Put the beast to bed (.45 vs .357 .... bonus .45 vs .40)

T

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First I found a random piece of solid steel. 1/16 inch thick and very, very dense. Then I shot at it a few times with some different bullets, in different loads, from about 15 feet away. Here is what happened. I will let you draw your own conclusions:

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Weapons used:
.357 / .38 ... Ruger SP101 - 3" barrel
.45 ... Glock 36 - 3.78" barrel
.40 ... Glock 23 - 4.02" barrel

My conclusion:
I will never carry a .45 ACP again. If I want the firepower of a five inch barrel (cough 1911 cough) I can carry a big ol' .357 revolver with 7 rounds in the chamber - and be better off for it... and when I dont want to carry a hand cannon (on the other 330 days out of the year), I will carry my G23.
 

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Nice. Is there any room on that steel for a 9mm sample?
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Never owned a 9mm. Don't see the point. Almost every gun made in 9mm comes in an identically sized 40 s&w... and the extra 2-3-4 rounds you get doesn't make up for the loss of firepower IMO.
 
Never owned a 9mm. Don't see the point. Almost every gun made in 9mm comes in an identically sized 40 s&w... and the extra 2-3-4 rounds you get doesn't make up for the loss of firepower IMO.
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That's interesting, I've never owned a .45. I always liked the thought of having 15+ rounds in a magazine so the 9mm seemed ideal. Growing up in the 80's and 90's, the "nine" was the hot thing, and it stuck in my mind.

Either way, it's good to know the .357's no slouch.
 
Good to know in case I am attacked by 1/16" steel. I've got .44s that will punch completely through that easily.

Will still carry a .45 though, odds are if I have to defend myself it will be against something softer.
 
I agree with 44 AMP. I have a .44 Mag, but it would not be my first, second or third choice for personal protection against two legged threats.
 
Pretty interesting test, but all it really shows is that the .45 doesn't penetrate as far as the smaller rounds. That is something most of us already know, but penetration and force are different. Personally I am a fan of the .40 and don't care much for the .45, but have no doubt that it will do the job against a person.
 
first, that isn't 1/16th inch steel.

Second, the information that you gleaned by shooting a few rounds of different cartridges at a sheet of steel can't possibly add any wisdom or useful information to the incredibly complex issue of cartridge development. Thanks for the effort, though.

ever since black powder was first jammed down a pipe with a round pebble, top minds have been struggling with weapons design. performance on thin sheet metal has never been a very high priority. It's probably somewhere around #50, way behind cost of materials, cost of equipment, accuracy, alloys, heat treating, polishing, inspecting, and even whether we should put red polymer tips in, or use green, and say that the bullets are for zombies.
 
That includes me. I have an IQ measured in the high 90s, once at 99. I was invited into mensa. I advised my surgeon on how to repair my torn tendons. I advised the president (unofficially) during the vietnam war. I have been published in magazines, written a short novel, and I'm consulted by the best and brightest people I know, on various subjects.

In between all that, I have quite often sent important communiques to the owners of various weapons firms advising them what is wrong with their products and how to improve them.

I just found this one in my office documents diretory.

Deer surs:

Thes bullts dont shoot strait. You can shove them up yur butts.
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Usually, I get replies thanking me for my valuable input. Not that time.
 
Own 1911's in .45acp. Love 40s&w as well. But a car door isnt 1/16in sheet steel. Ive saw a .22lr penetrate a car door. anything thicker than that and its a waste of ammo. who wants to shoot at an attacker behind cover anyways?
 
I have an IQ measured in the high 90s, once at 99.
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I had a fever that measured in the low 100's, pert near 104.

I was invited into mensa.
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Wasn't invited, but I blew a radiator hose there in the summer of '93. See Tonto National Forest if you're down that way.

;)

The .45 is the way to go in either case. The cases are easier to find in the grass and harder to drop when you're reloading them; heck they're even easier to inspect after you've charged them.

The coolest handguns are available for it, too. Revolver? 1917 or SAA. Ottermatik? Nineteeny-leven.

Power? Tom Hanks killed a Panzer tank with one, for cryin' out loud. I'm surprised this is even a question.
 
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