Dangerous times even in small town

[TripleR]

My old department just implemented a policy change allowing an officer to use a 9mm or .40 caliber. Nothing to do with lethality, female officers find the 9mm easier to shoot and less intimidating; also say the guns last longer as it was designed to shoot 9mm. I'm sure the FBI change had more to do with than they will admit. I do believe the part about female officers though; saw it first hand.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My old department just implemented a policy change allowing an officer to use a 9mm or .40 caliber. Nothing to do with lethality, female officers find the 9mm easier to shoot and less intimidating; also say the guns last longer as it was designed to shoot 9mm. I'm sure the FBI change had more to do with than they will admit. I do believe the part about female officers though; saw it first hand.

Here's an article detailing the development of the .40 S&W and the shortcomings of the 9mm. Pretty much as I recall from stories I had read in years past.

The .4 S&W: Ammo History | Range365

 

[Sigarms]

I've killed many a rabbit with one shot from a 22LR rifle. Groundhogs? Nope, not one yet. Put a cat down with a 22 pistol...not a fast process. Didn't hit anything vital I guess.

Pretty much any groundhog will go down within 50 yards with a 22LR with a head shot. Myself, the only two I've shot were killed with a .22LR within 50 yards. Believe it or not, I'm pretty certain the same thing for cats as well, although I've never shot a cat, so I can't speak from first hand experience.

Hard to believe as well, but one man did foil a 4 man terrorist operation who were armed with AK's and, that one man was stood trial for the killing of one of the terrorists with his sidearm (because of the country where it happened). His sole gun? A .22LR Berreta.

In no way am I saying the .22LR is a best all around caliber for either hunting groundhogs or self protection, but it's all about shot placement and in some cases per self defense, "luck" of the draw. The best tool you have for self protection is your brain. Use it and there is a good chance you won't have to use your gun.

Believe it or not, I'm a big caliber kind of guy, who believes the bigger and deeper the wound channel, the greater chance of a quicker death for the intended target, but I don't laugh or look down on any person for whatever kind of gun they feel comfortable enough for self defense.

As noted, I don't care what the caliber is, if I'm the intended target, I'd prefer not to be shot at all.

 

[plowhog]

Deleted.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
You apparently didn't notice that he was using the "sarcasm font."

 

[plowhog]

If I knew what a sarcasm font was, I could perhaps notice it?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

You don't have even the slightest clue what you are talking about. The sneering reference about anti-gunners is surprising and unnecessary.

Your math example presumes one bullet is "357" and the other "38." Then you determine a 357 is over 9 times the caliber and therefor about 9 times the "power" because you divide one number into the other. Wrong.

A 357 bullet has a diameter of .357 of an inch, not a "mass" of 357. A .38 has the diameter of .38 of an inch, not a "mass" of 38. Virtually identical. That is how caliber is measured.

Since the bullets are virtually identical, except a .357 is a little longer, this is why a revolver chambered for .357 can fire .38 rounds also. Which I wrote about in my original post. Many people, like me, have a .357 revolver but target practice with that gun while using .38 ammo. Then "carry" the gun loaded with .357 rounds. Which are admittedly a more powerful round and which I never disputed.

James, you post some really good stuff here. But you whiffed on this one.

This is according to the Firearms Guide:

"the caliber of a bullet is the measurement of the diameter of the slug (or projectile) part of the bullet cartridge."

What is Caliber? Bullet sizes explained

Pardon me for butting in, but I took his post as sarcasm, in effect ridiculing the article that you referenced. I think you two are actually on the same page.

It's my view that a small caliber beats no caliber at all, and although a .22 doesn't have a lot of stopping power, like say a .357 or a .44, they are still lethal, or can be. For my wife, I bought a revolver (for safety reasons) in a .22 mag caliber. Light weight, small recoil (But a LOUD bang) and effective enough for most cases...but self defense is not trench warfare and hand-to-hand combat, and a .22 mag is sooooo much better than a cell phone.

I recall a story in Sports Afield (yeah, long time ago); the author, who lived in Alaska was expecting company...and there was a moose hanging around in his back "yard", that he though was a nuisance. So, he grabbed his .22 rifle and fired a shot that he thought would scare it away. Unfortunately, the bullet hit the moose in the head and he dropped like a rock...and he was stuck with a 2000 lb. dead moose in his "yard". Point he was making that although caliber is important to a degree, it's even more important to hit what you're shooting at. Makes a good story any way.

 

[LD48750]

You don't have even the slightest clue what you are talking about. The sneering reference about anti-gunners is surprising and unnecessary.

Your math example presumes one bullet is "357" and the other "38." Then you determine a 357 is over 9 times the caliber and therefor about 9 times the "power" because you divide one number into the other. Wrong.

A 357 bullet has a diameter of .357 of an inch, not a "mass" of 357. A .38 has the diameter of .38 of an inch, not a "mass" of 38. Virtually identical. That is how caliber is measured.

Since the bullets are virtually identical, except a .357 is a little longer, this is why a revolver chambered for .357 can fire .38 rounds also. Which I wrote about in my original post. Many people, like me, have a .357 revolver but target practice with that gun while using .38 ammo. Then "carry" the gun loaded with .357 rounds. Which are admittedly a more powerful round and which I never disputed.

James, you post some really good stuff here. But you whiffed on this one.

This is according to the Firearms Guide:

"the caliber of a bullet is the measurement of the diameter of the slug (or projectile) part of the bullet cartridge."

What is Caliber? Bullet sizes explained

Ahhhh..... While I will agree with you that a .357Mag. is .357 inches in diameter, a .38 Cal. is ALSO .357 inches in diameter as is the .380ACP.
As a point of reference, that equals 9.1mm.

 

[plowhog]

Pardon me for butting in, but I took his post as sarcasm, in effect ridiculing the article that you referenced.

Ok, my bad. I misunderstood. I viewed the anti-gunner reference toward me, not the article. Now I get it.

Someone is making a handgun in .22 magnum that carries at least 20 rounds in the magazine (Keltec?.) I'd consider that an effective carry gun even though small caliber-- touching off the inevitable debate of what caliber is "too small to carry," of course.

 

[JimR]

I'll stick with my .45's. Lots of stopping power for there for sure. I also have carried a 9mm sometimes, a .380 sometimes and a .357 sometimes. It all depends on the situation of where I am going and what I am doing.