I got a 9mm because it's my first handgun and I didn't want to start off with something too powerful (probably should have started with a .22). But from what I've read, there's not too much difference between 9mm & .45 in the real world, as long as you do your part.
9mm vs. .45 sidearms
- Thread starter Banana357
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MarshallDodge
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The vehicle that has been shot with the .45 will have the bigger hole.rossj711 said:
I am a .45 guy. I like the 1911 and that's what was meant to be shot in it but I do own a 1911 in 9mm that is fun to shoot and good for beginners. There is something that feels different about .40 that I can't put my finger on but I think it's a good compromise between 9mm and .45 .
It's all about shot placement.
Grunt
Member
Texshooter said:
Well, I wasn't the one behind the M9 (that was my Ssgt.) but I was there in the sandbox when he dumped 6 rounds center mass on a towlie that didn't go down until I got the turret spun around and a quick burst from the '60 dropped him in his tracks. Lessons learned? 9mm FMJ ammo is the worst ammunition you can ever issue a man. IMHO, the dolts that shoved 9mm down our throats just to have a NATO standard round ought to be tried for treason!
The other poster that suggested the military stay with the 9mm may not have been thinking that we are restricted to FMJ ammo that is fit for nothing more than poking holes in paper and small vermin! 9mm with good hollow points may be a different story but for military use restriced to FMJ ammo, the old .45 is the only way to go...and it looks like the powers that be are FINALLY getting that message!!
IndianaDean
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I too like 1911s. I also have Hi Powers in 9. However, as our military is restricted to ball ammo, I think we should say the h*ll with Nato and go back to the .45. I don't care for the .40.
Dwayne Russell
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9mm Vs .45
My neighbor and good friend is a Sheriff’s deputy that has been shot in the line of duty. Thankfully he was wearing a vest. The round that hit him was fired from a 9mm. The impact knocked him down but he was immediately back up and he and his partner emptied both of their 9mm weapons. Twenty-Eight rounds were fired by the officers and not one of them hit their target. The shooter eventually shot himself.
Which proves that shot placement is everything.
Having said that I personally would not risk my life on a POS like the 9mm.
Four million dead German soldiers can't be wrong. Give me the .45
My neighbor and good friend is a Sheriff’s deputy that has been shot in the line of duty. Thankfully he was wearing a vest. The round that hit him was fired from a 9mm. The impact knocked him down but he was immediately back up and he and his partner emptied both of their 9mm weapons. Twenty-Eight rounds were fired by the officers and not one of them hit their target. The shooter eventually shot himself.
Which proves that shot placement is everything.
Having said that I personally would not risk my life on a POS like the 9mm.
Four million dead German soldiers can't be wrong. Give me the .45
williamlayton
Member
If you are in the market for a 9mm at least get a 9x23, roll your own and have a weapon that surpasses a .45 for protection and shoots soft.
Blessings
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outofbattery
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BigG said:Harold Mayo: Other than the US, ain't nobody won a war in the last two generations. Coincidence?
It sounds cute but even if you somehow believe that the 1911 had even the slightest outcome in America's 9th inning entry into WWI and in the overall outcome of WWII,don't you also have to count that it's responsible for a tie in Korea and a loss in Vietnam?
R.W.Dale
Member
What kind of person carries a .45. THE SAME KIND OF PERSON THAT DREGES UP A 2yo THREAD!
I'll throw in my .02 I guess.
1) Let us remember... we are talking about handguns. They are *defensive* only 99.99% of the world. If you are using a sidearm, you are already in a bad place. Handguns (all calibers) are weak and underpowered. We carry them for convenience (light & small), and concealability. If you are looking for a fight, or know trouble is headed your way... get a long gun.
2) With regard to the military... you cannot compare our selection of caliber to LEOs and private citizens. The Hague Convention requires us to use FMJ ammo (except on certain terrorists) which has lousy results in any caliber. If you are restricted to FMJ ammo, then the bigger bullet is better IMO. This is why the DoD is returning to the 45ACP for all handguns. The RFP has already been released asking for entries.
3) With private citizens and LEOs, there is a great selection of hollowpoint/defensive ammo to choose from. With appropriate ammo, the 9mm is plenty potent. It earned its bad reputation from the early days in LE where 9mm HPs were still not at peak performance. While I do not feel less safe, or under-armed when carrying a 9mm (w/ appropriate ammo), I prefer the 45ACP. Why? Bcz with appropriate ammo it makes a bigger hole. In the end though, shot placement is key and it's a defensive tool, so it doesn't matter what caliber it is (unless you start talking mouse guns).
4) There are plenty of failures to stop in all handgun calibers. Heck, even in the 1920s, a Tommy Gun in 45ACP (read: higher velocity from the longer barrel). I want to say it was "Baby Face" something or other, but a gangster was in a shootout with a couple federal agents. He was hit 17 times (yes, seventeen) by the feds 45ACP Tommy Gun. He charged the two agents and killed them both, then drove off dying later of blood loss.
Banana, if you asked about this to buy your own gun, find the one you can most easily shoot well and practice with it. If you asked to stir the pot on an age-old debate, then congrats.
1) Let us remember... we are talking about handguns. They are *defensive* only 99.99% of the world. If you are using a sidearm, you are already in a bad place. Handguns (all calibers) are weak and underpowered. We carry them for convenience (light & small), and concealability. If you are looking for a fight, or know trouble is headed your way... get a long gun.
2) With regard to the military... you cannot compare our selection of caliber to LEOs and private citizens. The Hague Convention requires us to use FMJ ammo (except on certain terrorists) which has lousy results in any caliber. If you are restricted to FMJ ammo, then the bigger bullet is better IMO. This is why the DoD is returning to the 45ACP for all handguns. The RFP has already been released asking for entries.
3) With private citizens and LEOs, there is a great selection of hollowpoint/defensive ammo to choose from. With appropriate ammo, the 9mm is plenty potent. It earned its bad reputation from the early days in LE where 9mm HPs were still not at peak performance. While I do not feel less safe, or under-armed when carrying a 9mm (w/ appropriate ammo), I prefer the 45ACP. Why? Bcz with appropriate ammo it makes a bigger hole. In the end though, shot placement is key and it's a defensive tool, so it doesn't matter what caliber it is (unless you start talking mouse guns).
4) There are plenty of failures to stop in all handgun calibers. Heck, even in the 1920s, a Tommy Gun in 45ACP (read: higher velocity from the longer barrel). I want to say it was "Baby Face" something or other, but a gangster was in a shootout with a couple federal agents. He was hit 17 times (yes, seventeen) by the feds 45ACP Tommy Gun. He charged the two agents and killed them both, then drove off dying later of blood loss.
Banana, if you asked about this to buy your own gun, find the one you can most easily shoot well and practice with it. If you asked to stir the pot on an age-old debate, then congrats.
Borachon
Member
Actually, I think Baby Face Nelson was also shot with other guns the agent were carrying. A shotgun and .38 if I'm not wrong.
If I remember correctly, Baby Face was "only" shot 5 or 6 times with a .45.
Then he took his own Thompson, strolled across the road casually, (a telephone lineman was watching from a distance away) and slew both agents. Then walked back to his car and drove off. Dying some hour or so later.
Wish he'd gone into the Army. We could have used him around 1942.
Eh.. could be. That was how I read the story, but it was years ago and I never had the interest to follow it up with any research. Couldn't even begin to tell you the source. Guess I have something to google tonight.Borachon said:Actually, I think Baby Face Nelson was also shot with other guns the agent were carrying. A shotgun and .38 if I'm not wrong.
If I remember correctly, Baby Face was "only" shot 5 or 6 times with a .45.
Then he took his own Thompson, strolled across the road casually, (a telephone lineman was watching from a distance away) and slew both agents. Then walked back to his car and drove off. Dying some hour or so later.
Wish he'd gone into the Army. We could have used him around 1942.
palerider1
member
i have owned both a 9mm and a 45.....i like the 45
palerider1
palerider1
gremlin_bros
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own both
own both shoot both carry 45
wife
own both shoots both carries 45
wife likes to quote 9mm= 45 acp set to stun
me its all about knock down power
own both shoot both carry 45
wife
own both shoots both carries 45
wife likes to quote 9mm= 45 acp set to stun
me its all about knock down power
Given proper shot placement, the difference between a 9mm and a .45 is negligible. Caliber won't compensate for marksmanship, but either round will penetrate enough to do significant damage. Ask an ER doc if he can tell the difference in wound channels, tissue damage, or blood loss between the two rounds. I'd bet he can't.
R.W.Dale
Member
MDG1976 said:
gunfan
Member
agtman said:"I was wondering which round you guys think is more useful in most situations."
"More useful in most situations" implies a quest for versatility. The most versatile autoloading cartridge extant is the 10mm AUTO.
With the 10mm AUTO, you get a round that approximates the speed of the 9-minimeter with the historic "knock-down thump" of the .45acp. Plus, the 10mm brings to the table higher sectional density than the .45 for better penetration against intermediate barriers. In most pistols of equivalent size, the 10mm also has a higher mag capacity than the .45 (if that's an issue).
When you're finally serious about stopping power, you're ready for the 10mm AUTO.
Works for me!
Scott
kimberkrazy
Member
Loaded question but I can help
For years I was a 9mm only kind of guy thinking the 45 had too much recoil for me. Then I purchased a good 45 ACP and fell in love. It does everything better! I have only one 9mm now as a CCW in a Kahr PM9 and I think it is perfect for my CCW but the rest are 45's and 22's. Factory ammo cost is the only draw back I can find. I tried a few 40's and I see no reason to go there with so many 45's looking for a home.
For years I was a 9mm only kind of guy thinking the 45 had too much recoil for me. Then I purchased a good 45 ACP and fell in love. It does everything better! I have only one 9mm now as a CCW in a Kahr PM9 and I think it is perfect for my CCW but the rest are 45's and 22's. Factory ammo cost is the only draw back I can find. I tried a few 40's and I see no reason to go there with so many 45's looking for a home.
mmike87
Member
gunfan said:Works for me!
Scott
The biggest drawbacks of the 10mm:
- Ammo cost
- Availability of guns in 10mm
If you go with a 10, you really limit your choices of pistols. That said, I WILL own a 10mm someday ... but I think that availaibility of guns and cost of ammo does need to be a consideration.
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