Best pistol caliber?

[Parker Schreiber]

the op's meme doesn't help me answer the question at all

Nor will any other meme, serious response or anything in between. Not only do people come in a variety of shapes and sizes, their personal threat assessments differ, as does simple personal preference.

What’s “right” for me may not be what’s right for you and that’s okay. But in 2025, I’m not sure that .25 ACP, .32 ACP or .30 Stupid Carry is right for anyone.

 

[Agnotology]

Nor will any other meme, serious response or anything in between. Not only do people come in a variety of shapes and sizes, their personal threat assessments differ, as does simple personal preference.

What’s “right” for me may not be what’s right for you and that’s okay. But in 2025, I’m not sure that .25 ACP, .32 ACP or .30 Stupid Carry is right for anyone.

My Dream .30 Carry, no super needed.

 

[Parker Schreiber]

My Dream .30 Carry, no super needed.

View attachment 954814

If you like to carry a single-action pistol with a 7” barrel, questionable metallurgy, questionable build quality, and which wastes a bunch of energy in an 18” plume of fire and smoke while simultaneously temporarily deafening and blinding you, the Automag III fits the bill.

Personally? I think it’s best kept as a dream.

 

[Agnotology]

If you like to carry a single-action pistol with a 7” barrel, questionable metallurgy, questionable build quality, and which wastes a bunch of energy in an 18” plume of fire and smoke while simultaneously temporarily deafening and blinding you, the Automag III fits the bill.

Personally? I think it’s best kept as a dream.

It's why it's a dream, not reality =D. But dude imagine having a flashbang that also smokes the guy. He can meet his maker while literally seeing the light.

But yes, and yes. Although I also still have a Desert Eagle in .50 AE or .44 Mag on that list too.

Dreams shouldn't always be practical.

 

[not new guy]

There is no doubt in my mind that the .40 S&W is superior to the 9MM in every metric.

Capacity?

 

[Agnotology]

Capacity?

in MA?

 

[Golddiggie]

Capacity?

Yeah, not to mention there are plenty of double stack pistols in 45ACP with close to the same capacity as those in 9MM these days. You can also get 1911/2011 pistols in 9millie easily. I'd rather have a 2011/1911DS than a striker fired POS.

If you're locked into the PRM for magazine capacity (for post 1994 firearms) then you're boned anyways. Or locked into no more than 10 in the mag. At that point, it doesn't really matter as much.

 

[not new guy]

in MA?

I didn't think we were only talking about calibers that are best for non-LE people carrying in MA only.

 

[Agnotology]

I didn't think we were only talking about calibers that are best for non-LE people carrying in MA only.

It's just another qualifier when having these discussions, caveats to caveats to caveats.