5 Best Pistol Calibers

Pistols come in a plethora of calibers, and choosing the right one can be a headache. In a life or death situation, you want a pistol that is powerful enough to subdue your attacker, but also small enough that you can handle it accurately. You will probably be panicking and not have much time to line up a shot with the best accuracy. A caliber with relatively low recoil, but enough punch to get the job done is the best choice. I've made a list of the five best caliber choices:

* 9X19 Parabellum (AKA. 9MM): The 9MM cartridge is probably the most well known and widely used of all pistol rounds. The recoil is light, but it also packs enough punch to get the job done. Its small size makes it possible for you to carry a lot of ammunition (sometimes 18 rounds in a magazine), and still have a pistol small enough for concealment. The ammunition is abundant and cheap, and the 9MM makes a great choice for self defense.

* .45 ACP: The .45 ACP round is big, packs a lot of punch, and can generate a lot of recoil in a small pistol. John Moses Browning designed it for his famous 1911 pistol, and the United States still uses it to this day. The .45 ACP is a big bullet, and as a result generates a lot more recoil than the 9MM. It has plenty of power behind it, and it will neutralize any attacker.

* .40 S&W: The .40 round was designed to bridge the gap between the 9MM and the .45 ACP. Police were constantly debating on which to use in their service pistols, and in the 1980's Smith & Wesson and Winchester designed it for use in the Glock pistol. Police departments around the world have adopted this round, and it is another great choice for self defense. It is small enough that the recoil is manageable, but has more power than the 9MM.

* 9X18 Makarov: The Makarov cartridge is the standard issue Russian caliber. It can be compared to the 9X19 Parabellum cartridge, and is basically the eastern bloc equivalent. It is ballistically inferior to the 9MM cartridge however. The advantage to the Makarov round is that there are a lot of bargain priced handguns on the market that fire it. You can purchase a well made CZ-82 pistol from your local pawnshop for as little as $180. The ammunition is plentiful and cheap, and it will definitely protect you.

* .38 Smith & Wesson Special: The .38 Special is the most common revolver round available. It was standard issue in police departments until the .40 S&W replaced it in the 1990's. The .38 Special has relatively low recoil and packs enough punch to neutralize any attacker. Tiny, snub-nosed revolvers are chambered in .38 Special and can easily be concealed. If you prefer the reliability of a revolver over a semi-automatic, I would definitely choose the .38 Special. Also, ammunition is extremely cheap and can be reloaded for just pennies.

There you have it, the five best self defense pistol calibers on the market. Every caliber has its advantages and disadvantages. I recommend you visit your local gun range and test out each of the calibers before making a decision on which one is best for you. They will all do a fine job of protecting you in a dangerous situation; it comes down to a matter of preference.