Re: Gun advice
JasonJ: My reasoning behind using 145 gr. hydrashock in 9mm is really due to my environment. I live in a suburban neighborhood of conventionally constructed housing. Most home defense situations yield as many misses as hits... not sure I can document that, but it certainly makes sense given the excitement of the situation while the adrenalin is flowing. While I pride myself in groupings of 6" at 100' with my Beretta, who knows how well I'll shoot a human in my home? For a miss, the hydrashock is likely to break up when it hits drywall, whereas 115 gr. FMJ is likely to go through all the walls in my house and possibly another house or two down the road. Combined with the fact that there is no clear shot in my home that can possibly be more than 20', I really don't need greater power... I am placing the members of my household and community in jeopardy if I do. Too great a risk, in my opinion. I have more powerful guns, but I don't need them given the highly unlikely event that they will be needed (if so, I can get to them pretty quickly).<br /><br />Many close friends in law enforcement have told me first hand what a 9mm can do to a human being. They have seen it. Sure it's weaker than many other firearms, but respect it's power. It will kill easily. Proof of this occurs everyday across US cities since it is the preferred caliber of gangbangers.<br /><br />I look at it this way... Law enforcement prefers .40 because it is more powerful than the 9mm. Since they are at a significantly greater risk and need firearms to perform their duties day to day, I think it's a great choice for them... but it doesn't necessarily make it the best choice for me.
JasonJ: My reasoning behind using 145 gr. hydrashock in 9mm is really due to my environment. I live in a suburban neighborhood of conventionally constructed housing. Most home defense situations yield as many misses as hits... not sure I can document that, but it certainly makes sense given the excitement of the situation while the adrenalin is flowing. While I pride myself in groupings of 6" at 100' with my Beretta, who knows how well I'll shoot a human in my home? For a miss, the hydrashock is likely to break up when it hits drywall, whereas 115 gr. FMJ is likely to go through all the walls in my house and possibly another house or two down the road. Combined with the fact that there is no clear shot in my home that can possibly be more than 20', I really don't need greater power... I am placing the members of my household and community in jeopardy if I do. Too great a risk, in my opinion. I have more powerful guns, but I don't need them given the highly unlikely event that they will be needed (if so, I can get to them pretty quickly).<br /><br />Many close friends in law enforcement have told me first hand what a 9mm can do to a human being. They have seen it. Sure it's weaker than many other firearms, but respect it's power. It will kill easily. Proof of this occurs everyday across US cities since it is the preferred caliber of gangbangers.<br /><br />I look at it this way... Law enforcement prefers .40 because it is more powerful than the 9mm. Since they are at a significantly greater risk and need firearms to perform their duties day to day, I think it's a great choice for them... but it doesn't necessarily make it the best choice for me.
<br /><br />Find a shop that will let you try them out and find out what they can do and how they feel.<br /><br />I'm guessing that if I happen to be in the area I should call before "dropping by" 
