LastManOut

A very good friend of mine is a millwright by trade, which is why I believe he tends to "overbuild" things beyond what I would think is necessary for the job it is intended to preform. If I were to ask him to weld up a small hibachi grill for camping, he would probably make it out of 1/2" plate steel with a miniature nuclear reactor power plant to drive the 36" bellows fan needed to stoke the charcoal to 2200F.

This seems to be the way some people decide on which weapon they should carry for self-defense. The reason I believe is they may be basing their decision on which caliber, barrel length, ammunition they need because of what they perceive will be the situation in which they will need to use their weapon to defend themselves.

As I understand the statistics, the scenarios in which someone would need to defend themselves have that 90% of the gunfights are within 9 feet or 3 yards with 3 shots fired within 10 seconds (IIRC). Yet, most people buy a gun, ammunition, sights and train for fights starting at 21 feet or 7 yards out past 25 yards simply because they believe this is where the fight will take place, so they logically believe they need to carry a pistol configured as if it were a mini-sniper rifle.

A .25, .32 or .380 caliber fired at point blank range into someone's gut or under their chin, should to be plenty of deterrent for the 90% +/- odds of how your gunfight may occur. Of course there is always the situation that you will be under-gunned, with not enough ammo to be able to eliminate the threat out to a distance that requires a 6x power scope on a .308 Model 700, but for the statistical normal scenario we as armed citizens will run into a snub-nosed revolver in .38 caliber will do the trick.


:Okay let the arrows fly:

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dukalmighty

I shoot 90% of my shots at 7 yards or less,but I also shoot out to 25 yards and occassionally practice at 50 yards.If you can hit COM consistently at 10 yards then you will be able to hit at closer ranges and even tho most SD do occur within 10 feet I practice for the unusual too,such as a mall shooter that may be at 25 yards using cover,if he's not aware of your presence you can get off accurate controlled shots from cover but if you do not know where your gun shoots at 25 or 50 yards that is not the time to try to figure it out

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I like Poetry,Long Walks On The Beach,And Poking Dead Things With A Stick

ppkheat

No arrows from me !

It all depends on the threat you face at the time. Statistics aside, no one has a crystal ball that can predict what threat you may face in the future. Most folks tend to ramp up with as much as they can CC in a practical manner. For me, I often carry a LCP in my pocket, whenever I go somewhere that I feel is risky I carry a larger gun.

A BG armed with a stick is likely going to split upon seeing a mouse gun pointed at him. A deranged guy shooting up a mall with a rifle is not likely to notice a small gun.

Wasn't it Clint Smith that said "no one in a gunfight ever wished for a smaller gun"

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Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.

173ABN

Practice and tactics is the secret to survival! My wife likes a 45, me, I like a 9. Number one point is move and shoot, Number two point is be able to hit on the move! Also, I changed my point of aim a few years ago as more little darlins are wearing body armor, about 5" up from COM. Aiming higer COM puts a nice pattern above most body armor and increases head/spine hits. Shooting here still gives you a big target area and vital system damage.

atctimmy

I agree with you (the op) in part. My EDC is a 5 shot snubby and I feel it is the right weapon for me.

I think though that most people on here will tell you they carry a larger heavier gun because they can. I mean why not? It's only a few ounces heavier and an inch longer or whatever. Carrying any gun is inconvenient, and it's only slightly more so with a larger one. Having a gun that you have confidence in is truly important. Let's face it with a good holster a glock or a 4.25 in. 1911 isn't very hard to conceal.

Statistics are great but what if you're situation is one of the ten% that isn't categorized. You just might change your tune.

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"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! - I know not what course others
may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
- Patrick Henry

rolyat63

Without getting into the statiscal probabilities of one thing or another but focusing on the goal: Self Defense. To not be prepared to defend yourself in 10% of the encounters for which you have armed yourself is the same kind of logic used to not be armed. If you have trained to succesfully defend yourself in the 10% as well as CQB and all in between then will be more likely to successfully defend yourself or others. I hate to know I could save a loved one only if my snubby could reliably hit COM at 45-60 ft.

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rolyat63

A mind once stretched by a new idea
never regains it's original dimension.

FL Concealed Weapon or Firearm Program

bigiceman

It is precisely because the gunfight is most likely to occur at nearly point blank ranges that I carry a .45. At that range it is hard to miss, for the bad guy and the good guy. When I hit the bad guy I want them to be down and out, not wounded but fully functional. If they are only wounded they may still be able to use a knife or a firearm of their own. I also agree with 173ABN about moving while shooting. Gotta move, gotta score hits, and those hits have to incapacitate the bad guy quickly and decisively.

For intimidation of a unarmed threat or someone with other than a gun or knife, any gun will do. For most of them just refusing to cooperate will do. When there is a close, immediate threat of greivious bodily harm, they need to be stopped, and they need to be stopped now.

I read an article about the difference between the design of European and American service handguns. The European handgun was being designed for the battlefield were distances were going to be large and the enemy wearing body armor. (5.7mm) The American handgun was designed for a fight at conversational distances where it was important to take out the enemy before they could use a weapon of their own. (.45 cal)

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But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself...
"Baa."
LTC(RET) Dave Grossman

Revolutionary War Veterans Association Shooter Qualification: Cook

bae

I turned around the other day to see a mountain lion about 20 feet from my 11 year old daughter, flicking its tail back and forth. I'm sure glad I wasn't carrying my Walther TPH.

FlyboyLDB

Yep, I agree most will occur in the 10' or less range. Any greater distance one might be able to avoid the confrontation - i.e., get away. This shorter distance is what concerns me with the larger calibers and hot loads - over penetration. It really does happen more than one thinks. Do some research - mainly happens to LEOs because they are working in close proximity to each other. With the anticipated fight occurring at less than 10' is why I feel a 9mm or .380 is more than enough. If you use +P ammo, you could risk over penetration too. I think we are bordering on starting another caliber war.

XD in SC

I'm sorry, I thought if you were carrying a handgun, you were carrying a mini-cannon.

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Sean
XD 9SC | XD 45ACP Service | XD 45ACP Compact |Borealis
"You may know where you are. God may know where you are. If you don't tell your dispatcher where you are, you'd better be on speaking terms with God!"