45acp verus 9mm

Yeah I was going to say that the best I can think of is a 10mm +P ammo with JHP for Ultimate stopping power. Plus a shot to the head will stop pretty much anything.
:D
:dancingbanana::yingyang::sniper:
 
A major factor in handgun stopping power is muzzle flash and noise. If somebody misses your head with a 3" .357 magnum at arm's length you will be one stunned bunny. Worse if it actually draws blood.
Plus, what is the obsession with soft tissue? To stop someone you need to penetrate the bone that protects the squishy bits.
 
CBMS said:
Yeah I was going to say that the best I can think of is a 10mm +P ammo with JHP for Ultimate stopping power. Plus a shot to the head will stop pretty much anything.
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I believe the .357 Mag 158 grain all lead hollow point +P is still the #1 one shot stopper......
 
My vote goes for the .45 ACP, shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as the 9mm, ask the US Seals and Special Forces.....the U.S. tried a .38 before and it was acknowledged that it was a big mistake, but it's o.k. now?
 
In the Canadian private gun owner context I find .45s that much more satisfying to shoot and like the fact that most of the .45 platforms on the market aren't effected by 10 round magazine limits.

If I had a CCW permit I'd choose the .45 format just for the fact that I just find them more reassuring and also that they are much less load dependent than 9mm IMO.
 
acrashb said:
The belief is most likely cribbed from the Marshal and Sanow "study" - which is easily and has been widely debunked. It's statistically invalid.
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Yeah, well I like Chuck Taylor's analysis better anyway...... from his experience, in combat, .45ACP was pretty effective for it's intended use to stop fights.
 
NAA said:
Yeah, well I like Chuck Taylor's analysis better anyway...... from his experience, in combat, .45ACP was pretty effective for it's intended use to stop fights.
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Yeah, well my dad can beat up your dad. :rolleyes: Just kidding. My dad's a wimp. :D

.357 is nice too. But more power doesn't help if the energy is wasted after going through the guy. (Though personally .357 is my favourite cartridge)
 
Bookworm said:
Somebody once asked me the difference in stopping power of these two as per self defence. Came across this chart as per hunting with handguns and I thought some of you might like to see it

Brand Bullet Shootings One Shot Stops Percent Diameter Penetration

Federal 45 ACP 230 gr HS 173 166 96% 0.76" 13.9"
Remington 45 ACP +P 185 gr JHP 77 71 92% 0.74" 12.9"
Federal 9 mm +P+ 115 gr JHP 189 172 91% 0.71" 13.9"
Speer 9 mm +P 124 gr GD 74 65 88% 0.71" 13.6"
Winchester 9 mm 115 gr ST 421 349 83% 0.64" 13.7"


Thought it was interesting

Dave
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Read the "FBI Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness" report. It'll tell you all you need to know about penetration and stopping power:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf
 
The major benefit of 9mm is the mag capacity: Glock can hod 17 rounds. However, in Canada no pistol can have more than 10 rounds so 45 ACP looks like better choice.
 
I would choose 9mm any day. Cheaper rounds means more time on the range = more training. Few people have the skill to shoot a .45 with predictable accuracy, again and again. Some of the high velocity 9mm rounds are amazing. Lets keep in mind, the much maligned and "weak" .38 accounts for nearly 50% of all gun related homicides in the U.S. Shot placement is the key. A centre of body mass hit with either calibre has very high likleyhood of stopping assailant. Lets keep in mind, the mere presentation of a firearm of any calibre is a fight stopper over 99.998% of the time. Ask any cop, most will go a career without ever firing a shot on duty, but will tell you of the de-escalating effect drawing a firearm has.
 
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mopic said:
I would choose 9mm any day. Cheaper rounds means more time on the range = moe training. Few people have the skill to shoot a .45 with predictable accuracy, again and again. Some of the high velocity 9mm rounds are amazing. Lets keep in mind, the much maligned and "weak" .38 accounts for nearly 50% of all gun related homicides in the U.S. Shot placement is the key. A centre of body mass hit with either calibre has very high likleyhood of stopping assailant. Lets keep in mind, the mere presentation of a firearm of any calibre is a fight stopper over 99.998% of the time. Ask any cop, most will go a career without ever firing a shot on duty, but will tell you of the de-escalating effect drawing a firearm has.
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If you reload the difference isn't that great. I make a point to shoot 2 cans (large red coffee cans) of 45 for each can of 9mm I shoot. 45 Auto takes more practice to shoot well than 9mm. :D For what it's worth I think it's pretty futile trying to keep round counts, if you're shooting enough to be skilled you'll have lost count. As far as 'de-escalating' goes, you have to give the edge to the 45 - looking at the wrong end of a 45 is like looking into a tunnel compared to the 9mm.

Fun fact, not only has Chuck Taylor been shot AND blown up, he's actually been bayonetted... TWICE. His opinion has value.
 
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mopic said:
I would choose 9mm any day. Cheaper rounds means more time on the range = moe training. Few people have the skill to shoot a .45 with predictable accuracy, again and again. Some of the high velocity 9mm rounds are amazing. Lets keep in mind, the much maligned and "weak" .38 accounts for nearly 50% of all gun related homicides in the U.S. Shot placement is the key. A centre of body mass hit with either calibre has very high likleyhood of stopping assailant. Lets keep in mind, the mere presentation of a firearm of any calibre is a fight stopper over 99.998% of the time. Ask any cop, most will go a career without ever firing a shot on duty, but will tell you of the de-escalating effect drawing a firearm has.
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You sure your handle isn't "myopic"................ :D
 
Boomer said:
The argument was settled decades ago in favor of large calibers. Wound volume is proportional to the frontal area of the bullet. A 9mm needs to expand to make it a large caliber but at handgun velocity expansion is unreliable. Anything that can be done to enhance a small caliber can be done to enhance a large one. In a fight .45 trumps 9mm, .50 trumps .45.
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I agree with this.


I'm sure 9mm para would 'do the job', you hear people yak about placement, etc... Yeah, sure. With a spitball machine, if I hit him in the corner of the eye with a platinum spitball I can kill the guy too.

Chances are, if you are pulling your weapon in defense of yourself or others, you aren't perfectly calm and possibly aren't going to get that perfect shot. So, if you are to hit the guy in the chest, you have to consider wound channel. If you aren't accurate with .45acp however, then yeah 9mm would be the way to go for you. My .45acp shooting has improved tremendously over the last year and to echo a past post, I have lost shot count long ago.

I am comfortable with both 9mm para and .45acp. If I were to carry, I would personally take the pistol in .45acp... or a revolver in 9mm para. Why? Because no matter how big you are, there's recoil. I know .45acp has more recoil than 9mm, making a little more difficult for follow-up shots. However I believe it to be practical to carry as opposed to a pistol chambered in 50AE or a revolver in 500 S&W magnum.

Obviously the .45acp round has to be somewhat effective... seeing how much love the USA gives it... and the legendary 1911...
 
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