Standardization: Cartridges

The gun world is constantly hearing the arguments for the latest and greatest handgun cartridge.  Most people who fall in the "light and fast" category espouse the 9mm as their handgun catridge of choice and the .223 as the favored rifle round.  Those who prefer the "big and heavy" theory place their bets on the .45 and .308 rounds.  I will not bore my readers with the complex mathematical arguments about stopping power.  9mm handguns are easier to shoot and carry more rounds.  .45's hit the target with more authority and have a better overall track record.  These statements have echoed from gun books and internet boards for years.  The same arguments can be applied to the .223 and .308 cartridges. 

I am going to take a rather unusual stance on this topic, but it is one that I believe is grounded in solid logic.  You should carry the most powerful round you can shoot well with.  Now this doesn't mean that you should carry or trust your life to a .22 rimfire, simply because that is the round that you shoot best.  For me, the acceptable level of markmanship is being able to get reliable hits on a man sized target at 25 yards for a handgun and 100 yards for an open-sighted rifle.  I personally can achieve that handgun goal with a full-sized .45 ACP handgun.  I know some people who must use a lighter-shooting 9mm to be able to hit that target.  For me, therefore, it makes sense to carry a .45, while for others, a 9mm or even a .380 could be a better choice.

I am a somewhat small-boned person, so I cannot reliably make hits with the often heavy .308 rifles.  On the other hand, I can perform quite satisfactorily with a light .223, such as the Bushmaster M4-C15.  Choosing to carry a gun of a lower power than you have the ability to handle is a personal choice, one that I can respect.  However, carrying a gun more powerful than you can handle is without excuse.  I know one person, who carries a .357 Mag Smith and Wesson Scandium Airwieght J-frame, because it is the "smallest, most powerful handgun made".   This person cannot hit a man sized target at the range of 10 feet with this gun more than 1 time in 5.  On the other hand, I know one accomplished shooter who sometimes chooses to carry a Walther P22 rimfire handgun.  I have personally witnessed him put all ten rounds from this pistol into a golf-ball sized area at 50 yards.  That, I can respect.

Parting Thoughts:  The caliber of the guns you fire should be determined by what you can shoot well.  Do not fall into the trap of merely carrying a bigger gun because it is more powerful.  Only hits count in hunting, target shooting, and especially in self-defense.  A person who knows how to shoot thier .22 well will win the fight against a person packing a .50 Desert Eagle.

Keep Your Powder Dry!

News Flash: Spyderco Endura

Sorry about the delay in posting, I was taken with an unenviably nasty cold over the past weeks.  However, on the bright side, I recently recieved a Spyderco Endura 4 for my birthday.  I have not had it long enought to post a review, but from my limited experiance I think it will replace my Griptilian as my everyday primary knife.  It is not only larger, but thiner and lighter, with a shaving sharp edge on it.  However, I think I will still use the Griptilian as a going into town knife, due to its stronger lock and superior blade style for fighting. 
Keep your powder dry!