9mm vs 45 ACP: Destroying Myths
- Thread starter CSI
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As far as you go, your original post is correct, but...
This post is dead (no pun intended) accurate. I have a lot of geometry/physics under my belt, and just because your eye can't determine extra area doesn't mean it isn't there. Look at a 10 gallon fish tank...is a 20 gallon twice as large in all dimensions? Do the math.
A factor you didn't mention is one of Newton's laws of mass. Simply put, a heavier object is harder to stop, regardless of the velocity. Unless a lighter bullet is specifically designed for penetration, it will never come up to the performance of a heavier bullet.
All that being said...I have guns and holsters to carry anything from a .32 ACP to a .357 Mag., to a .45 ACP. I carry a 9mm. Why? It's what I shoot best. Combine that with a relatively high round count and reliable ammo (Corbon 115 gr. DPX), and it works.
As has been said by others, get the idea that any handgun caliber is a reliable man-stopper out of your head, It ain't so.
The caliber war will rage on, and nothing will ever be concluded. People will swear by their caliber. And they should, they depend on it to guard their life.
To each his own...
This post is dead (no pun intended) accurate. I have a lot of geometry/physics under my belt, and just because your eye can't determine extra area doesn't mean it isn't there. Look at a 10 gallon fish tank...is a 20 gallon twice as large in all dimensions? Do the math.
A factor you didn't mention is one of Newton's laws of mass. Simply put, a heavier object is harder to stop, regardless of the velocity. Unless a lighter bullet is specifically designed for penetration, it will never come up to the performance of a heavier bullet.
All that being said...I have guns and holsters to carry anything from a .32 ACP to a .357 Mag., to a .45 ACP. I carry a 9mm. Why? It's what I shoot best. Combine that with a relatively high round count and reliable ammo (Corbon 115 gr. DPX), and it works.
As has been said by others, get the idea that any handgun caliber is a reliable man-stopper out of your head, It ain't so.
The caliber war will rage on, and nothing will ever be concluded. People will swear by their caliber. And they should, they depend on it to guard their life.
To each his own...
TEOTDAWKI (The End Of The Debate As We Know It)
darkgael & Mike40-11,
No. The debate will not rage 10 more years. 2119 won’t get here. The Mayan calendar ends the 23rd of December 2012 and this is supposed to be the end of all time, or TEOTWAWKI, but they’re wrong. I just picked up my new calendar and it says the world ends the 31st of December 2010, at least it goes no further and who should know better than the 1st National Bank?
Clay
darkgael & Mike40-11,
No. The debate will not rage 10 more years. 2119 won’t get here. The Mayan calendar ends the 23rd of December 2012 and this is supposed to be the end of all time, or TEOTWAWKI, but they’re wrong. I just picked up my new calendar and it says the world ends the 31st of December 2010, at least it goes no further and who should know better than the 1st National Bank?
Clay
earlthegoat2
New member
You dont have to convince me about the effectiveness of 9mm. I have 45s too. I usually use the 9 though. Your points are valid. 2 accurate shots at speed will usually trump one from the 45 but of course there is a tradeoff of the 45 theoretically needing fewer shots.
Who really knows. I guess we need to have more gunfights so we can have more complete statistical data.
Who really knows. I guess we need to have more gunfights so we can have more complete statistical data.
You know, this sort of debate occurs in rifle calibers, too, though you don't hear so much about it. May not so many people own rifles. There is still a crowd that likes .45 caliber rifles over any other and I guess I have to own up to being one of them, though just like .45 pistols, I don't own one (I'm between guns).
I believe Gunsite even approves of .45-70 rifles, even if they don't think too highly of Ruger No. 1s.
I believe Gunsite even approves of .45-70 rifles, even if they don't think too highly of Ruger No. 1s.
SilentHitz
New member
And the dead horse starts running once again
ah haha haha ha! this could be the BEST first post any new member to TFL could make. 
He is telling us what for... 1/16th MOFOS only 1/16th! Myth DESTROYED!
why did you post this? everyone here could care less about the 9mm vs 45 debate. they both work different strokes for different folks.
MYTH DESTROYED! <- thats pure awesomeness.
He is telling us what for... 1/16th MOFOS only 1/16th! Myth DESTROYED!why did you post this? everyone here could care less about the 9mm vs 45 debate. they both work different strokes for different folks.
MYTH DESTROYED! <- thats pure awesomeness.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I could try cleaning this thread up, trying to put it, and keep it, on track.
But, to be perfectly honest, right now I don't think that's possible.
We can talk all day about frontal area and expansion and penetration and foot pounds interspersed with +1s, comments about dead horses, trite cliches, etc., and we still wouldn't get anywhere.
How about this...
How about if we all just carry, and use, what we shoot best, and not put to much energy into telling those who don't use what you use how dead they're going to be when their favorite round won't meet some highly contrived set of conditions that spring from a fruitful and imaginative mind?
Valley Protein is here to pick up the dead horse.
But, to be perfectly honest, right now I don't think that's possible.
We can talk all day about frontal area and expansion and penetration and foot pounds interspersed with +1s, comments about dead horses, trite cliches, etc., and we still wouldn't get anywhere.
How about this...
How about if we all just carry, and use, what we shoot best, and not put to much energy into telling those who don't use what you use how dead they're going to be when their favorite round won't meet some highly contrived set of conditions that spring from a fruitful and imaginative mind?
Valley Protein is here to pick up the dead horse.
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