FMJ for Self Defense.

.45 truncated ball

LImited to FMJ, I would look hard at the truncated, flate nosed variety, as once marketed by Hornady, not sure if they still sell that product or not.

But Round nose "ball" in .45 has served well under a variety of curcumstances and I would not feel particularly handicapped with it.
 
If you had to use FMJ and was forced to pick between 9mm and .45, what would you choose?
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I'd go with the 45acp. It was used as the USA's military round in several little scrapes where it performed fairly well.

With modern hollow point ammo, the difference between the two calibers is probably a lot less than it is in fmj.
 
I'm going to change this game, if only a little bit. I would pick the .45, but with 185gr FMJs.

Still going to over-penetrate, but it will shed more energy in the target than 230gr ball. I believe it will do the same or very slightly better damage, and lessen recoil for faster follow ups.

Of course in the end they are both poor fight stoppers. I think a lot of the .45's reputation comes from the impressively chunky cartridges, which have more "shove" or "slap" in people's minds. WWII legend has it that the .45 was the end all, be all fight stopper, but as compared to what else in U.S. service at the time? The best? Yes. Good? Not really. The Moros hacked up plenty of .45 packers too. Soldiers used it because Uncle Sam didn't issue a .46. Soldiers were not policemen, who are worried about collateral damage and lawsuits. If one shot didn't stop the guy, they emptied the magazine into him, and who gave a poop where the bullets went. The Thompson SMG didn't hurt the .45's reputation either. But seriously folks, we DO all realize that fairly mild rounds like the .38spl can best .45 ball in one shot stops, given the right ammo...AND NO ONE seems to have very much esteem for the .38spl's stopping power.
 
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Peter- I have done the same test in the past, just never posted the results. Even if I hadnt tested before, I expected these kind of results becuase of the early models produced by Fackler (?). Suprisingly, this showed those results almost exactly. And I honestly cant remember which was fired first, but it wouldnt matter with the low energies of both calibers.

I took pictures of the entry and exit holes if anyone is interested.
 
I have shot .45 ACP 230 gr bullets at hanging steel targets, then did the same with 9mm of varying bullet weights.

The result of that shooting convinced me that no matter what the numbers say, the .45 ACP has something going for it in force on target that the 9mm did not....do it and see for yourself, watch the reaction of the target with each round.

That being said...I would not want to get shot with either, but I prefer to carry 230gr .45 ACP.
 
This is really very simple. At these velocities and with fmj bullets, the velocity advantage of the 9 is basically a non factor. How hard the 45 hits is also pretty much a non factor. What matters is damage to the target. With these bullets at these velocities, both will basically put a caliber size hole through a person's chest. While no where near being what it gets credit for, the bottom line is the 45 makes a bigger hole.

I use 45 Colt rounds out of my Super Redhawk to shoot small game. Why? Because they simply make a 45 caliber hole instead of ruining a bunch of meat and those rounds are much closer to 9mm velocity than 45.

Back to the original question, the real question is which is a greater advantage, the larger holes made by the 45 or the reduced recoil and higher round count of the 9. Depending on the individual and the situation, the answer will vary.
 
45 clip holds 10 rounds?
9mm g19 clip holds 15 rounds?
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Magazine, magazine, magazine, MAGAZINE!!!! :mad:



Constantine- Hook up a boat to the hitch of each car and race again.
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Thanks brother, got him the second time around. It was my tires...But you did get what I mean by on paper and in reality right?
 
I spent years shooting in trash dumps in Kansas and have personally shot nearly every object/product/material known to man. I also shot dead things, large and small with .45acp and .357 magnum.

I don't put much faith in ballistic gel or other penetration/energy transfer tests because when it comes to the finish line, a well placed HIT with a .22LR is far better than a MISS with a .44 magnum.

In some of my carry pistols, I use FMJ bullets. It makes absolutely NO difference to me as long as the firearm functions perfectly with the ammunition.

Flash
 
Theres a better chance for the 9mm to pass through, thus leading to bleeding from two 9mm holes rather than one .45 hole. ;)


But seriously, I'd pick the one I shot better.

For me thats the 9mm. I sold my 1911 and kept my BHP for that reason reason.
 
I've never had an incident with FMJ's in my guns. Hollows only. I DO know someone who isn't in the states...2 actually. One who coincidentally used 9mm FMJ against 2 attackers and killed them both. In fact he's a member of this forum who will remain anonymous unless he wants to come out with it. He's a dear friend. And the second, my half brother who is also not in the states at the moment...45 FMJ's from his Colt commander dropped one assailant and the other fled. He too was hit in the exchange. Lower abdomen. With a 9mm FMJ. The one who shot him got away. The one he shot with his commander 1911 departed.

I know. Huge coincidence. But take my word for it.


Shot placement.


And no. I wont say who the forum member is. Please don't ask.

SIG 1911 XO / SA 1911 custom / Colt Gold Cup / SIG P226 e2 / Browning High-power / Beretta PX4 Storm / G34 / G19 / G21 / G22 / G30 / S&W M-19 / Hk USP 40 / Rem 870 / Rock R. AR-15

sent from my Android
 
Carried the .45 many years. Also carried the 9mmP in BHP and Smiths, Rugers, Luger.. etc. Currently using Glock 21, which pax 13 +1 .45 cal 230 gr HP flyin beefcakes. I have never felt under-armed with a .45, even with FMJ. Admittedly, somewhat subjective- but cannot say the same concerning the Parabellum.
 
NYPD13 said:
FMJ ball ammo only, I have to go with the caliber that leaves the biggest holes. I believe the phrase is "your 9mm may expand, but my 45 will never shrink".
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The saying I heard was something like ".45 ACP- Because shooting twice is silly"
 
Only carry FMJ in my 1911s and 9mm. Doubt if I will ever need to use it against a human, do use it against feral stuff so dont drop yer animals or kids off by my house.....
 
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