Zimmerman Lessons 4

Zimmerman Lesson 4: Handgun Calibers

This week, we have studied several self defense lessons from the recent Zimmerman verdict. The final lesson in this series is on handgun calibers.

If you know there will be trouble, stay away.
If you cannot stay away, or if trouble finds you regardless, bring a long gun (preferably a rifle).
If you do not have a rifle, use a shotgun. Slugs and/or buckshot are the only two options worth considering.
If you have no long gun, a handgun of at least .38 or 9mm caliber is a minimum.
The only handguns you should own, whose caliber is less than .38 or 9mm are:
A) a .22LR caliber target / training pistol
B) guns used for fun or collection only.

Don't Use
Put another way: a .22LR, .25, .32, or .380 are wholly inadequate for self defense.
Yes, I am aware that there are some .380 loads (FMJ particularly) that have marginal effectiveness. But do not stake your life on marginal effectiveness.

Do Use
The other side of the coin is this: with modern self defense loads, there is not a huge difference between 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, or .357 Sig. There is evidence that .38 special is a bit on the low power end of things, but it is much more powerful than .380..38 special is also mostly available in revolvers, which can have the side effect of limiting the number of rounds available.

.357 magnum can be loaded to be significantly more powerful than the above semi-auto loads. and .44 magnum and 10 mm can outclass even the vaunted .357 mag, even to the point of providing carbine-like power. These are fine, but understand their limitations: .357 mag and .44 mag are mostly available in revolvers. 10 mm is hard to find. Recoil is also much more significant, so follow up shots will be slower.


.