The endless caliber debate. (sight, ballistics, firing, shot)

[FreedomThroughAnarchism]

I was thinking of getting an HK45.

While never having been a fan of the .45 ACP before (not that I ever though there was anything wrong with it), some of the scuttlebutt on the gun is convincing me. A lot of people, I think, usually select a caliber first, and then narrow it down by model (which is usually what I do, as well). However, the gun seems to have gotten such glowing praises that this time around I set the caliber aside as the primary selection point and narrowed it down by model first. Pricey, though (as is almost all of HK's stuff).

While the caliber debate is obviously endless, reliability is generally the more important criteria of the two. The claim that this might turn out to be of the most reliable guns made seems to quell whatever ambivalence or concerns I had about the .45 caliber (extra cost of ammunition, extra size, etc...).

[rifleman]

The difference in ammo cost (esp. if you reload) is not that high, and the .45ACP, or better yet, the .45GAP, is a very effective home defense load. Having said that, the realities of my arthritic hand condition, which is not that uncommon amongst us 60+ types, leads me to carry my "Springer" XD(M) in 9mm. That's 19+1 capacity, BTW, and that's a lot of real stopping power, with low recoil, target-grade accuracy and high controllability. Plus, the slide can be easily racked by my joint-damaged hands, which is not the case with my Para.45. LDA with it's short slide.

Failing that in the future, I may have to move on to, let's say, a S&W .45 ACP revolver. Possibly have it worked on first by Cylinder & Slide, or the S&W Custom Shop to smooth it all out!

Six fast shots, a moon-clip reload with either 45ACP or .45GAP, is good enough for most anything you might get involved in. After all, if there are 10 of them on your case, all with hi-cap AKs, ARs & Rem 870 SWAT guns, you'll have to RUN FOR IT anyhow, and whether you have 5, 6, 9 or 250 rounds at your disposal, you'z in a heap of trouble, boa! Shoot to kill in that case!

FYI: Cylinder & Slide Inc

[SamTM]

When you can't decide, just go with them all. GLOCKS... G-19 Gen 2, G-19 Gen 3, G-17 Gen 3, G-34 Gen 3, G-27 Gen 3, G-23 Gen 3, G-22 Gen 3, G-33 Gen 3, G-32 Gen 3, G-31 Gen 3, G-20 Gen 3, G-29 Gen 3, (2) G-21 Gen 3, G-30 Gen 3. That's fifteen GLOCKs in 9MM, .40 S&W, 357 SIG, 10MM and .45 ACP!

[SamTM]

The G-19 and G-23 are my favorites!

[Mister Miaugie]

Ok then, but what about rifle calibers.
Out of which three round would you use for self defense?
7.62x39 , 5.45x39, or the 5.56x45.
I heard the 5.45x39 has an evil wound profile, and that the 7.62x39 has great penatration through objects. I also heard the 5.56x45 has great penatration also.
I'de choose the 7.62x39, why self defense should'nt take place 50 yards out.
What are your opinions?

[SamTM]

Originally Posted by Mister Miaugie

Ok then, but what about rifle calibers.
Out of which three round would you use for self defense?
7.62x39 , 5.45x39, or the 5.56x45.
I heard the 5.45x39 has an evil wound profile, and that the 7.62x39 has great penatration through objects. I also heard the 5.56x45 has great penatration also.
I'de choose the 7.62x39, why self defense should'nt take place 50 yards out.
What are your opinions?

For a firefight I choose 5.56 x 45mm (.223 Rem). For ONE well placed shot? 7.62 x 51mm (.308 Win).

[SuperSparkle928]

Originally Posted by Mister Miaugie

Ok then, but what about rifle calibers.
Out of which three round would you use for self defense?
7.62x39 , 5.45x39, or the 5.56x45.
I heard the 5.45x39 has an evil wound profile, and that the 7.62x39 has great penatration through objects. I also heard the 5.56x45 has great penatration also.
I'de choose the 7.62x39, why self defense should'nt take place 50 yards out.
What are your opinions?

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Personally, none of the above. I use 9MM +P+ in an MP5K-PDW machine pistol. 'spray and pray'. 30 rounds in 3 seconds usually does the trick.

For the rifle cartridges, the guns tend to be too unwieldy in a home environment. Short-barreled shotguns though may work well. (I also use a SB pistol-gripped Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge... the SO can handle this fairly well, and they are dirt cheap).

[julian17033]

I have the Glock 19 gen-2 covered!!

[SuperSparkle928]

Originally Posted by SamTM

For a firefight I choose 5.56 x 45mm (.223 Rem). For ONE well placed shot? 7.62 x 51mm (.308 Win).

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In a house, a .308 (7.62x51) is a lot of firepower, big, and a lot of weight. (my M60 weighs 24lbs, and that is without ammo in it). I think you want a compact firearm for house usage. I still lean towards a .45 with either Blue Dot, Speer or Corbon jacketed hollowpoints, with the steel pin. A short-barreled shotgun, however, means you only need to aim in the general direction

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by StaggerLee22

I'm gonna wind up with an over-the-shoulder rocket launcher before it's over.

Platform launchers have more punch...