.357 or .45ACP

[Nightcrawler]

Okay, let's pretend for a minute that all of your favorite guns were available in both chamberings. That is, there were 1911s and Sig P220s in .357 Magnum (it'd be an interesting gun, anyway) and plenty of 686s and GP100s in .45ACP.

Which cartridge would you rather have, if you could only have one? Don't forget to take .45 Super into account. Buffalo Bore makes a good batch of that.

And remember, hypothetically, you can have your favorite pistol in either round.

 

[jrpeterman]

Just my opinion, but the .357 can do anything the .45 can with more accuracy out of the box and out to a greater distance.

 

[Kahr carrier]

45 acp.

 

[FPrice]

The .45ACP can do anything the .357 Magnum can do. AND make a bigger hole.

 

[Kevin]

45acp, it can do about anything the 357 can do without the recoil and muzzle blast.

 

[10-Ring]

45 acp For me, more versatility & my reloader is all set up for it

 

[dude]

.357

2" subs for close in
6" Dan Wesson & Lever Action for out @ 100 yards


no need for an auto

 

[Spoonman]

.45 ACP, hands down.

No, wait, .357magnum.

Wait, what about....

Oh, Nightcrawler, you are an evil man.

My head hurts.


Clif

 

[Joe Demko]

Why can't I have both? Who are you to tell me I can have just one? In fact, I insist that you send me one of each immediately.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Sure thing!

A limited edition Smith & Wesson, with "Golgo 13" engraved on the barrel, is on the way. Same make and model as the one Golgo-13 used in that old anime movie.

Also, a custom nickel-plated 1911 with "Golgo 13" on the slide is on the way as well.

Keep checking your mailbox.

Are you checking? It could be there now. Go look. *snicker*

 

[perry]

Thats not a fair question,but if it came down to which one would last for ever, then it would be the 686 smith.

 

[MJRW]

I choose .45 magnum with the recoil of a .22.

 

[charleym3]

Tough choice. The midbore is thinner in a wheel gun for the same capacity, but the bigbore has less muzzle blast and felt recoil for the same power level. Or maybe it's just the grips. Hmmm. Can I get a lever action in .45ACP? I promise to shoot only flat points.

 

[CWL]

Nightcrawler,

Seems to me I recall seeing this exact poll before on TFL.

You starting up the polls and flame wars all over again?

Actually, it isn't really possible to compare the two because one is a wheelie cartridge while the other is a semi cartridge. It'd take an awfully BIG (but thinner) Sig P220 to cycle .357 Mag shells!

I'd stay with the .45ACP. It's always worked as a plinker & manstopper.

 

[Schuey2002]

You can't go wrong with either one. But, I'd have to with .45acp..

 

[trapshooter]

Both. There, now. Everybody can be happy with that. I am.

 

[duncan]

357 sig!

 

[gryphon]

I picked .45ACP because I can handle the recoil better.

 

[New_comer]

Don't forget to take .45 Super into account

Well, in that case, I'd take the 45, fired thru a HK Tactical or MK23. Or maybe in a STI Trojan longslide

Otherwise, it's the 357 magnum for me, in GP100 or 686. But a DE in 357 wouldn't be that bad a launch platform...

 

[bedlamite]

10mm

 

[Standing Wolf]

I prefer the .357 magnum because it's more accurate and packs more punch, and can be shot in small, medium, and large guns.

 

[chaim]

My favorite calibers are 9mm, .45acp and .357mag (with .38spl very close to those). These are so close that it is really hard for me to say I have a strong preference. That said if I could only keep one gun or chambering it would be .357mag. It was my first love, it still puts a smile on my face to a degree the others don't (though I do really love both 9mm and .45acp), and it is incredibly versatile with many options in magnum loadings plus the ability to shoot everything in .38spl.

 

[Ala Dan]

Gosh, I like 'em both; but I voted for the .45 ACP!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[DillHarris]

.357 -- it's the only handgun I've got right now. Nothing wrong with either, but 357 can gain more out of a carbine length barrel. Something just "American" about both of them though. It's kind of like asking the difference between bacon or sausage, they're both great.

 

[triggertime]

I'll take the .45, thanks. I'm not too enamored of the .357 due to its blast and flash. Firing a quick cylinder-full in a darkened shoot-house was enough to cause me to see the light. Literally!