9mm or 45ACP-- here are some opinions

[CCIman]

http://www.tactical-life.com/gear/45-ac ... um-9mm-win" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hit the arrows on th pictures and scrollthrough the reasoning.

interesting toilet reads.

[Jim-in-Toledo]

Best reason I saw in all of those was:

bigger holes bleed faster

[ArmedAviator]

I have believed strongly in bigger is better. I've been shooting and stocking up on .45ACP for years. Only last month have I made the choice to switch to 9mm for casual shooting and self defense.

My personal reasons:

• More ammo per magazine means more chances to connect and more time to suppress a target while moving if it's a really really bad situation.
• Easier follow up shots.
• Target ammo is about 40% less in price compared to .45ACP. This allows for more ammo in the stock pile and more practice at the range.
• It's a little easier to get new shooters to try out than a "big, scary .45."

I still will be keeping my full size 1911 and maybe get a second or third because I really do love the modern 1911 platform.

[someguy]

9mm gives me more chances to miss per magazine OR per dollar

[Mr. Glock]

One area that I don't see addressed much is subsonic ammo. Most 45 is subsonic, some 40 (180 gr) and some 9 (147). Some folks say for home defense, subsonic is better as you don't hear the sonic crack indoors. Assuming that is the case, a 45 or a 180 grain 40 seem to have an advantage over the 147 grain 9, which has always been the red-headed stepchild of the 9mm family.

In this particular situation, I think you could make a stronger case for a 45 (or even 180 gr 40 in terms of higher ammo capacity).

Thoughts?

[AlanM]

I have believed strongly in bigger is better. I've been shooting and stocking up on .45ACP for years. Only last month have I made the choice to switch to 9mm for casual shooting and self defense.

My personal reasons:

• More ammo per magazine means more chances to connect and more time to suppress a target while moving if it's a really really bad situation.
• Easier follow up shots.
• Target ammo is about 40% less in price compared to .45ACP. This allows for more ammo in the stock pile and more practice at the range.
• It's a little easier to get new shooters to try out than a "big, scary .45."

I still will be keeping my full size 1911 and maybe get a second or third because I really do love the modern 1911 platform.

Those are the EXACT reasons I decided to buy my first metric pistol.
My Stoeger Cougar has a 15 round magazine standard, plus 9mm practice and self defense ammo is less expensive than 45ACP.

[calvin56]

One area that I don't see addressed much is subsonic ammo. Most 45 is subsonic, some 40 (180 gr) and some 9 (147). Some folks say for home defense, subsonic is better as you don't hear the sonic crack indoors. Assuming that is the case, a 45 or a 180 grain 40 seem to have an advantage over the 147 grain 9, which has always been the red-headed stepchild of the 9mm family.

In this particular situation, I think you could make a stronger case for a 45 (or even 180 gr 40 in terms of higher ammo capacity).

Thoughts?

Probably because at or around the muzzle you cannot hear the slug breaking the sound barrier over the muzzle blast. The use of suppressors is a different story as is having a slug pass you downrange.

[TSiWRX]

...the 147 grain 9, which has always been the red-headed stepchild of the 9mm family.?

Sorry in-advance for the side-track.

Genuine question - is this still true today? I thought that the 147 gr. has been vetted as a viable 9mm loading based on testing data from the last decade or so?


-----

http://www.tactical-life.com/gear/45-ac ... um-9mm-win

hit the arrows on th pictures and scrollthrough the reasoning.

interesting toilet reads.

^ I coulda sworn we had a thread here on OFCC about this article, which dates back to April of '15.

I can't find it, though!

I remember that topic being *very* hot for a while, between, it seemed, late '13 and early '15. II remembered that we had two concurrent threads on this caliber topic at that time:
- http://www.ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=77754" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- http://www.ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=80775" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Personally, if a magazine/capacity limit came to pass, I think I will bump up to a .40 S&W or a .45 ACP.

That said, until that day comes to pass, I'm comfortable with what modern 9x19 JHPs can do in comparison to the larger calibers in terms of terminal performance if not barrier performance, and at my current skill level, the lower recoil of the 9 certainly helps me with the BSA template.

[EChryst]

Because I enjoy beating a dead horse, I've had nothing but great results with standard pressure 147 gr Federal HST. Of course theres no science or evidence to back this up, but in my subjective tests, I've had great results.


*Edit: There are plenty of studies done by real experts, I just personally have no science or evidence of my work*

[Bianchi?]

I can put more rounds on target faster with a 9mm than I can with my 45. Primarily the "on target" reason is why I carry a 9mm. More holes the bad guy, less holes in bystanders.

[glocksmith]

Both cartridges will get the job done at the close range of a SD incident. It's the old "slow and heavy vs. light and fast" bullet debate. For me it was all about weight and concealed carry comfort. I ditched .45acp as my concealed carry cartridge mainly because it was too heavy. Having 10 rds of 230gr bullets in the gun and another 10 in the spare magazine really does add to the unpleasantness of carrying all day long. I switched to .357mag for the obvious weight reduction and the performance. I know this thread is 9mm vs. 45, but the 125 grain loads I'm shooting out of a snub have basically the same ballistics as the 9mm.

[Whirlwind06]

When we look at double stacked full size pistols the 9mm is the clear winner, 18 - 20 round factory mags are getting pretty common now days. But few people are going to carry one, with the biggest sellers being sub compact 9mm that carry 6 or 7 rounds. So I think the mag capacity question is getting a bit over blown nowadays.

[TSiWRX]

^ Unless you stuck a full 17 to 22-rounder in there as your carried spare!

[Brian D.]

Typically I spend a bunch more time shooting and practicing the other aspects of carry than thinking much about caliber choice. Today I confirmed at the range that one of my ? brand model ??'s is more accurate than the other with the practice ball, and limited amount of precious expensive carry ammo, I tried through both. Thought this was the case a while back but wanted to make sure. Hence the more accurate one gets first chair, all other aspects between the two being equal.

Note I left out model number and even brand name so as not to make it seem like the caliber/make I worked with today is "the best" or even "my favorite". Don't want to be dragged down that rabbit hole any more. Learn to shoot what ya got. If ya got a lot to work with that means more range time, less computer time. Talking about (or even TO) your firearms won't make 'em run better.

[welshj]

i like the idea that my grandfather would/might/should have carried a 1911 when he was in the army.
I like the fit and feel of the 1911 in my huge hands...
I like the style and look of the 1911...

ergo- I carry a 1911. In .45.

however, my next planned purchase will be a 9mm. Most likely Glock 19.
When TEOTWAWKI- 9mm is too popular and more likely to be available.
Common sense dictates action.