The almighty .45 acp.

G

Gunslick

New member
Okay, I used to be all about the 9mm. I still am a big fan of it, all calibers really. But, did some expansion testing today and tested 230 gr Federal HST standard pressure........holy crap....expansion was over an inch wide from the widest peddle to the other side. Full weight retention. Penetrated 2, 1 gallon jugs of water and dropped dead in the third but made a small dent on the back side of jug number 3. I have expanded HST in many calibers and in 9mm I give it a A++ but .45 acp, I am amazed.
 
Regardless whether water filled jugs are an adequate tissue stimulant, the 45 starts out larger than a 9mm (.356) and will make a wider hole, all things being equal. And even if neither expand, the 45 will still make a wider hole.

I am of the opinion that in an air breathing animal, blood loss is a 100% positive kill mechanism. If it breathes, and it bleeds, if it bleeds enough it will stop breathing. I believe that the bigger the drain hole, the quicker an animal will bleed out.
 
Oh good...yet another thread arguing the merits of the .45 ACP versus 9mm. Lord knows, I'm sure we'll discover new and exciting information in this one...
 
No. In this thread we discuss the mighty 12 gauge slug and the puny and pellet-like .45. Such a sad, sad, slow tiny round.
 
I long ago concluded that the caliber/size etc. of the gun was really less important than its being at hand and my having the ability to shoot it well once I made the decision to shoot. Some will simply not believe it, but rumors are that a .25 auto slug in an attacker's head beats all kinds of waving a .44 and telling everybody how powerful it is.

Jim
 
Some will simply not believe it, but rumors are that a .25 auto slug in an attacker's head beats all kinds of waving a .44 and telling everybody how powerful it is.
Click to expand...

I've heard stories of .25's deflecting off of peoples skulls.:rolleyes:
 
My wife, being a ER trauma I nurse as well as a CVICU, CV OR, head of CVICU, and director of CVICU, has told me they saw many small caliber gunshot wounds and yes, such as .22, .25, and 32 often are deflected by the skull. Even a few .38/9mm have done so.

Deaf
 
When leafing through the reloading manual and gazing at all the handgun rounds that been concocted before and after, it doesn't really pop out all that much on paper. But I like it...and I think it can be very impressive. I also think most published loads are way below what most firearms of reasonably recent manufacture (say, since 1960 or so) can handle routinely. At the top end, it's truly impressive...but with wee little minimum loads, it's an absolute pleasure plinker.
 
Its a nice caliber..man I have been without a 1911 for so long I forgot what I was missing out on. I don't understand the ones that do not like the 1911. Yes there are more moving parts but if you are willing to learn a little something about what you carry then it is 100% worth it for certain. I love working on my own firearms. Thank god I live in a hill billy tiny town with no gunsmith for 300 miles.
 
I personally like the .45 acp, and while I don't think it has a huge edge in, well, anything- it is relatively easy to shoot, reliable, very accurate, and not insanely loud when fired in a closed in area. The same can be said for .38 special (In UNported guns), and possibly 9mm (Depending on ammo selection.)., .380 acp, and others.

If they're gonna say that 9mm is as good as .40 with modern ammo, why can't .380 be as good as 9mm with modern ammo?
That's why I like .45 acp...
 
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Its a fine caliber, but as impressive as the expansion of the bullet is, ultimately, it does not do much to increase actual effectiveness of the round. Not enough to matter anyway.

The difference between 2:00 minutes to bleed out and 2:15 minutes to bleed out is not really a deciding factor.


But a person can use the caliber they prefer most, I won't tell them other wise...

I may argue that their choice does not make them better off than another (of the big 3) common pistol caliber though, despite what they make "think" makes theirs better. :D
 
The best caliber to shoot is the one you fire the most accurately and will carry most often. While I have and will carry .45ACP, or .40S&W you will usually find a 9mm on my hip. I'm not looking for head shots. Center of mass is the go to area on the human body and 9mm with modern ammo works just fine. JMHO
 
big shrek said:
I'll put it this way...
go to a bowling pin match...
85% .45acp
15% 10mm
0% 9mm

What's that tell ya??
Click to expand...

That tells me that Newton's Laws still work.

In other words, M1V1 = M2V2.

A bowling pin hit center mass with a 115 grain 9mm at 1300 FPS will move back at 6.4 FPS. Same bowling pin hit center mass with a 230 grain .45 ACP at 830 FPS will move back at 8.2 FPS.

Should be obvious that if you're trying to move bowling pins that momentum (mass x velocity) is your friend.

A 180 pound object hit with the same 9mm will move back at .12 FPS. The .45 will move it back at .15 FPS. If that 180 pound object happens to be someone attacking you, how much effect does that .03 FPS difference have on physically stopping him?

Does the additional momentum advantage imparted by the .45 offset the faster recovery time and additional ammo capacity advantages of the 9mm?

I'll put it this way...
Go to an IDPA or IPSC match, or look at what the vast majority of organizatons (military and police forces) that are interested in stopping people instead of bowling pins use.
99% 9mm
1% 45

What's that tell ya??
 
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