.45 ACP: Is the 5" Barrel Necessary...

I

IanS

New member
to get the kind of performance the .45 ACP is known for? The Glock 21 (4.6"), HK USP (4.4"), and the Sig P220 (4.5") may be considered full size guns but the barrel is @ length of a Colt Combat Commander. Most tests seem to be based on guns with 5" barrels (full size 1911s).


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How much of a difference do the "polygonal" barrels in the Glock and HK make?
Is the optimal cartridge then a 200 grain jhp or the +P version?
 
I prefer the longer sight radius provided by a longer slide (and barrel), as well as the reduced muzzle flip, but the .45 works fine out of a 4" barrel. A couple months back one of the gun rags experimented with several .45 cartridges fired from a 5" a 4" and a 3", and the muzzle velocity fell off only a slight amount with the shorter barrels -- much less than I would have thought.


Your post does bring up the question of why anyone would shoot the .45 in a non-1911 pistol in the first place :D :D

-Hal
 
I am not an expert but from what I have read (not in gun rags either) while the velocity may fall off a bit (to a degree effecting expansion) the penitration is largely unchanged (esp w/ 230 grn). Additionally, while expansion is important for wound channel, penitration would appear to be the difference maker.
 
Penetration is not the issue with most pistol loads today. Most will all do at least 10 inches which is pleanty so expansion and fragmentation is the most important factors. 230 jhp's do well in 4 to 5 inch barrels but do not do so well in shorter tubes.
PAT
 
expansion and fragmentation is the most important factors

Not to start a giant meaningless debate - but check out the following link if you are really interested in penitration vs. expansion and all the gun rag lore surrounding "stopping power"

http://www.firearmstactical.com/tactical.htm

It has some interesting things to say about expansion vs. penitration. Also the famed Miami shoot out of the late 80's provides some great info on penitration vs expansion.

Food for thought anyway

Good luck, be safe
 
I've heard tell that 4" (10.2 CM) is the absolute minimum for the .45ACP.

Velocity should increase about 50 feet per second per 1 inch of barrel length (if my memory serves me). Sight radius is obvioulsy improved with an increase in slide and barrel length.

Wm.
 
Judging by the popularity of compact .45's these days I would say no. At least the performance drop isn't enough of a concern to the buyers.

I personally wouldn't go below the 3.78 in barrel in the Glock 30. Even with 230gr loads the G30 puts out good velocities. Anything below a 3.5 in barrel I wouldn't consider.

Good Shooting
Red
 
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