Daily Archives: Mar 15, 2026

"Caliber is irrelevant if you get your shot in the correct location." It's a mantra mindlessly repeated at gun stores and online. But in actual lifesaving interactions, the cartridge can decide success almost as much as firearms skill. Contemporary ballistics research, decades-long law enforcement careers, and street-tested defensive interactions...

What if the round you count on to save your life fails? In the world of high‑stakes self‑defense, caliber selection can be the difference between thwarting danger and putting yourself in danger of being hit. Though better than nothing, not every handgun cartridge provides the penetration, dependability, and shootability...

Carry a .25 if it feels good to you, but never load it. Late Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper's tongue-in-cheek counsel still resonates in discussions on defensive caliber. At the high-stakes game of self-protection, choosing the wrong caliber can be the difference between halting an attack and exposing yourself to...