CCW choices....357Mag. or 45acp?

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Bowhunter57

New member
Between these two choices, which one would you choose and why? This will be my personal CCW weapon.

.357Mag. revolver, 2" barrel and 6 shot cylinder.
OR
45acp compact semi-auto, 3" barrel and 6 shot magazine.

Your opinions and experiences are appreciated.
Thank you, Bowhunter57
 
Personal choices are, of course, going to differ. Mine is the .45 ACP, as it's a near perfect defense round in it's finest PD loadings, I am most accurate with it in a specific platform, and I reload for it.

My CW is a Kimber Ultra CDP.
 
i would rather have the 357 due to the versatility. i can get every bit of energy out of my 357 that a 45 puts out and more. i can also get more range from a 357.
 
For me, reliability is paramount in a CCW. A ultra compact 45 will probably be less reliable than a .357 revolver. I would have to choose the revolver in this case.
 
357 for reliability and stoping power...5 rounds are more than enough to do the job and comes in a smaller more concealable package.
 
bowhunter, 2/12/09

I have a 2" .357 revolver and a number of compact, sub 4" .45's including one 1911 (Springfield Ultra Compact with 3.5" barrel). If I had to choose I would carry one of my non-1911 compact .45's, either the Sig P-245 or SW- 457. My 1911-Ultracompact has not proven reliable enough for carry after two thousand rounds. Hope this helps.

best wishes-oldandslow
 
Personally, for CCW I wouldn't pick either of them. By changing the parameters just a bit I think you'd get better results with no real change in the CCW factor.
 
"quote ronto
357 for reliability and stoping power...5 rounds are more than enough to do the job and comes in a smaller more concealable package. "

1 should be enough but you have to plan for the worse case scenario

Sig 226 ,357Sig +1 magazine w/125gr Gold Dots and S&W 340PD BUG .357 w/135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel 1 spped strip.
 
I've been carrying my Kimber Ultra Carry since our weather cooled off a bit.
I like .357s and have carried my 586, but it's a whole lot heavier.
 
+1 on the .357 revolver for reliability. I own both 2 and four inch barrels. I trust my life to a revolver, it goes bang every time.
 
Creature, oldandslow, Glenn E. Meyer, Laker and ronto have mentioned my reasons for asking and including a compact semi-auto...reliability. What I failed to mention is that I was considering a 1911 platform and I am concerned about its' reliability to function.

Revolvers are like pump shotguns, they're always going to fire.

I currently own a Smith & Wesson M&P, in a 9mm service model, which is very reliable, but not as concealable as I'd like. I'm very familar with semi-autos and there are some very reliable brands on the market. However, the 1911 is one I had questions about its' reliability...and I suppose it could be brand specific. :rolleyes: I had a Rock Island Armory compact in mind.

I appreciate all the replies, thus far. Very informative. :)
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
As far as reliability, the revolver would be most peoples choice. I am not a huge revolver fan. I feel more comfortable shooting a semi. If you are worried that it is not a reliable piece then you need to get ride of it and get one that is. Just my thoughts.
 
My ATF is a Colt compact .45. The Officer's Carry Pistol is such a comfortable gun to carry I hardly ever use anything else. I have both a Mod 66 and Mod 60 but just don't carry them much at all. I have put Crimson Trace Laser Sights on my OCP, and feel like it is just about the perfect carry pistol. . . 6 in the magazine, one in the chamber gives me great confidence.
 
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