9mm for Self/Home Defense?

Go with a 9mm for your first gun, and go to the range and learn to shoot it. Practice till you can clear a jam, drop the mag, and reload a fresh mag, and put a round on the bull at 30ft in less than 2 seconds. I have a Sig in 9mm a Sig .40 / .357 and a 1911 in .45. Each round is its own creature, but none are more "difficult" than the other. The 9mm or .357 stay near by bedside because I am more proficient with them than the .45. I would go so far as suggest that in a choice between a .22 you could run in the dark with no malfunctions or a .45 that jammed one in ever 100 rds, to pick the .22.

In the event you are concerned about "stopping power" practice with 115 gr bullets (remmington UMC are good practice rounds) due to cost, but load up with 147 gr hollow-points (can be ordered online from midway usa). While its still not a 230 gr .45, a hot loaded 147 will better terminal ballistics than your standard hardball.

Yikes... lots of info...

1. Self and Home defense - First thing is you switch from using full metal jacket to jacketed hollow points. Hollow points leave a bigger exit wound. That's your objective, to induce as much trauma as possible.

2. Claims of knock down power are overrated. If you shoot someone, you seldom put 1 round in them. You put enough rounds in them that they stop being a threat. Additionally, drugged up people may not feel it.

3. shot placement is critical. If you miss your target, does it matter what the caliber was? Proficiency is all that matters. Whatever you shoot the most of is what you will get proficient with.

4. Loads are more of a factor of the gun. Some run better with high pressure loads or bigger grains. Some don't. Each gun will be picky about what it will do.

Since this is your first pistol, I would recommend a 9mm. The price difference in ammo will allow you to spend more time in training, which means better comfort and proficiency.. Then I would strongly recommend getting into a defensive handgun class. They will make you shoot a lot, and shoot very well. There are numerous instructors who will gladly train you.

As much as I love my Beretta 92FS, I love my S&W M&P in 9mm more. However, I love my 1911's in 45acp much more. But if I'm going to be in a pickle, I want my M&P first.15+ rounds can be an important factor.

if you're comfortable wit ha 9, then go wit ha 9. no point if you get a different larger caliber and you can't hit anything with it.

I have three kinds of defensive pistol ammo- Federal Hydrashok (current top choice for carry concealed people and the Feds) Remington Golden Saber (top choice for LE), and Hornady TAP (local SWAT likes this round). but since I haven't shot anyone yet with any of these I can't attest to which is the best.

I'm also a reloader, there is one load I make that's good for defensive situations, if for some reason the proper defensive ammo is not available. its intended use is for precision target shooting, its very accurate out of my Hi Point.

using reloads for defensive ammo is not recommended, it doesn't look very good in court, especially for those in anti-gun states like California. but if that's what you have, and you had to shoot to survive, then its better than not shooting at all.

Personally, I like the Beretta. The 92S is a reliable and easy to control pistol. They also make a version of the 92 that is intended as a concealed carry pistol. It is slightly smaller than the standard but is essentially the same gun.

I've shot both the full size and the "custom carry" competitively (I brought in better numbers with the smaller size "custom") and found them to be both accurate and reliable ( and a lot safer than a glock). Needless to say, I have a high opinion of them.

My vote goes with the Berretta...

With proper hollow points, 9mm will work fine for defense.

I'm a big fan of the .45ACP, but int he safe next to my bed I keep a Glock 19 loaded with Hornady's Critical Defense hollow points

Out of those that you listed, the 45 has the best stopping power. The first thing you need to do though is learn about firearms safety. None of them will do you any good if you can't hit your target, or worse yet, shoot yourself.

9mm is a good choice. The others are good, but the 9mms are the least expensive. Enjoy.

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I am not a firearm's expert but, 9 mm rounds are good for self defense. Bullets are bullets, it will stop anyone if you hit the right point. Smith Wesson rounds are little bit harder for me but 9 mm seems a good option.

9mm great choice