Better manstopper 357 Mag or 45 ACP?

[Doggieman]

Did a F'in Search and was surprised to see very little mention of the differences between 357 and 45 as manstoppers.

Given the same number of rounds (say 6), which would you rather have as a manstopper on the street vs a standard sized bad guy coming at you with a machete at 15 feet? You can load it with whatever ammo you may want.

The reason I asked is because I shot a 357 for the first time recently and found the recoil only slightly worse than my 38 with +P. One handed was a breeze and so much fun with a single action.

Thx!

 

[dodging230grainers]

Given the same number of rounds (say 6), which would you rather have as a manstopper on the street vs a standard sized bad guy coming at you with a machete at 15 feet? You can load it with whatever ammo you may want.

Remington classic 125gr SJHP @1400-1500fps.

If six don't do it, god wants you dead.

 

[ccw007]

I am going to go out on a limb and call them about equal. The only advantage I can see would go to the 45 for quicker reloads.... With that said I carry each depended on how I am dressed.

Edit to add
When I say equal I am saying stopping someone, and not necessarily ballistics numbers

 

[Bob79]

I voted .357 all the way.

A 230 grain JHP going 850FPS=369 ft lbs energy

A 158 grain JHP going 1200FPS=505 ft lbs energy

Plus the JHP in .357 WILL open up, the 45acp is doubtful.

.357 is the winner, NO CONTEST

 

[ArmedBear]

With equal projectiles, it'd be hard to argue for one or the other, as a manstopper. A good bullet in 9mm will work, too, at defensive ranges, though I suppose that a big .45 or a slam-bang .357 will do better as a stopper if your attacker is hopped up on PCP or something.

The caveat: a lot of .45 ACP out there is FMJ, vs. .357 which often is softpoint or something, even in cheap practice ammo. FMJ is inferior, in the numbers I've seen. To do a fair comparison, you have to be talking about each cartridge using effective, modern defensive ammo. .45 ACP will certainly expand, but only if you're using truly good bullets.

 

[P0832177]

Ford VS Chevy.

It matters not the caliber or cartridge. What matters about having a known effective round so to speak in a platform to launch them and place rounds on target. Case in point, Fed 357 125gr JHP (a known fight stopper) in 2.5"bbl gun vs some Win 230gr FMJ out of a Colt Officers model? Choosing the proper combo is important, matched to the abilities of the shooter.

 

[Lou22]

I voted for the .357 as overall a better manstopper. However, if I were to choose, I'd prefer the .45 for the softer recoil allowing faster followup. Also some of the hottest .45 loads are close to the .357 in foot-pounds. I carry with Double Tap 185gr rated at 616 ft/lbs. Double Tap also has a 165gr load rated at 643 ft/lbs! Of course that load may well have .357-like recoil.

Lou

 

[mnrivrat]

I can't decide !

Maybe we should look for volunteers for a double blind study ?

 

[Leadbutt]

6 of one half dozen of the other..

In 357 mag the only way to fly is 145 grain Winchester Silvertip

45ACP 230 grain Golden Sabers, both do the job very well

 

[1 old 0311]

The .357 wins in EVERY type of test EVER done.

 

[_N4Z_]

.357mag > .45acp imho.

The reason I asked is because I shot a 357 for the first time recently and found the recoil only slightly worse than my 38 with +P.

What were you shooting?

There are a myriad of different loadings for 357mag. I find CCI Blazer 158's to be the mildest of the factory offerings, and they are great plinkers.

Buffalo Bore, CorBon and several other kinds may change your opinion of 357 recoil though, especially comparing it to .38+p. I use off brand Independence ammo for plinking alot also, and if I don't mind my grip they will take skin off of my trigger finger. Not super bad recoil, but you know they're there.

 

[Deer Hunter]

"Maybe we should look for volunteers for a double blind study?"

Haha, thanks man. I got a kick out of that one.

I voted .357. Either will do the job if the shooter does his part, so my basis was ballistics and theoretical use.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Well I voted for the .357 six rounds, but my S&W Airlite carries seven! And, I have a speed loader for another seven if I would need it, but hopefully I will be a good enough shot that I won't need the last five of the first cylinder.

 

[ugaarguy]

Whichever one the gun you shhot best is chambered in. Using equal quality loads with equaly good shot placement the bad guy will be equaly - DEAD. Quickly. The gun you quickly shoot best under stress is how you decide which caliber is best.

 

[KINGMAX]

GLOCK 21 .45 acp

just one man's opinion = .45 acp / or how about .45 Long Colt in Silvertips = BIG OUCHIE

 

[Doggieman]

What were you shooting?

I was shooting a short barrel SP101 with factory Fiocci FMJ flat-noses.. forget the bullet weight.

Really very pleasurable, even with one hand. I alternated 38+Ps and 357s in the chambers and could tell the difference, but if someone were to simply load the gun with all of one type I don't think I could have told which one I was firing without looking.

 

[orionengnr]

...in my collection, given equivalent (carry) size, my .45s are more point-able, more accurate, easier to follow up with and more quickly reloadable.

This assumes that concealed carry is the subject here...if not, my bad... pause/rewind/reset.

That said, my nightstand gun is still a .45acp, although I have .357(s) available in my safe....

 

[Rinspeed]

Neither, both are handgun rounds and will stop someone about half the time even with a good shot.

 

[steelhead]

In women's tennis I always root for the heterosexual.



Splitting hairs, flip a coin, pick an action type you prefer.

 

[Harley Quinn]

The CHP does not like the 357

But that does not mean it is not good. One is a revolver cartridge and the other is pistol.

Both are designed for different jobs. The 357 is a better hunter, and the 45 is supposed to be better for war Or so says the Goverment. They also like the 9mm.

The 357 in the "Desert Eagle" is a killer, according to the Israel Army.

I believe if I had my choice of one or the other, for home defense. I'd have to go for the 45 cal. in my Astra 80. Not to big and holds 10 rounds in the mag and 1 in the chamber.

HQ

 

[MCgunner]

Recoil in the .357 ain't as bad as some would have you to believe, well, until you shoot one out of a 12 ounce J frame. LOL! Also, if you're talkin' out of sub 3" barrels, things get really close between the two calibers. And, it is load dependent. .45 hardball is notoriously weak except when compared to .38 or 9mm hardball or some other weak load. A 185 or 200 grain +P hollow point is pretty effective, though. But, my money would go on the .357 125 grain JHP out of 4" or better barrel loaded to 1400+ fps.

I would use the .45 as home protection in favor of the .357. I don't like the flash/bang in the dark indoors, disorienting to say the least. The .45 performs at lower pressures with less flash/bang. Also, I ain't worth a flyin' toot with speed loaders and readily admit it. I can do quite well with speed and tactical reloads in an automatic.

If I'm outdoors hiking or doing something in the wilds, I'll take the .357 every time. I'll pack along some wadcutters if I wanna use it for small game and some 180 grain fire breathers if I'm worried about bear or other four legged vermin. My Blackhawk has rifle like effective range, out to 100 yards anyway, with that load. If I'm in the concrete jungle, I must admit I'd rather be packin' a .45 IWB with a couple of spare mags.

There's more to firearms choice than a straight up comparison of effectiveness of loads, let's just put it that way.

 

[Erich]

Is this a joke? Really . . . this particular question is such a cliche that I have to wonder if someone's really having fun with this poll.

 

[MCgunner]

Also some of the hottest .45 loads are close to the .357 in foot-pounds. I carry with Double Tap 185gr rated at 616 ft/lbs. Double Tap also has a 165gr load rated at 643 ft/lbs! Of course that load may well have .357-like recoil.

It might also drastically shorten the life of your autoloader if you fire many in it, especially a 1911. That level of load, even a 22 lb recoil spring seems weak. I had a 22 lb spring in my AMT 1911 shooting handloads that are about modern +P equivalent, pretty hot, 500+ ft lbs. They would smash a recoil buffer absolutely pancake flat in one range session. I started to notice a little flairing on that gun's slide, too, where it contacts the frame on recoil, so i stuck 'em back for VERY limited use.

I've put a 16 lbs 1911 spring in my P90 Ruger (fits, but is preloaded) and it works great with light or heavy loads. It's a stiffer spring than what came in it by a good margin. I don't think those +Ps bother it much, but still, I've only fired a small number out of it. My carry loads in that gun are 200 grain Speer JHPs at 950 fps, plenty enough for the job. That's about 400 ft lbs. What I really like about that load is the amazing accuracy.

 

[possum]

They would both be plenty enough for any job, but i voted .357 for the intimidation factor, you wouldn't even have to get off 6 rds i am sure they would tuck there head and run, well that is if they were smart. Especially if it is a snubby, with some hot loads like my dad loads up, it's like a mini flashbang going off. One of the greatest feelings when shooting is feeling the repercussioun when that model 19 of his goes off!

 

[coastguard]

Shot placement always wins regardless of caliber.