Doesn’t Matter
It doesn’t matter if you think 9mm or .45ACP is the better round. It doesn’t matter if you prefer the 1911 platform over the Glock platform. It doesn’t matter if you use a revolver or a semiautomatic.
What matters is what feels comfortable to you, what you train with, and what you are proficient with.
I couldn’t agree more. More important than the tools you use is spending the time and energy required to become proficient with them. Some tools may be easier to learn and practice, but that can be overcome by diligent and consistent training.
Agreed. Just use high quality expanding rounds for self defense and train. Good to go! 0.10″ Doesn’t Matter.
Amen! First rule of gunfighting: have a gun. Second rule: be proficient with it. Third rule: refer to rule 1.
I agree to a certain extent. Caliber does matter you can be proficient w/ a .25 auto but if your weapon of choice doesn’t have neccessary power to do the job then what? Personally I would think being proficient w/ a caliber big enough to stop your opponent would be the more important criteria.
Bill: I actually agree. These rules were printed on the wall at a police academy I taught at in the mid to late 90’s and are a bit longer than I had time to post this morning. Most relevant to your statement is the full text of rule 1: “Have a gun, preferably in the most powerful chambering permissible within policy that you can conceal and reliably control.” The reason it became necessary to even discuss is someone had been telling cops in our area that the had to carry their duty gun (issued S&W 659 and later 5906) at all times or they were certainly dead in a bad situation. Many of them took this to mean big heavy gun or no gun, and they chose no gun. We also had our fair share of “my gun or be-gone” trainers. We were simply trying to instill in mostly new shooters that what you shoot is secondary to how you shoot and both take a back seat to at least having a gun. One of our range officers was fond of saying “Only armed people engage in a gun fight. Unarmed people are victims of crime.”
After drilling into them the first rule of survival is have the means to fight back (rule 1), we would then discuss the relative merits of caliber vs concealability (off duty carry-everyone back then carried a full size auto in uniform, mostly in 9mm with a trend to .40 S&W) and how that choice impacted tactics which played into the second rule.
Mas Ayoob was once asked if he had to chose between a .25 and a big knife, which would it be. His answer: If it is to defend against a sudden and violent attack, the knife. But if he had a little time to prep and plan, he would take up a concealed position and shoot the bad guy behind the ear as he walked past. I believe he stipulated a dark room and he hid behind the door. He is also VERY good with a knife.
Evan Marshall was once asked (at a pool party following a training/gun conference of some sort) what was the absolute best defensive handgun. Without pause he said a 2″ concealed hammer Smith airweight in .38 special. The answer somewhat surprised the questioner so he followed up with a “why.” Mr. Marshall, who was wearing a very light t-shirt and swim trunks by the pool responded “…because that is what I have on right now in a belly band under my shorts.” With dozens of “gun guy” cops and trainers standing around he was the only one armed. The lesson, he said, is to be armed at all times, even if the choice is less than ideal or perfect. So would I recommend a .25 when other choices are available? No. Would I recommend a .25 over nothing? Yes, so long as the carrier followed the second rule of proficiency and tactical awareness and had a clear understanding exactly what it will and won’t do.
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I really appreciate your reply to my post. I think the saying “any gun will do if you will do” best sums up this article. Again thanks for the response.