by Woodsman » Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:09 pm
I'd choose 9mm if I were going for a solely defensive pistol caliber.
Why? most popular pistol cartridge throughout the world = lots available ammo in more places.
Plus, it is lighter to carry.
It can be chambered in a smaller framed pistol.
There are bonded ammo choices for the caliber.
It will work just as well as any of the other reasonable cartridges with the right bullet.
It's cheaper.
It can penetrate armor easily with tungsten carbide core bullets.
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Guns aren't necessary. It is wasteful to expend lead and copper down range at a target. The amount of fossil fuels required to mine and transfer high density metals is ridiculous - and those are not replaceable resources. It's a hell of a lot easier just to communicate. Most people (not all) don't want to shoot another person. If they want to shoot you and they know what they are doing, no gun is going to protect you anyway. Movement might however.
All that being said, I enjoy shooting. .22s are my favorite, since they are cheap, work well on small game and nobody wants to be shot by one.
Life is short. Eat, Drink & Be Merry!