I had posted on another thread about my belief that your age will have a certain determinng factor in which caliber you use for self defense. Im fairly certain age groups have differing views on specific calibers based on several factors that correlate to their age.

For example(just my opinion too) someone born in the 40's who grew up with the .45 being king of the semi auto defense rounds later in life sees the first widespread issuance of the 9mm in the 80's and also see the dismal performance of it(compared to today) and for the rest of their life will discount the 9mm round for self defense, while a new shooter in the world today will see that bullet technology has come along way and todays 9mm is just as effective as other self defense rounds and may not be so quick to dismiss this round in favor of another.

Obviously there area ton of other factors that people may use to pick a caliber but I think a lot of it has to do with "what you grew up with" mentality.

I know for me,being 30, I started shooting handguns when I was 8 and my father was the armorer for the PD in the city we lived in and at the time they were transitioning from their S&W revolvers to autos. They ened up choosing Sig Sauer 226/220's. I spent every other weekend with my father in the weapons locker for a few hours cleaning and repairing(replcaing springs,Sig dont break ) and to this day I still carry a Sig and up until 2 years ago I chose the 9mm for self defense....now I carry 357 Sig.


So if you would kindly just give your age and caliber selection I would like to compile the numbers and see if my theory holds any water. Also if you could say your location as well that would be great as Im going to also see if there is a correlation between the area of the country you live and caliber choice. Nothing scientific, just for fun. Thanks for your help.

I like the .45 and do carry one some of the time, but then I was a Peace Officer when .38 spl was king and still mostly carry a J frame S&W in 38. Born in 1941 the 9mm is OK I just never warmed up to it. Grew up in Northern Illinois and moved to Florida in the late 60's.

No doubt in my mind..45ACP carried it in SEA instead of a 38..I'm 62 and have all the confidence that should the need ever arise to use it..well you know the rest...

There is a lot to what you're saying. The .45 was the predominant military handgun round in the old days and even people who weren't in the military see it as the ultimate. This is somewhat negated by the fact that as we age, arthritus and other stuff takes a toll to the point that some want want less recoil.

I mean no offense to our older posters when I say this next. It is a fact that more and more of our populace is college educated with each passing year. Older shooters seem to not be as cognizant of hard data than younger ones who may have more education-not to say they're more intelligent.

Ahhh..calling us Gezzers are you!!!

This is what got me started on this quest for the answer.

This is why I figured I would see the drop from .45 to maybe 9mm or even .380 in the 65+ plus age range.

I knew there would be other factors involved. I posted this on a couple different sites, some hunting, some combat related even a jeep site. I knew that dependng on the site I would get certain groups of shooters from dedicated to recreational. On combat pistol related sites the choices are all over the board because regardless of age the majority of the people on those sites also do subsequent and continued research into caliber proficiency and are "shooters" as opposed to the Jeep site where so far all the responses were what I expected as they dont shoot regularly so they shoot what they grew up with or was recommended by the "experts".

I didnt include the .357/38 as I figured a lot of old timers wopuld prefer that over the .45 as they probably had more trigger time with those calibers over the years than the .45 but wanted to keep it to autos only, as the big 3 also came into the market at certain time periods that can easily correlate to a certain age group.

I'll post the results later this week by site and as a whole and you will be able to see the difference in opinion based on how much firearms play a role in peoples lives.

This is a very interesting trek you're on..hope you keep us informed on the findings...In reference to the 45 I think it has come full circle,many law enforcement agencies out here and officers have gone down the road of 357/9mm and 40's but are slowly coming back to the ole 45..would like to see some hard data on those assumptions nationwide also!!

Just as a general statement......I know that a lot of people who I determined in advance (the older aged) would pick a .45 based on age may have decided on the .45 for other reasons be it experience or data or whatever. Humor me anyways.

I choose a caliber that I feel gives me the best capcity/accuracy/shootability/performance.....while it may not be king in one area, its the overall winner based on the platforms I shoot. If that puts me in my predetermined age group vs caliber, its by coincidense and I know for some of you this will also be the case.

33 years old. .40 S&W.

Grew up in northern IL but now reside in MT.


Travis

I am 50. For a long time all I had was a 357 Mag revolver, and felt adequately armed with it. In 1989 I bought a 1911A1 45 ACP, and still think the 45 rocks for defense. That being said, I now use, depending on what I am doing, anything from 38 special to 45 ACP, including 9mm, 357 mag and 40 S&W. When I carry concealed, it's usually 38 special or 357 mag J frames. When I carry a truck gun it's usually a full size semi auto. My bed gun varies by my attitude, but lately has been a 4" k frame (model 64) with +P+ ammo...

I'm not sure posting this on a gun loony forum will get you accurate info....

Probably not, but it will confirm that avid shooters are more likely to choose by situation and use research/data to make their decision. I also posted on a few photography and jeep and other non-gun websites to balance it. Im curious to compare the data between gun and non gun sites.

Born 1958, 52 years old. Have been thru 9's, 40's and settled on the 1911 Gov Model 45 ACP for concealed carry. The 45 reigns supreme and the 40 is well capable. The 40 gets the nod now & then but not often. They're the only two I carry.

The bigger the hole the more leakage.

I'm not a 9mm fan, because I have tried them and a 45 they ain't

In my 60s and mostly carry a M36, although at various times I have carried a 1911, Keltec 380 and 4" M686 (Pachmayr Grippers). The M36 works best most of the time, for most situations.

I prefer maximum concealment and comfort, so I tend to tote whatever best fits the situation. If I had to spend time in the inner city and was wearin' enough outer garments, the 1911 would probably come along?

As for 9mm pistols, have only one: A WWII bring back P38. Even have the officer's shoulder rig that came with it, but I can't use it. Der Ober-whatever must've been about the size of Little Jimmy Dickens?

I don't think any of those statements apply to me. While true I do CC a Glock 39 in .45 GAP, it is more because I won the gun in a banquet drawing. I'm just as likely to pick up the Glock 29SF in 10mm just because it's there, or the .32 Berreta Tomcat, or the .380 Ruger LCP or the .38 Ruger LCR. If I am holding a garage sale, I may put on the sholder holster with a Colt Gov. Model in 45 ACP (tends to discourage the undocumented aliens from unloading a car full of kids to steal you blind.) or a S&W Highway Patrolman in .357 Mag.

I think my "choice" is based more on a love of my guns than any other factor, and I see them more as works of mechanical art than just a tool. Maybe that's the difference. Oh yeah, I'm about 56 or so.

I'm 63 and wear a .44 Special revolver for carry and for bedside.

But being an educated gun geezer has its effect: I have a 9mm here at my keyboard, a .357 near the front door and a Makarov next to my driver's seat. Two revolvers and two semi-autos in diverse chamberings. Hmmmm.


Added: I would cognitively agree with your premise about age and guns, but also agree that this board is a very skewed sample source.

Not sure your theory works with me. My age is 49 and the calibers I carry for CCW range from .38 Special/9mm to .45 ACP (with really nothing filling the gap). Can you tell anything from that? I have a .32 ACP pocket pistol, but only occasionally carry it anymore, and then only as a backup to my main carry. Same goes for my little NAA .22 lr mini revolver.

My theory wont work with a lot of people, especially within the active shooting community.

42 years old. .45ACP.

Might be something to your theory about age/firearm relationships. I'm 107 and carry a Colt's Dragoon...


Okay, I'm really 58. Carry is determined by convenience and the thought that having a mouse gun on me is better than a .45 back home, so carry a Kel-Tec .32 ACP. Realizing that it's main function will be to hopefully make enough of a distraction to give me a chance to run away.

.45 ACP is still King of the Hill in my heart. Recoil of handguns is not yet a factor to someone who has shot .44 Magnums and hot .45 Colts for 30 years, so a .45 ACP in a full size 1911 is what I'd call low to medium recoil impulse.

But the other thing age does is provide experience which (sometimes) increases wisdom, so my mind understands that the three most important things in stopping power are:
1 - Placement
2 - Placement
2 1/2 - Placement
3 - caliber and terminal effect.

More and more I'm thinking a good 9mm with proven ammo would work just fine.

Well, I was born in 1947, and love the 9mm. Have several, and use a 9mm as primary carry gun.

Jim in Idaho has it about right: Placement is paramount.

I know lacement is key which is why I chose the 9mm for mny years over bigger or more powerful calibers, However, the topic this time around is simple and not really geared towards "whats more important when selecting a caliber" Im just curious as to what everyones final caliber choice is, not really how they came to the decision to carry it......though that might be my next topic of study.

Placement is indeed paramount and a well placed 45 is never a bad thing

Placement is why when I carry a .45 it's always a full sized, all steel, Government Model, not a lightweight or a shorty. I can shoot that gun just fine right out of the holster without any warm up range time. If I want something lighter weight, I go with an all-steel K (FBI pattern) or D (Detective Special) Frame .38, or at lightest a standard sized Kahr P-9.

Don't even much like the J-Frame .38s, even in all-steel, for shooting, so don't carry them, even though I have a few mainly as collector pieces because I just think they're cool guns. Hate shooting a J-Frame .38, though, so won't carry one. Hard to maintain a constant grip from shot to shot with them, even with over-sized grips.

I am 46 and I carry a 9mm, not because I prefer the cartridge but because the pistol I have it in is small enough that goes with me.

I have a full size 9mm (sr9) and full size 45 (colt government 5" steel) which I rarely carry. Its hard to know which I feel more confidant in, the 8 rds of 45 or the 17 of 9mm. I shoot the 45 slightly better.

If I knew I was going to a gunfight, First, I would stay home and if that is not an option I would take my AR, If I had to go with a pistol. I guess it would the 45.

Im sure the gun/platform you use may also affect your caliber decision to some degree. I might be more inclined to carry .45 if Sig had a 220 that was a double stack or if it just held more rounds. I like the the Sig P series and have been shooting it forever so even if .45 was my first choice I would select a different caliber to stay with a familiar platform.

Another example might be someone who is 100 confident with a 9mm Hi power wanting something a little more than a 9 but refuses to give up the familiarity of the hi power platform until the .40 hi powers came out, then he would be more likely to change calibers. So while a .45 might be my first choice if I shot HK's, its not because I shoot Sigs.

47 yrs, 45 acp all the way
Gunner

OK, now that I got the premise. If push came to shove I would take a 45, if open carry was an option it would be a Government model 1911 45. But as I said in the beginning I am comfortable with the .38 spl due to years of carry as that was the only option for us. The 9mm never gave me the warm fuzzies.

I'm 64. Started with 9mm but now I am a 45XD fanatic. They fit really well in a Crossbred holster. Load it with Corbon DPX's and you are ready for any occasion!! Also carry a 642 Smith with DPX's.

Well first confession is being a gun looney so I carry a lot of different things but primarily:

Duty and Off Duty is 40 S&W in Glock 22. Reasoning is it has good energy, frontal diameter and magazine capacity.

Ruger Security Six/Smith K Frames in .38 / .357's are regularly carried and used as house guns. House guns are same grips, 4 inch barrels, sights so that no matter which one is grabbed they all feel the same to me and my wife. The wife loves revolvers; both single action and double action and hates semi's. So everything is set up with her in mind.

When woods bumming it's generally the above revolvers or a single action Blackhawk in .45 colt or 44 special.

Oh, I am 34 years old, been carrying since I was 10 and live in Colorado.

I'm 48 years old. I live in southern Oklahoma. I pack a Beretta 92FS now in 9mm. I was carrying a Government .45 up until a few months ago. I have a great deal of confidence in the 9mm for self defense. I believe it can handle anything that will fit through my front door. I had confidence in the .45 too, but I like the 15 round magazine capacity of the Beretta. I have a tendency to rip them off kind of fast and the .45 ran dry in about two heartbeats. My idea of the perfect defense pistol is a Government model in .38 Super, but I don't own one now. I'm comfortable too with a single action revolver. I like the .44 Special, but I shot IPSC matches for five years and the autopistol feels like an extention of my hand. Either hand. I grew up prejudice of the 9mm, mostly because of critical feedback from guys like Jeff Cooper. I'm seeing a whole different picture now.

I'm 60. My first centerfire pistol was a 45 ACP Colt, still have it and it's my favorite. My primary carry piece however is a Smith & Wesson 3913 in 9MM. I am at an age where I prefer moderation in all things.

If a Glock is the basis for your wife deciding she hates auto pistols, why don't you have her try a nice 1911 pattern semi-auto. She might totally change her mind. Not that there's any problem in preferring a nice revolver.

i did not read entire thread yet but will later.I believe you are basically right with some exceptions out there.Me i'm 37 currently and i started shooting at a very young age of 2 with dad holding gun and me pulling trigger basically.my dad was born in 34 and went through korean war where he got shot to hell and he always wanted a 45.so when i was at age to get my permit i bought a colt 45 gov't model which i carried alot when out and about but when in woods or around farm you always found the old ruger security six 357 mag that i was brought up with.

Now i still mix it up with the 45 and 357 but i'm lucky enough to own others and the 10mm goes out as does the 475 linebaugh during hunting months.I own a 9mm but never felt it is enough to me.And while not knocking the 40 in anyway i did own one it never was right for me

I'm 28, and my pick is the 45 ACP in a 1911, either 5" steel or 4.25" lightweight Commander.

Part of my choice is ergonomics: the 1911 just fits my hand better than any other automatic pistol I've shot.

The bigger part of my choice is nostalgia: I like guns made from metal with manual safties and exposed hammers. I appreciate that polymer pistols are excellent tools, but I have the luxury of not having to view my pistols as simply tools.

That's part of my thinking too.

I'm 43. 38 special for daily carry. .45 ACP for home or truck, full size 1911 or XD service.

I am an Ol Fart like some others here and have 38 SPLs and 44 Mags lying round for house duty and carry a 44 SPL for social engagement purposes.

IF I were to carry all the time I would think it is hard to beat a round that mimics the most effective law enforcement loading and comes stacked something like 14 high now. Yep, If I carried all the time it would be something in 357 Sig.

58 yr old geezer
and what I wear depends on what I'm wearing.
The hotter and less clothes the smaller the piece.

Smallest = .38 1" snubbed Ruby
Next.. Walther PK.380

favorite ? Glock G 20

most useful 12 ga pump Mossberg 500 riot

The only two times I ever had to pull on a man:
12 ga pump ( J. C Higgins full size with a poly choke, in a gas station office )

and a Browning HiPower ( 9mm ) point blank fight.

Summer carry is an Iver Johnson Pony .380
Winter carry is a 1911. I'm 55.
I just don't like the feel of plastic, and haven't found any double stack that feels right with the exception of a Browning HiPower.

54, eastern NC, carry Glock M23 in 40 S&W, House guns M1911 45 acp and two N Frame Smiths, .41 Mag & .44 Mag. All have adequate "knock down" power. I own a 9mm, but don't use it as a self defense weapon (I would if that's what I had available).

I'm soon to be 58. Live in western Oregon.

Have a Kimber 5" aluminum frame .45 that I pack a lot.

Also, have a ruptured disc in my back and lately have been packing a Kahr P9.

It's more comfortable to pack when my back "flares" up, and I can "hit" fast and well with it..

Have also been known to pack an LCP .380 in my shirt pocket for a backup

Virgil B.

Then you're not concealing it well enough.

51 yrs old, carry a 40 S&W

40 years old
45 auto (1911)
-or-
9mm (Sig P226)

58

Daily carry gun for 30 years (1980) has been a Colt Commander in .38 Super. Had carried a 1911 Government Model before that but after shooting the Super dumped all but one of my .45s....and never carry it.

My "teachers" were the writing of Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, Elmer Keith, Chuck Taylor, Jeff Cooper....each liked a different style of gun. I started off with a S&W Model 19 4" (1970), went to a Model 29 6.5" (1973), before starting to carry the 1911 a lot... After shooting the Commander in .38 Super rarely do I carry anything else...

One problem you may find here is that most of the shooters here are "shooters"..not just people who shoot. They make informed decisions on what they carry vs. just tradition...

Bob

Hawkeye, my wife bases her decision off shooting my 1911's, Glocks, Colt 1903's, Colt 1908's, Walther PP, HD-Military High Standard and Savage 1907's and 1917's. She has shot them all and doesn't like them. I like all of the above and carry the 1911 frequently, but she just likes revolvers and that is fine with me.

At 63 I prefer a LW Commander .45 except in the hot summer when it is a S&W Bodyguard in the pocket or in various holsters. In the car is a target sighted 3 inch model 60 Smith as it is accurate enough for small four footed critters and powerful enough for the two footed ones along the road.

My 43 year old wife prefers her Glock 17.

Here on the farm it is my Bowenized .44 Special Flat Top.

Fitting with your hypothesis, the wildlife agency I worked with started out with S&W model 19s then switched to S&W autos in .45ACP in the 80s. Our Commissioner at the time was a gun loony and thought the 9mm was a pipsqueak. Today they carry S&W .40s.

The one I have with me,

I'm 49, and when I carry, .357 Mag. in a titanium 5-shot.

For me it is all about weight, yet performance.

Nightstand gun is the 629 you see to the left.

I am knocking on 40 and I prefer the 45colt.I was in the military when the switch to the 9s was made,have shot alot of differnt types and calibers.My reason for choice is this,for decades the 45 was used to dispatch bad guys,hurt cattle and game for table fare.A human is still just a human,animals still just animals,and ammo and weapons have improved,so why wouldn't it be just as effective.So whether self defense or hunting the colt goes with me every where.

Mid-60's, The Caliber I usually find myself "Carrying", and feel comfortable with is the .40 S&W.

The vast majority of the time you'll find me with either a Kahr P40 or G29SF. I have a 1911 and do carry it sometimes but I'm very warm-blooded and dress like it's 90* down 'til it's closer to 40*. My preferred garb doesn't lend itself as well to a full size .45. The Kahr is a full blown 40 that can fit in my jeans pocket or, more commonly, a cargo pocket. The 29SF is a bit bulkier but still wears well even in the lighter clothing I prefer.

For the house it's not a pistol preference at all as that's where the 12ga pump lives.

I'm 54 and I carry a S&W .38+P, 5 shot titanium revolver. Strictly a close range "save your life" type of weapon. It's very light and easy to conceal.

I'm 62 and lean toward the .45 ACP. It works without making a pipe bomb out of your pistol. That said, I'm happy carrying a 9mm, 10mm, .357 mag, .41 mag, .44 mag, sometimes a .38 Special or even a 9mm Mak. I'm happy just to carry any pistol I can shoot reasonably well. I try not to over think the whole thing.

.45 Cal... and i am 56.

But I like the 480 too... just too big to hide on my person

I'm 41. The gun I'm most likely to be carrying is a .40 S&W. I have a second .40 as a nightstand gun. Occasionally I'll carry a revolver and then it's almost certain to be a .357. Giving 2 answers is a bit convoluted, so you should probably just put me down as carrying a .40.

I'm 35, and for concealed it would be a Colt Dick Special or Cobra, 38.

For the house its a 44 mag, 45 Colt or a 38 Smith 15 or Colt OMM.
Depends what part of the house....

I'm 40

Use these calibers

.44 mag
.45 ACP
.357 mag
.40S&W

I am an unapologetic old phart. I eat, sleep and breathe data all week long. (I am also aware of the broad cultural confusion over the difference between knowledge, information and noise, with the latter two being commonly mistaken for knowledge and/or wisdom.) Woods crawling I carry a 1911. For concealed carry a CZ 82 in 9x18 most of the time.

Ruger vaquero 44/40 cal

.45 ACP 1911s - 42 years young.

The rest are revolvers...

warpig602,

66 years old in Oregon. I have a .40 S&W for carry that I picked up about a year ago. Last month I purchased a .380 for Sue. Neither of us have fired our pistols yet.

I don't think "what you grew up with" is a great determining factor for savvy shooters, regardless of age. I would observe that older one becomes, the more likely they are to favor light weight and max concealability. Some might call that wisdom...

Hell, I cut my teeth on handguns with a .45, but that doesn't mean I favor them for concealed carry. For that role, my preferences run towards a variety of highly concealable guns in .38 or 9 mm.

I believe the whole caliber issue is over-rated. I have never shot a person, but I have killed every animal south of Polar Bears with every type of firearm conceivable.

I watched the 2 armed bank robbers in Stockton Ca. some years ago with absolute awe at how they walked openly down a street full of armed police and shot indiscriminately with little resistance. I conclude that the police were poorly trained, and had someone that could actually fire their service weapon taken aim, the 2 bank robbers could have been dispatched much more quickly.

That said, I believe you need to know your choice of firearm more than you need caliber. Shoot your preference and shoot it well. A well placed shot will do more damage than an errant large caliber bullet whizzing off into space.

This deer was shot with an HK P-7 K3 in .380 auto. One shot one dead deer. Some say a .380 is too small to kill game, not so when you shoot them in the brain...



Same thing with a 1911 .45 auto. One shot , one dead deer. Neither had anything to do with caliber...

Interesting. Thanks. Of course in a self defense shooting situation, brain shots are not always the wisest goal. The head is almost always an erratically moving target during a shoot out, where the torso is much less so, not to mention being a larger target.

35, .45ACP, SouthEast US.

Agreed, I would be interested in your findings.

36 years old. Born / raised in northern IL - currently in MO. Caliber and platform of choice for me - .45 ACP in a 1911. I wasn't really a handgunner until the past 5-ish years. Shot some handgun prior, but not really something I focused on until then.

25 years old born in pa lived in mo for 2.5 yrs. carry a .40s&w in a glock

Warpig602: I have carried a variety of Glock pistols all in caliber 40 S&W for my personal protection as well as for professional use in the body guarding work that I do.
A Glock Model 22 in caliber 40 S&W equipped with night sights and high capacity magazines is about as fine, versatile and wonderfully reliable pistol as can be found.
I reside in SW Montana but do my body guard and robbery suppression work on the west coast. I just turned 63 years of age.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

warpig602,

I ame in a little late and did not read all the posts. Have you drawn a conclusion yet? If not, are you going to post something for us?

I am 57 and I carry a Kel-Tec .380. I like it because it will fit in my pocket so I can have it with me most of the time. With all the improvements in ammo. I think it is a pretty good choice and is certainly better then me trying to outrun someone. A policeman here told me this is their preferred "Boot Gun."

At home I have a Smith Aluminum Airweight .38 Special in my nightstand with Crimson Trace laser grips and a Snake Charmer .410 at arms length with birdshot. I would hate to be walking up my stairs and have someone shoot me with the birdshot at close range.

The main thing about self defense is to try to stay out of dangerous places and situations and flee any danger if possible. I stick to this philosophy and have not had the need to draw my gun on anyone. My old football coach always used to say that "Discretion is the better part of valor." That's as true today as it's always been. My 2 cents.

I'm 44. Grew up in rural southern OH reading Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, Bill Jordan, Bob Milek, etc. Didn't have any real-life, first hand gun mentors and wanted nothing to do with semiautos- but if I did, it would have been a .45 acp. Instead, I liked the idea of a snubby .357 for concealed carry.

Since then, I have lived for: 15 months in the New Orleans area, 3 years in Southern IN, 6 months in middle CA, 7 years in middle TN, and finally moved back to OH- but now in the northern part. I've owned .22's, .32's, .380's, 9mm's, .38's & .357's, .44 mag's, and .45's- both acp & Colt).

As I've gotten older, gained a lot more first hand experience, chronographed and reloaded for most of these rounds, learned of the great bullet technology advancements and thus the narrowing of practical differences in the serious self-defense rounds, I began to see a lot more advantages than I used to for the semiauto.

Since you didn't specify concealed carry, I'll say that today I'm more likely to open carry a revolver for a walk in the woods, but use the semiauto for home defense (less muzzle flash primarily), and it's about a toss up for concealed carry with an edge towards the semiauto.

I have kept my 4" S&W 629 (revolver) with warm .44 specials for home defense at times, but now use a semiauto 9 mm Kahr P9 for my primary home defense gun. I have a .32 Kel-Tec semiauto for concealed carry, but the Kahr 9mm would work just as well- actually much better, but is also bulkier & heavier.

Since you said that it might be a little harder to pin down we firearm afficiandos to pin down anything definitive, I'll add that I have thought about getting a Glock 20 (10 mm) for my woods-walking gun, or possibly a 40 S&W of some sort- but financially I have other priorities right now since I have that category covered with the S&W. Also I loved the S&W 360 scandium .357 magnum I used to have for carrying, but the recoil was brutal. I'd still like to get another one though!

Well I'm 55 have two handguns that would be used for self defense. The first is the old standby, 1911A1 what I learned in the military and what I shoot well. Wife does not like the grip and for her hard to rack the slide. She perfers my 629 that I use as a backup hunting pistol. The 44 is a bit much so at home it has 44 specials. Works for us. I have shot the 9's they are OK, but they do nothing the 45ACP will not do. I don't need more than 7 rounds if I do my part..

60+ normal is 10mm Glock.

I'll add that I have thought about getting a Glock 20 (10 mm) for my woods-walking gun, or possibly a 40 S&W of some sort- "

Bhemry..
I'm about 14 yrs older than you...
Also Ohio
And have carried all sorts of pistols in the past.
And now, I can hardily endorse the G20 in 10mm.
One can shoot .40 S & W loads easily.
Or step it up to a real Thumper.

And it shoots dead on!

I intend on taking mine out for deer soon.
I love it for grouping on paper, with authority!

I have a G20 10mm. Great hunting side arm. Too big TuWu for this old mans defense handgun. I think that most of us old farts are more interested in control vs power/capacity.

My car carry is a KelTec PA3T .380 that slips easily into my pocket. My truck carries .45 Chas Daly Compac 1911 Officers Model. I sleep with a Steyr M9A1 in 9mm.

Age 66 - Favorites.
.38 Special
.45 ACP
.380
9mm
For hunting - 10mm, .45LC, and .41mag

I don't own a .357. I feel it is too small for hunting and too heavy for SD. I don't have a .44mag anymore. The .41mag works for me. A .45Colt is my largest handgun. Good luck.

Im 32 years old and at one time or another have carried a .380, 9mm, 40 SW, 10mm, .45 ACP, .44 mag and .45 LC depending on the situation. Far and away my carry gun more then any other has been some sort of 1911 in .45 ACP

I'm 37 and carry the 40 S&W as my issue duty gun. However, my favorite handgun cartridge is 9mm. I've seen more dead folks at the hands of the 9mm than the rest put together. Probably because I've seen it used so much more often than the rest.

Living in a state where i can only have 10 round capacity, I've pretty much stayed with the 45acp[Springfield mil-spec], it just feels good in my hands.
I don,t know if this helps your quest, but I,m just starting to handload for said 45 and newly obtained[but used]38/357 Blackhawk.ANOTHER winter project!
State is CA., I'll be 60 next weekend.

I am 53 (born in 1956) and I am whole-heartedly in the .45 ACP camp. I've never had much use for the 9mm except as a noisemaker (which will work most times in self defense) or as a better choice than a rock.

I believe you have part of the answer as to caliber choice with the age factor, but not the whole answer. I believe that you will find, if you examine your data, that there is a strong correlation between caliber choice and where one grew up and lived (lives).

I have lived in rural East Texas all of my life and have carried a handgun almost daily for nearly 40 years. I shoot a lot and always have. I've shot literally thousands of rounds at both live and inanimate targets from every type of handgun from the .22LR, .32-20, .380, 9mm.....up to and including the .44 magnum.

From that experience I have come to some strong opinions based not on theory, but on results. I have come to believe that I shouldn't trust any caliber for self defense that I wouldn't feel comfortable with hunting a deer. East Texas deer aren't that big (maybe a 120 pound average), so if a certain caliber is "iffy" for deer.....it is surely will be "iffy" on a 200 pound man.

That's why I lean toward the .45 ACP in auto pistols and .45 Colt and .44 mag. in revolvers. I HAVE killed deer with the .22LR, .380, 9mm, .38 Spl, .357, and on up through the .44 Magnum.......and they all worked with proper placement, but that doesn't mean they all worked equally well. A bigger bore will ALWAYS beat a smaller bore! For me, the .45 ACP is the proper self defense round in an auot gun (although I find myself carrying the 10mm more and more).

The younger generations do tend to be more "educated" than previous generations and tend to put their trust in studies, tests and "magic" bullets and technology.

The older shooters tend to be more likely to have more experience (particularly if they grew up in rural areas and actually used guns regularly. They tend to trust their own experience more than theory and wishful thinking.

If a younger shooter lives in the country and actually uses handguns regularly, I think you will find his caliber choices will closely mirror the older generations. It's the difference between "knowlege" and "education".

Another factor in caliber choice (that is also a factor due to experience) is that smaller caliber weapons, generally, have more rounds available.

Older shooters grew up with the "standard" defense gun carrying 6-8 rounds of ammo......and never saw a need for more. That's because they used an adiquite caliber and placed their shots on target.....not spraying the neighborhood with flying lead.

Unlike older shooters who grew up actually shooting, younger generations have the idea that at any moment they will be attacked by dozens of ninja gang members and have to fight off an army.....or possibly an army of flesh-eating zombies. Never mind that those things never happen in real life......they feel they NEED a 20-shot magazine and that translates into a smaller caliber. Who knows why....maybe too many video games and TV adventures.

While age DOES play a part in caliber selection.....I believe you will find it's more a rural verses urban lifestyle that makes the difference. It may appear to be age, but that's just because older generations were (generally) much more likely to grow up in a rural setting and have much more actual shooting experience.