I stopped debating caliber and started focusing on training

[theLegend]

I used to spend a lot of time arguing about calibers and what works best in a defensive situation. Over time I realized I was putting more effort into those debates than into actual practice. Shot placement matters far more than caliber and shot placement only improves through consistent training, that is where the focus should be.

 

[Adies Gunny]

As a young man I was a faithful follower of Skeeter, Elmer and the Colonel. I was adamant about that the caliber choice was the sole determining factor in the outcome of a defensive situation. Then I read Bill Jordan's book, "No Second Place Winner". As I read more by authors like him I came to realize a .22 short that hits does more to stop the fight than a dozen misses by a .45, .44 or .357. That lesson was further driven home after becoming a Marine. Marksmanship, with ANY and EVERY weapon, is key to winning the battle.

I have a backyard range and try to get a few rounds in each week. At the minimum I will walk out and empty my EDC each week before cleaning and reloading. I understand I am in a somewhat unique position to be able to do that. Not everyone has a range that accessible. No matter what your situation is practice should be your chief concern with caliber choice being secondary or even tertiary.

 

[target hit]

I used to spend hours online, just arguing about 9mm versus .45. Then I realized I was actually just avoiding the range. It finally clicked that shot placement beats any caliber debate, every single time.

 

[Kane]

I used to spend a lot of time arguing about calibers and what works best in a defensive situation. Over time I realized I was putting more effort into those debates than into actual practice. Shot placement matters far more than caliber and shot placement only improves through consistent training, that is where the focus should be.

Yeah, arguments end at the range...training exposes what actually works when you’re not just talking about it.

 

[Kane]

As a young man I was a faithful follower of Skeeter, Elmer and the Colonel. I was adamant about that the caliber choice was the sole determining factor in the outcome of a defensive situation. Then I read Bill Jordan's book, "No Second Place Winner". As I read more by authors like him I came to realize a .22 short that hits does more to stop the fight than a dozen misses by a .45, .44 or .357. That lesson was further driven home after becoming a Marine. Marksmanship, with ANY and EVERY weapon, is key to winning the battle.

I have a backyard range and try to get a few rounds in each week. At the minimum I will walk out and empty my EDC each week before cleaning and reloading. I understand I am in a somewhat unique position to be able to do that. Not everyone has a range that accessible. No matter what your situation is practice should be your chief concern with caliber choice being secondary or even tertiary.

Yea once you see hits matter, caliber arguments stop carrying much weight.

 

[Alan]

As a young man I was a faithful follower of Skeeter, Elmer and the Colonel. I was adamant about that the caliber choice was the sole determining factor in the outcome of a defensive situation. Then I read Bill Jordan's book, "No Second Place Winner". As I read more by authors like him I came to realize a .22 short that hits does more to stop the fight than a dozen misses by a .45, .44 or .357. That lesson was further driven home after becoming a Marine. Marksmanship, with ANY and EVERY weapon, is key to winning the battle.

I have a backyard range and try to get a few rounds in each week. At the minimum I will walk out and empty my EDC each week before cleaning and reloading. I understand I am in a somewhat unique position to be able to do that. Not everyone has a range that accessible. No matter what your situation is practice should be your chief concern with caliber choice being secondary or even tertiary.

Yeah that’s the kind of perspective that only comes from actually putting rounds downrange, not just debating calibers online

 

[Adies Gunny]

https://gunsamerica.com/digest/taurus-22tuc-nra-2026/
This article BEGGED to be included in this thread! The very first line of the article centers the caliber debate exactly where it should be. "There’s an old line that gets repeated a lot in this world: “The first rule of gunfighting is… have a gun.” It is less about what you carry and more about WHEN.

 

[target hit]

https://gunsamerica.com/digest/taurus-22tuc-nra-2026/
This article BEGGED to be included in this thread! The very first line of the article centers the caliber debate exactly where it should be. "There’s an old line that gets repeated a lot in this world: “The first rule of gunfighting is… have a gun.” It is less about what you carry and more about WHEN.

At the end of the day, a carried gun matters more than any caliber debate