The pendulum swings. What’s after 9mm?

[Tokarev]

The .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and 9 mm P-'08, and .45 ACP have held up well these last 114 to 122 or so Years.

As has .38 Special these last 124 years...

Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.

[Ithaca Gunner]

All personal likes/dislikes aside, they're probably going to stay with a 9mm size handgun, regardless of actual caliber or cartridge. Who knows, it might be the .22 TCM or something similar.

[bisleyfan41]

Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.

So the 9 and 45 (let alone the others) no longer have the necessary stopping power???? Not nearly as effective?????? Um.....OK

[reddog81]

Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.

Yeah, but how much of that extra weight is extra fat? A 175# bricklayer is a more formidable opponent than 250# video game player. I'd wager the current ammo selection does a better job stopping people compared to the ammo selection and population 100 years ago.

[Tokarev]

So the 9 and 45 (let alone the others) no longer have the necessary stopping power???? Not nearly as effective?????? Um.....OK

32acp, 380acp and 38spcl had been sufficient 100 years ago. Now, they are barely adequate against a 250lb opponent on meth.

[Daekar]

32acp, 380acp and 38spcl had been sufficient 100 years ago. Now, they are barely adequate against a 250lb opponent on meth.

To be fair, even 44mag is barely adequate in that application if your criteria is an immediate stop. Those cartridges are still very capable in most circumstances.

[megasupermagnum]

32acp, 380acp and 38spcl had been sufficient 100 years ago. Now, they are barely adequate against a 250lb opponent on meth.

They are just as adequate, it's just that someone on a drug like meth or PCP doesn't feel things the same way. I'd argue a 32 acp is going to be MORE effective against such a person than a 500 S&W magnum. The only surefire way to stop them is a spine or head/neck hit. That's why a shotgun and #2 buck sits next to my bed, not a handgun.

[tazman]

Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.

Yes, the average size of people has increased and there are things like drugs in their system to consider.

By the same token, ammunition that is currently available is far better than it was back then also. The new hollow points are a far superior round than the old lead or full metal jacket bullets these guns were originally fed.
I think the better preforming ammunition has kept them just as capable as they were way back when.

[Oyeboten]

Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.

"...have held up well" was in reference to their continuous popularity since their initial debut.


I was not making any claims or comparisons about "Stopping Power".

[dverna]

Stay away from the Golden Corral, I see a lot of huge people going in those places.

[FergusonTO35]

Stay away from the Golden Corral, I see a lot of huge people going in those places.

Truer words never spoken.

[fn1889m]

One nice consequence of the initial shift to 9 mm semi autos for police departments, and among the general public, is that it put a lot of really nice Smith and Wesson revolvers into the used market at very good prices. I bought a Smith and Wesson Model 27 (5 inch!), a Model 66, and a Model 686, for about $250 apiece in the early 90s.