In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
45 cal vs. the 9mm
o.0
Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
In this corner.. a .45 cal. monster used by your law inforcement officers. In this corner ... a 9mm used by anyone. Both guns weigh in good with a good record, but! What one wins this bout it? Ive heard over and over by everyone that the .45 cal wins. This can be observed by the prices on gunbroker being that they cost more then the 9mm. But the 9mm isnt that bad of a gun. Depending on what type you got. If you want quality they are still offordable. What would you buy and why?
Comments
TOOLS
General TOOLS RRG
Don't go blaming the beer. Hank Hill
When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN
AlleninAlaska
Delta Firearms & Supplies
http://canadianfirearmsexchange.com
Buy firearms on the installment plan and Play while you Pay.
aglore@gci.net
However, I'd take the 10mm over both of them for sure - especially in with a pre-ban hi-cap magazine. If you're not familiar with the 10mm, it is ballistically equal or superior (depending on the ammo) to the .357 magnum and can be loaded up to .41 magnum levels. With my Glock 20 and 15 round pre-ban magazines it is basically like having 2 1/2 .357 magnum revolvers. Think about it... Unless you're recoil sensative it is definately the way to go. Another nice feature, especially of the Glock is that you can buy aftermarket barrels that allow you to shoot .40 S&W (or, since the .40 S&W is a 10mm that is shortened by ~ 1/8" and has less powder we call it the .40 Short & Weak) and also the .357 SIG. Just by swapping out the barrels you can shoot 3 different cartridge types.
Maybe this image will clarify things a bit:
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN
danceswithsheep wouldn't a 1911 in 45 be a little harder to shoot than a 1911 in 9mm, 40 S&W, or 38 super.
Not for me. And same with the Sig 220.
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN
To show just how much I have 3 1911a1 of differing brands
and my fav is a springfield that will hold 14 rounds of 45acp
Lt. snarlgard RRG
SMILE...MAKE EM WONDER WHAT YOUR UP TO[}:)]
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN
Assumption 1- The debate refers to stopping ability instead of accuracy.
Assumption 2- The poster is confused as to what round is currently in use by our Armed Forces
In my mind, and for my own reasons; Anyone that would pit the .45ACP against the Yurrapeein' 9 MILLIMETER (You'reup=Metric)caliber has to have been living in a hole for the last 20 years, and hasn't heard about the .357Sig, 40 Smilin' & Whompin', or the 400 Cor-Bon, .50AE, .41AE, or that round the FBI had to tone down for the ladies: the 10mm (it just SOUNDS Yurripian, right?).
My point is that just because some Military Contractor greased the right palms to hustle his piece of ordnance to the Guys On The Ground; that shouldn't become a consideration for the Civilian population when seeking reliable self defense hardware.
I've always been impressed with the 357Sig's and the .40's handling characteristics, even with Full-house handloads. Both are capable of outstopping the .45/9mm, are easier to hold due to recoil not being as stiff (lots of polymer, alloy, etc. frames out there sacrifice weight for recoil adsorption ability-short barrels don't help either), and are considered "Death Rays" by the Texas Rangers & New Mexico State Police that carry them daily.
I have to question (in all my wisdumb) why price would be a factor(within the "under $500" range) when choosing a defensive sidearm, and then picking the cheaper and smaller one because it's cheaper and smaller.
As far as accuracy, I've owned several different .45's, and couldn't hit myself in the foot with 'em! I still have a few 9's (Hi-Point, Sig, Browning, Kel-Tec, Llama, Ruger...)because they shoot to point of aim, or at least in the same direction I point 'em, and they'll go 100yds. without having to aim above the target frame.
Hope I helped some die-hard ACP fans to see my POV.
If you know it all; you must have been listening.WEAR EAR PROTECTION!
I own a 1911 clone in .45 but my usual carry gun is a revolver. My early experience with malfunctioning automatics and even clip fed rifles makes me put my faith in the practically infallible wheelgun.
Remember Ruby Ridge.
I still have a few 9's...they'll go 100yds. without having to aim above the target frame.
Are you down to stems and seeds again?
By the way, welcome.[:D]
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!
or that round the FBI had to tone down for the ladies: the 10mm (it just SOUNDS Yurripian, right?).
gunnut505, I think you're confused... It isn't the 10mm that was "toned down for the ladies". It was the .40 S&W that was the directly derived from first reducing the power from the 10mm and eventually shortening the case to fit into most 9mm/.45 sized-frame guns. I'll agree with you on the .40 S&W and .357 SIG being excellent cartridges too (that's why I mentioned the barrel swap capability on the Glocks).
I no longer own either the 9mm or the .45 ACP, but I wish I still had the 9mm for relatively cheap plinking. I guess that task was relegated to one of my .22lr's now.
o.O - In my humble opinion, the prices of .45's are typically higher than 9mm's because they typically are heavier/bigger guns that require more resources to make.
Man I have to tell you that I have been through several conflicts in support of our great nation and never taken a round. I can not imagine getting hit by a .45 in any of the extremities. Have seen the end result more than once, and that assured me I never wanted to be on that end..... EVER! Hope it was worth it!
NSDQ!
"Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
Accuracy problems with .45's ???? [?][?][?]
I have 2 .45's that shoot sub 2" groups at 50yds. One is a SA 1911 and the other is a Pardini. A friend has a Les Baer 1911 that holds 1&1/2" at 50yds.
I think they were either some pos's you had or its you.
not to argue but I've got two Texas Rangers in the family(brother and nephew) and both still carry the Sigs in 45. Don't know about their buddies.
The best for you is the MOST GUN you can shoot well. The 9mm has been marginal since the Germans used it in Lugers. It had an uptick in domestic opinion thanks to some hotter loads and the popularity of hi-capacity magazines (even though the Hi-Power was always out there) and the 10-round mag threw a pretty effective wet blanket on it -- along with companies like Glock and Para-Ord who came out with double-stack .45s and closed the capacity gap. Then the .40 came out and helped make up some of the difference -- now you can even have the Hi-Power in .40.
I'm reminded again of the true story of the guy in the military who was issued an M1 carbine (110 gr. at 1800 fps). He shot an enemy who kept right on running. He took the carbine back to the ordnance guy, got a .45 1911A1 instead, and had no further problems knocking over the enemy.
As for recoil, only those who haven't tried the .45 would be much worried by the notion of a difference in "shootability." The truth is, you can shoot .45 and 9mm interchangeably at the range and hardly notice the difference in "kick," even in light guns with alloy and polymer frames. The .45 is not significantly harder to shoot well than the 9mm, either for me or anyone else I've taken to a session.
The 9 relies on variables like velocity, temporary cavity, mushrooming bullets, special loads, and double-taps to help "make up the difference" in weight and diameter and primary wound cavity.
Even with all that, the 9mm is still a non-big-bore round that gained popularity via hi-cap mags in the 80s. It is probably enough gun for those who are reluctant to carry anything more effective, and some fine guns like the CZ-75 and Hi-Power and Luger have been made for it, but you would most likely be better off shooting well with any of these other calibers mentioned for defense: 10mm, .40S&W, .357SIG, or .45 ACP. And no doubt the .357 magnum, .44 special, .45 Colt, .41 magnum, or even .44 magnum on the revolver side (to limit this to the most commonly seen rounds in defense guns).
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
Pick the one that you shoot well and that you will carry on your person (if allowed in your state). No pistol is of service if not's accessible.
Furthermore, Get your checkbook ready because just owning one pistol won't make it.
And Last, get some proper training, tips, and patctice, practice , pratcice....
Twodogs
ANY QUESTIONS
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
I can see your having storage problems. Send me about a half dozen of those, and I'll keep them in the safe for you.[}:)][:p][:D]
Measure twice, cut once.
Empty the clip!
Greg
Not to mention, did Sam Elliott use a 9mm in "We Were Soldiers?" Did Marines use 9mm's (when they had sidearms) in World War II? Did Billy Dee Williams advertise a malt liquor called "Colt 9mm"?
I DON'T THINK SO!
Actually, I just assumed that Punchie was a man of large girth, and liked to wear them all at once in belt holsters, shoulder holsters, ankle holsters (both legs) etc.... Better safe than sorry! [;)]
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
He That Pays The Piper Calls The Tune.
SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
SEMPER FI
BTW, we sight our 9's in on the 100 yard range, then if they're ridin' Shetlands just aim lower...[:D]
If you have one shot...Accu-Shot Website
That is the OEM dogleg magazine for the Randall Lemay model it is on. I actually like the dogleg on the short grip. Have three of the doglegs and one of the rare flat base for the Randall Lemay.
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY