Beretta 93R & Tokarev TT33 full-auto.

[Fr. Frank]

Just for fun, IF you were to engage in protective firearms carry, what would be your self-defense carry firearm of choice?
My choice would probably be either:
the EAA Witness in .38 Super Auto, (4.25" barrel, 15+1 rd capacity), or
the Colt 70 series 1911 Combat Commander 4.5" barrel, 10+1 rd. capacity) in the same caliber, and which can fire +p and +P+ loadings.

Remember, these are NOT target pistols, but self-defense weapons.
My second choice would be the same weapons in .45 Auto.

According to a 1998 FBI study of actual shootings over 10 years, the .38 Super Auto cartridge has the highest one shot stop rating of any cartridge in a semi-auto handgun, and was #2 overall. (The only round with a higher one-shot stop rating is the .357 Magnum, which is only available in a revolver, and is a near virtual tie with the .38 Super.) #3 in one-shot stops was the .45 ACP, #4 the .40 S&W, and #5 the .357 Sig.

Each cartridge had to have a statistical usage of 100 incidents of thoracic shootings to be considered. (The only cartridge to have nothing but law enforcement usages in this study was the .357 Sig.)

BTW, amazingly enough, the .22 Long Rifle was #6 on the list, ahead of 9x19mm, .38 Special, .380, .32 ACP, and 10mm auto

The only cartridge to make the study (100+ uses involving thoracic penetration) and have absolutely NO one-shot stops was the .25 ACP. However, the study also commented that the average number of times a victim of a .25 ACP shooting was hit was 4 times.

JFTR, I make the assumption that the best home defense weapon is a shotgun in the hands of my wife as she protects her children. And she can really shoot!!