9 Mm Vs 45 Acp

[Busta Prima]

I'm not looking for a decisive answer. I'm looking for opinions. Nothing like a smartass new guy!

Yeah but you gotta admit that was funny!

People on all forums I frequent are sensitive to the never ending debate on calibers, ESPECIALLY those two (9mm vs. 45). In fact, the industry answered with a perfect compromise . . . the .40 cal.

But to give you the opinions and answers you seek: Years ago I would have chosen the 9mm. It's hard enough carrying a gun let a lone a spare mag and while statistics prove a .45 octo-mag is enough, I like having the many more rounds a modern 9mm provides! But lately I've been leaning toward the larger calibers. I've read some disturbing things about 9mm's performance in actual shoot outs. This is from police and FBI data . . . things like their sometimes inability to penetrate a car window and multiple center of mass hits not stopping a large and/or aggressive (drugged up) assailant. If I was only able to choose between those two, today it would be the .45. However if I can add my own choice, I'm going with the .40. The cops are not having any of those issues mentioned above and I still get double digit rounds in the same size package.

[ldmaster]

I have a G20 and G29, the G20 was my first glock. I found a case of Norma 170gr and 200gr a decade back, and that's my carry ammo. I handload otherwise.

When I first got the G29 I was ready to be brutalized by the recoil in the smaller gun. I was more than surprised that the felt recoil in the 29 was LESS than the G20.

As it turns out the slide itself is beefier, heavier. The recoil assembly is a double spring setup, lighter primary spring and heavier secondary. But I think the heavy slide is the culprit for the lighter recoil.

I've had and sold a lot of pistols since I got the G20 in 1996, and that gun is the only one I still have. I have a jarvis match barrel in it and a six inch hunting barrel i rarely use. I found 8k of nickle plated brass from somewhere back when the FBI was using the 10mm, and handload that for practice.

You're going to wonder why you didn't buy the G29 first.

[Scanker19]

9mm will allow you to practic more for us poor people. Shot placement is where it is.

"No one likes to Leak"

So with that I'd rather have a pink .380 that says C**ksucker on the slide than nothing at all.

[DFBrews]

9mm will allow you to practic more for us poor people. Shot placement is where it is.

"No one likes to Leak"

So with that I'd rather have a pink .380 that says C**ksucker on the slide than nothing at all.

I could see how that argument works if you do not reload i picked up a single stage press and reload my plinking .45 for less than 9mm white box sure it takes a while but i usually reload while surfing here or watching tv. for 1000 rds of 230 grain fmj My cost is $119 for bullets $27 for primers and lets say $8 dollars for powder. so for 155 dollars plus 7 hrs of my time spread through out the month i have 1000 rounds customized for my gun to shoot. white box in 9mm is 300 at 14.99 a box

[Colorado Luckydog]

I decided to go with the 45acp. I just posted my 9mm in the classifieds. Thanks for the input.

[CO-Exprs]

When everything is said and done the guy who hits first is going to win the fight. More people have died by 9mm than any other full power cartridge and by a long margin. What really matters is you and what you can handle. Conventional wisdom says carry the largest calliber you can handle "well". A compact carry pistol in fight stopping 45 does you no good if you can't hit with it decisively and that goes for the fast follow up shot as well. I bought an officers model 45 year ago. When I went to the range I found I couldn't hit anything with it because the recoil had me flinching so bad. I've since learned how to shoot and manage recoil 1000% better and just recently switched from a G19/23 to a Wilson Compact CQB. I was really nervous the first time I took it to the range because of pior experience, but found that 50k rounds down range can really change a fella and his abilities. I now feel completely confident that I made the right decision in switching to my 45. I've seen the balistic gel cavities for 9, 40 and 45. They are all devistating. Bigger is usually better, but only if you can shoot it well. You're performance as a shooter is really the key factor here not how big your rocks are. The reason this debat is so humorous is because it really isn't about caliber, but rather ability.

[Ranger353]

When everything is said and done the guy who hits first is going to win the fight. More people have died by 9mm than any other full power cartridge and by a long margin. What really matters is you and what you can handle. Conventional wisdom says carry the largest calliber you can handle "well". A compact carry pistol in fight stopping 45 does you no good if you can't hit with it decisively and that goes for the fast follow up shot as well. I bought an officers model 45 year ago. When I went to the range I found I couldn't hit anything with it because the recoil had me flinching so bad. I've since learned how to shoot and manage recoil 1000% better and just recently switched from a G19/23 to a Wilson Compact CQB. I was really nervous the first time I took it to the range because of pior experience, but found that 50k rounds down range can really change a fella and his abilities. I now feel completely confident that I made the right decision in switching to my 45. I've seen the balistic gel cavities for 9, 40 and 45. They are all devistating. Bigger is usually better, but only if you can shoot it well. You're performance as a shooter is really the key factor here not how big your rocks are. The reason this debat is so humorous is because it really isn't about caliber, but rather ability.

+1. Spot on. (But bigger is better, in almost everything! )

[hip55]

What was that statistic about the amount of rounds fired in a civilian firefight?

3 or 4 rounds? 10-20 feet away from each other?

With that in mind, I'd go with either 40 S&W or 45 ACP as capacity isn't a factor. BUT it's always good to have more than you need....

[Demodave]

sorry to break the trend.

Handguns suck.

They are notoriously poor fight stoppers.

Why then argue about which works the best when in reality none do?

The point is that they are much easier to carry than a rifle or shotgun.

You can study stat's all day, all night, and read x vs y.

Handguns suck, caliber doesn't matter. Central Nervous system shots will stop from the point of impact south. Brain stem shots stop immediately. Doesn't matter on cartridge.

If you want to stop a fight, carry a few claymores and set them up in an appropriate array.

til then, carry your handgun cause it's easy to hide and shoot until the threat stops.

Practice on your techniques!
Practice
Practice
Practice...

[FireMoth]

If you need firepower, your handgun is the WRONG tool for the job.

Just remember that Simo Hayha got shot in the face with what has been reported to be an 'explosive round' allegedly from some sort of light anti armor rifle... and lived. What chance has a pistol got of guaranteeing a 1 shot stop?

So, i highly recommend using the ammo your fire arm is chambered in