Best handgun caliber for the $? - Page 2

SocialAnarchist · April 3, 2014, 12:08 PM

I have handguns in both .45acp and 9mm and would not feel inadequately protected with either one. But if I found myself in a circumstance where I could only take one it would be my .45acp. Partly based on the fact that I am more accurate with it and that I like the idea of the bigger bullet.

Skans · April 3, 2014, 12:54 PM

9mm.

rDH1945 · April 3, 2014, 07:57 PM

The best one to carry is the one you can hit with no matter what caliber as long as you can put the bullet where it will do damage there

Hal · April 4, 2014, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Pretty much deciding between 9mm, 357sig, 40s&w, and 45ACP. Which would you say is the best caliber in terms of effectiveness (for carry and home protection) and cost?

I believe everyone so far has missed a key point.....

All of the calibers you list are going to run pretty much nearly exactly the same amount of money for effective defensive ammunition.

9mm run ~ $20 for 25
.45 acp run ~ $20 for 25
.357 Sig run ~ $20 for 20
.30 S&W run ~ $20 for 25

For practice ammo, reloads in .38 spl and .45 acp are about as cheap as .22lr is currently.

biohazard313 · April 4, 2014, 09:35 AM

my CPl instructor. in his misinformation 8 hour session told me a good carry gun needs to be in .40 or better. basically any .4 round he told me a 9mm was not sufficient for personal defense and lacked stopping power... LOL

i prefer the .40 personally. i have many firearms in many calibers. from .25 to .45

i favor the .40 its a good round. adequate stopping power. i get my range rounds from a reloader. i pay about $250-$300 per 1000.

i also have a 9mm that i absolutely love. a smith and wesson sd9ve. was $300 and def worth more inho

lapetrarca53 · April 4, 2014, 09:52 AM

I can reload 9mm for around $6.00 per box of 50 with my own brass. Supplies are usually readily available.

A box of .22lr's (when you can find them) around here now goes for around $10 per box of 50 and are usually difficult to find.

pgdion · April 4, 2014, 10:32 AM

9mm hands down. It's a plenty capable round and is by far the least expensive. Even when reloading it will save some $$$. The bullet is the most expensive part and the 9mm bullets cost the least (although the cost difference is less significant if you reload). Still hard to find 9mm bulk though where .40 and .45 are readily available. But I started reloading after the last shortage so I really don't care, just a little more work downstairs. Even through the peak of the shortage I never really had trouble getting primers, bullets, or powder. Just needed to be proactive and place orders sooner than usual.

If you want a great value to run it through than the front runner for me is the Stoeger Cougar (same as the Beretta Cougar, same gun actually, not just a copy). These can still be had for about $430 I think and they are top notch guns. I have one in 9mm and .40 s&w ... just need one in .45acp now.

pgdion · April 4, 2014, 10:38 AM

Isn't that funny lapetrarca53, I can reload 9mm for less than I can but .22 right now too and with reloading, it is more readily available. Right now the 9mm is my lowest cost plinking round.

lapetrarca53 · April 7, 2014, 07:10 AM

pgdion......who would have ever thought it would be cheaper to shoot centerfire than rimfire????

lamarw · April 7, 2014, 07:39 AM

I would agree the 9mm is probably the most popular and/or abundant.

On the other hand, you will probably never find a more diverse handgun than the .45 Colt. You can vary it to handle just about anything in the U.S. You would never be able to stop a large bear with a 9mm whereas the .45 Colt round can be made powerful enough to possible give you a better chance.

skoro · April 8, 2014, 08:39 AM

As others have already posted, it's 9mm.

Kev · April 8, 2014, 12:19 PM

I honestly would suggest you go to a range that has rentals and rent a handgun in each caliber.
Perhaps and try to keep it to a single manufacturer in all 3 rounds if possible, say Glock.

From that experience I would choose the caliber you were the most comfortable with (accuracy is important here too) as a beginner into the wonderful world of shooting. Perhaps the answer is NONE OF THE ABOVE CALIBERS as your entry way to the sport. For all you know your ideal caliber is 38 Super, 22LR or (spin the wheel of cartridges...)

April 3, 2014, 07:57 PM	#28
rDH1945 Junior Member Join Date: October 29, 2013 Location: Arkansas Posts: 10	Best caliber to carry The best one to carry is the one you can hit with no matter what caliber as long as you can put the bullet where it will do damage there

April 4, 2014, 10:32 AM	#32
pgdion Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2010 Location: MPLS, MN Posts: 1,214	9mm hands down. It's a plenty capable round and is by far the least expensive. Even when reloading it will save some $$$. The bullet is the most expensive part and the 9mm bullets cost the least (although the cost difference is less significant if you reload). Still hard to find 9mm bulk though where .40 and .45 are readily available. But I started reloading after the last shortage so I really don't care, just a little more work downstairs. Even through the peak of the shortage I never really had trouble getting primers, bullets, or powder. Just needed to be proactive and place orders sooner than usual. If you want a great value to run it through than the front runner for me is the Stoeger Cougar (same as the Beretta Cougar, same gun actually, not just a copy). These can still be had for about $430 I think and they are top notch guns. I have one in 9mm and .40 s&w ... just need one in .45acp now. __________________ 597 VTR, because there's so many cans and so little time!

April 4, 2014, 10:38 AM	#33
pgdion Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2010 Location: MPLS, MN Posts: 1,214	Isn't that funny lapetrarca53, I can reload 9mm for less than I can but .22 right now too and with reloading, it is more readily available. Right now the 9mm is my lowest cost plinking round. __________________ 597 VTR, because there's so many cans and so little time!

April 8, 2014, 08:39 AM	#36
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	Best handgun caliber for the $? As others have already posted, it's 9mm.

April 8, 2014, 12:19 PM	#37
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	I honestly would suggest you go to a range that has rentals and rent a handgun in each caliber. Perhaps and try to keep it to a single manufacturer in all 3 rounds if possible, say Glock. From that experience I would choose the caliber you were the most comfortable with (accuracy is important here too) as a beginner into the wonderful world of shooting. Perhaps the answer is NONE OF THE ABOVE CALIBERS as your entry way to the sport. For all you know your ideal caliber is 38 Super, 22LR or (spin the wheel of cartridges...) __________________ "Classic over Plastic"

April 3, 2014, 12:08 PM	#26
SocialAnarchist Junior member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 508	I have handguns in both .45acp and 9mm and would not feel inadequately protected with either one. But if I found myself in a circumstance where I could only take one it would be my .45acp. Partly based on the fact that I am more accurate with it and that I like the idea of the bigger bullet.

April 3, 2014, 12:54 PM	#27
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	9mm.

April 4, 2014, 09:35 AM	#30
biohazard313 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2013 Posts: 128	my CPl instructor. in his misinformation 8 hour session told me a good carry gun needs to be in .40 or better. basically any .4 round he told me a 9mm was not sufficient for personal defense and lacked stopping power... LOL i prefer the .40 personally. i have many firearms in many calibers. from .25 to .45 i favor the .40 its a good round. adequate stopping power. i get my range rounds from a reloader. i pay about $250-$300 per 1000. i also have a 9mm that i absolutely love. a smith and wesson sd9ve. was $300 and def worth more inho

April 4, 2014, 09:52 AM	#31
lapetrarca53 Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2012 Posts: 108	I can reload 9mm for around $6.00 per box of 50 with my own brass. Supplies are usually readily available. A box of .22lr's (when you can find them) around here now goes for around $10 per box of 50 and are usually difficult to find.

April 7, 2014, 07:10 AM	#34
lapetrarca53 Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2012 Posts: 108	pgdion......who would have ever thought it would be cheaper to shoot centerfire than rimfire????

April 7, 2014, 07:39 AM	#35
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I would agree the 9mm is probably the most popular and/or abundant. On the other hand, you will probably never find a more diverse handgun than the .45 Colt. You can vary it to handle just about anything in the U.S. You would never be able to stop a large bear with a 9mm whereas the .45 Colt round can be made powerful enough to possible give you a better chance.