9mm vs 45 ACP: Destroying Myths

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You've heard it all before so I won't even bother with the stupid and pointless debate over which handgun caliber is better. Between 9mm and 45, size does not matter if you can shoot center mass. End of story.

However, people do have this MISCONCEPTION that a 9mm is a teeny-tiny caliber and that the 45 ACP is this huge caliber that blows 6" wide holes in people.

A 9mm Luger/Parabellum is .355" in diameter, or for metric conversion, ~6/16 of an inch.

A 45 ACP is .452" in diameter, or ~7/16 of an inch.

Let that sink in...~1/16 of an inch is the ONLY difference in diameter between a 9mm and a 45 ACP.

So how could it be that the 9mm makes a small hole and the 45 cuts people in half? Will that 1/16 larger size of the 45 really make a hole TWICE the size of a 9mm? Uh, no.

For a visual comparison, click on the attachment. It shows a 16th ruler, and just ONE little line is all that separates the two calibers diameter wise.

Also, let's not confuse a cartridge with a bullet. I underline bullet because in a forensic world, the brass is far different from the bullet. The bullet is the actual projectile that strikes a target. The brass + bullet is called a cartridge. If you put a 9mm cartridge by a 45 cartridge, yes the 45 looks huge. If you remove the brass and have just the bullets sitting side by side, there is not that much of a difference.

Also, with bonded JHP bullets, both the 9mm and 45 deliver over 400lbs of energy at the muzzle. Most gunfights involving pistols happen within 7 yards. The theorycrafters that spew out mathematical formulas about energy transfer leave out too many other variables to make a sound argument, so ignore them. The bad guys could care less if they are getting hit with 410lbs of energy or 430. Just aim center mass and keep shooting until the threat has stopped.

Note: do not confuse military ammo with civilian/law enforcement. The military has to use ball ammo, which is garbage for stopping power. They can't use hollow points. :mad:

What do I carry as a cop? A Smith & Wesson M&P 9L using Speer GD 124g JHP ammo (barely recoils). Why? I can double tap as fast and as accurate as most 45 users can single tap. Simply put, .355x2 > .452 x1... ;)
 

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Here are two more images. One is a circular diameter comparison. The other is the M&P 9L (9mm) by Smith & Wesson.

The M&P 9L is 3/4" longer than the standard M&P 9mm, is slightly heavier, and has a 5" barrel on a full size frame. All of that in a 9mm adds up to one hell of a psitol that is EASY to shoot accurately and quickly. :cool:
 

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i keep +P+ 9mm law enforcement jhp's in my glock19, and standard pressure 45acp jhp's in my 1911's. i feel totally confident using either, but i prefer 45acp. :)


not a huge 40cal fan. going to sell my 40cals soon, as the ammo just went up in my area to almost 45acp prices. plus i can double tap faster with 9 or 45 then with 40cal.
 
Let that sink in...~1/16 of an inch is the ONLY difference in diameter between a 9mm and a 45 ACP.
Click to expand...
The diameter of the 9mm bullet may only be ~3mm smaller than a 45cal bullet, but the area of the bullet (which is the dimension that matters, since it represents the size of the hole that the bullet makes) is actually almost twice as large in 45cal as it is in 9mm (assuming no bullet expansion in either case).

area == pi * r^2
 
Ah yes, the ideal defense pistol cartridge debate continues!

Yes, 1/16" difference seems small, but that 1/16 makes more than 50% difference in frontal area. Expanding bullets tend to expand the same percentage regardless of caliber, so the .45 with expanding bullets still can create a larger diameter wound channel. The penetration with the two are effectively then same, so...

I will concede, however, that it takes hits to take out an adversary, so using a firearm YOU are comfortable and practice with a lot counts for a lot more than cartridge differences as long as you've got a reasonable cartridge.
 
yet again

Yet again. Ever since I began reading about it in Guns and Ammo when I was a young teen, fifty years ago, there has been a debate involving the .45 and either the .357 or the 9mm.
And so it goes.
Pete
 
Alright already that's it.

9mm guys line up on this side.
45acp guys line up on that side.
Face each other.
Take aim.
Fire.

That'll settle this crap for good.

And the indecisive .40 guys can stand in the middle....just like their caliber.

HaHaHa
 
Look at my 2nd post and click on the 1st attachment. That is a picture of a 9mm vs 40 vs 45 to a 1 inch scale with a quarter for size comparison. I'm not seeing this 50% more frontal area.

Edit: and yes I do know about total frontal area. In that picture, the additional FA of the 45 is the little bit of extra "red" you see all the way around. However, it does not equal 50% more area. To me, the whole FA argument is just another angle for the 45 fanboys to use to try and win people over to their ancient philosophy in a modern world.

Here's another picture for you (see attachment)...
 

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EdInk has a point.

As far as frontal area is concerned, you can compute the ratio of areas by taking the square of the ratio of diameters, ie: pi*.454^2/pi*.355^ gives 1.64 -- I know, it doesn't look like much but it is there nonetheless!

Back to EdInk and others -- hitting makes more difference than almost all cartridge differences as long as penetration and expansion are good.

Now, defining good penetration and expansion could make for an interesting debate, except that it's also been done a couple of times or so.
 
Standard bullet diameter is .451" for the .45 ACP. Rerunning the math gives:

9mm frontal area = 3.14 x (.355/2)**2 = .0989 sq in.

.45 frontal area = 3.14 x (.451/2)**2 = .1597 sq in.

Comparison: .1597 / .0989 = 1.61
The .45 ACP frontal area is 61% larger than the 9mm frontal area which is still a significant difference IMO. Note also that typical bullet weights are 115 gr vs 230 gr or 100% heavier bullet for the .45 ACP.
 
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9mm is faster and velocity gives you penetration and expansion.

.45 is heavier weight than so more impact energy is greater.

Faster follow up with 9mm.

Less need with .45acp.

Blah, blah, blah.....

:yawn:

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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :rollover: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzz :get drink of water: zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz :go pee: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzz :check TFL: zzzzzzzzzz :9x19mm vs .45acp: zzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Sorry, I must have been sleep-typing, again.
 
What it all really boils down to is that both calibers and most all other handgun calibers are poor man stoppers. If you want to put them down in a hurry get a rifle. :cool:
 
Whom among all yous armchair cops ever shot anyone anyway, and what is the real chance you will in this life or the next really be in a situation where you have no choice but to result to your side arm?

This discussion is moot IMO. Its about us loving firearms and on occasion carrying one for the sense of security real or imagined that they bestore. Reality is you have at least a statistical 50% of losing a gun fight. Now take into account the one out couple hundred million chances of being in one, and you realize having one gives you a negligible chance of escaping an armed BG. I will take the chance however small though just like the next guy. But really factor in the caliber and its all really laughable argument for or against 9mm vs .45.:rolleyes:
 
Already answered question about .40 guys.
Click to expand...

Just use 10mm auto and be done with this silly debate.

Or get a 500 S&W for goodness sake.

How about this: you use what you want, and I will use what I want. If you are ecstatically happy with your 9mm, more power to you. (I am quite fine with my .45 auto and 10mm auto, thank you.)
 
45 acp vs 9

Hello,
Love the topic. Just want to say that I agree with most stuff said above. I do believe and have seen to many deaths from just about every caliber in my job. I also believe that the best weapon is the one you are familiar with and good at shooting. Personally, I have seen one patient in my 20 plus years of experience that actually got up and walked away from a 45 acp shot. I don't think it really should count, because he basically just blew one of his fingers off. I have seen to many people shot with smaller rounds that did not kill or slow down the individual. If you don't think there is a difference from a 119 grain bullet to a 230 grain bullet then carry the nine. Everyone in my field of work has a 45 acp at home for defense (and a 12 gauge 18.5 inch barrel shotgun). Most of us do have different carry guns in smaller calibers, just because they are easier to carry. All of us would rather go to a pistol fight with a 45 than a nine. Once again, I have seen just about every caliber kill someone - I personally prefer the 45 acp or 12 gauge for short range.
ps. I do carry a PM40 and a ruger lcp 380 in the summer. I use a glock 45 for home with a mossberg 590 12 gauge.
 
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