Which would have more stopping power, 1 shot with a .45 or 2 shots with a 9mm?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shot placement is the answer. As someone else on here so aptly put "I'd rather take a .50 cal in the foot than a .22 to the back of the skull".
 
stopping power isn't really important(or even defineable)

It doesn't really exist. Bigger bullets are better. Trading one wound channel for two is not math I'm sure makes sense.
 
I don't know that anyone's second shot will be more accurate than their first, but with 2 bullets there is twice the chance of hitting something vital.
I shot 45's in the military. Couldn't hit sh++. I am much better with 9mm.

You hear a lot about the Navy Seals use this or that. The question is are you as good with that caliber as they are? Shoot whatever you are best with.
 
What's you idea of "stopping power"?

For example: In .45 ACP, Hornady 185-grain FTX JHP generates 411 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. By comparison, in 9mm Hornady 115-grain FTX JHP generates 332 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Overall, the combined total of the two 9mm shots will have more muzzle energy, but not applied to the same wound. Two 9mm holes may result in the assailant bleeding out faster, than one 45-caliber hole, but a determined bad guy can do a lot of damage in the process of bleeding out. The single .45-caliber shot (assuming good shot placement) is likely to stop or slow down an assailant faster than two 9mm shots.

All of the above is IMHO. I am not an expert in ballistic performance.
 
Regardless of caliber selection, if you don't hit the target it doesn't matter, and a proper double-tap should be applied to your target. Yes, even shooting the big, bad .45 ACP. The only thing that has bearing to true "stopping power" is an immediate hit to the CNS....
 
In .45 ACP, Hornady 185-grain FTX JHP generates 411 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. By comparison, in 9mm Hornady 115-grain FTX JHP generates 332 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Overall, the combined total of the two 9mm shots will have more muzzle energy, but not applied to the same wound. Two 9mm holes may result in the assailant bleeding out faster, than one 45-caliber hole, but a determined bad guy can do a lot of damage in the process of bleeding out. The single .45-caliber shot (assuming good shot placement) is likely to stop or slow down an assailant faster than two 9mm shots.
Click to expand...

You can find 9mm loadings with much more muzzle energy than 332. That's on the low end, and I'm not even talking about +p+.

Shoot them in the head or a vital organ. If you don't they don't die and they keep on fighting. The FBI learned that in Miami some years back.
 
In addition to caliber, the type of ammo used also needs to be taken into account...


230-gr .45 Winchester Ranger, Federal Classic and Remington Golden Saber.
 
Two 9mm holes are better than one 11.43mm hole.

Plus less recoil.

Plus more mag capacity.

Plus nearly the same expanded diameter and penetration with new hollowpoint technology.

Plus lighter, slimmer guns.

Basically... plus everything.

9mm > .45
 
I read somewhere recently on the Firing Line (I did a search so it may not be a current topic) that an XTP 147 grain bullet for a 9mm is comparable to the fire power of a 40 cal. I don't know if that is true but I intend on upgrading from my current load of a 115 grain XTP to the 147. Loading your own helps as well as you gain more control of your round.

I most certainly agree with those who have voiced their concern about shot placement. Putting aside the caliber and bullet type, placement is the thing my wife and I concentrate on while at the range (ok basic understatement, it's what everyone else is doing too, right). I have vision issues so making sure every shot counts is my level of concern. The bullet, weight, grain, etc. comes after making sure I can hit what I'm supposed to be aiming at.

Good luck.
 
Bigger bullets are better than smaller ones but ultimately it's shot placement and penetration that counts. Too much emphasis is placed on the ft-lbs stuff because if numbers killed we'd all hunt with calculators or use them for self defense.
 
First, and most importantly, learn that "stopping power" is a myth!
As mentioned, shot placement is the key to stopping an attack. A big hole is only better than a small hole if it is in the right place. Two, or fifteen little holes that don't disrupt the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) will not necessarily stop an attack imediatly.
Lots of discussion about this on TFL if you search for it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top