Energy diffetence between 45 and 9mm in the same barrel length...

[saturno_v]

It is common to hear that the 45 ACP has a bit more energy than a 9mm.....I'm not talking about any other ballistic aspect here....bullet size, SD, etc...just stick with energy...


And it is true, if you take the published ballistic tables of any common ammo manufacturer, you'll see that the 45 has more energy than a 9 all across the board (similar SD bullets, +P vs. +P)

However, as we all know, the published 45 ACP numbers are intended for 5" barrels, the 9mm ones for 4".....


My question is, on a 5" barrel (for es. the Beretta 92/M9 or a 9mm 1911) has the 9mm really less muzzle energy than a 45?? Bear in mind that I'm not talking about niche products, just your regular Remchesteral stuff....

 

[holdencm9]

www.ballisticsbytheinch.com

115gr Cor Bon +P
1372 fps out of 5" test barrel - - - - 481 ft-lbs
1384 out of Beretta 92FS - - - - - 489 ft-lbs

230gr Cor Bon +P
1015 fps out of 5" test barrel - - - - - 526 ft-lbs
893 fps out of 3" test barrel - - - - - 407 ft-lbs

So, trying to compare "apples to apples," the 9mm out of a 5" barrel doesn't quite match up to a .45 in energy, but it gets close. Shorter-barrel .45's definitely see a reduction in velocity though, and hence, energy. A hot 9mm load will always beat typical .45 range ammo, or anything not designed around SD applications. In any case, both can be potent rounds.

I know you said "typical" ammo I don't know if you meant range ammo, not SD ammo, but BBTI mostly tests SD ammo. But across the board, comparing "equivalent" products of 9mm and .45 I think you'd get similar results, with .45 edging out 9mm typically.