A Different Way to Look at the Caliber Question

Which Caliber Do You Choose?

  • 380acp

    Votes: 2 2.2%

  • 9mm

    Votes: 18 19.4%

  • 357 magnum

    Votes: 8 8.6%

  • 40 caliber

    Votes: 4 4.3%

  • 10mm

    Votes: 8 8.6%

  • 45acp

    Votes: 53 57.0%
  • Total voters
    93
I voted 10mm because I like it better than the 45ACP, but those that voted 45ACP is not surprising given the premise of the OP's situation. A fullsize, limited capacity pistol; no reason to go small in caliber.
 
Hiking and mo'cycle riding is something I don't engage in anymore but I opted for the 45 ACP for the others. If I could still do all the things mentioned I would still go with the big 'ol 45. I know it well and like it. Still shoot it fairly good too.
 
someguy2800 said:
View attachment 1130614
Click to expand...

That is the energy that is being absorbed by the target that so many people want to say doesn't matter. To many its just as simple as expansion and penetration, totally dismissing the energy that has to go somewhere when penetration is similar.

The picture does look a bit suspect in regards to the 45ACP expansion looking significantly less than the 10mm. But it could just be the angle that the expanded projectile is laying in the gel. I'm a 10mm fan, but this just caught me when looking at it.
 
BreechFace said:
That is the energy that is being absorbed by the target that so many people want to say doesn't matter. To many its just as simple as expansion and penetration, totally dismissing the energy that has to go somewhere when penetration is similar.

The picture does look a bit suspect in regards to the 45ACP expansion looking significantly less than the 10mm. But it could just be the angle that the expanded projectile is laying in the gel. I'm a 10mm fan, but this just caught me when looking at it.
Click to expand...

You didn't notice that the 10mm one also has a mushroom cloud?
 
someguy2800 said:
You didn't notice that the 10mm one also has a mushroom cloud?
Click to expand...

Yes, I knew that was simply photoshop.

I'm wondering if everything else is legit such as the size of the projectile. I've seen a similar, and maybe the same picture before but without the photoshop.
 
someguy2800 said:
You didn't notice that the 10mm one also has a mushroom cloud?
Click to expand...

That's perfectly normal, and nothing for the 10mm to be ashamed of. ;)

What is more interesting to me (and undoctored) is the .357 Sig damage. Which from this view is at least as much (if not greater) surface area than either .40s or the .45acp.
 
Seems the wider damage area is directly related to bullet velocity. That 10mm was traveling significantly faster than all but the .357 Sig. But, yeah, that nuclear mushroom cloud on the 10mm is suspect. What would cause that? Do they make bullets with exploding tips?
 
aaaaa said:
Seems the wider damage area is directly related to bullet velocity. That 10mm was traveling significantly faster than all but the .357 Sig. But, yeah, that nuclear mushroom cloud on the 10mm is suspect. What would cause that? Do they make bullets with exploding tips?
Click to expand...

As I recall, all the 10mm stuff in the image is fake. Even the text other than "10mm" was copied from the lines above.
 
WrongHanded said:
As I recall, all the 10mm stuff in the image is fake. Even the text other than "10mm" was copied from the lines above.
Click to expand...
Since the chart is in ascending caliber size but the last two are in the wrong order, I maintain the big fat lung blowing mushroom cloud one is actually the 45 AckPee round--one of my favorite AckPees! :D
 
WrongHanded said:
It's wonderful when someone can so easily illustrate that the "penetration and expansion only" argument leaves a lot to be desired. And do so simply by challenge those who believe such nonsense to pick a .380acp over a .357 magnum, because they're "equally effective".
Click to expand...
On another forum, that shall remain nameless, they'll make all kinds of wonderfully contrived excuses trying to make all rounds "equivalent". CDW4ME knows the site I'm taking about. Even logical arguments can't shake their immutable beliefs.

I still visit there because it's just amusing as H***!
 
When people throw out the 9mm performs the same as 40 and 45 line I usually either pretend to agree with them or if I feel like arguing I just say you should just use a 22 then since caliber doesn’t matter.
 
someguy2800 said:
When people throw out the 9mm performs the same as 40 and 45 line I usually either pretend to agree with them or if I feel like arguing I just say you should just use a 22 then since caliber doesn’t matter.
Click to expand...
It's fun sometimes to chase them around the barn so to speak.
 
OP specified only two legged miscreants and no "large dangerous animals" for a reason; if bears were a possibility then 10mm would dominate the poll.

How this works: ;)
Consensus says: 9mm and 45 are both fine if facing armed human attackers trying to kill you. (Some would inexplicably even content themself with a 32)
What if a bear is trying to kill me? Oh, consensus says then 10mm is better.
Ugh, wouldn't a 10mm be better for stopping humans too? No, cause reasons (they vary).o_O

Are armed humans not "large dangerous animals"? Well, it depends on the area, small town versus a big city, day or night, threat assessment, "I feel".... o_O

Bears trying to kill you and you want to stop them ASAP with a pistol = 10mm
Armed humans trying to kill you and you want to stop them ASAP = anticipated threat, area, statistics, James Bond, used in Europe 75 years ago, "I feel"
:neener:
 
CDW4ME said:
OP specified only two legged miscreants and no "large dangerous animals" for a reason; if bears were a possibility then 10mm would dominate the poll.

How this works: ;)
Consensus says: 9mm and 45 are both fine if facing armed human attackers trying to kill you. (Some would inexplicably even content themself with a 32)
What if a bear is trying to kill me? Oh, consensus says then 10mm is better.
Ugh, wouldn't a 10mm be better for stopping humans too? No, cause reasons (they vary).o_O

Are armed humans not "large dangerous animals"? Well, it depends on the area, small town versus a big city, day or night, threat assessment, "I feel".... o_O

Bears trying to kill you and you want to stop them ASAP with a pistol = 10mm
Armed humans trying to kill you and you want to stop them ASAP = anticipated threat, area, statistics, James Bond, used in Europe 75 years ago, "I feel"
:neener:
Click to expand...

This is just my perspective but for bear 10mm edges out 45 because the 10mm when properly loaded with like a 220 gr hard cast should ensure more penetration. Bear are big thick animals with heavy bones so that's pretty important. Humans are not very thick or tough though so I think 45 vs 10mm with hollowpoints will be more or less a tossup. If I'm picking my own full size gun in one of the two I'll take 10mm over 45 every time because of capacity and grip thickness. Something like an M&P 10mm or a Tanfoglio in 10mm are more apealing to me than any 45. If you want something compact though I would lean back towards 45 just because there aren't really any small slim 10mm guns that I know of like a shield 45 or kahr CW45.
 
I don't currently own a 1911 or any other handgun in .45ACP. But in the scenario you posit, I'd take the .45.
 
Hi..
I would choose .45ACP in a 1911 as that is what my carry gun and cartridge choice had been for multiple decades.
I do have extensive experience with all of the other calibers except .380 which I have never owned or fired.My second choice would probably be 10mm because I have shot it a lot in the 1911 platform and in my son's Glock.
Third choice would probably be .40 because I have shot it a lot in my S&W M&P40 but never in a 1911.
I would not choose the .357 although I have shot tens of thousands of that round through multiple firearms because I have never shot it in a 1911.
I wouldn't choose the 9mm because although I have shot it a lot, I have never shot it in a 1911. Additionally, I have never been much of a 9mm fan.
 
I wasn't surprised by numbers and charts, but the sharp turn towards bear thread actually did surprise me. :)
 
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