Being a firearms instructor for 13 years has given me an opportunity to teach and observe many students of both genders, in a wide range of ages, and of all shapes and sizes. My youngest student was 20 and I believe my oldest student was a woman of 86. In that same class was my oldest male student to date. I believe he was 84, and no, they didn’t know each other!
I doubt that there are many subjects pertaining to personal defense more likely to stir up arguments than what the best caliber is for personal defense. We’ve all read many articles addressing this question in one way or another. Many writers have tried to settle once and for all this issue by providing a plethora of data such as various test results, ballistic comparisons, and real-world “street” encounters, as well as a few “I know of” stories. We’ve also all read many articles trying to settle one of the popular and endless debates of which of two or more popular calibers is best. The most popular calibers to compare seem to be 9mm vs. 40, 9mm vs 45 ACP, or all three together.
My opinions are based on personal experience, 13 years of observing others, and objective tests that are all over the Internet testing this or that caliber and load by shooting into ballistic gelatin. My hat’s off to those intrepid soles who find great satisfaction in doing this and then publishing the results. I get to study the results without having to do it myself. You don’t have to be loaded with experience and knowledge to conduct such tests, and they’re an invaluable source in comparative analysis between various calibers and loads. One caveat that I should point out here is when a test involving hollowpoint bullets is done by shooting into bare gelatin. It may give you a fair comparison of penetration involving different loads, but I don’t pay much attention to bullet expansion without providing some semblance of clothing material layers draped over the front of the gelatin block. Hollowpoint bullets have come a long way but there are still many out there that sometimes fail because of material plugging the cavity and turning the projectile into basically a FMJ. That doesn’t mean that it would fail to stop an assailant, but it does mean that it won’t work as designed.
My intention isn’t to resolve any of these long-standing debates, mostly because that is quite simply impossible. There are too many variables that influence what would be the best choice, or choices, for each individual and each set of circumstances. I want to take a more practical approach to this subject by perhaps injecting some considerations into the argument that aren’t often addressed. Rather than debating which caliber a person should choose, let’s consider those variables that should eventually dictate our best choice, or choices. I include “choices” because many of us feel the need to have two or more defensive handguns due to varying circumstances causing us to feel too compromised by relying on only one. Many of us also like to carry what police refer to as a “bug”, which refers to a backup gun. Most of us prefer a backup to be smaller and more concealable than our primary gun. I find myself in this category as do, I suspect, many others. Also, I usually carry a smaller handgun in hot weather, or when I may be more physically active, than I would normally carry in the colder months. I live in Michigan, and the weather throughout the year varies considerably, so we find ourselves dressing in a wide variety of ways for this reason alone. I tell new students looking for their first handgun that if they buy a medium to large size gun that is pleasant to shoot and easy to carry in winter, they will end up either not carrying in hot weather, or buying a second handgun. If that’s out of the question, a compromise is in order. Fortunately, there are many handguns on the market now that will do reasonably well under most circumstances. Also, one can’t expect to carry a handgun without ever having to make a compromise in how one dresses. I’ve carried many different handguns over the past 23 years and I can tell you that if you want to carry as part of your normal routine, expect to make a few adjustments.
If you’ve already decided on a certain make and model handgun, and it comes in several calibers, then of course all you need do is decide on which one. Many people however, because of personal circumstances or physical limitations, need an unusually small handgun, or perhaps a light-recoiling handgun, or both. In this instance, choosing a handgun and its caliber need to be considered in tandem. But be forewarned, a diminutive 380 can generate more perceived recoil than a larger pistol in a far more powerful caliber. Even the 32 ACP and the 22 magnum will generate a substantial amount of felt recoil in the tiny guns which are available in these calibers. For the recoil shy, many have found the answer in a mid-size pistol chambered in the 380 rather than 9mm or any of the other more powerful calibers. A 380 also usually carries the added benefit of a lighter recoil spring, making the slide much easier to reciprocate by hand. Many women struggle with this, and sometimes merely stepping down to the 380 is all it takes.