Which Caliber is the Best for Self-Defense
The first answer is a bit over used. "The one you have with you." While this is obvious it does not answer the question of which caliber or gun you should use WHEN YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF WHAT TO CARRY/USE. The answer to this question is not as easy to give. First you need to be able to handle the firearm competently for multiple shots. This means that you must prepare and practice for more than one shot at a time. Are you strong enough to handle the recoil of a larger caliber and get back on target quickly? We can all handle the recoil of a .22 but does it have enough meaningful stopping power? Don't be embarrassed if you can't handle the recoil of a large round. Many in the FBI could not. (Look up the history of 10MM and .40 S&W) Next you need to understand that if you shoot a firearm in an enclosed environment, like your home, you are going to experience hearing injury.According to the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association, "Firearms Are Loud." While this should be obvious to all shooters, it may not be. "Exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. " Anything over 120 dB can be injurious. A jet take-off from 25 yards away could be as loud as 150 dB. From 100 yards it is about 100 dB. Where does the noise come from? Primarily two sources, the gases escaping when the bullet is shot, and the sound of a sonic boom as the bullet leaves the barrel. You can reduce the chances of hearing damage by using sub-sonic ammunition. This also reduces the possibility or over penetration in a shooting. It is possible, and even probable, that a bullet will penetrate multiple walls.
While this meme is amusing there is a lot of truth to it. Finally you need to educate yourself on how a bullet is designed. Bullets are designed to have specific performance characteristics. What this means is that every bullet is designed to be used in a certain situation, with a certain barrel length, and a certain velocity. Using the correct ammunition designed for a gun like yours, is an important decision that is often overlooked but needs to be addressed.
