ORIGINAL: jecole360
For a 9mm if I want to use it for target shooting and self defence couldn't I just use jacketed hollowpoints for self defence? Everyone seems to talk like if you shoot someone with a 9mm that they will just keep coming. I just find it hard to believe that a 9mm to the chest wouldn't put someone down. I know I don't want to get shot w/ a 9mm let alone anything else! My dad's cousin died when I was a kid by an accidental shotfrom a .22 rifle while he was coon hunting at night.
If a person was to legally shoot aperp threating their lifeusing a 9mm -and that person physically came after them AFTER being shot in the vitals -this does not mean the perp would not die later. They could harm or kill you before theywere no longer a threat to you. If you shoot a deer with a deer rifle in the vitals, it may still run for a distance before collapsing and then expire. If a person were to come after me they would have to be one of two things- either desperate and/or high on drugs. Shooting in a self defense situation is totally different than target shooting. Follow all the gun rules and regulations before and after IF you purchase a handgun. I STRONGLY suggest that you take the NRA Basic Pistol course (go the the NRA website for classes held in your area). If you know of a reputable person who is in LE that was trained well (not all are trained well but some are trained very well), ask them if they would be willing to teach you SD for a civilian situation. Other courses I would recommend are NRA Personal Safety Inside The Home and NRA Personal Safety Outside The Home. These SDcourses are not cheap; there are not that many instructors who are NRA certified for these courses (when compared to certified instructors forother NRA courses); and you will go through a lot of ammo. Don't take these NRASDcourses until you arepretty accurate in shooting - including double taps. For SD, I personallywould use +P HPin a9mm - BUT remember you need to be accurate in what you shoot (I would prefer a well placed shot with a standard pressure cartridge over a poor shot, or miss, with a +P or +P+ cartridge)- you may be better off with a standard pressure cartridge at this time for SD. I use FMJ for practice. DON'T use +P or +P+ unless your firearm is approved for their use. Do you have access or own a handgun in 22LR? If not, you may want to buy a 22LR before you buy a centerfire (work on correct shooting form and practice, practice, practice).