Any practical reason to go over .45 caliber for EDC? *Read 1st post*

[TTv2]

To keep this short, the state I live mandates range qualification to get a carry license and the law is you cannot carry a caliber that is larger than the one you qualify with, so if for some reason someday I bought a .50 caliber handgun and only qualified with .45, it wouldn't be legal to carry it.

I do have my .54 single shot percussion pistol I wouldn't mind carrying on occasion, but IDK if I can qualify at 25y with that, nor if I would carry it more than once out in the woods.

It leaves me to ask others: is there a good enough reason for me to go out of my way to attempt to qualify with something larger than a .45 caliber?

One of the fun little things about the range qualification is that so long as the firearm is legally a pistol, it can have any kind of optic on it, which means if I wanted to, I could buy a single shot Thompson Center with a 4x scope and qualify with that and it's not against the rules.

 

[tmd16556]

That rule both makes sense (barely qualifying with 22lr then carrying a 44 mag) and can end up with silly restrictions (qualify with 41 mag but can’t carry 45 auto). Unless you’re planning on getting a .50 or 460 that you’d carry it doesn’t make much sense.

 

[Old Dog]

It leaves me to ask others: is there a good enough reason for me to go out of my way to attempt to qualify with something larger than a .45 caliber?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no.

Personally, if I felt the need to have a caliber option greater than a .45 ACP pistol for concealed/everyday carry, I'll also for sure have a FAC on speed dial, CAS on standby, a pintle-mounted M134 in the bed of my Silverado, an M48 or MG338 at the head of my driveway and I won't be going to my local Wal-Mart in anything less than platoon strength.

 

[aaaaa]

Interesting question. Horrible state requirement. How much trouble is it to update your qualification if someday you decided to carry something larger than .45?

 

[sgt127]

So. If you qualify with a .45 1911, you are good with .45 LC. .41 and .44 Magnum? If so, I’d see no reason to qualify with anything larger unless you actually wander around grizzly country.

 

[TTv2]

Interesting question. Horrible state requirement. How much trouble is it to update your qualification if someday you decided to carry something larger than .45?

I'm sure it would end up like starting from square one, but since there are no lifetime licenses and the renewal is every couple years, I'm sure someone could wait a few years to do the re-qualification, which may also be required for every renewal.

 

[Leon tP]

To keep this short, the state I live mandates range qualification to get a carry license and the law is you cannot carry a caliber that is larger than the one you qualify with, so if for some reason someday I bought a .50 caliber handgun and only qualified with .45, it wouldn't be legal to carry it.
...

Stupid law but this is what I would probably do...

Go and buy a 50 GI upper for your G21/G20 and qualify with that, this way you're covered up to 500 S&W Magnum. I doubt you'll ever need more than that.

 

[UncleEd]

Why not just be practical? Choose the caliber that
EDC implies. For nearly everyone that's a .45ACP,
9mm or .38/.357.

 

[Pat Riot]

Do you hunt?

Do you have to have this permit if hunting with a handgun?

Do you have to have a permit to open carry in the woods?

Do you intend to buy a handgun that shoots.480 Ruger, .500 S&W or .50 AE?

Note: .460 S&W Magnum uses a .452” bullet like .45 Colt and .45 ACP - .452”

 

[CDW4ME]

Stupid law but this is what I would probably do...

Go and buy a 50 GI upper for your G21/G20 and qualify with that, this way you're covered up to 500 S&W Magnum. I doubt you'll ever need more than that.

I came here to say that, link:
https://www.guncrafterindustries.co...es-50gi-drop-in-conversion-for-glock-pistols/

And then there is this (50 AE):
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/154547

 

[mavracer]

t leaves me to ask others: is there a good enough reason for me to go out of my way to attempt to qualify with something larger than a .45 caliber?

What would going out of your way entail.
I wouldn't buy a 45 just to do it, but if I had a buddy that had one I could borrow I'd certainly buy a box of ammo and do that.
If I were in that situation I would probably qualify with my 480 Ruger BFR just to cover bases even though I'd never carry it.

 

[Tallball]

If you qualify with 45acp you're good.

If 45 colt or 44 magnum aren't enough, you need a long gun.

 

[Charlie98]

Actually, with the old laws in Texas, you can't qualify with a single-shot.. because of the rapid fire sequences. Texas used to have the stupid limitation... if you qualified with a revolver, you couldn't carry an automatic; your LTC said 'revolver only' on it.

Bragging rights? Sure, go ahead. Practical application? Just shoot a .45 and be done... don't be That Guy.

ETA: Also in Texas, you weren't allowed handloads, ammo had to be factory. I don't know what a box of .50AE costs these days, but....

 

[GBExpat]

... It leaves me to ask others: is there a good enough reason for me to go out of my way to attempt to qualify with something larger than a .45 caliber? ...

IMO, no.

 

[aaaaa]

Note: .460 S&W Magnum uses a .452” bullet like .45 Colt and .45 ACP - .452”

And the regulators would likely still consider it a .460 and not allow it.

 

[bannockburn]

Me personally as far as EDC goes (and I don't plan on hunting with a handgun), a .45 ACP pistol would suit me just fine!

So to answer your question, I would say that as far as I'm concerned, there would not be any practical reason to go over .45 caliber for EDC.

 

[tarosean]

NM?

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no.

Personally, if I felt the need to have a caliber option greater than a .45 ACP pistol for concealed/everyday carry, I'll also for sure have a FAC on speed dial, CAS on standby, a pintle-mounted M134 in the bed of my Silverado, an M48 or MG338 at the head of my driveway and I won't be going to my local Wal-Mart in anything less than platoon strength.

Well, by that rule you wouldn't need to worry about the M134, MG48, or MG338, they're all smaller caliber than .45 ACP!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

45 is likely going to cover you well.

However, I do like the 50GI idea on a Glock.

 

[Old Dog]

Well, by that rule you wouldn't need to worry about the M134, MG48, or MG338, they're all smaller caliber than .45 ACP!

Yeah, and I'm not one of those that believes size matters, either. All about velocity and rate of fire... and the pesky concepts of ease of carry, concealed or otherwise, handling, accuracy, recoil management and reliability.

But really, and I'm not being facetious anymore (and no disrespect to the OP), but the sheer impracticality of carrying a handgun -- for everyday carry, which to me implies concealed carry -- in a caliber larger than .45 ACP strikes me as a notion that's not worthy of consideration in my reality. YMMV.

 

[md7]

So. If you qualify with a .45 1911, you are good with .45 LC. .41 and .44 Magnum? If so, I’d see no reason to qualify with anything larger unless you actually wander around grizzly country.

My opinion mirrors the above ^^^

 

[The Night Rider]

I do have my .54 single shot percussion pistol I wouldn't mind carrying on occasion, but IDK if I can qualify at 25y with that, nor if I would carry it more than once out in the woods.

I have to question the practicality of carrying a single shot handgun for self-defense.

That seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to just so you can have some pocket bling

 

[TheHermit]

is there a good enough reason for me to go out of my way to attempt to qualify with something larger than a .45 caliber?

I really don't think so, especially if qualifying with a .45 ACP / .45 Long Colt allows you to carry a .44 Magnum.

range qualification is that so long as the firearm is legally a pistol, it can have any kind of optic on it

What is the course of fire like and what kind of target is used?

 

[TTv2]

I have to question the practicality of carrying a single shot handgun for self-defense.

That seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to just so you can have some pocket bling

I've had a single shot on my list for a long time, just not one larger than .45

 

[TTv2]

What is the course of fire like and what kind of target is used?

25 yards, Army L target, 30 shots, 30 minutes, score of 190 to pass.

i do find it odd that the qualification is to shoot at a ridiculous distance that is very rare in self defense shootings and is also a military style range testing criteria given it's an Army target, yet this is simply to carry a handgun for protection against non-military threats.