[GonzoGOP]

I thought that the 9mm is a complete waste as a self-defense weapon — at least that’s what I have been told by the .40 bots and .45 bots.

Here are some stats calculated by the Buckeye Firearms Association based on actual shooting incidents, not range plinking and advertising.

Caliber / Prob kill* / prob of 1 shot incapacity
.22 long / 34% / 31%
.380 ACP / 29% / 44%
9mm / 24% / 34%
.357 Mag / 34% / 44%
.45 ACP / 29% / 45%
.44 Mag / 26% / 59%
7.62 x 51 & .308 / 68% / 58%


So unless you are using a .44 Mag or an M-14 statistics say you are going to need a double tap. And even with those you are going to need a second round more than 40% of the time.

BTW the reason for the high lethality (tied for highest of all pistol rounds) for the .22 long was that it was easy to get off multiple aimed rounds. IOW you just Swiss cheese they guy.

* May include multiple shots.

[Labyrinthos]

Here are some stats calculated by the Buckeye Firearms Association based on actual shooting incidents, not range plinking and advertising.

I've seen these stats before. The problem with using actual field results is that not every caliber was fired from the same distance using an identical weapon that placed the shot in the exact same location on perps that were dressed exactly alike. For example, how many of the 9mm incidents involved ball ammo as opposed to hollow point +p ammo? How many of the .357 incidents involved a an uncontrollable featherlight revolver as opposed to a more controllable heavyweight revolver like the S&W 686 or Ruger GP 100 or even a light-heavyweight like the Ruger SP 101?