How to Choose the Best Concealed Carry Caliber for You
While there is no caliber out there that is guaranteed to take a perpetrator down with a single shot, there are definitely some calibers that are more effective than others. LAX Firing Range is a Long Beach shooting range that offers individual shooting lanes, gun rentals, affordable ammunition and much more. We bring you the story: How to Choose the Best Concealed Carry Caliber for You.
No matter which caliber you choose, there is always going to be a trade-off, whether it’s in recoil, magazine capacity and ease of carry with the gun size. There’s a common misconception that anything under .40 is a waste of time, but there’s really little to no evidence suggesting that bigger calibers are more effective at stopping bad guys.
Unless you hit the brain stem or spine, handguns stop aggressors by way of blood loss. Bigger, more powerful calibers can achieve this because larger wounds mean a better chance of hitting organs or major arteries within the body.
It’s a pretty good rule of thumb that 9mm and .38 Special should be the smallest caliber to use if you’re trying to put an aggressor down. The .45 ACP has a reputation as a one-shot stopper and most experienced shooters can easily handle the recoil with a minimum adverse effect on the person firing the gun.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a caliber that you are familiar shooting with. For example, if your 9mm pistol is your go-to choice, it’s best to use that as your self-defense weapon because you have the best chance of hitting your target with a gun you are comfortable and confident with.
Long Beach Shooting Range
LAX Firing Range is a top-rated Long Beach shooting range. They offer a one-stop shop for all things ammo and guns with their on-site Pro Shop. For more information, visit their website or call (310) 568–1515. Visit them at the range, located at 927 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood CA, 90301.