1man

Can any one make a list of all calibers you feel/deem effective for self defense(handguns only) in the order of least-to-most effective.
Please include competition and "wildcat" cartridges as well.

The reason for this is to help me know where certain cartridges that I haven't had that much experience with fall in the SD spectrum and to help me place all my "doubtful" souvenir cartridges in the correct order.

Fire at will!

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QKShooter

You want them listed in order of least effective up to most effective?

Why do I get that strange "gut feeling" that a Friendly Neighborhood Caliber Wars is impending?

oregonshooter

9mm -> .50

All equal. It's about where you place them.

Redneck Repairs

sounds like too much work to me , the most effective round is the one i happen to be carrying with me NOW the one at home isnt near as good a stopper for an imediate confrentation

1man

[quote=QKShooter]You want them listed in order of least effective up to most effective?

Why do I get that strange "gut feeling" that a Friendly Neighborhood Caliber Wars is impending?[/QUOTE

Of course, Situation Awareness and Shot Placement is #1.

This for informational purposes more than bickering back and forth. I would like a "1-Shot 1-Kill" approach to this, no follow-up shots(hopefully this will keep a war from starting).
But I'm looking where cartridges like 32NAA, 9x23mm IMI, 9x25mm and etc fall in.

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Train how you Fight
Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast!
"Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing." Murphy's Combat Law

Redneck Repairs

if it helps here is evan marshals forum , he is " the king" of one shot stop data http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/ try there

chiefs-special-guy

I am not sure how to order them as you ask, nor what "effective" means exactly. But very marginal might be 380/9m makarov. Marginal is 38 special and 9 mm, acceptables include 39+p, 9mm+p, acceptable plus includes 40, good includes 357, 44 special, 45 acp, and great/overkill includes 41 mag, 44 mag, 10mm, and really big stuff not suitable for any handgun you want me to practice with..
the velocity and energy depends on barrel length, so I suppose a 38 special for example may be marginal in a snubbie and fine in a 6 inch revolver.
personally I carry a 480 ruger converted to full auto fire with a belt fed mechanism...

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rfurtkamp

There is no 1-shot 1-kill guarantee in a handgun. Read recent FBI information on the subject.

Shoot until your target ceases to be a threat.

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AirForceShooter

anythng bigger than a .380.
After that it's where you shoot the BG.

It's that simple

AFS

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BlueLion

+1 Airmen

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