I can’t believe you actually said this. (Let’s review and lay this to bed.) 🤣

 

Stupid post.

 

I carry a .45 ACP an HK.45C

 

here is my take on this been packing the 1911 in 45 acp for a long time in country and all over the world. Prime example of why a 45 is better than 9mm.
On a take down of a piece of dirt the so called human charged the person I was with at the time hit the guy 3 times with his 9mm the person kept coming I popped him once with my 45 knocked him back 5 feet and down for good guess who won on what is better

 

Hummer70 put all his IWBA wound ballistic reviews on Google Drive. The URL is in this thread.

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?219702-International-Wound-Ballistics-Association

It is worth reading the discussions on the uselessness of kinetic energy as a predictor of small arms lethality.

 

 

Next up - oil or grease and which brand ?

 

 

One was designed to be a manstopper. Not that it’s guaranteed to always do that, but those who assert .45 ACP is a crappy defensive (or offensive) handgun cartridge are full of horsefeathers. Of course there are options that hit harder and/or make bigger holes, like full power 10mm or .50 GI.

 

9mm can blow a lung outta ya, no mention of .45.
~ J Potato Biden

 

Quick range trip today. Two 1911s and two M&Ps. One 9 and one 45 of each. That's my take

 

Nice! My range day today was just some simple drills with a DW PM-9.

 

 

One is built for comfort and the other one is built for speed respectively just like the cartridges being discussed.

 

I kinda like both! 🤪 I wouldn’t kick either one out of my holster.

 

Really, I'm going to bed.

 

Post #13 by billtx is the best explanation of 9mm vs. .45 I have seen so far.

Good Job!

 

It all depends on how much time you have.
.45 if time is limited, 230 grains of lead in one shot.
9mm if you have twice as much time, 230 grains of lead in two shots……

 

With .45ACP one only needs FMJs. I have one, but never use it due to large size and high cost of ammunition.

 

Reload, only way to shoot lots of .45 ACP, and range brass helps defray the cost.

 

My carry selection is based upon logic that comes from an entirely different perspective.

Living in Marylandistan, my carry guns are ones that I consider to be disposable because if ever used in a self-defense situation, it will likely be confiscated and possibly destroyed even if I am found to be completely justified.

For this reason, I do not carry my only 1911. It is nothing special, just a Colt slide and internals on an early Essex frame, but it shoots well, looks good, and is in excellent condition. Perhaps once another is acquired, this will change.

Since it is also my only pistol chambered in .45 ACP, carry pieces are mostly 9mm PMFs that have been serialized, with an occasional 9x18 Makarov or 7.62x25 Tokarev mixed in.

For many years, .25 and .32 ACP pocket pistols were the standard for individual self-defense. Now they are considered by many to be ineffective.

I am of the opinion that shot placement is more important than caliber selection. Be proficient with your carry guns, know their limitations and yours, ... and almost anything can be effective for self defense.

 

My carry selection is based upon logic that comes from an entirely different perspective.

Living in Marylandistan, my carry guns are ones that I consider to be disposable because if ever used in a self-defense situation, it will likely be confiscated and possibly destroyed even if I am found to be completely justified.

For this reason, I do not carry my only 1911. It is nothing special, just a Colt slide and internals on an early Essex frame, but it shoots well, looks good, and is in excellent condition. Perhaps once another is acquired, this will change.

Since it is also my only pistol chambered in .45 ACP, carry pieces are mostly 9mm PMFs that have been serialized, with an occasional 9x18 Makarov or 7.62x25 Tokarev mixed in.

For many years, .25 and .32 ACP pocket pistols were the standard for individual self-defense. Now they are considered by many to be ineffective.

I am of the opinion that shot placement is more important than caliber selection. Be proficient with your carry guns, know their limitations and yours, ... and almost anything can be effective for self defense.

The main advantage of 9mm Luger is small size of pistol. The smallest .45ACP is HS XDs which is substantially larger then R9 or DB9. I would take .40 S&W over both, however my new main weapon will be .357 Magnum loaded with either 125gr or 158gr Hornady HTP ammo depending on environment I find myself in. It will be in my hands few weeks from now.

 

 

Six of one.
Half dozen of the other.

The best caliber is the one that fits in my handgun.

 

Six of one, three of the other

 

 

Interesting post. Got the wife a 9mm since 40 S&W was a bit hard on her hands. My brother prefers 9mm. Me, 9mm is more a spray and pray caliber vs other calibers. It will kill if your a good shot but unless your an expert shot, you need 2 rounds to kill. I like my 40 S&W but prefer my 10mm for more power. Just got into 45ACP. Hard hitting caliber. Bottom line, shoot with what your accurate with.

 

I couldn't tell if the OP was being serious...


If he was then what's his definition of 'Power' and 'Hits harder'?

Why does the OP only consider 115 to 124 gr loads? Popular 9mm range from 115 to 147. Popular 45 range from 165 to 230. I've never seen a line forming for Glaser Corbon 145 gr bullets, I could be wrong but maybe not.

And shouldn't we be having the,

30 Super Carry vs 9mm Luger debates by now? You know, light, fast and new versus slow, heavy and old? 🤔

I felt like I was in a time machine reading that post.

 

It’s an age-old argument: 9mm vs .45 ACP. Which one is better? Is there a “better” cartridge? Lovers of .45 ACP say there are few other rounds capable of providing the same type of “Mac Truck” stopping power. Lovers of 9mm say it’s one of the most versatile handgun rounds ever made. And, of course, it provides more capacity to boot. But are these the only two arguments to be made? Let’s review and lay this to bed.

9mm Parabellum at a Glance


The 9mm Parabellum (or 9mm “Luger” cartridge, as it was originally called by Georg Luger in 1902) has long been the submachine gun and handgun cartridge of choice for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, law enforcement, and plenty of NATO and non-NATO forces globally.

It’s seen service for more than three decades in the Beretta M9 and M9A1 alone, and thanks to its century-long life, the 9mm has been optimized beyond just about any other handgun round. Some loads provide supersonic travel for long-range accuracy, while many more provide reliable subsonic speed and accuracy, making the 9mm perfect for suppressed fired.

The Quick n’ Dirty on .45 ACP


The .45 Auto, or .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), cartridge is, like the 9mm, a century-old military cartridge designed by the legendary John Browning in 1904. It first saw service in the U.S. Army’s M1911 handgun, and it remains in service with certain Army and Marine units today.

9mm vs 45 ACP: Specs Compared


Let’s break down each round’s physical specifications and then talk about performance:

• 9mm
  • Bullet diameter: 0.355″ (9.01 mm)
  • Neck diameter: 0.380″ (9.65 mm)
  • Base diameter: 0.391″ (9.93 mm)
  • Rim diameter: 0.392″ (9.96 mm)
  • Rim thickness: 0.050″ (1.27 mm)
  • Case length: 0.754″ (19.15 mm)
  • Overall length: 1.169″ (29.69 mm)
  • Case capacity: 13.3 gr H2O
  • Max Pressure (SAAMI): 35,000 PSI

• 45 ACP
  • Bullet diameter: 0.452″ (11.5 mm)
  • Neck diameter: 0.473″ (12.0 mm)
  • Base diameter: 0.476″ (12.1 mm)
  • Rim diameter: 0.480″ (12.2 mm)
  • Rim thickness: 0.049″ (1.2 mm)
  • Case length: 0.898″ (22.8 mm)
  • Overall length: 1.275″ (32.4 mm)
  • Case capacity: 26.7 gr H2O
  • Max Pressure (SAAMI): 21,000 PSI

So, 9mm and .45 ACP are similar in total length, but that’s where the similarities end: The ACP cartridge is 9% longer, yet it produces 40% less chamber pressure than the 9mm cartridge. Yet it does this with a case capacity that’s 50% greater. Comparatively, 9mm is a thin, fast round that burns its powder rapidly. The .45 ACP is a wide, slow round that wedges through the air and whatever’s standing in its way. Speaking of speed and power, let’s see how these physical specs translate into ballistic terms.

9mm vs 45 ACP: Ballistics


It’s important to remember these two cartridges are available with varying grain weights. To make a comparison that’s relevant to the common shooter, we’ve selected these two rounds’ most popular grain weights: For 9mm, we’re listing data for 115-grain to 124-grain loads and for .45 ACP, we’re listing 145-grain to 230-grain load data. We’re including +P ammunition, too.

Muzzle Velocity

• 9mm
  • 115-gr Federal FMJ: 1,180 FPS
  • 124-gr Federal FMJ: 1,150 FPS
  • 124-gr Underwood FMJ +P: 1,225 FPS
  • 115-gr Winchester JHP +P: 1,335 FPS
  • 124-gr Cor-Bon JPH +P: 1,250 FPS

• .45 ACP
  • 230-gr Winchester FMJ: 835 FPS
  • 230-gr Double Tap FMJ: 960 FPS
  • 165-gr Hydra-Shock: 1,060 FPS
  • 185-gr Underwood JHP: 1,100 FPS
  • 145-gr Glaser Cor-Bon +P: 1,350 FPS

Muzzle Energy

• 9mm
  • 115-gr Federal FMJ: 335 ft-lbs.
  • 124-gr Federal FMJ: 364 ft-lbs.
  • 124-gr Underwood FMJ +P: 413 ft-lbs.
  • 115-gr Winchester JHP +P: 455 ft-lbs.
  • 124-gr Cor-Bon JPH +P: 434 ft lbs.

• .45 ACP
  • 230-gr Winchester FMJ: 356 ft-lbs.
  • 230-gr Double Tap FMJ: 471 ft-lbs.
  • 165-gr Hydra-Shock: 412 ft-lbs.
  • 185-gr Underwood JHP: 497 ft-lbs.
  • 145-gr Glaser Cor-Bon +P: 587 ft-lbs.

Speed and Power Compared


If we look at the spread of 9mm’s velocities, we arrive at an average velocity of 1,228 FPS. For .45 ACP, we find an average velocity of 1,061 FPS. The speed of sound is 1,125 FPS. Any bullet traveling near or past this speed is supersonic. We can see that all listed 9mm loads are supersonic. All but one of .45 ACP’s loads (the +P) are subsonic.

Only subsonic ammunition can be suppressed effectively. Supersonic rounds are simply louder and suffer from that signature downrange “crack” of breaking the sound barrier after the round exits the muzzle (or suppressor). So, .45 ACP is a more effective cartridge for subsonic, suppressed fire.

If we average out the muzzle energies of all grain weights, we arrive at an average of 400 ft-lbs. of energy at the muzzle for 9mm. For .45 ACP, we arrive at around 465 ft-lbs. of muzzle energy. If we make percentage comparisons, we find that 9mm is approximately 16% faster. But .45 ACP hits approximately 16% harder. It’s a nearly perfect tradeoff, giving up speed for power and vice versa.

Max Effective Range


Trying to figure out the max effective range for either of these cartridges isn’t as simple as it seems. That’s because both 9mm and .45 ACP are popular for pistol-caliber carbines. These rifle-length firearms provide the absolute highest velocity for both cartridges, and either load will be capable of hitting with good accuracy at 150 meters to 200 meters with a 16″ barrel.

If we look at handgun barrel lengths and accuracy (say, both cartridges being fired from a 5″ barreled 1911) we can begin to compare these two loads more consistently with bullet drop. From that barrel, at 100 yards, the typical 124-grain 9mm will drop about 12″, while the typical 230-grain .45 ACP will drop about 16″, or about 33% more.

So, Which is Better?


Comparing ballistic performance, it’s easy to dismiss .45 ACP in favor of 9mm for its straighter, flatter trajectory and higher velocity. Yet .45 ACP provides more power, and for the sake of practical shooting (whether in self-defense or at a range), both rounds will provide similar accuracy at 50 yards or less.

9mm vs. 45 ACP Hollow Points


Expansion and lethality is one hot topic that’s often debated when comparing 9mm and .45 ACP. But the truth is that both loads’ jacketed hollow points provide similar, if not identical, expansion. It’s been found through testing with ballistic gel that .45 ACP tends to expand up to 0.79″ while 9mm tends to expand up to 0.72″. That’s a negligible difference when either round hits its mark: Both will be devastating against a soft target. That’s where the real question comes in: What will you use either cartridge for?

Application Matters


If you’re looking for a hard-hitting, close-range caliber, then .45 ACP will edge out 9mm. If you enjoy suppressors and want to shoot without hearing protection after you slap a can on the muzzle, .45 ACP wins again.

If you’re gunning for maximum accuracy at distance or you prefer a higher magazine capacity, then 9mm will provide better performance. That holds especially true if you’re building a pistol-caliber rifle.

The post 9mm vs. 45 ACP – What’s The Difference? Which One is Better? appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

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