why do I shoot .45 better than 9mm?

[jdhermit]

All right. I've been typing this post in for days, can't post from home...so I'll make it short!
Used to only shoot revo's. Last couple years, went to 9mm semi. Other night went to the range, shot my HK USP9c, & rented a Glock 26, 36 and 1911.
Always assumed .45 was too much recoil in tradeoff, but I really LOVED shooting .45 (much more than 9) and my groups were MUCH better with .45...even the range dude noticed it.
So...anybody ever seen this? I was so much better with both .45's that I'm probably going to trade my HK USP for something else...just trying to figure out why this happened.
I liked both Glock's, just point too high for me...so I'll probably opt for a 1911, or Sig 220.
I was curious about this...
Oh yea, BTW, double taps were better w/ .45 as well ?????????????????????????

Go figure...

jdhermit

PS- Not talking about the effectiveness of either round. I'm perfectly confident in either. I'm just going for what's most accurate for me.

 

[Longbow]

Its probably more to do with the launching platform than the ammo. I tend to shoot 1911's better regardless of chambering.

 

[Neal Bloom]

I am more accurate with my SIG P220 than with my 9mm's. Must be the platform as Longbow states.

 

[Handy]

Borrow a 9mm 220 and a 9mm 1911 and put it to the test.

Some people do claim that the recoil pulse of .45 times well with bringing the weapon on target, helping them. Who knows?

 

[Missouri Mule]

I'll have to secnd what Longbow said!


now for my $0.02

The 1911 was made for the .45ACP, anything else is just second best.

 

[Z_Infidel]

Well, to me it has always seemed that the recoil of .45 ACP is more of a "push" straight back toward your shooting hand as opposed to the abrupt "snap" of the smaller, faster 9mm and .357 magnum. In my experience the abrupt snap causes more muzzle rise than the slower push. But since we all perceive recoil differently, that could just be me. Plus, I guess if technique is ideal then recoil shouldn't affect accuracy much anyway.

 

[jdhermit]

Good comments...
But I did rent the Glock 26 as well. Here's the order of my "groups", from worst to best.
HK USP9c, G26, G36, 1911.
Yep, the 1911 was a full size, but I shot nearly as well with the Glock 36. A little sharper impact to my hand, but shots were almost equally close.
I tried to be somewhat scientific...even went back to my "worst" which was my personal HK at the end, thinking maybe it was a warming up thing...it wasn't.



jdhermit

 

[10-Ring]

I learned a few years ago that I too shoot the 45 acp more consistently than I do the 9mm regardless of platform.
I also know that when I had tendonitis in my elbow, I discovered the 45acp is also milder recoiling than the 9mm.

 

[jdhermit]

hmm...

So, looking at some replies so far, maybe I'm not THAT crazy.
Problem arose, because before I tried the .45's, I was fairly set on getting a CZ-75 to replace my HK USP9c for carry.
Now, I'm back to the "what should I get" syndrome that plagues me so often!



jdhermit

 

[caz223]

I should note, that I can't shoot 9mm very well at all.
My 357SIG shoots like a laser, as well as my .45 H&K usp compact, my 10mm glock 20, and several of my higher power wheelguns.
I'm gonna see if my sigpro 2340 shoots 9mm as well as it does 357SIG.
I even tried reloading to no avail.
I guess I'll be content knowing my limitations.
That's ok, I like bigger calibers better anyway.

 

[Ullr]

I agree with others that have stated it's probably the platform, more than the cartridge. I find it easier to hold on to a single-stack pistol. One column of .45 ACP is thinner than 2 columns of 9mm...

 

[JohnBT]

I find the 9mm to be a snappy little irritation. Still love my CZ and BHP, but the .45 is just so much easier to shoot.

Big and slow, a lot like me I guess...

John

 

[cratz2]

I think it's a combination of the platforms and the cartridge.

I shoot 1911s in 45 the best followed closely by my Taurus PT99. Of course, I've been shooting those the best. I can shoot my EAA Silver Team in 40 that is ported reasonably well. After that, comes the Glock 23 (40) and SIG 2340, certainly well enough that those that wish to do me harm would be in trouble but no 2" or 3" 25 yard groups ever! I'm not a 40 hater per se though I do prefer the 45 or the 9 over the 40.

To me, the 45 is more of a slow push and the 9mm is flippier, esp with shorter barrels and lighter, hotter ammo. I can shoot more rounds of 45 in a 1911 than I can in my Taurus before fatigue starts helping me make bigger groups.

 

[Blackhawk]

It's all political. Your H&K has origins in Germany, and Germany is doing everything it can to frustrate what Americans are trying to do right now.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Unless it's a high-quality 1911, I shoot 9mm much better than .45 ACP. My own personal custom Mark IV with my own reloads are far and away the most accurate of any gun/load combination I've ever shot. My Kimber Ultra CDP II is the most accurate out-of-the-box gun I've tried. It never ceases to amaze me how well I can shoot this, my latest of arms. However, my H&K USPc in .45 and the Sig P-220 I've shot, pale in comparison to my scores when shooting my G-26 or even the PT-111, I no longer own. Don't get me wrong, I like the H&K and shoot it well. Just not as well as my 2 nines. I guess that means the 1911 is for me when it comes to .45s.

 

[pogo2]

Gun weight and trigger?

I read over this thread quickly and nobody has mentioned the weight of the 1911 or the generally lighter, shorter trigger pull. I have always found that heavy handguns are easier to shoot well than lightweight ones, and you were shooting 3 polymer frame guns along with an all-steel 1911. The 1911 must weigh at least 10 ounces more than the others.

I think the heavy gun moves less in your hands due to its inertia and weight - the little tremors and twitches we all have will affect it less. And the combination of a light, short 1911 trigger (maybe 4 lbs) allows you to let off the shots without moving the gun in the process. It is much harder to hold a polymer gun steady and pull the 5.5 lb, long Glock trigger without moving the gun. And the H&K USP doesn't have the best trigger in the world, either.

If I had to shoot for score, I'd always pick something like a steel, full-size 1911, a long-barrel steel revolver, or a heavy .22 target pistol.

 

[CZF]

Since you considered a CZ75. Maybe you should go after a CZ in .45 acp. Big with gentle recoil and amazing accuracy.
Fit and finish like a SIG.

www.cz-usa.com

 

[Beav]

I seem to shoot 45 better than 9mm as well, and certainly better than 40. I have to agree that the 45 feels less snappy compared to the 9s and 40s I have.

BTW- Just took my CZ97B out to shoot last week, ran 100 rounds of winclean through it. Did have two FTF, looked like the flat nose of the round caught the bottom lip of the feed ramp on both occasions. I'm fairly positive that if I had rounded ball ammo instead I wouldn't have had any feed problems. I'm not a good shot (just started the hobby a couple of months ago) but the 97B shoots noticably better than anything I have except for my 686+. I think I might have to stick with certain ammo, but other than that I'm very pleased with it. I took my P99QA (40sw) out that day as well and although it went through 100 rounds flawlessly I was not accurate with it. The 97 was much easier to shoot.

 

[jdhermit]

pogo2: I thought about the weight/size, but I did shoot the Glock 36 almost as well as the 1911. It's VERY light and small comparatively.

CZF: I thought about the CZ97, but isn't it HUGE? I thought I remembered it being too large to carry. I'd consider it just for shooting, but I unfortunately don't get to the range often enough to justify for just shooting...it will have to be a carry gun.

I'm just dazed and confused now.
Maybe I just need to keep looking...

Thanks for replies!

jdhermit

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I read over this thread quickly and nobody has mentioned the weight of the 1911 or the generally lighter, shorter trigger pull. I have always found that heavy handguns are easier to shoot well than lightweight ones, and you were shooting 3 polymer frame guns along with an all-steel 1911. The 1911 must weigh at least 10 ounces more than the others.

In my case that applies only to the Colt, and not the Kimber. My CDP weighs only 25 oz, not much more than my G26.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Well see.. when you fire a 45 at 12 yards you can see the BIG hole it makes and aim for that.

With them lil 9's you gotta squint.

Really, its probably a question of ergonomics, the 1911 just "fits" you better.

 

[arinvolvo]

It is definitely platform...I shoot my Steyr M9, and my brothers Steyr M40 better, faster and more accurate than any other guns I have ever shot.

 

[Smoke]

I think you all are over analyzing a little bit.

The reason he shot .45 better than 9mm is because God intended it that way.