Quoted: No one ever compares the .45acp as being as good as the .40 S&W or 9x19mm.
Stopping power %'s is a junk science. Multiple rapid center of Chest hits are necassary in any handgun caliber. The larger the caliber the more tissue destroyed.
|
Once again I find it funny how an avid 45 gunner hoots and howls about how the .45 rules the nest, and when someone provides statistics that dont show that they say its "junk science" but fail go give any of their own...
Im sorry my friend, but the ONLY statistics I have seen show that there is just NOT that big a difference in .45 vs. .40 shooting results when actual shooting results are documented.
Keep in mind that the shooting statistics I have provided, according to the source, said these shootings involved only ONE hit in center mass, no other hits/wounds, and the person shot had to drop within 10 feet of the actual point of impact.
In for example the best man-stopping round listed in these statistics is the Federal Hydra Shok... in .45 there was 107 shootings, with 102 one-shot-stops. 95%
In .40 cal same brand bullet.... 56 shootings, 54 stops... 96%.
If you take the average of all 3 top calibers... with .40 cal you have a 95% one-shot-stop, with .45 you have 94% (each rounded to the nearest whole % point. The actual figures were 95.33 and 93.66 for .40 and .45 in that order).
Also please note, that while everyone seems to desire the heavier 230 grain .45 bullet, 2 of the top 3 man stoppers is actually the lighter 185 grain bullet.
Whereas with .40 cal also shows that the top 2 of the 3 best man stoppers is the lighter 155 grain bullet and the 3rd is the heavier 165 grain bullet.
SO... what does this mean? Simple... bullet placement.
Remember this study only polls results from shootings where there was one shot to CENTER MASS... meaning if you draw a line across your collar bone, down thru your nipples meeting in the middle in an upside down triangle, there is your center mass.
SO ... placing your round in center mass is critical above all else.
If you like the .45, then go for it. Its truly an excellent round with a LONG history of combat behind it. Its a very common round, and really not all that expensive if you buy in bulk and can afford to shoot as much as you feel necessary to become proficient.
But the .40 is equally effective in actual shootings. Its only a tad less expensive for range ammo... WWB runs 14/xx for .40 cal, and 19.xx for .45 cal.
But each round "feels" different as stated by the gentlemen above. The .40 is well described as "snappy" while the .45 "pushes". So its kind of up to how youre built, and what you find comfortable.
I think the best advise given on a thread like this is try one out for your self. Find a range or a buddy who has one (preferably one of each) and shoot them side-by-side if possible.
SGB is quite correct when he says "Multiple rapid center of Chest hits are necassary in any handgun caliber" is the way to go.
"Why" you ask if both rounds are so great? Simple... 2 reasons really.
1. Im not going to stop with a single shot... train to double tap effectively. I dont think the BG is going to light up like a video game if you hit his X Ring right away, and that pause to see if he falls down and goes boom, may give him enough time to get that fatal shot to YOU if he is only wounded in a non-lethal area.
2. If the average is 95%, there is always that other 5%.
And remember above all these precious words...
"The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat."
Train hard... train well... in the end its your training that will see you to the end of the gunfight far more effectively than the caliber of your sidearm ever will.
Stay safe!!