Favorite pistol round?
- Thread starter boo17
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FPrice
Member
Actually, it depends upon you and what you want it for.
Out of the calibers you name, the .45ACP is my favorite, but have you considered a good .357 revolver in order to be able to use both .38 SPL and .357 Magnumns?
You say that your first (and only?) pistol is a Walther P22. That was a good choice for a first pistol. Perhaps a good choice for your second is the versatile .38SPL/.357 Magnum. Just a thought to consider.
Out of the calibers you name, the .45ACP is my favorite, but have you considered a good .357 revolver in order to be able to use both .38 SPL and .357 Magnumns?
You say that your first (and only?) pistol is a Walther P22. That was a good choice for a first pistol. Perhaps a good choice for your second is the versatile .38SPL/.357 Magnum. Just a thought to consider.
Rupestris
Member
Depends on a couple factors. Personally I like the .45ACP for fun to shoot and for HD/SD. For cost reasons I prefer the 9MM for target shooting and plinking.
Of course, the type/brand of handgun would play role too.
What brands, models, types of semi-autos are you looking at?
Of course, the type/brand of handgun would play role too.
What brands, models, types of semi-autos are you looking at?
For auto-loaders, .22LR and .45ACP.
22 for practice, 45 for everything else.
For hunting and large predator protection, .44 magnum revolvers are better than any autoloader. For concealment, a .38+P or .44 special revolver is mighty fine.
22 for practice, 45 for everything else.
For hunting and large predator protection, .44 magnum revolvers are better than any autoloader. For concealment, a .38+P or .44 special revolver is mighty fine.
M2 Carbine
member
Everything is fun to shoot but picking one, all things considered it would be the 45 ACP.
It has everything going for it.
Powerful but can be loaded down to a pussycat.
Not too expensive. Very cheap to reload.
Very accurate.
Many guns to choose from.
Many different bullets to choose from.
It is a proven round from the shooting range to the battlefield.
It has everything going for it.
Powerful but can be loaded down to a pussycat.
Not too expensive. Very cheap to reload.
Very accurate.
Many guns to choose from.
Many different bullets to choose from.
It is a proven round from the shooting range to the battlefield.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
My favorite pistol round is the 9mmx32R, but there are very few Semi's that will operate in this caliber very well, one the Coonan and the other the Desert Eagle.
Barring that I really like the 45 acp with the 9mmx19 a close second.
Barring that I really like the 45 acp with the 9mmx19 a close second.
Jesse308
Member
My favorite would be the 45ACP followed by the 9mm.
nero45acp
Member
Guess.
nero
nero
faustulus
Member
nine millio.
probably the widest selection of platforms.
cheap to reload or cheap to buy at wal-mart.
Recoil easier to manage.
good for defense.
tons of ammo variety.
highest capacity in hicaps and slimest designs in single stacks.
plus you can get a P7 and a HiPower.
probably the widest selection of platforms.
cheap to reload or cheap to buy at wal-mart.
Recoil easier to manage.
good for defense.
tons of ammo variety.
highest capacity in hicaps and slimest designs in single stacks.
plus you can get a P7 and a HiPower.
Barry in IN
Member
In my opinion, and only my opinion,
Being your first centerfire pistol, I'd probably say 9mm.
You (like me, and everbody else) needs all the practice they can get. A 9mm will allow the most bang for the buck, as already stated.
You can walk into WalMart (I'd rather not, but I could) and buy 500 rounds of Winchester "white box" 9mm practice ammo for something like 50-55 bucks- about half what the same in 45ACP goes for.
I carry a 9mm often (Browning HiPower or HK P7M8), and feel fine about it.
But, when I can, I carry a .45ACP 1911, because a little more can't hurt.
For that matter, if I could hide it, I'd carry an M1 Garand.
I feel that the biggest negative to the 9mm is that there are only a few effective types of defensive ammo available.
I like CorBon 115 jhp+P, 125 jhp+P; and Federal 115 jhp (Fed's part number 9BP) or the Fed 115 jhp+P (9BPLE).
The Winchester Ranger 127 grain +P+ is favored by a lot of people, but I have no experience with it. It is intended for Law Enforcement only, and is usually harder to come by.
The 45ACP, on the other hand is just dandy in almost any configuration, except the really light bullets- again, in my opinion.
Being your first centerfire pistol, I'd probably say 9mm.
You (like me, and everbody else) needs all the practice they can get. A 9mm will allow the most bang for the buck, as already stated.
You can walk into WalMart (I'd rather not, but I could) and buy 500 rounds of Winchester "white box" 9mm practice ammo for something like 50-55 bucks- about half what the same in 45ACP goes for.
I carry a 9mm often (Browning HiPower or HK P7M8), and feel fine about it.
But, when I can, I carry a .45ACP 1911, because a little more can't hurt.
For that matter, if I could hide it, I'd carry an M1 Garand.
I feel that the biggest negative to the 9mm is that there are only a few effective types of defensive ammo available.
I like CorBon 115 jhp+P, 125 jhp+P; and Federal 115 jhp (Fed's part number 9BP) or the Fed 115 jhp+P (9BPLE).
The Winchester Ranger 127 grain +P+ is favored by a lot of people, but I have no experience with it. It is intended for Law Enforcement only, and is usually harder to come by.
The 45ACP, on the other hand is just dandy in almost any configuration, except the really light bullets- again, in my opinion.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's All-
I am with my friend Frosty (and others) on this one, as
the .45 ACP is also my favorite; followed closely by the
.38/.357 and the 9m/m.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I am with my friend Frosty (and others) on this one, as
the .45 ACP is also my favorite; followed closely by the
.38/.357 and the 9m/m.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
threefeathers
member
i have them all, understand that 357 Sig in a 229 is my hourly companion. But, I would start with a 9mm because the ammo is so cheap you will be able to get good with it. I recommend a CZ or Taurus 92 (high cap mags are cheap for these) for a starter auto. Then 45 ACP in a 1911, then go Sig.
Merc40
Member
9 mm is fun and reasonably priced!
for some background info: I have a .38, but me and my grandfather share it, so i dont shoot it a lot. he uses it for home defense. I was thinking a P99, since I love my P22. The P99 comes in 9mm, which im considering a lot more, and the .40sw. But nobody has talked about the .40 yet, any thoughts/ opinions on it ?
jrpeterman
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I own autoladers in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. I enjoy all 3 calibers, but my favorite is the 40. I use it for steel plate shoots and like it the best. I would compare the 40 for autos on the same plane as the .357 mag. for revolvers. It has more snap, but is controlable. INMHO, If you could only have one of the 3, the 40 S&W brings out the best features of the other 2 calibers. The 9mm is the cheapest to feed and is more affordable to shoot. There is nothing wrong with the 9mm, it would be my second choice. The 45 is a big chunk of lead that when compared to the other two.
Marshall
Member
Since you posted this on the autoloader forum I will assume you want to stay with one. For one semi-auto, I too would choose the .40S&W, tough to beat especially in something like an XD from Springfield.
But, since you said "for your next pistol purchase", I will step out on a limb and assume it won't be your last. With that in mind, how much can you spend for your next pistol, what's your top dollar? And, what will be it's primary purpose?
But, since you said "for your next pistol purchase", I will step out on a limb and assume it won't be your last.
With that in mind, how much can you spend for your next pistol, what's your top dollar? And, what will be it's primary purpose?cratz2
Member
If budget is a concern, I'd look heavily at a 9mm for economy for shooting, ease of recoil and less of a tendency to flinch with many folks.
If budget isn't as much of a concern, and if you've shot centerfire enough that you don't flinch much, 45ACP is a very rewarding cartridge to shoot.
If this was general handguns, I'd go along with the 38/357 suggestion... But this isn't... so I won't...
If budget isn't as much of a concern, and if you've shot centerfire enough that you don't flinch much, 45ACP is a very rewarding cartridge to shoot.
If this was general handguns, I'd go along with the 38/357 suggestion... But this isn't... so I won't...
Mac Attack
Member
.22 LR for fun.
.45 for business.
.45 for business.
Every gun collection should have:
A .22 LR (lots of fun)
A J frame S&W (just because)
A 9mm (one of most versatile pistol rounds ever made)
A 1911 (do i have to explain why?)
A .357 Magnum (most versatile revolver ever made)
Anything else is just icing on the cake (a 9mm would make a nice candel).
A .22 LR (lots of fun)
A J frame S&W (just because)
A 9mm (one of most versatile pistol rounds ever made)
A 1911 (do i have to explain why?)
A .357 Magnum (most versatile revolver ever made)
Anything else is just icing on the cake (a 9mm would make a nice candel).
I'm new on here and new to shooting autoloaders as well.I recently purchased a Glock 23 which is .40S&W.I also have a Ruger KP94 in 9mm.I like the 40 though some of it may be due to I think I like the Glock better than the Ruger.The .40 does kick more but not as much as I expected.Also where I live the Winchester white box .40S&W is only a dollar more per 50rnd box than 9mm at Wal-Mart.The way I looked at it was I already had a 9mm so I wanted a different caliber and the .40 was more powerful than 9mm yet cheaper to shoot than a .45ACP.
Price wise, you can shoot twice as much 9mm as .45 for the same $.
.45 makes bigger holes, easier to see in targets.
Both are fun to shoot.
.45 makes bigger holes, easier to see in targets.
Both are fun to shoot.
Ivy Mike
Member
Mine is 9mm
Just fine for defense, target, reloading...whatever you want.
Available everywhere for less than any other round you mentioned unless you find a screaming deal on .38spl.
Pick up a CZ75B in 9mm first. This gun will be the standard you compare all others too. No other gun on the market can match its features and quality at the prices they go for. I love mine!
After that, I'd go .40 then .357sig.
I tend to avoid .45acp guns. Usually, the low capacity takes them off my useful list. Besides, 9mm will expand larger than .45 on a more regular basis. Even if it doesn't expand, you have more chances to hit your target.
more is better than bigger.
Just fine for defense, target, reloading...whatever you want.
Available everywhere for less than any other round you mentioned unless you find a screaming deal on .38spl.
Pick up a CZ75B in 9mm first. This gun will be the standard you compare all others too. No other gun on the market can match its features and quality at the prices they go for. I love mine!
After that, I'd go .40 then .357sig.
I tend to avoid .45acp guns. Usually, the low capacity takes them off my useful list. Besides, 9mm will expand larger than .45 on a more regular basis. Even if it doesn't expand, you have more chances to hit your target.
more is better than bigger.
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