Home Defense Caliber

[ArmyValker]

Hey, I know this is slightly off-topic... but I figure there's probably some experienced shooters/CCW here. What's your outlook on the best caliber for home defense? Stopping power, ammo availability, ammo cost, and reliability are paramount for me.

Had a "situation" in the middle of the night the other night and I was a little less than comfortable with a .308, I'm used to shorter carbine type rifles and pistols at work.

Oh, and I'm looking for a handgun if I didn't make it clear.

Thanks. 

[NiteRiderF6]

Either a NINE or a .357 with hollow points.... there is your knock down power... I have both, but prefer the .357 for sheer ease of use and ammo availability.

A lot of cops carry .44 Magnum.... though... It's really a personal choice, but get something that you are proficient with and practice point and click regularly. Good Luck!

[bsnicely]

.357 Mag or .38 spl revolver or any major caliber Semi-Auto loaded with Glaser safety Rounds. They will not over penetrate and go thru walls. They dump all their energy in the target. Follow link.....

http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/glaser.htm

[Valker]

My personal choice is a .40, but I also have a Walther P22. The .22 is more for my wife and kids to shoot, and for me to practice with. I want any hits I make to stop an intruder. I have no fake expectations of making every shot count in my house with an intruder. I would aim center mass and keep pulling the trigger until the intruder stops making me fear for my, or my family's, life. I have heard too many stories of a 9mm not stopping someone who is high, but I've never heard of a .40 being insufficient.

[Steven W.]

Anything works fine, even a .22.  If someone's in your house at night and you fire off a round with a .22 I guarantee they are gonna haul out of there.  I have a few.  My favorite is my S&W .45 ACP M&P model.  That's the one I keep closest at night. 

[fordmano]

I don't own this but I have considered it as a very likely option for my house.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=638&category=Revolver

Let the Judge Decide!!!

[Tundra]

Wow...This could open a can of worms, like oil and tires.
  I've been a concealed carry guy for 20 years, carried for 18 years on the job. Range qualified for 9mm, .45, .38/357, M-16, riot-shotgun. I've taken advanced firearms courses, carbine courses, room clearing course, shoot-don't shoot judgemental training course. With that being said, It's all what your comfortable with and what you can HIT your target with. I don't care if you got the fancy gun with the fancy caliber and the fancy ammo and the fancy laser sights. If you can't shoot it and HITyour target every time, in adverse conditions and low light conditions, then continue training. The key is practice after youv'e learned good shooting basics, posture, stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control.Then take away what youv'e learned and fine hone those skills...Practice, practice, practice!  PS My choice to carry daily (and I own almost every caliber) is the .45, for many arguable reasons. You can talk ballistics and really get into this, just practice and be consistant with your carry gun, know how to fully operated it in the dark, and Practise! Everyone you talk to about this topic will have an opinion, My Dad was a Marine, My brother is a cop, my friend is in the NRA yata, yata yata, everyone knows something! Get with someone you trust to help you make the correct decission before you make your expensive purchase. Good luck, be safe, have fun!

[solo1]

Tundra hit the nail on the head. Caliber wise or revolver vs semiauto is up to you.  Training and caliber choice is all important.  It's better to hit with a .22 than miss with a .45.

[Master Blaster]

I favor big bore, I have 4 45s, an original 1911, a LLama 45 Mini Max, a Tarus Judge 45 Long Colt, and a BFR in 45-70Also have various and sundry others from 22 to 44 Mag.  Hard to beat the  45 auto for simplicity of operation and pointability.  Its a great choice.

[therapist]

Here is a site that will keep you reading all day on the subject.  When researching the same question before my last pistol purchase, I came to the conclusion that I would buy the 9mm rather than the .40 or .45 Glock.  My reasoning was that I could probably be more proficient with the 9, plus I like the added rounds (16).  I believe carrying a self defense round like the Federal 147 grain Hydra-Shok JHP or the Federal 115 grain +p+ would pretty much be the same as carrying less powerful round in a .40.  My other considerations were personal, as I have had three hand operations and I really feel re-coil, long after shooting.  My Glock 19 is not very punishing.  Historically, the 9mm round was cheaper and more available, but we all know that is no longer the case for any caliber.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/wound.htm

[ArmyValker]

Wow...This could open a can of worms, like oil and tires.
  I've been a concealed carry guy for 20 years, carried for 18 years on the job. Range qualified for 9mm, .45, .38/357, M-16, riot-shotgun. I've taken advanced firearms courses, carbine courses, room clearing course, shoot-don't shoot judgemental training course. With that being said, It's all what your comfortable with and what you can HIT your target with. I don't care if you got the fancy gun with the fancy caliber and the fancy ammo and the fancy laser sights. If you can't shoot it and HITyour target every time, in adverse conditions and low light conditions, then continue training. The key is practice after youv'e learned good shooting basics, posture, stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control.Then take away what youv'e learned and fine hone those skills...Practice, practice, practice!  PS My choice to carry daily (and I own almost every caliber) is the .45, for many arguable reasons. You can talk ballistics and really get into this, just practice and be consistant with your carry gun, know how to fully operated it in the dark, and Practise! Everyone you talk to about this topic will have an opinion, My Dad was a Marine, My brother is a cop, my friend is in the NRA yata, yata yata, everyone knows something! Get with someone you trust to help you make the correct decission before you make your expensive purchase. Good luck, be safe, have fun!

Good answer! I've taken alot of those type courses too, specifically the m-16/m249/m9 and the shoot/don't shoot scenarios. However, I don't own any handguns because I only use them at work and I hunt after work. So, believe me when I say that I'll do a lot of practice with whatever I get. I'm not a shabby 9mm shooter already 

[MITCH]

ArmyValker

Hey all info advise you have received is accurate, in a home invasion situation a few factors to think about heaver rounds can penetrate in to other rooms in a miss; the Tauras Judge is an excellent choice shotgun rounds work well in home defense they don’t penetrate through multiple walls but when they hit there target they cause maximum damage(Buck Shot) a pump with a short barrel is a great choice in home defense, the accuracy is a little less critical also, and when your are nervous/scared that will be a asset. I have a CHL in Texas and my preferred rounds are the .357mag and the .40 S&W for personal carry. I’m getting two of the Judges for my Wife and Daughter to carry in there cars. Texas has a law that allows you to conceal a gun in your car.  All the points I discussed are the reasons I used in the choice I used for them. 
 

[Bagger John - #3785]

I train with what I carry...I carry what I shoot centerfire bullseye matches with...I shoot matches with what I use for plinking and general all-around recreational shooting. That is, 45ACP. I know the cartridge very well and also know how it'll perform when fired from a variety of autoloaders...both full and "carry" size.

Pistol aside: High-capacity 12ga pump or autoloader loaded with 00 or 000 buckshot.

[DaveC]

For home defense i prefer a Remington 870 12 ga. pump shotgun.  Why? Accuracy in  low light, high stress situations against multiple assailants is not an issue. Very reliable.
I carried this weapon for 13 mos. in Vietnam & it's a proven lifesaver.
stay safe y'all,
the hobo

[doubletee]

...
I carried this weapon for 13 mos. in Vietnam & it's a proven lifesaver.
stay safe y'all,
the hobo

Thank you for your service, Dave! 

[Jabba]

I WAY WAY agree with the shotgun.  a 20 gage is pretty good too in a house.  They are WAY safer for occupants and neighbors.

Jabba

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

There is nothing that says your armed and ready like the sound of a pump shotgun chambering a shell. It's time to run or die.

[Chrisj CMA]

I am very happy relying on my trusty .357 with police grade high performance hollow points.  That being said, as far as the best to knock down ANYTHING at close range, I really like this shotgun....its a 20ga springfield 67 police model and it shoots really sweet one or two handed.  18" barrel and a smidge over 26" overall, holds 4 in the tube

[Blade]

Wow...This could open a can of worms, like oil and tires.
  I've been a concealed carry guy for 20 years, carried for 18 years on the job. Range qualified for 9mm, .45, .38/357, M-16, riot-shotgun. I've taken advanced firearms courses, carbine courses, room clearing course, shoot-don't shoot judgemental training course. With that being said, It's all what your comfortable with and what you can HIT your target with. I don't care if you got the fancy gun with the fancy caliber and the fancy ammo and the fancy laser sights. If you can't shoot it and HITyour target every time, in adverse conditions and low light conditions, then continue training. The key is practice after youv'e learned good shooting basics, posture, stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control.Then take away what youv'e learned and fine hone those skills...Practice, practice, practice!  PS My choice to carry daily (and I own almost every caliber) is the .45, for many arguable reasons. You can talk ballistics and really get into this, just practice and be consistant with your carry gun, know how to fully operated it in the dark, and Practise! Everyone you talk to about this topic will have an opinion, My Dad was a Marine, My brother is a cop, my friend is in the NRA yata, yata yata, everyone knows something! Get with someone you trust to help you make the correct decission before you make your expensive purchase. Good luck, be safe, have fun!

This is the best advice I have read I also carry I have 2 9mm 1 ea. 380 2ea.22 A 20 gauge shotgun  22 rifle , I can shoot them all
it is up to you what you like any gun will work buy a name brand I would love to have a 357 but may be a little big for you.
 I also would recommend you put up signs saying you have video camera all over in side and out most people don't want to get caught so that might just be enough to make them pick another house .still the gun what fits your hand and you shoot well with .Blade

[Skeeter (Va)]

My personal choice is a .40, but I also have a Walther P22. The .22 is more for my wife and kids to shoot, and for me to practice with. I want any hits I make to stop an intruder. I have no fake expectations of making every shot count in my house with an intruder. I would aim center mass and keep pulling the trigger until the intruder stops making me fear for my, or my family's, life. I have heard too many stories of a 9mm not stopping someone who is high, but I've never heard of a .40 being insufficient.

I have two police officers in the family..The one in North Miami, Fla always advised me to have a hand gun with the number four in it..the NM Police use the 40 Semi Sigsauer..as you mentioned, they do not care for a 9 mm...I have a Taurus 40  24/7 in the night stand that I carried when employed by an armed security group. The Sig was very costly, but my nephew police guy said the Taurus will work and I did not hurt his feelings for not going Sig  ...a 20 ga Savage side by side shot gun  w/an 18 1/8" sawed barrel downstairs hidden over a door frame at the bar and CC the SW #37 Airweight 38.....i have been lucky so far..I'm surrounded on three sides with water and rather isolated for 28 yrs...

[Shotgun]

I have a .357 revolver that my wife keeps handy when I'm out of town.  On my side of the bed is a Kimber Pro Carry 45.  If I'm going to shoot someone, he's not going to get up.

[threevalks]

Home, Remington 870 12 guage. Carry, Sringfield XDM 40 S&W.

[Shotgun]

I also have a Springfield XD 45.  It's a lot of gun for the money.

[Varmintmist]

My preferance is a 1911, mainly because I first learned one in the service and shot well with one from day one, many many moons ago. It is one that you SHOULD practice with, the new ones more than the old. The new ones are tight to try to make a bullsye production pistol out of a service pistol. The current favorite is a Kimber custom.

The wife also has a 1911, however her go to is a Ruger SP101 in 357.

As a bedside, there is a 30 carbine. I like rifles and live in the country and am not real worried about neighbors.
.....................

The best answer is the one you can hit with and will practice with. If you get a 44 Magnum and put 50 rounds a year through it  because it hurts to shoot, the odds are good that you wont have enough muscle memory to use it in a panic situation.
First disabuse yourself of the notion that handguns have "stopping power" they dont. What they do is put holes in people until they give up.  People flying across the room is Hollywierd. Newton said so, and he meant it.

9mm is fine, so is 38, 38+p, 357, 44, 45 (ACP or Colt), 22lr, 380, 32ACP, or a Remington 1858 cap and ball. Whatever works for you. Bore size is probably less important than the ability to use it.

Make sure it FITS and then shoot it. One way to tell if it fits is hold it, look at a point on the wall, shut your eyes, point it at the spot, then open your eyes. If it fits (providing you are not doing a gangsta grip) it will be pointing at or near the place you are looking.