Subj : Re: First firearm
To   : calcmandan
From : Weatherman
Date : Wed Jun 03 2020 09:19 am

 > What is a good calibur handgun to obtain for home protection? I am at a
 > 50/50 draw between 9 and 45 among all my friends.

 > Daniel Traechin

 
Impossible to answer and anyone who gives you a caliber is only going from
their experience.  With proper shot placement even a .22 LR can be effective
at defense.  Most "experts" say anything from a .380 on up is required for a
defensive role.  I'd venture to guess that if I put those "experts" in a room
and asked for a volunteer to be shot by a .25 ACP round not a single one of
them would raise their hands.  The commonly accepted answer to such a question
is "the largest caliber that you can shoot accurately and proficiently."
Problem is that I'm accurate and proficient with my .454 Casull, but I sure as
hell wouldn't use it for home defense!  

The choice has to be balanced between the effectiveness of the round itself,
the environment in which you live (house in the country?  In the city?
Apartment?), your comfort level with firearms, and also with knowledge of the
fact that shooting a firearm in the confines of a home is an entirely
different experience from shooting at an outdoor or even an indoor range.  

I have several handguns staged at my house and property for defensive use
should I need them.  They range from .380 through 9mm, .38/.357 on up to .45
ACP and even .410/.45 LC.  All are (in MY opinion) good choices.  YOU need
first decide which calibers you are comfortable shooting and then make a
decision among those calibers which suits your living environment best for
self defense.  In my mind you can't go wrong with 9mm if you're a newcomer to
shooting.  It's effective, most 9's come with a relatively high round capacity
magazine, and it doesn't create a whole lot of muzzle blast and is RELATIVELY
quiet (compared to .454 or .500).  Understand, that's just MY OPINION.  It's
NOT based on anything other than my personal experience.  Others may
justifiably feel differently.

I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, but I hope I've given you
information to assist in making a decision.

                                                    Regards,    
                                              -==*>Weatherman<*==-

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