9MM OR .45AUTO? - AR15.COM

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 9MM OR .45AUTO?

Posted: 5/10/2001 10:55:27 PM EDT

WICH CAL WOULD U PICK AND WHY? (AS AN EVERDAY CARRY GUN)

HUNTA' :)

Posted: 5/10/2001 10:56:26 PM EDT

[#1]

Skunk juice.

Posted: 5/10/2001 10:56:50 PM EDT

[#2]

BTW________SCREW .40'S :))

Posted: 5/10/2001 10:59:57 PM EDT

[#3]

I wouldn't, because I don't prefer them.
I screw with the .40's...for the same reasons major Law Enforcement agencies do.
Nothing wrong with the other two; .40's just my preference.

Posted: 5/10/2001 11:00:02 PM EDT

[#4]

When the bad guy just absolutely, positively, definately must die ... .45

If you just want to wound some one... 9mm

Posted: 5/10/2001 11:05:31 PM EDT

[#5]

Because handgun rounds rely on size of the bullet and not the velocity, and because hollow points dont always expand, I choose the larger .45

Posted: 5/11/2001 4:47:16 AM EDT

[#6]

I once shot a rabid racoon with a Corbon 115 JHP fired from a 4 1/2" barrel. Didn't exit an animal that's maybe 4" or so thick at it's widest point. Can you imagine depending on this type performance when dealing with some drugged out 220lb homicidal maniac? My current carry rounds: 40/180 grain and (preferably)45/230 grain.

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:11:06 AM EDT

[#7]

You actually have to ask?

.45 without question.

Norm

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:25:49 AM EDT

[#8]

I carry 9mm most of the time, mostly because it is light, and cheap to shoot. When I think I may need heavier firepower, I still stick with 9mm bullets, I just stuff them into necked cases[:D]....see the post on .357 SIG

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:31:55 AM EDT

[#9]

After having worked EMS and picking up several people hit with multiple 9mm rnds that walked to the ambulance i carry a .45 .

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:32:18 AM EDT

[#10]

I would choose one of my .45's because life has been good for me for some time and I enjoy the power-trip a .45 gives. My life could be even better if I could catch another high-quality woman like my ex-girlfriend before she changed her personality completely. [:(!]

-RoadDog
(Charles Atlas student in training)

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:35:46 AM EDT

[#11]

I carry a .45, but I think 9mm is underated by most .45 afficianados. People will walk away from a .223 shot to the arm leg or stomach if it doesn't hit the right area. The key is to get bullets on target, roughly in the cardiopulminary system (heart & lungs) or possibly the head (a harder shot to make). A .22 to the heart will put someone's lights out, and a 300 win mag to the arm might not stop someone. Thus you should shoot a gun of any caliber that you can consistently keep on target.

My understanding of 9mm is that the US rounds are not as powerful as the Nato standard. I think a true high velocity 9mm is a quality round that more people can consistently keep in the kill zone. It's true, in the era of the 10 rd. limit a .40 or .45 might make sense if you can control it, but this idea that handgun stopping power will win the fight automatically is BS. All handgun rounds are extremely weak and you should not overestimate the power of your equipment. Therefore you should always focus on keeping bullets on point.

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:43:54 AM EDT

[#12]

Good point Publius... Having said that, I mess around with 40 as well...
[pistol]

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:45:50 AM EDT

[#13]

i agree shot placement is important. However i have persoanly seen an individual take 3 9mm rnds to the chest/midsection and remain on his feet. At least with a .45 the round will normally put them on their ass or significantly slow them down. Allowing for a better aimed followup if needed.

The 9mm in my opinion is a fine round for backup carry or a situation where small is the only option for concealment. But for protection i won't carry anything else.
Look into the history of the .45. The military developed it to stop pain crazed Philipino< i think> warriors that the .38's would not stop.

mike

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:53:44 AM EDT

[#14]

.45acp
How many gang-bangers do you see bragging about the scars they have from a .45???
:-)

Shoot safe
Robert

Posted: 5/11/2001 6:56:12 AM EDT

[#15]

Beer Slayer,

Yes the Moros did seem to soak of the old 38 load pretty well. Echoing Publius' sentiment, I'd rather concentrate on hitting center mass. That's why I'm getting into IDPA, because it focuses on shooter skill and not whiz-bang gadgets.

Posted: 5/11/2001 7:06:18 AM EDT

[#16]

i carry a 40, and a 45. my wife carries a 9 because it is as large a caliber that she can shoot accurately. the 45 is best for stopping power. remember though that the germans were not told that the 9mm was underpowered during ww11, and killed thousands of people with that caliber. the seals use the 9mm and have no problem either. shot placement is everything. buy what you can shoot the best and practice with it. as a kid on the farm we would butcher a steer every 6 mo.. to take it down we used a .22 l.r., one shot to the head and lights out.

Posted: 5/11/2001 7:08:09 AM EDT

[#17]

That was my point exactly. I have seen 9mm not penetrate or stop an individual with center mass hits. A .45 will. Even if the rnd does not penetrate the energy expediture of the round will knock them off their feet or at least significantly slow them down. A 9mm simply does not have the mass for this. High velocity is nice but you must have some mass behind it.
In the example i gave the officer that shot the assailent 3 times was promptly overtaken and 2 other officers were required to subdue the individual. Yes this guy was hopped up on drugs but this should be expected in an attack. Had that officer been using a large caliber round he would have been stopped with 3 centermass hits.

jmho

mike

Posted: 5/11/2001 9:51:26 AM EDT

[#18]

9mm id rather hit him with a 9mm then miss with a 45

Posted: 5/11/2001 10:05:18 AM EDT

[#19]

The correct answer is whatever you can shoot accurately. All things being equal, I would prefer a .45. For me, the next step would be a .40. Again, my opinion only, for me a full size 9mm is obsoleted by the.40. Same size pistol, maybe one or 2 fewer rounds, bigger bullet. The 9mm is what I prefer in a small frame for concealed carry. But that's me. Whatever works for you. The heaviest caliber YOU can fire accurately(and if concealed carry is an issue, conceal adequately.) For everyday duty use, I carry a .40, because that is what my agency issues and requires. I am quite comfortable with it.

Posted: 5/11/2001 10:13:11 AM EDT

[#20]

I've carried a 9mm SIG P239 because that is what was issued, but much prefer my .45ACP 1911A1. I can hit what I shoot at with either, but prefer the less sharp recoil impulse of the 45.

I find that both pistols were about equal in single action, but the 45 was much more comfortable for me to shoot. YMMV [;D]

The best weapon is the one you have on you at the time the SHTF, otherwise we'd all be lugging M2 .50BMGs.

Semper Fi!

Ken Little

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:06:59 PM EDT

[#21]

I'd shoot someone with both. Unload both on them. You gotta be sure you know.

Posted: 5/11/2001 12:27:40 PM EDT

[#22]

Well, since I am have never been accurate with any 9mm that I have owned or fired I would go with the .45.

Just a side note...I would defenitely buy a .40 before I would buy a 9mm. There is a reason law enforcements choose them over the 9mm.

Posted: 5/11/2001 1:11:24 PM EDT

[#23]

i shoot the 40cal in a glock but am looking to upgrade to a 45 out of a 1911
[uzi][heavy]
[pyro][pistol]

Posted: 5/11/2001 1:15:20 PM EDT

[#24]

Yes.

I am interested in this question too, but in a slightly modofied form.

Can anyone out there name me a pistol more potent than a Glock 20?

15 Rds of 10MM ...
(NORMA loads Hit in the median range of a .41 MAG)... versus, what? 8 Rds of .45 or 17 Rds of 9MM ---

LOLOLOLOL!!!

Whatta Joke.

The 10MM. The choice of those who know better.

Posted: 5/11/2001 3:01:39 PM EDT

[#25]

I'm happy with my Glock 19 and no spare mags. (I'm not into having a Batman utility belt loaded down with mags and other accesories.) 16 rounds is good enough for carry, IMO. Sometimes, I'll carry my USP .45 instead, but not often. If I ever ditch the Glock for something else, it'll be a SIG 229 in 357SIG.

Posted: 5/11/2001 3:04:13 PM EDT

[#26]

ARowner, I have to agree. I carry my Glock 22 off duty with 1 pre-ban hi-cap with a chrome-vanadium spring. If I have a problem that 16 rounds of 165g Federal Hydrashock can't solve, I do not have a handgun problem.

-Andy

Posted: 5/11/2001 3:28:39 PM EDT

[#27]

OK MickUZI,

I'll take your challenge--

Try a Rocky Mountain Arms Patriot with a 40 round Sterling Mag (or a Beta-C Mag). Kind of hard to conceal, but what the heck!!

I have a Glock 20, love it. I would prefer to carry my HK P7 PSP (if IL law permitted), but would feel adequately armed with any of my guns that I can reliably hit the target with--that means anything from a Beretta 84 to a Super Blackhawk (as long as the guns is reliable, too). (I would probably forego the .22 target pistols as they can be somewhat ammo finicky.)

Buy what you can afford to shoot and practice with. Try them out at rental ranges. See what fits your hand best, and what you can point most naturally with (that's a good starting point for developing accuracy under pressure).

And don't buy the crap that the minimum caliber for defense is..... If all you can hit the target with is a .22, then that is better than a Desert Eagle in .50AE that you cannot even hold to shoot.

Posted: 5/11/2001 3:39:58 PM EDT

[#28]

i own three hk 45's and love them. the only downside to me is the weight of the round. this transfers to 223 as well. i can tell if a 30rnd mag has ss109 or m193 in it by weight.

steve

Posted: 5/11/2001 4:15:31 PM EDT

[#29]

I would go with a 9mm or a .40. In 9mm loadings I would go with 124-127gr +p or +p+. Since the 9mm case is tappered it can take the pressure. I would stay away from any 115gr since they underpenetrate, especially Cor-bons. However they do expand very well. I personally carry 15 rounds of Winchester Ranger SXT 9mm 127gr +p+ LEO rounds in my Beretta E2. I like the .40 as well. I would stick to the Remington Golden Sabers 165gr.

I would only carry a .45 in a high cap capable gun such as HK or Glock. .87 .72 avg.

As a side note, how does a EMS tech know what a gang banger was shot with? Does he read med. path. reports during his off time? Those "G's" use many different rounds, incuding .45's. Several rounds of .45 in the wrong place with not stop a person dead in their tracks. Maybe a 1.25oz mag. slug might, but not a .45.

Posted: 5/11/2001 4:20:29 PM EDT

[#30]

Freedom Fighter - EMS will usually ask PD on the scene if they know what the victim was shot with so they can report it to the trauma center, and PD can usually tell from casings.

-Andy

Posted: 5/11/2001 5:08:02 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:

Just a side note...I would defenitely buy a .40 before I would buy a 9mm. There is a reason law enforcements choose them over the 9mm.

View Quote

Right, because girl-cops whined about the recoil of a .45, after they found 9mm didn't stop worth a crap. I think Colonel Cooper referred to the .40 as " . . .another silly solution to a non-existent problem." In other words, if one can't handle a .45, they have no business putting themselves in harm's way, if at all possible. The 9mm is "long term lethal, short term anemic", but I don't know who said that. Do whatever YOU think is best, as others have said. Personally, I keep a .44 mag in my truck. Here in the PR of Illinois, it is not permissible to defend your life by carrying, concealed or not. [:(]

Posted: 5/11/2001 8:53:54 PM EDT

[#32]

Nothing says "STOP" like a .45Auto. Big bullet,big hole.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 9MM OR .45AUTO?

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