What is the most effective self-defense caliber?

9mm
The Best Personal Protection Cartridge Is… Drum roll please… the best self-defense caliber is the 9mm hollow-point round.

Does caliber matter for self-defense?

Stopping a Threat: Psychological? According to the FBI, the ugly truth about handgun caliber is that it doesn’t really matter when it comes to stopping a threat. No commonly used defensive handgun round has the power to produce an immediate cessation of hostile action unless you interrupt the central nervous system.

What is the best rifle round for self-defense?

When it comes to rifles for self-defense, about any rifle cartridge can be effective when loaded with the right bullet. Given the popularity of the AR-15 platform, the . 223 Remington/5.56 NATO is the most prolific self-defense rifle cartridge.

What handgun caliber ammunition can be used for self-defense?

Modern personal defense hollow point 9mm Luger ammunition is extremely effective and also offers very little recoil in a full size 9mm handgun. Federal’s Personal Defense HST ammo with 147 grain bullets are a very popular choice in 9mm and an excellent self-defense round.

Is a heavier grain bullet better for self-defense?

Heavier grain bullets have the advantages of increased power and penetrating energy, more stability in flight over longer distances from the weight, and better expansion and penetration (e.g., better to stop the threat and more humane kills for the hunter at long range.)

Which is the best caliber for self defense?

Lastly, it’s plainly obvious that any reasonable self defense caliber, between .38 and .45 will suffice. It’s more important to actually train, and shoot your pistol than it is to have a 5% higher chance of achieving a one shot stop.

How often are guns used in self defense?

One effort to quantify the benefit of firearm ownership estimates that guns are used for self-defense in the United States as many as 2.5 million times each year. (1) The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) yields a more conservative estimate, approximately 100,000 defensive gun uses (DGU) each year. (2)

What are the factors of self defense in real life?

Much more likely is that you will be suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by a rapidly and unpredictably moving target with limited opportunities for counter attack. Poor light and unplanned obstacles are common in real-life self-defense scenarios. There is also the very real factor of life-or-death, fight-or-flight stress.

Are there any statistics on offensive gun use?

There is no information on the incidence of offensive gun use, i.e. use of guns to intimidate or threaten, especially between intimates. Kleck G, Bates D. Chapter 7. In: Armed: New Perspectives on Gun Control. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2001. Cook P, Ludwig J, Hemenway D.