What is the best handgun caliber for general self defense?

The 9mm offers greater magazine capacity than virtually any other pistol caliber carried for personal defense. If the wounding capabilities of 9mm and the other cartridges are nearly identical, it would seem to be that having more rounds in you magazine will give you a better opportunity to stop an attacker.

Is a .38 special good for self defense?

With modern, jacketed hollow point ammunition, the . 38 Special is an adequate round for self defense. If standard pressure loadings aren’t sufficient, there’s +P. The caliber’s biggest limitation is the guns that chamber it.

Is a 38 special more powerful than a 380?

38 special is more powerful than 380 if you are referring to a per bullet power. Especially once you start using +p loads. However, typically a 38 special is going to be a 5 shot revolver, and almost never more than 6 shots.

What caliber pistol has the best stopping power?

So, the answer is simple, right? Everyone should buy a magnum-powered handgun in . 357 or larger caliber and feel completely secure that he or she has the best stopping power.

Is a .22 good for self-defense?

22 LR and is a much better self-defense round. This is the best rimfire route to take for self-defense. It still has the reliability issues of rimfire ammo, but it’s a significant step up from .

What is the best self-defense ammo for 38 special?

Best 38 Special Ammo for Self Defense

• Federal +P HST Micro 130 Grain Ammo.
• Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 Grain +P Ammo.
• Winchester PDX1 Defender 130 Grain Ammo.
• Federal Hydra-Shok 110 Grain Low Recoil.

What is the difference between a 38 and 38 Special?

There’s no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .

Is 38 Special a good carry gun?

Some people like the old way of doing things, and for just such a person . 38 Special revolvers are a great option of concealed carry gun. 38 Special guns that are good for concealed carry revolvers and other uses, including target shooting, home defense and so on.

What handgun caliber has the most one shot stops?

Revolver Street Results The . 357, on the other hand, has many data points. Marshall’s 2004 update shows this cartridge is an excellent round with 86 – 91\% one shot stops for the best loads. Same as the 9mm.

What is the best 357 ammo for self defense?

Best.357 Magnum Defensive Ammo The Remington HTP.357 Magnum 110 Grain SJHP is an excellent self-defense round. It shoots a 110 Grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1295 fps. This bullet has excellent high terminal performance, ensuring maximum effectiveness with proper shot placement

What is the best caliber for a self defense handgun?

The 9mm Luger cartridge is the best caliber for self defense handgun in most cases. A huge number of military and law enforcement groups use it, and it makes up a huge proportion of pistol sales to civilians. It’s light and has minimal recoil, but its effectiveness at stopping attackers is comparable to that of much heavier cartridges.

Is the 38 Special a good revolver to buy?

The .38 Special is one of the most common calibers used in revolvers. So you’ll have a wide selection of guns to choose from. And, if you’re on a budget and set on a revolver, the .38 Special is a no brainer, as there are some fantastic options on the table.

What is the difference between a 38 Special and 357 Magnum?

Both of these revolvers have the same bullet diameter of .357 inch but the .357 Magnum has a slightly longer case. Why does that matter? Well, as long as you are using .38 Special ammo you can fire it safely in any .357 Magnum revolver.