What has more stopping power .45 or .40?

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The gun has more punch to it and is more likely to stop the criminal right?
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That's only one factor of thousands. Faster is not always better, heavier is not always better. The real world has real variables that we cannot control. I will now step away from my soapbox and wish you a good day.
 
Doug, don't take it personally. It's just that the question is asked much too often and rarely leads to any discussion worthy of reading.

I did a search on "stopping power" and got over 2500 hits limiting the search to "Hogan's Alley" only.
 
The 45acp, 40S&W, 357mag, 357sig, 10mm, and 9mm +P are all good provided you choose good HP's. More important perhaps is your personal shooting ability with the perticular weapen in question. What do you shoot the best and feel more confident with? Shoot the biggest caliber you can still shoot. I personaly like the 40S&W. I feel it has nearly the same stopping power but more capacity than a 45acp. To be honest I like both. After shooting alot of handguns the gun I liked the most was a SIG PRO in 40S&W. They don't make SIG PRO's in 45ACP so my choice was easy. Both are better than a 9mm IMHO. For some one that is recoil sensitive a 9mm may be a better coice though. I have a friend who loves his 1911 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I just shoot my sig better than I can shoot his 1911.
 
Well, shoot, I guess my 10 rounds of 200 gr. EFMJ in 45 ACP at 1030 fps is completley ineffective. Guess I'll just throw it in the trash can on my way out. :rolleyes:

The pistol with the most stopping power? I dunno. I am leaning towards the Bushy 97S. I don't mean to change the subject--no wait, yes I do--but what opinions do you guys have on this (seriously)? Do you think it (the Bushmaster Carbon 97) has value, or is it just gimmicky, or what? I am seeing a lot of potential here, but am just wondering if it is worth the investment, given the limitations beyond say, 50 yds. Your thoughts?
 
"what's wrong with stopping power? The gun has more punch to it and is more likely to stop the criminal right?"
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Doug,

As Mal said (and all of us truly mean this), please do not take the following personally. We all learn incrementally and all of us have thought about the most effective defensive system (firearm, plus ammunition, plus sights, plus belt/holster, and so forth) for our likely scenarios.

The problem is, what is stopping power (or "punch", as you indicate above)? That definition MUST be quantitative and scientifically justifiable, with repeatable and predicable results based on real-world findings and experimentation. Because there are SO MANY variables, a fully valid algorithm for stopping power has never been developed, despite many generations of analyses and effort.

Without being flippant, an enduring conclusion you may wish to consider could be, ACCURACY DOMINATES.

With respect and best regards.
 
The pistol with the most stopping power? I dunno. I am leaning towards the Bushy 97S. I don't mean to change the subject--no wait, yes I do--but what opinions do you guys have on this (seriously)? Do you think it (the Bushmaster Carbon 97) has value, or is it just gimmicky, or what? I am seeing a lot of potential here, but am just wondering if it is worth the investment, given the limitations beyond say, 50 yds. Your thoughts?
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Given the lower velocities, I would prefer the AK pistol with 7.62x39r

Then again, you can get pistols chambered in 30-06 and 7mm mag... :eek:
 
Not a bad question...

"stopping power" IS a topic worthy of discussion, whether it can be proved scientifically, repeatably, etc. or not. WE (most of us) KNOW what we mean by "stopping power" - [and alot of pistols have it plenty] and it is a real qualitive measure that can be discussed (although understood it is sometimes ad naseum ;)). So maybe there is no clearcut winner in the which is best, but many (esp. newer) shooters might not know the facts/theories as well as some others - we should be more then happy to share our knowlege - even if it is "again". There ARE advantages and disadvantages to the different calibers, stopping power is only one of the points someone can learn about, and is possibly one of the most important when we try to decide what WE will carry and why.
 
"stopping power" IS a topic worthy of discussion
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Yes if you are talking about 30-06, .308, and cartridges of that nature. Stopping power is not relevant to handgun cartridges because no handgun cartridge, even the .44Mag, has enough power to scientifically and physically stop a person in their tracks. Handguns rely mostly on psychological factors to stop human beings. The only guaranteed stop is hitting the spinal column or a brain shot. A bullet traveling over about 2600-2650fps develops a phenomenon that instantly incapacitates people and essentially turns whatever tissue struck into mush. Handguns do not do this. Hydro-static shock begins to happen when a bullet enters tissue faster than the speed of sound. After about an inch or two of penetration, no handgun bullet will still be traveling at the speed of sound, so no handgun cartridge is capable of stopping someone. Another thing about calibers, human body tissue is not constant, it has a very elastic nature and stretches a lot. All HG cartridges are ineffective when using FMJ no matter what caliber because human body tissue practically closes right up around it. Use premium HPs and there is very little difference between 9mm, .40, and .45 and the most important factors will lean on the shooter's ability to put well placed shots into the BG to stop the fight.
 
The 40 might be a better choice for stopping Javilina or black bears....

-tINY
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Well, I wasn't going to reply...but when I saw this, I couldn't help it. The 40 and 45 are both not good choices for stopping a black bear.
 
I think your definition is wrong - What, in the 'gun industry', is meant by "Stopping power" is NOT the ability to stop a human in his tracks, or knock him down or whatever - it is the ability to stop him from what ever nasty action he was doing. Whether it is a .22 to the brain, or a .45 to the heart, or a couple .40s to the chest, or a 9mm thru the lungs - if he stops what he was doing - that is stopping power that round possesses. Whether he dies, or passes out, or sits down & re-thinks his bad behavior - subjective or not, it can be examined and compared...As in "I will take the extra stopping power of a .45 over the .22, as it has a greater chance of stopping the BG from killing me or my kids" (esp. with all other things being equal). Or even "the stopping power of the .40 and the .45 are so similiar, it would be hard to pick one, and other aspects such as capacity and weapon platform should be considered as/more important; however both have alot more stopping power then a 22lr or a .25".

Edit:
Now we can also move ahead and discuss WHY the .45 has more stopping power then the .22 - which is also pretty well known - it has more mass, more velocity, bigger diameter, penetrates deeper, etc. etc.
 
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pssssh you wimps and your puny lil handguns

self defense, ill take a ar15 with a m203 launcher with a fat ol rubber slug :eek:

some say a rubber bullet is like a baseball launched at you, well a rubber slug from a m203 may be like a bowling ball launched at you :)
 
If I want stopping power, I'll just throw my naked mother-in-law at a BG. Now THAT will stop anyone in their tracks. :eek:

Seriously, these two calibers are both ABOUT equal. Not enough of a difference to make the BG say, "Hey, I'm glad he only shot me with a .40/.45!"
 
also keep in mind

if you are looking for a higher capicity gun 40 will fit the bill better than 45, but for all around self defense. 45acp is the king.
 
ABSOLUTELY THE 45 HAS MORE STOPPING POWER. I have never stopped to buy .40 but have all too often stopped to buy .45 :D
 
Terrific Discussion of Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness

So, I'll make a serious contribution to this thread - here is a link to my far and away favorite related discussion - it's not on .40 vs .45, but, rather it is on the nature of handgun wounds and how they can be effective or ineffective in stopping an assailant. This is one of a very few that I have seen that I believe rests on a firm foundation - it's by special agent Urey Patrick of the FBI, and may be found here:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/hwfe.htm

Excellent reading for anyone who may need to use a handgun in a defense situation - enjoy. :)
 
Ahhh - cje - now I understand where you are coming from with regards to "stopping Power". The article linked above mentions "immediate incapacitation" as the goal of SD shooting...(and I think the goal of "immediate incapacitation" should be equated with "stopping Power"), and the concept of reliable and reproducible immediate incapacitation, with anything other then a shot to the CNS, IS a myth when considering normal handguns/power. (The keys being immediate, reliable and reproducible i think.)

Your point is understood, and agreed with!


Hmm...can stopping power POTENTIAL be a qualitive measure for comparison?

Cheers!
 
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