.40S&W or .45ACP for personal defense

Phishallday

My next gun I am going to buy is either going to be a .40 or .45ACP in a full frame. I am going to go with something like a .45 Springfield XD 14rd or the new Beretta 90-two in .40 I am torn between the two calibers. Is it just me or does a .40 have more precieved recoil then a .45. The only .40 I have shot was a Sig and I had a hard time keeping the shots on the paper, but I shot a .45 1911 5" barrel just fine. thats why i was wondering if I got a heavier gun in .40 like the beretta would I be able to control the recoil more effectivly.

VBSS.RiverRat

I currently own a springfield XD Sub-Compact 40 and have had little problems with percieved recoil, I bought my girlfriend one and she has corporal tunnel in her wrist and doesnt have any problems with it the 45 ACP in a sub-compact frame is going to give you alot of percieved recoil especially if you use 185 gr JHP +P rounds however i have shot the Aguila IQ rounds with little percieved recoil.

perry shooter

Hello each caliber has it's merits as well as each brand of pistol .Your question is sort of asking which is better Coke or Pepsi one fact can not be changed the lighter the gun the more felt recoil. The heavier the bullet within the same caliber the more felt recoil in standard loading.With that said some grip frames fit your hand better then others I like a narrow grip frame single stack 1911 type rather then a round wide grip frame like a Glock but your mileage may vary . Get the pistol you gan shoot the smallest groups with . I would rather have a 22long rifle that I know I could hit my target then a 500 S&W that I most likely would put the round in the dirt.

Cubslover

Look at CZ's as well. A steel framed CZ offers enough weight to help reduce recol over something such as a Glock, XD, or USP.

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=63
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=29

Our house pistol is a CZ 40P(40S&W). My wife of 5'6" 125lbs loves it, it's by far her favorite pistol that she has ever shot.




The 40caliber 165gr Remington Golden Sabre(Saber) offers as much one shot stopping power as any 45(not +p) round.

Don't completely rule out a 9mm either. A 9mm+p+ round will rival most 40 and 45 rounds in terms of transfered energy. But there is nothing like a big ol' slug to slow em down.

Don't forget, for you to be effective with your firearm, it will require plenty of practice. You'll spend alot more on 45 ammo than a 40 if you don't reload, and 9mm is so cheap most people don't even reload them anymore.

Ultimately, if recoil is the biggest factor, I'd recommend you look towards a 9mm. It's the most used cartridge ever. I guarantee if a bad guy gets hit with anything, he'll be hurt'n. Whether it's a 22 or 500. 9 mil's with give you a higher magazine capacity as well.

Also keep in mind that barrel length play a big factor in recoil. My 3" bbl Kel tec launching a 380 round pops harder than my 40. But I have a 4.4" bbl on the 40. If you've fired a full size 1911 and could barely handle it, you might not be able to handle a sub compact 45.

ern98

Many indoor shooting ranges have rental pistols. If you have such nearby you might consider going over and fondling the selection. Then rent the ones that feel best to your grip. The first time I picked up a Glock 19 I put 5 in a row in the black. I ended up buying the Glock 22, 15 shot 40SW, and many years later it is still my go to choice. But, as has been pointed out, your grip and ablitiy to shoot a give pistol over rides all other opinions where you and yours are concerned. So my advice is get out and handle/shoot as many different makes, models and calibers as you can before ponying up your hard earned cash. I also own and like my Springfield 45acp, but it would not be my first choice to carry if things start going bump in the night, but that is just me.

ElMuertoMonkey

I have noticed that the recoil on the .40 S&W seems a little sharper than that of the .45 ACP. I have a CZ 40P and it still kicks just a little bit more than a 1911 - or so it seems.

heavyiron

Hi,

I would say it this way-

The 40 S&W 165gr Remington Golden Saber load almost equals the one shot stopping power of the 45 ACP 185 Golden Saber or 230 grain Hydra Shock load.

Heavyiron

Cubslover

quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
I have noticed that the recoil on the .40 S&W seems a little sharper than that of the .45 ACP. I have a CZ 40P and it still kicks just a little bit more than a 1911 - or so it seems.




That is true. The 40 caliber is more of a snap and the 45 is more of a push.

toolsforfools

45 springfield xd.I've got one and if you want a full size,it is great for the money.You will be very happy with it.I love mine[:D][:D]

p64mak

+1 on the XD in .45

But, I'll admit to not being a .40 fan. I had a XD in .40, got rid of it for a 92FS. I liked the XD, didn't like the caliber. I thought it was quite snappy in recoil.