Very interesting piece here from John Farnam on the fact that police agencies at large seem to be abandoning “any other cartridge” in favor of the 9mm Luger.<\/p>\n
I have been saying, and believing, for years that there’s really no reason to go, in the arena of your primary self-defense handgun cartridge, for anything other than the 9mm. Good to see the rest of the world is catching up. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n
Here it is:<\/p>\n
2 Jan 14 “It all depends…”<\/p>\n For my first Quip of 2014, I will talk briefly about trends in serious\u00a0pistol calibers.<\/p>\n When asked about pistol calibers and guns, and which is “best,” I’m\u00a0reminded of this poetic advice given to aspiring poker players by one of my\u00a0favorite authors on the subject, John Vorhaus:<\/p>\n “Poker is a challenge, built on tendencies and trends ‘It depends'”<\/p>\n … I am just a politician After several decades of great popularity, at least among police, the\u00a040S&W is currently losing market-share, to the 9×19!<\/p>\n The 357SIG, which languished for a decade, then suddenly garnered\u00a0popularity, particularly among state troopers, is now singing what may be its\u00a0swan-song, rapidly losing ground, again to the 9×19!<\/p>\n The 45GAP, if not still-born, never really got off the ground.\u00a0 Today,\u00a0demand for 45GAP ammunition, and pistols in that caliber, is close to\u00a0 zero.<\/p>\n The 45ACP retains its popularity, against all assaults, but its cadre of\u00a0 “true-believers” diminishes slightly with each year’s passing.<\/p>\n The 380Auto, disdained by purists coast-to-coast, continues to grow in\u00a0popularity among freshmen, just now deciding to go armed.\u00a0 Are they\u00a0delusional?\u00a0 Many probably are.\u00a0 But, at least for some, there are few\u00a0other real\u00a0choices.<\/p>\n Many of my colleagues, for whom I have much respect, now advocate\u00a0\u201cstandardizing” on the 9mm (9×19).\u00a0 They are persuaded that the 9mm, with\u00a0high-performance ammunition, represents the equivalent in stopping power of\u00a0nearly any other popular, serious caliber, at least any that is commonly\u00a0carried.\u00a0Their logic is difficult to dispute!<\/p>\n Texas State Police (DPS), after pioneering the 357SIG, and issuing SIG\u00a0pistols chambered for that round to its troopers for many years, is now going\u00a0to\u00a0 the 9mm!\u00a0 Reasons cited are comfort, less wear-and-tear on guns, and cost\u00a0of ammunition.\u00a0 Other states may follow.<\/p>\n “Trends” are fickle and unpredictable.\u00a0 Logic and facts often play\u00a0only minor roles.\u00a0 As in art, one dies of hunger, or becomes a millionaire,\u00a0for no other reason than the whim of fashion.<\/p>\n So, when asked about pistol calibers, like John Vorhaus, I usually\u00a0answer,<\/p>\n “It all depends.”<\/p>\n It depends on a person’s size, strength, size of his hands, degree of personal commitment to (or even interest in) our Art,\u00a0fiscal means,\u00a0lifestyle, likely threats, where\/how he lives, what is likely to be most\u00a0 available,\u00a0personal sensitivity to recoil, noise, concussion…and a host of\u00a0 other\u00a0factors.<\/p>\n Continuing with Vorhaus:<\/p>\n “For I can’t give affirmation And now, with no more hesitation It does indeed!\u00a0 So, make a decision, and don’t look back.\u00a0 Make\u00a0firm\u00a0plans, but don’t be too proud of them.\u00a0\u00a0 Be bold, but cautious;\u00a0courageous, but not foolish; clear, but flexible; realistic, but not\u00a0 self-indulgent.\u00a0 Don’t con your friends, and don’t con yourself.\u00a0\u00a0 Think clearly and make sound\u00a0decisions, and stop worrying about being, nor\u00a0looking, “cool”.<\/p>\n You came into this world buck-ass naked, and it is fairly certain you will\u00a0carry nothing out, including titles and status, when you leave.\u00a0 Everything\u00a0in between is just fluctuation.\u00a0 Get over it.\u00a0 Get used to it.<\/p>\n In the end, we’re all dead anyway.\u00a0 In the interim, let us audaciously take complete responsibility for our own lives and fortune.\u00a0 Let us never\u00a0give-up and never give-in, and ever go armed.<\/p>\n What caliber?<\/p>\n Take your pick… it all depends!<\/p>\n \/John S. Farnam<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Very interesting piece here from John Farnam on the fact that police agencies at large seem to be abandoning “any other cartridge” in favor of the 9mm Luger. I have been saying, and believing, for years that there’s really no reason to go, in the arena of your primary self-defense handgun cartridge, for anything other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=624"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624\/revisions\/635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/self-defense-handguns.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAnd many tough\u00a0decisions, upon which a session bends
\nSo, when I’m asked for advice, by\u00a0strangers or by friends,
\nI look them squarely in the eye and answer,<\/p>\n
\nWho, waffling, contends
\n‘It’s poker,\u00a0 folks.\u00a0 It just depends!'”<\/p>\n
\nTo your certain situation
\nWithout\u00a0better information,
\nFollowed by some cogitation,
\nAnd some subtle\u00a0calculation,
\nNot to mention computation,
\nTo the point of\u00a0constipation!<\/p>\n
\nI’ll complete your education,
\nAnd\u00a0leave you with this explanation
\nThough the argument distends,
\nIn the\u00a0end…it all depends”<\/p>\n