Maybe I need to rethink my faith in 45 acp

I really don't know Gabe Suarez, . . . but a Google of that name does not bring up the affirmative response I would like to see in my instructors.

Just food for thought, may God bless,

Dwight
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Yeah, a few people have alluded to that fact, but no one has come out and said it yet. I believe, if memory serves me, that he is not in law enforcement not by his choosing. I believe he has a rather serious criminal incident on his record.

Maybe someone can post the specifics, as I don't recall exactly what they were.

Not that that means his input on a gunfighting isn't worthwhile, however, his advocacy of a 6-shot revolver and not an 8 or 9 shot magazine-fed .45 does leave me suspicious.
 
he is not in law enforcement not by his choosing. I believe he has a rather serious criminal incident on his record.

Maybe someone can post the specifics, as I don't recall exactly what they were.
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I don't think thats necessary, nor is it any of our business or relevent to the topic.

Yes, my opinions are differant then Mr Gabe Suarez's, (in fact they vary a great deal) how ever lets keep this professional and not personal.
 
Carry what YOU shoot best!

Again here we go with another this caliber is better than that caliber routine. I myself carry a 9mm Hi-Power. Personally I can shoot the 9 better than the .40 or the .45. Don't get me wrong, I think any of these calibers will do the job right if the placement shots are true. But for me it doesn't do me any good if I can't make the follow up shots if I have to. For me I can handle the 9 better. Oops I forgot to include the 10mm, .357 SIG, .380, 9mm Makarov, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .44 Special which also should be thought about.:D
 
and apparently he somewhat agreed and made a post regarding this topic to quell the squabble
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The shameless mis-direction, biases, and outright dishonesty there are but a symptom of the Suarez ethics problem. I agree, this issue has been kicked around plenty before, and there isn't any need to go into it in depth. But I will submit for consideration that the number of "gunfights" that Gabe claims to have been in have steadily gone DOWN over the years as people have pressed him a bit. To me, that raises a few questions. Here is an old TFL thread worth looking at:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159985&highlight=Gabe+Suarez
 
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"warrior talk" is great.

"After years of rumors I am glad to finally hear Gabe's side of the story."

Me too. I know that these Gabe Suarez rumors are all that people have been talking about at work.
 
David,

Thanks for posting that link. I had a short stay at Warrior Talk, and met the same fate as Rich Lucibella.

Today was the first I read about his legal troubles. I don't know much about that. I didnt even realize Gabe was in LE, it didnt matter to me. I posted above about trying to keep personal affairs out of the topic, before I read MrNiceGuy's post linking Warrior Talk. And read what Gabe said.
on the Warrior Link Post
I’d been working as a cop for quite a while. I worked physically, meaning that I saw my job as an opportunity to deploy against the bad guys and not as anything else.
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Sorry had I read that before, I would never have stayed in Warrior Talk long enough to post.

I retired after 20 years in LE. I may not have been the best cop but I dont believe that attitude is acceptable in LE. I would not have tolorated it in my pears.

However, not knowing this until today, it wasnt the cause of the problems I had with Mr Suarez. I think some of his statements are wrong, as are his tactics. I believe his attitude toward training is not condusive to interatcion with the non-shooting public. We have enough problems now and its up to use to put forth a ethical front toward shooting sports and self defence.

As mentioned I had the same problem as Rich in questioning some of his statements. When I come up with a differant opinion I like to provide proof, or other justification based on my experience and training. I was more then willing to debate the subject IN A CIVILIZED MATTER. I too asked to be allowed to debate the topic in accordance with the guidelines of Warrior Talk. The results being that I am no longer welcomed there.

What does all this mean, NOT MUCH except one, especielly a new shooter, should be careful of the instructors he or she chooses. One instructors opinions may be perfectly legit, but the method of presentation could reverse all of his good intentions.

Gentlemen, I respectively request that we police our own ranks. Be careful of what we teach, and that we present, not only to other shooters but to the non shooting public, a professional, respectable course of action.

Yes I will continue to voice my opinons, based on my training and experience, but I hope to do this in a respectable manner. I request that if your opinion, and you think I am wrong, that my wrong be pointed out, and we can have a RESPECTFUL debate and let the chips fall where they may.
 
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IMHO, civilians are be amply armed with 8 rounds of .45 auto, in most situations. And like others have said, having more rounds doesn't mean that you know what to do with them. But if you do know what to do with them and don't mind carrying them, well, then they might constitute an advantage.

Lance Thomas was in a different position as he was a bonafide target, likely to have to engage multiple threats, as ended up being the case on multiple occasions. For him, given his high risk situation, ample firepower was definitely a requirement and he was smart to not rely on having to reload, but instead to have a multitude of guns that he can sequentially use if needed.

Mr. Wilson, if I remember right, fired until that nut gun man went down, then Mr. Wilson somehow turned away and lost sight of the threat, and that is when that mad man popped back up and shot him in the head. It is very difficult to say but perhaps if Mr. Wilson had continued to keep the target in his sights he could have attempted a head shot when the mad man started to come up again. It would have been a problem at that point if his gun was empty, but I don't think that was the case.

I think my nightmare scenario would be being attacked by multiple gang members, and that is when having more available firepower can be a comforting thought. Normally I carry a USPc .40 (13 rounds) with one 12 round mag as a reload, so when I carry my J frame I do feel a wee bit "lightweight."

Therefore I begrudge no one if they wish to carry a big ol' shooter loaded with 14 rounds of .45 ACP, and multiple reloads. Hey if you can stand carrying that, then why would I want to rain on your parade.
 
I agree. I will not be confronting anyone at longer ranges. If a lethal threat appears, I figure it will be inside ten yards and rapidly changing that distance. One and a half seconds to cover 21 feet ... hmmm how many shots will I get off ? If lucky 3, or 4 ?

How many do you figure you can get off ?
 
This is the first time I heard of Gabe Suarez so I may be going out on a limb but so be it. He is entitled to his opinions and the rest of us are entitled to ours. He may not like the 45 ACP because he may not be able to shoot it well enough to be confident with it. He also may not like carrying spare ammo with him. It messes up the lines in the formal wear. When I did private security I carried a 357 loaded with 38 ammo most of the time. I carried two reloads and never felt out gunned. I did wish the company had allowed other calibers because the 45 would have been a good choice. The local city police carry 45's, and the county police carry 40's both with two reloads.
 
best caliber?

accurate shot that hits before bogie fires supercedes all ballistic considerations.

single action semi auto with light trigger best handgun platform for offensive engagement, usually remains holstered-subordinate to m4, mp5, or benelli m1.
double action best for most carry.

i prefer 9mm. same energy as .45. twice the training for the same money. we each fire 1000 rds monthly, savings adds up. faster follow up shots and target re-acquisition. more firepower. easy choice for me.

some like .45. bigger hole, and 1911, familiar platform, tactical, nostalgic feel.

i like cocked and locked on the range, not on the street.

play with wilson supergrade, carry g17, defend with remington 100, chase with ap4 308. outgunned...die well.
 
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Back to the original poster; if you like the .45, stick with it, but consider this: if you can carry one gun, you can carry two. Think weapons retention, major malfunctions, etc. Two small .45s would be better than one big .45. Make sure they can share mags.

Or at least, why not carry your .45 and your snubbie? Any second gun is the fastest reload possible.

For the record, I carry two GLOCK 10mms.
 
I recommend spare magazines. They are flat and relatively unobtrussive. I prefer to carry 5 or 6 Wilson 8 rounders.
 
I don't know who Gabe Suarez is either nor do I care. There's enough "self-appointed" experts to go around that's for sure. Maybe I'm just simple minded and I don't have any evidence to back this up but I'm pretty sure you shoot somebody with any .45/9mm/.40 within acceptable range they will be very seriously hurt and quite possibly killed. They will ceratainly stop doing bad things and give all their attention to the gunshot wound. If they do not, my advice is shoot them again. Sometimes my TFL brothers and sisters over think things a bit.:D
 
I feel just fine with my 1911 w/8+1 and en extra 8 rnd magazine. My next purchase will be an XD in 45acp 13+1 works for me.


starshooter231
 
One or two shots assumes there's only one bg. Look at what happened
here in Fla. last week. Five anal oriffices [orificii?] shooting up donut shops.
That might be where you want the 14 rd. mag. Just my 2 phennigs.
 
There have been BG's and good guys hit more than once with 9mm, .40 and .45 that kept coming. Wounding will not always stop. Accuracy will.
 
Six decades and I've never been in a gunfight. (Active military service does not count.) Although I have CCW for two states, and some reciprocity, I rarely "pack heat" -- I've found it's just not necessary and a whole lot of trouble.

Realistically, hard-core veracity, I think CCW is more often about Walter Mitty role-playing than it is about necessity and self-defense.

I like to have the option of being able to enter military reservations. (We have several here, and I'm retired military.) Can't do that with a gun in the vehicle, not even unloaded, disassembled and locked in the trunk.

If I'm out in the boonies you can bet I carry a firearm for defense, typically a carbine or other long-gun.

My 45 ACP "Tactical" XD, w/ Glock laser holds 13+1. The "short mag" holds ten. That's nearly half a box of ammo. If that doesn't take care of business, then I'm in a dung-heap that a handgun won't dig me out of. I have an NAA Guardian, 32 ACP, 6 rd. Kahr 9mm, 5 rd, J-frame in .357. Never have had to use any of them. Pretty sure that even the 32 ACP will "stop the show" in most confrontations.

I asked a state trooper why he preferred the Gold Cup over a high cap Glock: "The sidearm is only for covering my butt until I can get to the long-gun in the squad car."

If you can't find a gelatin block, wad up some newspapers and soak them in a 5 gallon bucket. Wet, crumpled, packed newsprint is similar to gelatin block -- according to Sanow & Marshall.

Take that 5 gal. bucket and shoot a JHP, 45 ACP into it. Ensure you have a full-service backstop behind the bucket!

Then . . . get back to me about "45 ACP stopping power is over-rated." :D

-- There's no "whipping a dead horse" smilie ???
 
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