Is the .45 now a thing of the past?

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It seems that with all the tech. in 9's that the .45 has become a thing of the past. [As well as the .308?] I remember when wheel guns dominated the gun cases. Then the autos and now mostly 9's. Or is that just me?
Nope, it's just you. Cartridges like the .45 ACP and .308 Winchester will be around for years to come. The .45 ACP has been around since 1904 and the .308 Winchester since about 1952. I do not see either cartridge becoming obsolete anytime soon. So when will the .45 Colt go away or any of the older cartridges go away? How about the .38 Super? So many cartridges and so little time. :)

Ron
 
It fits the definition of a present "thing".

New guns chambered in it.
New advancements in hollow point designs.
Almost any big manufacturer will likely offer multiple options in 45 caliber.

I would rate it's future as more certain than 40 caliber...
 
It’s interesting. Is the tech that allowed 9mm bullets to perform in a viable manner, thereby somehow obviating the need for larger calibers, only available in 9mm? Because if the tech that allowed 9mm to become effective is not only available in 9mm, would not the same tech make larger calibers even more effective? Is there some widespread chronic wasting disease that has suddenly rendered large demographies incapable of operating larger caliber pistols?

Inquiring minds want to know.
 
Even with "better" bullets, they all still perform about the same, and a good hit, or poor miss, with either, will still bring about the same results.

The difference is, the 9mm is still easier to shoot quickly and accurately with, and it still carries more rounds in the gun. All a plus.

This isnt about emotion or ego, its about reality. And the reality is, if you can shoot a 45 well, you can shoot a 9mm just that much easier, quicker, and more accurately doing so, and you can usually do it longer if need be, if and when the magic bullets arent making up for your lack of making things work. ;)
 
The .45 is a great cartridge, and needs no defense.
I will say I’m glad about the so-called decline of the .40s&w. A year or so ago I picked up a like new police surplus Glock 22 Gen4 with night sights for a ridiculous low price. It quickly became my favored house pistol.
I encourage everyone to search out those .40 deals. It’s a great caliber, for me at least.
 
Because if the tech that allowed 9mm to become effective is not only available in 9mm, would not the same tech make larger calibers even more effective?
A typical 17 rd 9mm would only hold 10 .45acp rds. Now if technological advances (and a warping of physics) allows that same gun to magically hold 17 rds of .45acp, would that same technology now allow that gun to hold 30 rds of 9mm?

And round and round we go.
 
.45 has only increased in popularity, especially in places with magazine limits. If you are tied to say only 10 rounds or less, you go with a bigger bullet for each.
 
It seems that with all the tech. in 9's that the .45 has become a thing of the past. [As well as the .308?] I remember when wheel guns dominated the gun cases. Then the autos and now mostly 9's. Or is that just me?
A friend who owns a gun store once told me ..." I can sell every 1911 in 45 acp I can get my hands on faster than any other fire arm ... If I could get a train car full of them delivered in the morning ... by closing time they would all be sold , gone or promised to hold . I have a list of people who want to buy 1911's ... and have you noticed how many manufacturers make a 1911 in 45 acp ... they don't make them because they don't sell ...
All of them sell ...from RIA to Ed Brown Custom ... I can't figure it out but the demand never lets up ."
Gary
 
+1

I carry a 9mm because I can conceal it well. If I was carrying a pistol as a service pistol, it would be a .45 if I had my say.

I don't know what to tell you about the .308... sure, it's lost favor from the distance and benchrest guys, but like the .45, it is still very serviceable and in demand. The fact that it's a NATO cartridge (...in 7.62mm...) tells me it will be 'popular' for a long time, yet.
Well, the 6.8 will take the .308 & 5.56 out of the money round. Done deal. Suppress at 3,900 and accurate at 2K. Well at least that's what they say. I'd like to know what they mean by "accurate" at 2K.
 
If one fully invests into “modern bullets” they are sure to miss out on the old powerhouses that are also improved as much again with modern bullets.

Some folks cite things like 9mm is less expensive to shoot but then drive a low MPG truck as their daily ride.

9mm has definitely gained a bit of popularity, but then again, it was never actually unpopular. I touted the 9mm as an adequate defensive cartridge in the late 90s when all the police departments had moved to 40. It was an unpopular opinion then but still one I stand by.

Then modern bullets happened and the FBI conducted new tests and blammo, the 9mm is on top.

Of course it does fit nicely with the petite handguns it is chambered in and allows for a few more rounds in the magazine with out giving up its svelteness.

I tend to think if guns like this were on the market in the late 90s, 9mm would have never been perceived the way we seem to perceive it was so many years later.
I think the same could be said for the 5.56. A lot of years trying to make it do, all sorts of different bullet configurations, what it just can't do.
 
If by obsolete you mean better then ever, I agree. The exact same tech that has improved the 9mm has also been applied to the 45s. 9s get more effective but so do the big boys too. Just because society has become more weak and frail doesn't mean there isn't a place for 45s, generally found in the holsters of folks that know the difference and understand the advantage of bigger bullets . I may be a 38 year old dinosaur but I never owned a 9mm, don't like 9mm and don't plan to buy one at any point. I carry a modern striker fired polymer framed compact 45 and I don't see that changing.

If you're poking at a caliber war, don't bother it's been played out more times then any of us would care to mention. I've never cared about what's popular and I can successfully justify carrying a 45 over a 9 but I don't feel like running over that poor dead horse one more time. It can be boiled down to its essence as simply as bigger is better, if that's not true go get a 5.7 and never look back.
 
Nope, it's just you. Cartridges like the .45 ACP and .308 Winchester will be around for years to come. The .45 ACP has been around since 1904 and the .308 Winchester since about 1952. I do not see either cartridge becoming obsolete anytime soon. So when will the .45 Colt go away or any of the older cartridges go away? How about the .38 Super? So many cartridges and so little time. :)

Ron
Well, the 6.8 is here. Vortex is a company that continues to amaze me, and the armed forces. Ammo that disintegrates
It’s interesting. Is the tech that allowed 9mm bullets to perform in a viable manner, thereby somehow obviating the need for larger calibers, only available in 9mm? Because if the tech that allowed 9mm to become effective is not only available in 9mm, would not the same tech make larger calibers even more effective? Is there some widespread chronic wasting disease that has suddenly rendered large demographies incapable of operating larger caliber pistols?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Sorta. Weight, quantity, availability are but a few that the "new" soldier has been quantified to carry.
will be here tomorrow with the 6.8. As fast as tech changes, These guys "have" been obsolete.
 
Not taking reloading into account, I submit the lowest quality 45 ACP ammunition is more effective than the lowest quality 9mm ammunition -- both of which are likely to be the most common options available during an ammunition shortage.

COVID19 had me sell all my 357 Magnums for 45 Colts, all my 5.56 for 7.62x51, and all my 9mm for 45 ACP.

Some WonderAmmo might expand, but these will never shrink.

-Stan
 
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I have several 45's that I enjoy shooting from time to time- 1911's and 1 G21. Mostly used as sidearms hunting, and a couple are just "safe queens".
 
This topic comes up all the time. Is this or that caliber going the way of the dodo bird? Nope, you just are not a part of the cool kids club anymore. Cool kids will shoot .45 and .308 till the cows come home.
 
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