.45 ACP a bad choice for first handgun

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An XD .45 is easy to shoot for the average-sized man.

Yes, you have to grip it appropriately if you want to shoot accurately.

That's true of just about any caliber that's viable for self-defense, though.
 
the only issue is the cost and availability of ammo. other than that, i see not a damn thing wrong with this.
 
It's already been said a number of times. The 45acp is a great caliber. In my opinion, the BEST caliber for pistols. Even though there are no "One caliber fits all" out there; for self defense, the 45acp comes pretty close.

It's easier to shoot than many other calibers. Ammunition; while possible a bit more expensive; is a LOT MORE AVAILABLE. If you look for ammo today, you'll probably find it better than other rounds.

Now there is one caveat. If you are a small woman or man, then 45acp can be a bit to handle. Mainly because many of the guns are quite large. And personally; I am not a fan of trying to take what traditionally would have been a mouse gun and chambering it for large calibers. I.e. I don't like snub nose 357 magnum or ultra compact palm guns in 45acp. So for the smaller person, a 9mm might be the better choice. But all in all, the 45acp is the perfect caliber for self defense. It can have as small as a 165 grain hollow point, with almost NO RECOIL; to a 185 grain , 200, and 230 grain bullet. Even some +P rounds. But it's a better caliber; better availability of ammo; can be smooth enough for almost any size shooter. best gun for 90% of shooters.
 
Has he been to a range and tried different types of handguns? If not, suggest that; he may wind up liking something else better. At the very least, he should pick up and handle a variety at the gun shop to see what feels best to him.
 
The ammo costing more is the only reason why I see not to get a .45 and that only matters if you plan to shoot it a lot. Sure it has more recoil than the 9mm but I've never found them to be too bad. I honestly would rather have the .45 over the 9mm. The only downside is the cost of ammo. I don't see why you would want to talk him out of it.
 
i have to agree with the other people who are saying let him get what he wants to get if he likes it and it feels right to him then its what he should get. if he turns out not to like it then he can get something else and or sell that one.
 
I have and shoot G30 G21 G23 G33 and G32. The 45acp's seems to me to recoil less than the others, maybe it's the large grip? I don't know. I'm sure the 9mm would be even more pleasant, but the 45 should not be a problem. Some people enjoy the recoil and the power. He needs to shoot both and then decide.

If someone makes an bad or unhappy choice its better him than you.
 
My first handgun was a ported barrel .41 magnum snubnose ultralight. Yea......

Let's just say I had quite a surprise the first time I fired it in both recoil and noise, which was with 210gr. factory loads and no hearing protection.

On that note, I don't see anything wrong with a .45acp shooting regular factory loads as a first handgun.
 
Most non enthusiasts buy a gun based on what they've seen on TV and the movies or what they've read about, usually in fiction. They get a gun, not for recreation or to develop any skill with or to shoot often but to provide a measure of security in their lives. Most of the time these guns will not fire more than a dozen boxes of ammo in their entire ownership. They get fired a couple times and then they sit in a dresser drawer waiting for the time they may be needed. For these people their first handgun is likely to be their only handgun so what caliber or type they choose is of little consequence.
 
am i the only person here who doesn't think that .45 recoil is a big deal at all? if it kicks any harder than 9mm, it isn't much in my opinion. and i certainly don't think it would be a difficult starter round. i started on .357 for my first handgun, so none of the semi-auto calibers have really been an issue...

my opinion...if he thinks he can afford to shoot it, he should buy it. he could do a whole lot worse, frankly. it's not like he's buying a .22 for defense or getting a desert eagle 'cause it's the biggest handgun in the shop...
 
The cost is a big factor if they want to practice at the range often. But recoil differences is negligible at best.
 
My XD45 is a much softer shooter than my P11, obviously so.

Maybe the friend can easily take the recoil and muzzle blast that the OP finds terrifying.
 
My XD45 is a much softer shooter than my P11, obviously so.
Click to expand...

Same here.

Probably one of the easiest guns to shoot, in a real caliber, shooting full-power loads. 230 grains, no problem. One-handed, no problem.

It's not a Ruger Mark III, but as centerfire pistols go, it's a pleasure to shoot.
 
If your buddy wants a glock 21, let him get one. That is a fine pistol, and would serve well as a combination range and home defense gun. Let him get a g30 and he can use it as a ccw also.

Your personal preferences shouldnt infinge upon his.

PS intentionally giving someone hot ammo to scare them away from a caliber is a jerk move. :cuss:
 
I feed my first gun .45 ACP with a S&W M&P To my delight the round leaves the gun in good order and hits the paper closer and ever closer to the center mass as I get better with that front sight.

500 rounds fired and about another 500 more to go, pricing be damned.

Im one of those nutz who pull up to the gas pump at 4.50 per gallon and pump premium gas for the hell of it. Silver or basic gas is short, out, contaiminated etc etc etc...

Same with ammo. Keep making GOOOD Ammo and I will keep buying it.

Hell I say BOO HOO when you cry about 45 ACP ammo when I spend ... 8 bucks for 5 rounds of shot gun slugs.

At one point recently we went through a very real thought that NO ammo will be availible to us AT. ANY. PRICE. With the recent Georgia Arms vs the DOD Demil flap.

I continue to set money aside and use the card to order 6 months or more of 45 acp. at a time when it is convient to me. Even if it is midnight on Saturday night in my jammies at home on the net. UPS can deliver the case right heah to my door.

So, wipe your eyes, man up, quitchercrying and shoot what you like. Dont ever let ANYONE tell you what you can or cannot shoot.

I know I will have trouble with a 454 catskill. I would like to improve with them someday but 45 ACP is just fine for the task at hand.:cuss:
 
The first "handgun" I ever shot was a Contender chambered for 30-30 when I was about 120lbs more than a few years ago... That gun kinda ended up scaring the flinch clear out of me. I also shot a friend's .40S&W XD a few years back after not touching a handgun in a while and can honestly say unless you are terrified of a firecracker caliber size really doesn't matter at all.

I don't get how people can say they "develop a flinch" because that just comes from overthinking the situation and panicking... A .40S&W is a pretty snappy round but it was the one my friend started on and eventually because he lost his job he actually sold it and recently bought a 9mm because of the price of ammo... The problem with this is he just isn't as happy with the 9mm round as he was with the .40 and because of that I am a strong believer in the fact that if someone wants to start on a big caliber they should as long as they are willing to work with it...

My friend had issues finding a box of 9mm ammo anywhere at all and in the end he was paying $19 for FMJ target ammo which really makes the $21 a box for .45 easier to swallow. You can also find reloads from reliable places for around $11 a box of 50 for .45ACP and Wolf ammo was $18 for 50 rounds...

If your friend wanted to buy a .357 Magnum I would stop him but that is only because the cheapest ammo I have seen for it around here is $54 for 50 rounds... That is a bit excessive to say the least but I am rambling and agree with most of the people on here when I say there is nothing wrong with the "scary" calibers as starter guns... I mean honestly if every one of us cared solely about cost we would all be packing .22LRs.
 
The one gun I was scared of was the old BP Pistol I fired as a kid. The trigger required a tow truck to pull, Daddy was necessary to hold me up and the revolver totally blocked the view of the target and the backstop and that thing was heavy enough to need a crane to hold steady.

BOOM. I ran away. Everyone laughed. I came back and asked if I hit it. More laughs.

That was a VERY long time ago. Even today I dont think I can hit anything with those big BP revolvers. But might try it one day.
 
I don't get how people can say they "develop a flinch"
Click to expand...

Two kinds of flinches, I think.

One is what you describe: anticipating, overthinking, etc. It can happen with a bull barrel .22 pistol with essentially zero recoil.

The other can happen with heavy recoil, but that's a lot heavier than the recoil from a full-size .45 ACP. We're talking about .44 Magnum and larger, or something like a .357 in an ultralight revolver like an Airlite.
 
Great first gun.

Doesn't have to be expensive or recoil sensitive.

There are plenty of $500 .45's out there than can be accurately and comfortably shot.

And, everything except .22 ammo is expensive and hard to get right now.

If my carry situation permitted it, I'd carry a .45 in a heartbeat.
 
The .45 ACP is an excellent choice; especially if your friend is going to be a one handgun man. Ammo is not expensive in comparison to other calibers available, is relatively easy to come by, and is easy to find reloading components if you so desire in the future. The 1911 series of handguns makes a great choice for a grown man beginning to shoot a handgun for the first time: reliable, easy to maintain, parts availability is excellent, they are accurate, they pack enough punch for self defense in the woods or in the home, and in spite of what you have heard, the recoil is not that great. A good used Colt, Auto-Ordnance, or Kimber should be easy to find for $500. I know you are just looking out for your friend, but relax, and let him purchase with confidence!
 
Recoil ? Muzzle blast ? Yeee Haaa ! That's part of the fun ! :neener:

Seriously tho, iffin' you have a Glock and a 1911 let your friend experience the difference between triggers - same for the others mentioned - NOT gonna start a Glock vs 1911 war :scrutiny:
 
First handgun I ever shot was a .357 Magnum, I was big enough to get knocked on my Butt (I was 6). Then moved to a 45ACP Learn to master the 45 and the rest is easy.
 
To look at this a slightly different way: Your friend is only going to have one handgun. (At least for now.) I've said in other threads that if I could have only one handgun it would be my XD45C. If you could only have one handgun what would it be? A .45 maybe? What makes him different? Unless they are microscopic and/or super light I find .45s to be as easy to shoot as anything else bigger than a .22. Certainly easier and more comfortable than a .40 or a .... gasp .... compact .380. :what: .45ACP has a nice slow push that's easily managed, even one-handed with your weak hand and a loose grip! You don't see many "Girl gets owned by a .45" videos on Youtube, do you? Put one round in your .45 some time, hold it with just your thumb and middle finger, and see what happens when you pull the trigger. It's not that big of a deal! I've watched a 5 foot tall, 90 pound woman out shoot me with her .45. :eek: .45ACP is probably the best handgun defensive caliber available. I don't know about you, but I like my friends and prefer them alive. :D
 
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