9mm shooter buying first .45...

For those that say "the .45acp offers nothing over 9mm these days", you couldnt be more wrong.

O.P

The ruger is a good choice, most will claim it is not in the same league as a colt or springfield, or anything above them, but it is a great pistol and ruger has great customer service.

Shooting .45acp from a full size 1911 is very nice. The weight of the pistol and slow velocity of the bullet will result in a nice soft recoil, that comes back to target very quickly.
 
"...would pack quite a punch in..." Nope. The pistol is just a pistol. It doesn't punch anything. Neither does the cartridge.
I do find a .45 is more pleasant to shoot than a 9mm though. Has to do with the velocity and the length of the barrel.
"....45 ACP does offer more energy..." Not by much. For example, Hornady factory 9mm 124 grain XTP's have 21 ft-lbs. less energy than a 200 grain XTP .45.
Only thing that's important is how well the thing fits your hand. And using good ammo.
 
For those that say "the .45acp offers nothing over 9mm these days", you couldnt be more wrong.
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Enlighten us. ? Changing to a gun with less capacity more recoil, more expensive ammo.
 
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What 9MM are you shooting at present ? A different new gun is always fun, but getting another caliber in a model you have been shooting-makes for an easier transition.
9MM vs. 45 ACP ? Rather that starting Chapter LXXXVII in "Caliber Wars" I will say it's like comparing cream soda and root beer. Each has its distinctive taste, neither is "better".
 
The OP did not ask if he should buy a 45 acp. He did not ask if 45 acp offered any comparative advantage over 9mm. So why some of you are attempting to make this into a caliber debate, I don't know.

The questions was:
Any advice for a 9mm shooter adding .45 into the mix?
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Congrats! Buy some ammo and get in some trigger time. 45 auto is a super fun round.
 
I counted 8 posts either questioning his choice, comparing one caliber to another or questioning a post with a comparisin or opinion of which is better.
These things always tend to end up the same way in the end.

Congrats OP, it's a fun gun to shoot.
 
Buy one and dont look back on 9mm
I shoot and carry this now. Was a 40 before.
The 45 has less felt recoil IMO than the 40.
Cant speak to 9mm as I dont/wont own one. Just dont care for it.
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While it's a "gamer gun", the Tanfoglio Stock 2 in 45acp would be awesome.

They are the least popular (gamers get the 9mm), so it's discounted. But to optimize the trigger it needs a polish and a few different springs. The weight and balance really reduces felt recoil.
 
After you have enjoyed your Ruger 1911 for a while...

Ruger.also offers a Blackhawk single-action revolver with two cylinders so that you can shoot either 45 colt revolver ammo or 45acp. I mostly use the 45acp cylinder. It is lots of fun to bring my 1911 and my Blackhawk to the range. :)
 
> Don't give up on a 1911 .45 ACP just because of the recoil.

Shoot a few boxes through a .44 Magnum and you won't even notice the .45's recoil...
 
I don't think the 1911 is that hard to conceal carry except on warm days. I carry in an OWB holster in the Fall/Winter and have no problem concealing my Colt.

The 1911 is a slim handgun and lays relatively flat in a proper holster with good belt.

As to energy of .45 and 9mm the former definitely has more momentum than 9mm. I believe momentum is not given its due when speaking of ballistics.

Nothing that I own in 9mm M&P's, Glocks (17, 19, 26), Sigs (P228, P226) is more accurate than my 1911's (Colts and Les Baer).
 
Not sure if it helps much but i recent inherited a compact (sub-compact?) .45 acp in the form of a kahr pm45 and even though this thing is tiny, it is very manageable recoil and probably my favorite to shoot out of the smaller pistols ive tried so far. The 1911 heavy frame will absorb some of that recoil too.

If you find its still too much recoil for you though, just wait a bit on the .45 and train your grip with a gripmaster or other tools used by us rockclimbers and your forearms will handle even 10mm, .357 mags and .44 mag without much issue.
 
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The softest shooting 45 I've ever shot is the M&P 45. And surprisingly accurate. The 1911s are cool from a nostalgia and awesomeness factor, but there are some advantages to the modern poly options.
 
Congrats OP. I just got a pretty decent deal on a Colt Combat Elite and maybe made a slight impulse buy. I've always wanted a 1911 so I've probably not put it down since I got it. It might be love haha.

I heard horror stories about how heavy the 1911 is and how hard they are to conceal. Coming from a Glock 19 I expected it to be a huge difference but honestly I barely notice it. To be completely honest I have to hold them side by side to feel the weight difference. Even then it's not that easy. So far I'm really loving the Colt. Not to mention the Glock 19 points weird but I didn't really notice how weird until I felt just how natural the 1911 points.
 
My 2 cents... If you're getting one 1911 then it should be chambered in 45. It should also be made in the USA (sorry, that's the purist in me).

The 1911 is a gun that, when made correctly, is an absolute joy to shoot and own. Cheap replicas can be hidden gems but they are few and far between. I won a Remington 1911R1 chambered in 45. It had a great price point but no bells and whistles. I gave it my TLC and it is an absolute nail driver.

The full size government model is heavier but that helps combat the felt recoil of the 45. There's more weight to counter it.

A 45 also opens up the opportunity to dive into reloading and competition shooting. Join a local gun club and start shooting on a team. Some indoor ranges require un-jacketed ammo and 45s can be reloaded with lead casts to combat that.

Some 1800 tournaments I am in require you shoot rimfire and centerfire so a 22 LR and under-powered 45 reload (and different recoil spring) will work great.


If you want a gun for real life, training, or concealed carry then I would strongly suggest a 9mm.

It's cheaper to train since the ammo is cheaper. You have less felt recoil and 9mm works better in compact / sub-compact firearms because smaller guns typically recoil more due to less mass.

Also, people who carry tend to think they won't miss if they have to actually use their gun for defense on the street or in the house. You can fit more rounds in 9mm than 40 or 45... This means you have more chances to hit your target during the stress / adrenaline / life or death situations.

Lastly, if your spouse needs to use one of your firearms in a life or death situation, it would be a lot easier for females to shoot a 9mm over a 45.

Ballistics in modern 9mm, 40 and 45 ammo is practically the same for all intents and purposes. So 9mm makes more sense in this day and age.
 
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