Choice of caliber

I

IRON MARCELO

Inactive
What do you guys prefer to use / shoot at the gun range 9mm or .45 ????
i have a lil dilema not sure if i should buy my next firearm in 9mm or .45 cal
:confused: it be strictly for practice at the gun range
 
As you know, 9mm is going to be cheaper to shoot in bulk than .45 Unless you're wanting to practice a similar caliber to a carry/home defense piece. I have fun with all sorts of calibers - 9mm, 9x18 Mak, .45, 38 super - depends on what I "brung".

Heck, if you just want a range gun, get a .22 and shoot all day.
 
9mm over 45 for range - cheaper and less recoil but has enough pop to challenge skills (more than a .22 would). Likewise, 38 over .357.
.22s are fun but the lack of recoil can sometimes make them feel like it is a lesser pistol than the centerfires. Please do not misunderstand, I like my .22s.
 
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I enjoy shooting the 45 more, but I can afford to shoot the 9mm more. Life is full of compromises. ;)
 
My only auto now is a Glock 21, so its .45acp for me. I just shoot it the best over every other pistol I've owned. My second favorite were the Glock 19's, but I've consolidated my calibers down to just a few.
 
With which I like to shoot more, it depends. Right now, I have been shooting the 45 more. However I do shoot the 9 a lot. Also, I have found that each different style of pistol effects the recoil. Depending on the relationship of the barrel axis to the center can and does affect the felt recoil. Finally I find the recoil of the 45 to be a little more of a push rather than the 9's more of a slap, not much but noticeable. Love them both and shoot them both.
 
I prefer to shoot .45's ...... but my wallet prefers to pay for the 9mm bullets, as they are much cheaper than .451 slugs.
 
I reload ....( 9mm, .40, .45acp, .38spl, .357mag and .44 mag) ...but all it means is, I shoot more for the same amount of money...but keeping costs down is part of the game ...so I do shoot a lot of 9mm.

I like a 9mm ....especially in the same platform that I choose to carry ..like in a 1911. I think the 9mm is great range practice / put 5 or 6 boxes thru a 9mm and maybe 1 box thru a similar gun in .45 acp ) and its a good range trip ( same feel coming out of the holster / some recoil / good practice ) - especially if you have identical 1911's - say 5" guns at the same weight, same sights, etc .

I don't practice with a .22 semi-auto too much for tactical training ...its cheap but it doesn't translate too well for me ( even with a conversion kit on the same gun say in .45acp ) ...its just way different on weight and recoil.

I do like a revolver in .22 ( like a S&W model 18 ) ....work on my draw out of holster, move to target, etc ....and then transition to a model 19 or 66 ( another K frame S&W ) in .357mag ( especially if they both are about the same weight, same length of barrel like 4" --- recoil is less --- but its still good practice coming in and out of the holster, etc ) ...

.22 semi-autos are fun to shoot ...Browning Buckmark, etc ...but they're just way different than any 1911 or DA/SA guns like a Sig ....in any caliber. So I kind of say --- take the .22's when its just a plinking day ...not a serious training day ...if that makes any sense.
 
I'd suggest a 9mm. I reload and don't shoot my 9s that much but I realisticly don't shoot any one caliber that much. I'd also second the 22 suggestion.
 
I prefer to carry a .45 but shoot a lot of 9mm because of the cost. I have two SIG pistols one in .45 and the other 9mm. These pistols are similar enough that I believe practice with either one builds mutually beneficial skills.
 
9mm because of target practice...like a few have said,look into a nice .22!! i just bought my first .22lr sig 522.
 
for a pure range gun go 22.

IF it was me and for multiple things then I would go 357 magnum.

Out of the choices you offered I would go 9mm because they are cheaper.
 
I enjoy shooting 45, but between the two, I'd have to pick the 9mm due to budgetary reasons. If just for the range, I'd seriously consider a .22 so I could shoot all day for pennies! ;)
 
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