.40 over .45 ?

colt45gunner

colt45gunner

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Was hoping to get some feed back from experienced shooters...especially IPSC shooters..re: some truth on .40 over .45....

As most of you who know me...I'm shooting my colt .45 single stack for IPSC. (Real man :eek::p) kidding asisde

I've done many modifications to it and I shoot pretty well with it.
I keep having people tell me....you shoot'n pretty well with that 45, but if you switched to a STI .40 (or similar gun)....you'd bring up your level a bit and perform better.....due to the heavier weight, less muzzle rise of a .40, etc.......

What are the main differences that would have direct effect on shootability ?
I know the price of brass and reloading are a bonus and will pay back fast for having to buy new equip.....
Please reply on just shootability of the two guns and what their direct impact on IPSC style shoot'n ?

e.g...if i shoot 185 gr. over 230...would that be just like shoot'n .40
 
I had shot a 45 for years, like since the early 90s. In some way or another. I switched to a 40 and it is like shooting open with a standard gun. Also no matter how hard you try if other shooters are shooting 40 you 45 can't keep up. If every one shot a 45 then things will be equal but they don't. 45s are cool but 40 is fast.
 
i've had nothing but trouble shooting anything less than 200 grain through the 45- hangs up on the ramp, and doesn't throw the slide back all the way, sometimes i got a lot of stovepipes- 200 swc's seem to be magic, as i'm running 6.0 of 231-and they group better too
 
40.

The 40 will be "snappier" . Sorry to use the term but that is the best I can come up with. It seems that the slide / cycle is faster with the 40 enabling you to get back on target faster. Shooting lighter bullets (180's) than the 45 should cause less reverse momentum, less muzzle flip and faster overall second shot.

A guy has to say it........40 brass is free, less powder, and cheaper bullets. You need to switch to 40. Either the Edge or the new CZ sp-01 and the CZ custom would be my choice.
 
the top shooters are almost all using STI/SVI's in .40 for a reason. Buy an edge and don't look back, if you want to shoot your maximum potential in standard/limited .
 
or buy a Tanfoglio Limited Custom in .40
the new ones coming in have a lighter slide than last years model.
 
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I have a Tanfoglio with two conversion kits. The Model "L" is a great shooting gun. Para also makes the Tod Jarett Special in .40cal which should be competitive in IPSC.

Take Care

Bob
 
I'm leaning towards finally making the switch....not sure when ? ....may be by end of year.. Christmas present to myself for next years season......
 
"40 was the answer to no real problem! .45 all the way.......!"

Tell that to LEo Departments around N.A. That and the IPSC competitors don't use them because they like the challenge of trying to keep up with the .45acp boys.

Take Care

Bob
 
Your best bet is to go out and try some and see if YOU like it. Borrow one for a match if you can, but decide for yourself. Chances are you'll be more competitive but you have to be happy with your equipment.
 
If you are only going to shoot in Canada then 40 or 45 won't matter much provided you have an SV / STI or even a Tanfo...they all just work and mag change better than a single stack.

At some point IPSC Canada may go back to only allowing mags that fit in the gun and in the box...making you down 2 rounds in 45.

A 40 - 180gr hornady with 4.? clays is a very soft and quick recovery shooting gun.

If you ever plan to shoot outsde of Canada the restricted mag capaicty of the 45 will relagate you to an also ran.
 
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Canuck44 said:
"40 was the answer to no real problem! .45 all the way.......!"

Tell that to LEo Departments around N.A. That and the IPSC competitors don't use them because they like the challenge of trying to keep up with the .45acp boys.

Take Care

Bob
Click to expand...

It was still the answer to no real problem, but I guess for IPSC it is great it was developed and has become so popular with LE for all the brass the police leave behind.
 
To big pluses for the .40 cal for LEO work. First it has more power than the 9MM and second the gun is small enough for female officers to get their paws around. Glock came along and sold .40cal Glocks to LEO Departments at a very low price pont.

It is here and it doesn't appear like it is going to go away.

Take Care

Bob
 
Canuck44 said:
To big pluses for the .40 cal for LEO work. First it has more power than the 9MM and second the gun is small enough for female officers to get their paws around. Glock came along and sold .40cal Glocks to LEO Departments at a very low price pont.

It is here and it doesn't appear like it is going to go away.

Take Care

Bob
Click to expand...

They sure did, and they hit the market at the right time with it.
 
The practical differences in shootability are very minor. I used to shoot .45's and frankly never found much difference between loads of equal power factor for .45 or .40. Some people feel that the difference in torque on the larger diameter bullet is an issue, but for me it never was. I loved shooting the .45's and did my first ever sub 4 second El-Prez with a 230 grain bullet over a VERY fast powder (and younger eyes). So it really wasn't about the subjective feel. For me it comes down to affordability. .45 acp brass is frighteningly expensive and hard to get these days, and .45 bullets are also more expensive than .40's due to the weight difference. In the U.S. capacity is an issue but it isn't here in Canada so much. You will be giving up significant time on your reloads though with a single stack, which I think is a larger issue than which caliber you choose.

So while I love the .45 round I would go with .40 because lower ammunition costs = more practice = higher skill levels....in theory. Choose whatever format suits you best but frankly, if you follow Storm's lead (and mine) and go with the Tanfo you can shoot it for half the cost again since it shoots plated bullets as well as jacketed. That's a big savings over what you are doing now.
 
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