Help me... 9 mm vs 45 ACP
- Thread starter SigFan
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Uninformed and Compliant
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
12 inches in gel isn’t 12 in a body. It isn’t a one to one ratio. Skin alone accounts for 4 inches in gel.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
A .45 offers no advantage to a 9mm other than having a slightly bigger bullet that would nic a vital where the smalller 9mm would have missed it. That’s it. That’s the only plus for a .45. Both penetrate adequately to vitals when the right ammo is used.
Now when it comes to barriers, the .45 fails where the 9mm will sail on through.
Now when it comes to barriers, the .45 fails where the 9mm will sail on through.
Bustedknees
12-gauge slug (smooth bore)
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
SigFan
22lr
I hadn’t asked this question before as I knew it would lead to a caliber debate which is always entertaining, but not always helpful. It seems like the 9mm is the way to go. I’m relatively new to this forum and you all came through with more information than I expected. Much appreciation to all.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
Damn. 45s can't even penetrate winter coats now?! Anyway I saw a few mention the 10mm. Go big or go home. 50AE for the win.
That green one looks really small....
Get what you want. I run almost everything from .22LR to 45 ACP with some 41 mag and 357 mag revolvers in the mix. Today’s 9mm is a good choice but so is any caliber above .25 ACP.
The ammo costs so much, you'd come out ahead if you just handed over your wallet.
What about the 2 people that were also shot standing behind the person who you shot?
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
Eh, fuck it, I've said it before and I'll say it again. No one cares because we'd rather talk about ballistics and gel and blahs blahs than boring shit like training to the tool and environment.
What's going to hurt you more and defuse a low light situation in my home quicker? Me missing you six times with a .44 or me shooting you in the face several times with .22? Or me hitting you twice with a 9mm vs hitting you once with a .357? One 12 gauge slug thru center of mass or one 20 gauge slug thru the front door and a miss into the mailbox outside?
What's going to hurt you more and defuse a low light situation in my home quicker? Me missing you six times with a .44 or me shooting you in the face several times with .22? Or me hitting you twice with a 9mm vs hitting you once with a .357? One 12 gauge slug thru center of mass or one 20 gauge slug thru the front door and a miss into the mailbox outside?
It doesn't have to be one or the other. Both matter. I'm a big fan of the .40 and that's usually what I carry. I can hit my target and when I do, God forbid, that person is going to have a bad day.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Yep. Any pistol from .380 to .44 magnum will do the job if vitals are hit. Same goes with a rifle. A 55 gr to the chest hitting something important will take you down just the same as .308.
And a .380 to a vital will put you down faster than .308 to the stomach.
And a .380 to a vital will put you down faster than .308 to the stomach.
Of course mass matters but in slow ass pistol rounds, speed trumps mass in most cases.
The OP asked for opinions about 9mm vs 45 acp.
There is zero advatage to the 45 acp over the 9mm.
The 45 holds less rounds in most cases, the ammo is far more expensive, it has more recoil and there are many cases where the 45 fails at barrier penetration.
The 9mm generally holds more rounds, is less expensive to train, has less recoil and comes in smaller framed guns if thats important.
Ballistically they are about the same....in gel....but the 9mm with the right cartridge is better through barriers. Which may be necessary to save your life.
Like mentioned by others, shot placement is paramount.
But that wasnt the question.
The OP asked for opinions about 9mm vs 45 acp.
There is zero advatage to the 45 acp over the 9mm.
The 45 holds less rounds in most cases, the ammo is far more expensive, it has more recoil and there are many cases where the 45 fails at barrier penetration.
The 9mm generally holds more rounds, is less expensive to train, has less recoil and comes in smaller framed guns if thats important.
Ballistically they are about the same....in gel....but the 9mm with the right cartridge is better through barriers. Which may be necessary to save your life.
Like mentioned by others, shot placement is paramount.
But that wasnt the question.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Fuck 'em.What about the 2 people that were also shot standing behind the person who you shot?
I almost spit out my beer
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Powerful? Yes. More effective? No. Just the same as a 30.06 being more powerful than a .308 but both would do the same on a chest.
I love caliber debates because it always ignores to most important aspect of "any" round...
That is the one that hits the target you're aiming at! Period!
So... You carry what you shoot the best! End of conversation, lol. It really is that simple.
That said...
9mm commercially available ammo is junk. To get performance from it you "need" hot loads. If you think otherwise you're just fooling yourself. And if you're using hot loads in 9mm, you might as well carry the real thing, 10mm, .45, .357, .44 lol...
There's a reason why .45 has respect, and that's because it's battle tested and proven. Not that you want to entertain a gun battle with a handgun, but if I had a choice, 9mm or .45acp, it would be .45 all day, every day. Just my opinion.
Standard disclaimer:
I carry and shoot my best with Sig 229 .357
Last time at range... First shot out of the holster. Figured just to wrap it up right there and go home, because that's what you want! No thinking, no fixing, no adjustments... Just a pure natural shot.
7 yards, .357sig 229, 115gr, 1550fps
Because 1500+fps/600+ftlbs "does" make a difference IMO.
That is all
That is the one that hits the target you're aiming at! Period!
So... You carry what you shoot the best! End of conversation, lol. It really is that simple.
That said...
9mm commercially available ammo is junk. To get performance from it you "need" hot loads. If you think otherwise you're just fooling yourself. And if you're using hot loads in 9mm, you might as well carry the real thing, 10mm, .45, .357, .44 lol...
There's a reason why .45 has respect, and that's because it's battle tested and proven. Not that you want to entertain a gun battle with a handgun, but if I had a choice, 9mm or .45acp, it would be .45 all day, every day. Just my opinion.
Standard disclaimer:
I carry and shoot my best with Sig 229 .357
Last time at range... First shot out of the holster. Figured just to wrap it up right there and go home, because that's what you want! No thinking, no fixing, no adjustments... Just a pure natural shot.
7 yards, .357sig 229, 115gr, 1550fps
Because 1500+fps/600+ftlbs "does" make a difference IMO.
That is all
Well, I dont know if "ignore" is the correct word seeing that several of us mentioned shot placement being the most important thing, but, that wasnt the question.I love caliber debates because it always ignores to most important aspect of "any" round...
That is the one that hits the target you're aiming at! Period!
So... You carry what you shoot the best! End of conversation, lol. It really is that simple.
That said...
9mm commercially available ammo is junk. To get performance from it you "need" hot loads. If you think otherwise you're just fooling yourself. And if you're using hot loads in 9mm, you might as well carry the real thing, 10mm, .45, .357, .44 lol...
There's a reason why .45 has respect, and that's because it's battle tested and proven. Not that you want to entertain a gun battle with a handgun, but if I had a choice, 9mm or .45acp, it would be .45 all day, every day. Just my opinion.
Standard disclaimer:
I carry and shoot my best with Sig 229 .357
View attachment 59482
Last time at range... First shot out of the holster. Figured just to wrap it up right there and go home, because that's what you want! No thinking, no fixing, no adjustments... Just a pure natural shot.
7 yards, .357sig 229, 115gr, 1550fps
Because 1500+fps/600+ftlbs "does" make a difference IMO.
That is all
The point is, 45 has no advantage over 9mm.....none.
I personally carry 10mm because a bit more mass and alot more speed never hurts when using crappy handguns for defense.
And there are some really good store bought 9mm rounds....Buffalo Bore 147 gr +P @1100FPS, Underwood, Double Tap, Minuteman......
Citation needed.
They will all be more than adaquate.
If you have the chance to shoot or test them first, see what you shoot best.
Next, think of it in terms of a system. If you stick with 9mm that's all the ammo you need to stock up on for both of your guns. You don't need to stock more calibers.
Last i would look at new guns as being part of a system. Get guns that have more in common. What I mean is the Glock family (double stacks) share the same mags. You can but a g26, g19, g45, g17 etc and you have the same grip, trigger and mag comparability so it's easier to carry any that suit your needs.
CZ p10 line also now has a subcompact, compact and full size so you get the same benefits of going with Glock
Beretta and sig have the APX and P320 Lines. They have the same benefits of multiple sizes and the increased flexibility of serialized chassis so you can just buy different frames.
IMO, pick a gun family you like a stick with that.
All my future gun purchases are going to be with a system in mind and not as individual purchases.
If you have the chance to shoot or test them first, see what you shoot best.
Next, think of it in terms of a system. If you stick with 9mm that's all the ammo you need to stock up on for both of your guns. You don't need to stock more calibers.
Last i would look at new guns as being part of a system. Get guns that have more in common. What I mean is the Glock family (double stacks) share the same mags. You can but a g26, g19, g45, g17 etc and you have the same grip, trigger and mag comparability so it's easier to carry any that suit your needs.
CZ p10 line also now has a subcompact, compact and full size so you get the same benefits of going with Glock
Beretta and sig have the APX and P320 Lines. They have the same benefits of multiple sizes and the increased flexibility of serialized chassis so you can just buy different frames.
IMO, pick a gun family you like a stick with that.
All my future gun purchases are going to be with a system in mind and not as individual purchases.
SigFan
22lr
You bring up another question I’ve been thinking about... Are there any ranges in CNY that offer rentals? I’m guessing our omniscient Gov has deemed them too risky and banned them. I’ve Googled it and came up empty.
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