9mm vs. .45 sidearms

[Banana357]

The US military currently uses a 9mm weapon but previously employed a .45ACP weapon for many decades. I was wondering which round you guys think is more useful in most situations. Does the greater stopping power of the .45 outweigh the 9mms lower recoil and increased clip capacity? Or is a compromise like the .40S&W superior all-around?

[Dr.Rob]

This is probably the MOST often asked question on discussion boards about firearms.

Use the search feature to look up 9mm vs 45 and you'll find thousands of responses.

Bottom line is both will do the job. Pick the one you shoot best and train with it. Caliber is only one small part of picking the "best" defensive arm for yourself.

Welcome to THR.

Expect a LOT of answers to this.

[roscoe]

Hmmmmmm. 9mm or .45ACP - this is something we should talk about a bit.

[Blamp]

bit of a repost, 'eh? oh well.

I say .45. Yeah you can carry more 9mm, and some may argue velocity is better. I like slower rounds for pistols, less likely to plow through someone into a bystander, etc. So if you're not as accurate, go with 9mm. Not the same stopping power, but shootin' a fella with one will definately change his priorites.

.45 - Least amount of rounds per mag, best stopping power. Oldie but goody.
.40 - Probably best of all worlds. I see no real downfall.
.357 (9mm) - Highest capacity, least power. The round for more weak/innaccurate, theoretically. Still a great round.

God Bless America,
Jeff

[armoredman]

Nah, 500 mag.

[Black Majik]

LOL.... what a first post!

[Baba Louie]

I was wondering which round you guys think is more useful in most situations.

Get a couple of each Then you can enter into the My Beretta is better than your Colt or Glock or...
If you're European, refined, sophisticated, go to the Opera, and feel the need to invade France... stick with the 9mm.
If you're Not European, rough and rowdy, have to kill thousands of charging indians or religious island fanatics and like the Grand Old Opery, and feel the need to save France... stick with the .45.

Does that work for ya?

[SteelyDan]

Banana, welcome, but you just cannot make this your first post, or morons like me will give you a little crap. Instead, try asking "AK or AR," or what's the best gun for bears...

But since you asked, the answer is .45s, though a .40 would do in a pinch.

Now we can both duck.

[steelhead]

Of course the .45 must be chambered in a 1911 and not plastic (might as well bring in the combat tupperware debate as well) .

[carpettbaggerr]

And, remember, you can get either in a revolver, which everyone knows is far superior to the autoloader. However, I'd stick with the .44 Mag for bear. Zombies, on the other hand.....





And welcome to THR.

[Treylis]

Personally, I'm more interested in "guns for zombies" threads. ;-)

Insofar as the actual question, if it's the military using it, which means they're using ball, they're probably better off with .45ACP.

I don't even want to get into a debate about 9mm/.45ACP when hollowpoints are on the table. I already have a headache, heh.

[Son of John]

No handgun ever won a war. It doesn't matter whether you are carrying a .45 or 9 mm, you are outgunned by everybody else with a long gun. For that matter, I think you are outgunned with a .223 against everyone else as well.

All being said, I think both 9 mm and .45 have had their day and more powerful rounds now available such as 10 mm should be looked at to do the job. Since the "short ten" (.40) is so common in law enforcement, maybe it should be applied in the military as well.

Here comes the flame fuel... go with a Glock 20 for special forces, 22 for standard issue, 23 for flight crews and smaller hands (female). Training
and manual of arms would be similar for all three.

Go back to .308 in the long guns as well......

[Delmar]

This might be one worn out horse, but I'll give it a ride. Some assumptions here:
We limit the troops to ball ammo or full metal jacket if you prefer that term, where the only way to make a bigger hole is to use a bigger caliber, and said sidearm is made for combat at spitting distance, I'll take a cup of 45 please.

What say you, Banana357? What do you own/shoot/favor and why?

[LeonCarr]

If I know I am going to a fight, I much prefer a .223 or .308 rifle to any handgun.

Did I say .223 or .308? Another topic for discussion, or maybe argument?

To quote Britney Spears,

OOPS I DID IT AGAIN

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[meathammer]

Welcome Banana,

I usually don't chime in on this infamous debate. I do however enjoy sitting back and watching the carnage. All of my handgun calibers other than my 22/45 start with a .4, so to stick with tradition I'll say .45ACP.

[R.H. Lee]

.45 of course

[Kaylee]

45 Colt.
Now that's a real service sidearm cartridge, baby! M1873, yeehaw!

[sm]

Welcome to TFL !

Well you see it is like this about us members...Take me for example the Browning Power is for 9mm, The 1911 style is for 45ACP.

I choose these platforms for proven history,/ performance- real applicable to your question-since Militaries , even elsewhere adapted these same choices.

Members like Kaylee...what can I say...darned and determined to figure a way to toss in more history and have the caliber fit a lever action to boot.

Women, practical, smart and that do handcrafted work....Thanks a lot Kaylee.

[walkindude]

Have to go with the .45 too, actually have both 1991a1 and glock 19 wouldnt feel undergunned with either, as long as the glock had a hicap mag

[PaladinX13]

Use the search feature to look up 9mm vs 45 and you'll find thousands of responses.

Though sometimes it can be tough to get exactly what you want because one of the search terms is too short. Caliber and weapon models have this problem all the time. I try to make a conscious effort to extend subject terms so they're searchable... like ".45ACP" instead of "45" or "M-18" rather than just "18".

[gbran]

Somebody is going to say caliber doesn't matter and it's all shot placement.

Somebody is going to infer that bigger calibers can't achieve shot placement.

Excuse me while I go and duck for cover.

[BryanP]

As long as we're doing the tongue-in-cheek bit ...

[cool45auto]

[Sunray]

"...greater stopping power of the .45..." This is an old wive's tale. The .45 does not have better stopping power. Mind you, this exact thing has been discussed in every gun rag ad nauseum for eons.

[R.H. Lee]

"...greater stopping power of the .45..." This is an old wive's tale.

Actually, it's an old widow's tale