

ExpansionĮxpansion and/or tissue disruption is another important factor in defensive bullet performance. By technical law enforcement standards, you generally want a minimum of 12 inches and a maximum of 18 inches in calibrated ordnance gelatin (those big blocks of yellow gel firearms testers shoot into) penetration. If a round lacks penetration, the desired effect (stopping the threat) might not be achieved, especially if the attacker is wearing heavy or thick clothing. Penetration is a factor to consider when selecting a cartridge as it ensures vital organs can be reached by the fired projectile-and a threat can be effectively stopped.

It offers a large case, more powder, and heavier bullets-meaning it will generally penetrate deeper and expand better than the. 380 is certainly not equal to the 9mm in overall performance. While sharing virtually the same bullet diameter as the famed 9mm round, the. The most common concealed-carry pistol cartridges are the 9mm and. In just the past several years, gun manufacturers have introduced numerous sub-compact and micro-compact pistols that are convenient to carry, easy to shoot accurately, and that have great ammunition capacity. Today’s semi-automatic pistols are very reliable, and contemporary bullet designs make compact and micro-compact pistols extremely effective. In my opinion, semi-automatic pistols are best, because they have higher capacity magazines (which you can’t get with a revolver), decreased felt recoil and muzzle flip, and overall increased shootability. One of the obvious advantages of carrying a smaller-caliber handgun is it will better integrate into your daily life (you can comfortably carry a pistol with the right holster or in your purse). Snow runs a micro 9mm pistol at the range. Why Choose a Small Handgun? OL Shooting Editor John B. 380 vs 9mm, let’s talk about the benefits of buying a handgun for concealed carry in either 9mm Luger or. Still, there are a variety of options to choose from. Keep in mind that firearms and ammunition supplies are still limited depending on where you live, so you may not be able to purchase the exact gun or load you want, right when you want it. This won’t be a comprehensive dive into ballistics, but it will help those of you still weighing your options and seeking to make an educated decision before buying a self-defense handgun. In this story, I’ll shed some light on how the two cartridges compare. For those folks searching for a handgun for personal protection, and specifically concealed carry, the classic debate of. But with so many cartridges and guns to choose from, it can be daunting to make a well-informed decision.

And most of these new gun owners are buying handguns. have considered buying or have bought their first gun. In the last few years, many folks across the U.S. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
