re: Handgun - Knockdown Power vs Concealment

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Kreg Jennings

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Go read established research and formulate your own opinions. Each caliber has benefits. The notion that a handgun has "knockdown" or "stopping" power is unrealistic. Experts will tell you that a handgun is a deterrent and buys you time to get to your shotgun/rifle.

Handguns are like drills. In order for a handgun to be effective at stopping a threat, you have to put be accurate enough to hit a vital organ/spine. If you fail to do that, then the idea should be maximum blood loss. The best way to do that is with as many rounds in as tight of a group as possible.

Now, if you look at the size hole from a 9mm to a .45, you'd have a dime fitting within a nickle. The real noticeable difference here is the loss of 2-4 extra rounds of ammo in the magazine with the larger caliber. In a life or death situation, your heart will be pumping and the adrenaline dump will be significant. You're going to really want 3 extra rounds when your slide locks back and you've hit everything but the bad guy.

I like the 9mm a whole lot because in today's world, the benefits of a bigger round just isn't what it use to be.