first encounter with a .45 ACP

[3Crows]

I can only speak for myself but I do not find .45ACP to be anything but a fairly mild round. Sure there is some recoil and blast but nothing like some magnum pistols/revolvers. The 1911 and .45ACP is fun to shoot and if it comes to it a very capable round for defense.

3C

 

[jrmiddleton425]

i went to an indoor firing range this past weekend with my walther-colt 1911-22. there was one other customer at the other side of the range. we were about 30 feet apart, i'd guess. the other guy was firing a .45 glock.

i have never fired a .45 handgun and never been in the vicinity of one being fired. every time he fired it, it seemed like the building shook! i could feel the concussion in my chest. i couldn't help but think, "Man, i would not want to get shot with that thing!" i think if i was in some combat situation and somebody was shooting at me with that gun, i would become unmanned very quickly. it would be like having a howitzer aimed at you personally.

i also thought about the recoil. i fired some .38 through my sw 65 and i noticed that the recoil from that was making me a bit uncomfortable (getting old and haven't shot much the past 6-7 years). but how much worse would that .45 be. i wonder if i could manage it at all.

Bearing in mind that this post is nearly a year old...are you serious? You've really never fired a .45?

Normal FMJ "ball" rounds shot from a five-inch barrel leave the muzzle at about 850 feet per second. They just make a "pop" sound and the pistol bounces in your hand a bit.

 

[herrwalther]

45ACP recoil is more like a push than a snap to me. Especially when in a heavy gun like a 1911. Even a lightweight frame can soak up the recoil pretty easily. I don't have any polymer 45s anymore so can't speak to how they are different or similar. But recoil differs from person to person. A journalist can shoot an AR-15 and claim PTSD but an 11 year old girl can use one to win junior shooting championships.

 

[PWC]

My first introduction to concussive blast was from a 357 S&W Model 66 2 1/2” barrel.

Mine was from sleeping too close to a 105 howitzer

 

[Spats McGee]

I agree with those that said .45 is more of a push than a snap. My only .45s have all been either 1911s or a Shield 4", so my experience is somewhat limited. With that said, recoil in a steel, 5" 1911 is a whole lot milder than some of my other pistols. (.357 LCR, I'm looking at you!)

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Indoor ranges are sound-proofed. For those outside of the range. Indoor ranges are sound-trapped for those inside.
I shoot my .45ACP pistol outdoors and the blast is not as bad as my .357, 7.62x25, or .40S&W pistols.

 

[Smaug]

i believe that i will hunt up a 1911 in 9mm whenever i get ready to move up from .22. or a .380. though i would at least try a .45, if i got a chance, and find out what it's like.

It's all relative. You're used to shooting a 22LR for now. That's more kick and noise than 22 LR out of a rifle. (and also a lot less power)

a 45 caliber Glock with factory loads is a couple steps above the 22. It is more bassy and with more recoil, but not bad to shoot. A lot more kick than a regular 9 mm.

380, except for its pocketability, you should just skip over, as the ammo costs more than 9 mm and it's less effective if you have to drill someone with it. (think getting through winter clothes and such)

A full size 9 mm is good power and easy to shoot. A lot easier than a 45. I have a Charles Daly Hi-Power in 9 mm ( full size pistol) and a Springfield XD-45 Tactical in 45 ACP. The 45 kicks a lot more with the standard range ammo. (9 mm = 115 gr bullet @ 1150 fps vs. 45 ACP with 230 gr. bullet @ 850 fps) 45 ACP costs a lot more, too.

I would recommend a full size 9 mm for your next pistol if it'll be for range use only, or something compact if you'll carry. (but not necessarily sub-compact) A sub-compact 9 mm will kick as hard as a full size 45, because the gun's light weight and small size will make it more "snappy" in recoil.

 

[Jonesy814]

Never associated blast & concussion with 45 auto. Ain’t nothing like a good 357

 

[doubleh]

I can still remember the BS about the 45 ACP by profession gunriters in my very early years. "A hit in an arm will tear it off and death follows quickly", Horrendous recoil", etc. Not being into handguns except for rabbit and prairiedog hunting I didn't even consider anything larger than a 22 rimfire until into my thirties and I had a chance to purchase a Colt Gold Cup National match 1911 at a very good price so I bought it. I didn't know exactly what to expect except that it wasn't going to live up to the hyperbole I had read about it and sure enough it didn't. My first thought was, " If this is horrendous recoil I must be exceptionally tough" which I knew I wasn't. Even today with a bum wrist I can still shoot the 1911 with no problems.

 

[doubleh]

I bought my first 9mm 1911 a couple of weeks ago. It’s a great shooting gun that has all of the wonders of the 1911 experience (shootability, great trigger pull, all-around ergonomics) with less recoil and an extra shot in the mag.

I have been shooting a stainless Taurus PT1911 in 9mm for several years. It is a pussycat in the recoil department and I recently added Hogue rubber grips to it and it is even more sedated. Ugly grips but very comfortable to use. My oldest great grand daughter was shooting it when she was 12 years old and she is small for her age. No problem, I like it, grandpa.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

i believe that i will hunt up a 1911 in 9mm whenever i get ready to move up from .22. or a .380. though i would at least try a .45, if i got a chance, and find out what it's like.

Don't let any of the crotchety old bastards tell you otherwise, a 9mm 1911 is a hoot to shoot.

 

[RA40]

There is this one for double the "fun"....

 

[Y-T71]

I can still remember the BS about the 45 ACP by profession gunriters in my very early years. "A hit in an arm will tear it off and death follows quickly", Horrendous recoil", etc. Not being into handguns except for rabbit and prairiedog hunting I didn't even consider anything larger than a 22 rimfire until into my thirties and I had a chance to purchase a Colt Gold Cup National match 1911 at a very good price so I bought it. I didn't know exactly what to expect except that it wasn't going to live up to the hyperbole I had read about it and sure enough it didn't. My first thought was, " If this is horrendous recoil I must be exceptionally tough" which I knew I wasn't. Even today with a bum wrist I can still shoot the 1911 with no problems.

As a kid I remember reading about the same effect with the .44 mag; how "used revolvers were being sold with only 6 rounds missing from a 50 rd box, watching the front sight come close to splitting your forehead under the tremendous recoil etc.

Upon making a .44mag my first handgun purchase at age 18 I was very much let down in that regard after touching off my 1st round (but I feel in love with the .44mag after that 1st shot also)

I still get a chuckle when people talk about the "snappy" recoil of a .40S&W.

Spending an hour or two with a Mosin Nagant M44/38 or a 2.5" .357 (especially a Scandium frame) with full house, magnum loads will let a person know what concussion/recoil is all about.

 

[AK2]

I taught my nephew to shoot when he was about 16, he started getting interested in handguns. We started with a .22. That was fun. Moved up to a 9mm. He liked that more. Next came the 1911. He learned to handle that pretty quick. Next time out it was full house .357 mag thru a 4” S&W 66. Most fun he’s ever had. He’s a big-time shooter now, 20 years later, but he still talks about his first time with a .357. “Uncle AK, flames came out the end of the barrel. Actual fire, so amazing….”

 

[ShootMeStraight]

I think you need to spend some time around a S&W 500 being fired indoors.