well, more than you wanted. So, if you're going to use a gun for defense, keep it loaded.

We can talk about the choice of tool, handgun vs shotgun vs rifle vs Claymore, another time. In this case I really think the caliber is irrelevant. But here is what I would have picked; .45ACP. Why? Because I shoot it best. Yes, I can hit what I aim at with all of them, but if I'm best with the .45 when I'm not stressed, that's the one I can Guarantee the hit with when I am stressed.


Let's drift this just a little and talk about what you did right...
You didn't go searching. All too often people leave the relative safety of their barricaded position, inside the house, and go searching for the potential bad guy. This puts you at a significant disadvantage because then all they have to do is wait for you to come by and they get the jump on you. So, good for you to stay put.

You turned the lights off inside. This does two things for you; it alerts any potential bad guy that you're aware of them and it hides you from their vision.

You had motion activated lights outside. If there really was a bad guy, they would have been lit up and you would have been in the dark. This is a significant advantage for you. The one thing I would add to this security feature is the ability to manually turn them on from inside. This way you can light anything outside, moving or not. Again, this is an advantage for you and likely would end any encounter, animal or human, before it starts.

With the exception of the gun not being loaded already, you had a good action plan.

 

[fredj338]

Maybe someone was watching "A Fistful Of Dollars" outside your window. .

But seriously, the first thing I would have grabbed was the phone, to call 911...then any of the above, while proceeding to a secure place in your home.

Problem, you call 911 every time you hear a weird noise, you are going to get ignored at some point, crying wolf thing. We all go check the weird noise, 911 is for when you know it is a problem.