Here's some questions to see what's popular these days
1) Revolver or Semi-auto pistol ?
2) 357 or 44 ?
3) 9mm, 40cal or 45 ?
4) Bolt action or lever action rifle ?
5) Pump or semi-auto shotgun ?
1) When formal wear is necessary glock 36-45acp. Otherwise, taurus model 85 5 shot loaded with 110hp's or taurus 5 shot 4inch 44 mag.
2) 44 mag with FRAGILE 180grn hp's at HIGH VELOCITY!
3) 9mm if high high velocity frangible or hp ammo is available, Otherwise 45acp with hydrashocks or 185grn+p Remington golden sabers
4) under 100 yards, lever action in 44mag, 30-30 or 45-70 with open or peep sights. Over 100 yards-bolt action peeps or scope
5) Mossberg 590 or Remington 870 in Life or Death... Purely based on experience. 00 or 000 with 2 3/4 cylinder bore or patternmaster full choke
depending on location of fight.
Could possibly substitute ak based 12ga or Benelli/Beretta/HK 12Ga in a pinch, maybe properly kitted mossberg 930?
BTW defensive pistolcraft by definition almost certainly means 21 feet... 7 yards! Try claiming self defense beyond 21 feet! Good Luck! I suggest
consulting Massad Ayoob!
Claiming that any modern hp from 327 fed on up won't cleanly kill in 21 feet is problematic. Actual shootings show how well modern hp's work
since the hydra shock changed the game 20+ years ago! There is a reason we call it a gun fight you are going to shoot more than once regardless
of caliber and keep shooting until the assailant CAN'T!
ANY modern hp in 327fed, 380acp, 9mm mak, 38spl, 9mm, 40sw, 45acp, 357sig, 357mag, 10mm, 41mag, 44mag will ABSOLUTELY finish the
fight at least 85%-93% of the time with 1 shot! That goes up to 97%-99% of the time with a centermass double tap!
IF the centermass is not slowing down the bad guy fast enough for you then man up and make the headshot! Or carry a 12 gauge or 5.56 with
3000fps 40 grain frangible hp's. Those are the only true 99.9% 1 shot stops!
It is all about:
1. How fast you can accurately place that FIRST shot. (AND put a second one close by!)
2. How quickly the assailants blood pressure drops. (DIRECTLY related to temporary/permanent soft tissue disruption/destruction creating shock)
3. Have you disrupted the assailants will to live? Sometimes the head shot is the only option to cease hostilities.