I carried a Taurus TP-22 exclusively for almost 5 years...
What does that tell you?
It tells me that you're a little off your rocker.
I knew someday that the FBI tests would rear their head in this thread. Here you go. The .45 was "rejected" not because of its performance, but because the OAL of the cartridge requires a frame that some agents couldn’t handle. (Just like in the real world). Those that could handle the frame size were apparently also thought capable of handling the new favorite full-house 10mm round rather than a .45ACP which was outperformed. Of course the birth of the .40S&W puts the lie to the 10mm being the wunderround for everyone. (I still want a G20 15+1 when the mag ban sunsets--I'm no Luddite after all).
Here is what the FBI tested various ammunition upon:
1. Bare Gelatin at 10 yards
2. Heavy Clothing at 10 feet.
3. Automotive sheet metal at 10 feet
4. Wall board at 10 feet
5. Plywood at 10 feet. One piece 3/4" AA fir plywood
6. Automotive glass at 10 ft.
7. Light clothing at 20 yds.
8. Automotive glass at 20 yards
All shots fired had to defeat the above obstacles (where present) AND penetrate 12" into a block of ballistic gelatin. The 12" was developed on anatomical averages, and failing to penetrate to that depth was considered a failure.
All portions were tested using 40 rounds of each ammo sample and gun combination.
FBI AMMUNITION TEST PERFORMANCE DATA
CAL MAKER BULLET Wt. GUN BBL VEL. FPE SUCCESS
.45 Fed HS 230 4506 5" 802 328fp 95%
.45 Rem JHP 185 645 5" 903 334fp 95%
.45 Fed HS 230 1911 5" 828 358fp 82%
.45 Fed JHP 185 4506 5" 874 313fp 90%
.45 Fed JHP 185 645 5" 953 373fp 57%
.45 Win S-Tip 185 4506 5" 951 371fp 50%
10mm Norma JHP 170 Delta 5" 1358 696fp 100%
10mm Fed JHP 180 Delta 5" 931 346fp 95%
10mm Win JHP 180 Delta 5" 955 364fp 92%
10mm IMP-3D JHP 180 Delta 5" 991 392fp 92%
10mm Buffalo Prfrg 191 Delta 5" 916 355fp 30%
.357 Fed HS 158 M13 3" 1183 490fp 100%
.357 Win JSP 158 M13 3" 1096 421fp 97%
.357 Win S-Tip 145 M13 3" 1166 437fp 82%
38sp Fed HS 147 M13 3" 874 249fp 92%
38sp Rem LHP 158 M13 3" 871 266fp 67%
38sp Fed LHP 158 M13 3" 834 244fp 70%
38sp Fed HS 129 M13 3" 841 202fp 60%
38sp Win LHP 158 M13 3" 808 229fp 65%
38sp Win S-Tip 125 M13 3" 843 197fp 17%
380 Win S-Tip 85 PPK 3" 954 171fp 20%
9mm Fed HS 147 226 4.25" 914 272fp 82%
9mm Fed HS 124 226 4.25" 1062 310fp 82%
9mm Win JHP 147 226 4.25" 902 265fp 62%
9mm Win S-Tip 115 226 4.25" 1091 303fp 35%
By these measures, the best .45ACP rounds didn’t do as well as the best 10mm round, but just look at how much more ballistic energy was required to get that last 5%! It is also interesting to note the best .38Sp performer outclassing the best 9mm by 10%. It is even interesting to note that the .45ACP 230 gr Hydra-shok had two different performance percentages from two different platforms.
Look, I like the 9mm just fine as an autopistol round. It has a lot of virtues. In "modern" loadings, it would probably represent better in the above tests. However, the 9mms "equivalency" is hotly contested, and not just because a bunch of .45ACP aficionados beat their chests about it. The perception the 9mm is a little lacking in the power department is backed by fact.
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