9mm or .45acp

For me, nothing beats a .45 on all aspects. But if your budget is a serious issue and you don't reload, I would go for a 9mm.

Not to be disrespectful to your friend but most cops don't know much about firearms. Unless the guy is a target shooter on his own time and\or a trainer\armorer for his department, his opinion is probably limited to the gun he carried at work.
 
I started with a 22LR and they are a hoot. If you want trigger time, a ruger and a box of bulk Feds will give you an afternoons worth of fun for less then one box of either factory ammo. give me a shout if you want to go this route. Have a Ruger mk1 that I will sell to anyone starting out for dirt cheap.

Awesome trigger, target sights and accuracy better then any tuned battle pistol. exterior shows honest wear and tear but can easily be refinished.

I then moved to the 9mm. Reloads were not too expensive until lead/postage started heading to the moon. Still have a stash of FMJ's and stuff but the HGs are gone. Brass is dirt cheap. Free if you have cops training anywhere near by.

I also shot the 45ACP in a 1911 at that time. Shooting indoors, the report was much louder then the 9mm. Got tired of that and stuck with the 9mm for a few years. A very nice tuned 1911 that I should never have sold...

Recently, have gone back to a 1911 Commander aftermarket build up. Very nice shooting outdoors. Looking for that expensive brass is a bit of a pain. I now cast bullets and are ideal in this cartridge. Dirt cheap now that I make my own bullets. Easier to reload on the press as the larger components are easier to hold.

I love the 1911 platform and they fit my hand perfectly. Probably the nicest trigger on a battle pistol but time consuming to take apart and clean compared to a modern rig. Quirky and can need tuning to run reliably.

Now onto something modern. Tried just about everything and decided on the XD. Don't just pick the HG up. Shoot it. There is a huge difference in shapes, grips, triggers and fit. Nothing bad, just what feels comfy and controllable to you. There are some awesome pistols that I simply cannot shoot due to poor fit, that includes SIG's and Glocks.

Since I am now casting, the 9mm is a bit of a pain. Doesn't like my 'soft' lead bullets so the nod went to the 40S&W.

Lots of available brass. I loose about 10% everytime I go to the range...but then, I also acquire a bunch free from shooters and the range bucket so it works out like the 9mm. Brass is cheap.

Once you figure out which pistol you like (that's critical actually), the cal will easily follow. Factory ammo is a 9mm game. Casting really loves the 45 but brass is expensive. The 40 is the best balance I know of right now (water quenched WW with a light coat of Lee Alox is just right).

And that XD just runs and runs and runs. No tuning, no feed issues, Glockish trigger (better then some, not as good as a tuned 1911), accurate, good fit, likes my cast bullets. Furthest offhand shooting at milk jug size targets - 180yds and counting.

Jerry
 
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IMO 9mm is the way to go, I don't really understand the obsession with .45acp; it doesn't feel that much different than 9mm, but costs a bit more, an you usually get only 7-8 shots in a mag, if you want a semi-auto with more powerful get at 10mm, but if you like .45 go for it I guess...

btw I don't think the cop was full of S#!t; 9mm has less recoil, so faster accurate follow up shots are easier to achieve.
 
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mysticplayer said:
I started with a 22LR and they are a hoot. If you want trigger time, a ruger and a box of bulk Feds will give you an afternoons worth of fun for less then one box of either factory ammo. give me a shout if you want to go this route. Have a Ruger mk1 that I will sell to anyone starting out for dirt cheap.

Let me know the price and I'm in. Great info thanks
Will check email tonight. Thanks Pete
peteanderin@shaw.ca
Click to expand...
 
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The advice to get yourself a .22cal pistol in addition to a larger handgun is the best advice going, along with getting the gun that fits your hand. In regards to the 9mm vs .45acp debate, it’s the closest that we have come to a perpetual motion machine yet. It goes on and on and on. The best solution is to get as many guns as you can afford and shoot all of them!
 
Thanks Mystic. I'm at work on the tugs in the harbour, so I'll talk to you after 2000hrs. Nice to have the internet on board though. But it's kinda like watching TV while driving your car.:p
 
It has been my experience that for everyone who has every asked the question that you have: that they eventually end up buying both,, no matter which one they bought first.

I bought a .45 first,, and then couldn't resist the tempation to get a 9mm.

*sigh*
 
I agree to get both. 9mm will be easier to find cheap ammo for, but you could invest in a Dillon and reload and keep yourself amused during those winter rainstorms (how many consecutive days of rain has it been in Van, emmab?)
 
-since last summer

I can see that the only way to resolve this problem is buy both and a 22 or two! Thanks alot for all the info everybody. That was really one of the more informative posts I've read! Pete
 
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