Favorite handgun caliber?

[SkyPup]

In other words, only criminals will be armed in S.F......... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

That's great for the felons, as they certainly prefer to have all their victims unarmed. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[DocHeb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My S&W Scandium/Titanium .44 Special )</font>

What does ammunition cost for a gun like this - nothing special, just target range rounds?

 

[HGM]

I remember the crime rate in Miami, when I was growing up, was quite high. This was after some of the rioting in Liberty City. Shortly therafter the Conceled Weapons Permit became available. The crime rate drasticly decreased because the criminals didnt want to get shot.. Immagine that!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Take the guns away from the honest folks and they get robbed by the dihonest who surly didnt apply for a permit to by their gun....

I'll never understand the extreme liberal mentality /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif... Guess I better stop, it might become political /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...

 

[DMF]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think you need to lay off the TV.

There is no substitute for practise )</font>

Eddie has some good points and Dargo has the best answer for home protection in my opinion.

I don't care how much you practice, there is nothing that can prepare you when you find yourself in the position where you may need to use deadly force to protect you or your family. I see a lot of posts here and on other sites where people talk a good game but unless you have been in that type of situation all that talk is baloney.

I know this because I practice often, am the president of our sportsmen's club and have shot competition before. Twice I have come into situations where I needed to draw my weapon in defense. Once with an individual (gang member?) at a shopping mall parking lot and once when someone tried to break in to our home at 3 am. You have no idea what addrenelin is until you are aiming a gun at another human being that you may need to kill to protect yourself. It's not pleasent and I hope none of you ever have to experience it.

 

[Sigarms]

I would never do this, or advocate it, but...

Go out 50 yards and have someone shoot over your head
(or to your right or left for that matter).

You can tell how close the bullet gets by the "ping" of the bullet going by you (weird sensation).

Only wish that they would do that in IDPA. Make things a lot more realistic in the "real world" of "combat shooting".

If you really want to try somthing interesting, just try to "run sideways" and try to hit your target while moving. That gets very interesting.

As far as law enforcement officials, more than you would think only know the "basic operation" of thier sidearm (not always the case I know), but you would probably be surprised how many don't "practice" on a regular basis off duty.

As far as a grizzley (sp?), they can move up to 30 mph. Best case scenerio is you only have to change your underware.

Oh forgot to add, "the peoples republic of California" says it all on that state.

When I lived in upstate New York, we wished NYC would be nuked on how that city controlled Abany and the state.

Pic is of my "woods gun". Robar grip reduction (and to some I know it dosn't look "pretty" but it fits my hand like a .45! and shoots to boot). 220 grain clocked at 1150 fps. I'm not compalining that it comes with 15 rounds, and at 50 yards, although it may not shoot as "slow and accurate" as a revolver, you would be surprised! (heinie sp? race sights help!)

If I've got the truck and I'm out west hiking though, have a Marlin S.S Guide gun. 540 Grain at 1550 FPS, Not as good as a .50, but a lot smaller and lighter to carry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Probably could get a better "ft/lbs" with the .45-70 by making the bullet lighter than 540 Grains, increasing the FPS, but I like the heavier bullets.

Could never figure out why Marlin came out with the .450 Marlin with all the loads available with the .45-70 /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Now if you want to see the ultimate "Bear woods gun", check out Jim West's Alaskan co-pilot. Work of art.

.50 "Alaskan", 450 Grains @ 2050FPS around 4200 ft/lbs!

Nothing in comparison in what a .50 cal could do at 1000 meters to brick structure I know, but try to hike around with a .50!

Eddie, seen your "collection" on a previou post. Hope you aren't laughing to loud.

Apologies, my thread and I'm getting off the topic /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[1bush2hog]

Having 15 rounds in my Glock certainly makes me feel alot better than having only 6 shots in a revolver if I am expecting to use the gun as a defense weapon.

On the other hand, how many times does a revolver jam?

Pros and Cons to all - that's why I like them all - /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif 22/357mag/45colt/44mag for fun shooting. .40 and .45 for defense.

I hope and pray I never have to use my gun for defense. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Bird]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gifVery interesting thread. I'm exactly the opposite of you, though. I'd much rather have 6 rounds in my revolver than 15 in any automatic ever made. Yes, automatics are usually good in the hands of serious gun enthusiasts who take care of it like it was their baby and practice regularly. But in my years of law enforcement, I saw many, many incidents of "accidental" discharges of automatics, and then when they were really needed, they wouldn't work. And yes, I've heard of revolvers failing to work, and I'm sure it's happened, but the only time I've ever personally seen it happen was on the range and due to a high primer on an improperly reloaded round.

I love shooting automatics and using them for anything except defense; no way I'd trust my life to one. For that, I'll keep my revolvers. There's been much good information in this thread, but I think Eddie Walker said it best. My S&W Chief (2" barrel) and S&W Combat Masterpiece (4" barrel), both .38 special, are now over 40 years old, and I'd still trust them over any guns I know of.

 

[YanmarFever]

<font color="blue"> I know this because I practice often, am the president of our sportsmen's club and have shot competition before. Twice I have come into situations where I needed to draw my weapon in defense. Once with an individual (gang member?) at a shopping mall parking lot and once when someone tried to break in to our home at 3 am. You have no idea what addrenelin is until you are aiming a gun at another human being that you may need to kill to protect yourself. It's not pleasent and I hope none of you ever have to experience it. </font>

I have been there more times than I want to remember,and I have disarmed 1 idiot & 2 perps

When I go to the range my partner & I will shoot until we can no longer hold our guns up anymore,and our backs & necks hurt from behind cover, usually around 650 rnds every other day. I did that for 6 1/2 yrs. (thats practice).
After about two yrs. of it you will loose your tunnel vision,and retain your hearing and senses the next time some punk pulls a piece on you. thats why I say practice, eat sleep & practice some more, under all adverse conditions. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The best defense is to avoid places where there might be trouble in the first place, unless it comes looking for you !

 

[Sigarms]

Curious what type of accidental discharges? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Police still have a problem with Glocks from time to time.

KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO SHOOT.

Be surprised how if you follow this general rule how it would cut down on AD's /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think the correct term is "neglegent (ap?) discharge" as pertaining to the improper handling of a firearm by it's "operator" to cause it to discharge prematurely (sp?) (my "homemade definition, not Websters).

I will agree that some guns are "more prone" to ND's because they reqiure "more training", but, you still need to have your finger on the trigger (not always the case I realize, in which case it was a true accidental discharge).

 

[EddieWalker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think you need to lay off the TV.

There is no substitute for practise )</font>

TractorErnie,

I'm not sure what this comment is supposed to mean. I love to watch TV, it's relaxing and entertaining. Sometimes it's even interesting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As to your comment about practice. I agree that it will increase your comfort level with your weapon and to a small degree, increase your accuraccy. I say that because I believe it takes training and education to be able to shoot accurately.

Like most people here, I've been shooting since grade school. Burning up ammo was loads of fun back then, it's also why I stated earlier that my .22 is my favorite caliber. It's the only one that is just pure fun to shoot.

I'm a rifle shooter more than anything. I practice at the range throughout the year, and also just before opening day or a hunting trip. I've noticed two types of shooters at the range over the years. Those who shoot all sorts of ammo, and those that only shoot a few rounds.

Shootters have allot more fun than I do, no question about that. They are happy with their weapons, the ammo and every hole they make in a target. I don't enjoy shooting, don't particulary care for guns and would rather watch TV than go to the range. My rifle is a tool that I use to kill with, nothing more.

Those shooters that I've observed have a different level of what's good for them, than I do. With my 30-06, I want half inch groups at a hundred yards. Anything less is reason for concern. This isn't fun, its work. Both mentally and physically.

I'll shoot anywhere from 10 to 40 rounds at the very most. Usually ten will give me two acceptable groups and I'm done.

Barrel temps are a huge factor when shooting, and I always shoot with a cold barrel, just like it would be during a hunt. A cold barrel shoots totally different than a hot one. Five rounds can take close to an hour to shoot if it's warm out.

I don't know you, and it's not my intention to single you out from everyone here. I'm responding to your post because of your comments directed to me, but I'm also responding to everyone elses posts to some extent too.

Eddie