Ditch the .45 for 9mm or .40???

Change calibers or not?

  • Keep the .45 and buy only .45's, learn to use the large grip

    Votes: 19 14.3%

  • Shoot all calibers, just buy more reloading gear

    Votes: 53 39.8%

  • Get all .40's

    Votes: 12 9.0%

  • Get all 9mm's

    Votes: 18 13.5%

  • Dumbest question ever!

    Votes: 31 23.3%
  • Total voters
    133
happydude

happydude

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I'm starting to think about trading off my USP .45 for one in 9mm or .40. It seems like most handguns that come in 9mm or .40, like hi-powers, Sigs (226), Berettas, Glocks, XD's, ect. are either not offered in .45 or in those that are, have frames that are large and grotesque. Would I be better off trading in my gun for the sake of ammunition commonality and cheaper shooting or should I just reloading another caliber?
 
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A 45 gives me 8 rounds. A 9mm, because I cannot have prohibited magazines, gives me 10 rounds.

how much of a tradeoff is the two rounds worth?

As for fit, the .45 fits me better because of the single stack mag, the grip is actually slimmer.
As for large and grotesque frames, a 226 in 9 has a slightly wider frame than a 220 in .45
 
My G37 hold's 10 rounds of .45GAP and has the same size grip as my G17 and G22. I have no problem shooting all three, they all use standard small pistol primers (ease of reloading), all hold 10 rounds, all come in a great package (GLOCK) and the only problem I ever have is which one I should bring to the range to practice with.

I reload so I have settled on WSP primers and Titegroup for all three calibres. Three firearms that feel exactly the same, using bullets from 115grs to 230grs.

There is peace in my handgun world, other than deciding which one to shoot!
 
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I actually chose the last option as joke. Just try a few other calibres. I would get a 9mm as you can probably get the ammo cheaper. Check out the article on the USP .40, that might persuade you.
 
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John Sukey said:
And you will NEED all 10 rounds to do what a couple of .45's will do.;)
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:rolleyes: , well if all you shoot at people is hardball, yes, but even there the real world statistics don't show a huge improvement.

But seriously, all we're doing is punching paper, but this IS Canada and our guberment keeps cramming diversity and sensitivity down our throats, so why discriminate on what you shoot paper with. Buy one of each. :D (or more)
For what it's worth, the difference in frame size between the MM XD and the .45 is small enough to be inconsequential. Or get a 9mm 1911....the options are endless
 
I feel if you are only going to have one semi-auto pistol - go .40S&W (or 10mm and get .40S&W conversion barrel)

If you are going to have a couple semi-auto pistols, get a .45ACP & 9mm


.22lr's don't count as everyone should have a .22lr pistol ;)
 
This is form the "Gunsite Code of Offenses":

Caliber Offenses
901 Carrying as your primary handgun any caliber that does not contain the number "4" as its first digit. :D
 
9mm works great at punching holes in paper at the range and is cheap to buy.

If the SHTF then I want a caliber that is common so that I can scavenge ammo off of the corpses of the looters who try to take what's mine. :D 9mm wins again! :D
 
Keep the 45?

I have seen a man
Who was shot with a nine
He got up and smiled
And said :"I'm fine".

I've never seen a man alive
Who argued with a forty-five.
 
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PUREVIL said:
but to ease up on the wallet I also bought a USP 9mm.
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Is it just me, or is there something odd about that sentence? :p If you can afford a HK USP, feeding it should be the least of your worries.

But I agree, variety is important, can help with a flinch, and 9mm is universally available if you run out of cheap reloads.
 
The Question Is: Where IS the "Ammo Train" EH!

I have been a .45ACP fan since 1978; up until this year that has been my overall calibre choice for IPSC in either Standard Pistol or Revolver. However almost 30 years later I am planning to trade off the 45ACPs for either a Production Pistol or Revolver in 40S&W or 10mm.

The 40S&W brass is there eh! In lots of quantities! When empty 45 cases cost as much or more than loaded rounds of 40S&W or 38 Special or 9mm as the country western song says, "Its time to go".

It wont be easy but calibre proliferation is the bane of a real ammo supply for practice practice practice.

Alternately, the 9mm for Production or 38 Special with the IPSC Revolver works okeh.

The RCMP use the 147 grain 9mm; the 9mm in a S&W M39 was Col Hatchers choice to go on his Viet Nam tour.

Hits count as well as lots of ammo readily available.
 
texdores said:
I have seen a man
Who was shot with a nine
He got up and smiled
And said :"I'm fine".

I've never seen a man alive
Who argued with a forty-five.
Click to expand...


Well, if I have a choice between getting shot with say, a 9mm gold dot +P or a .45 hardball, I for one am taking the .45. Nice poem though, a trifle obsolete, but it rhymes.
 
I would never give up my 45, but then I also reload my own rounds of 38Spl, 9X19 & 45ACP, but admit to shooting more 45 then anything else.

Possibly my .22 gives some chase as to number of rnds fired each time. Yes I am shooting at least twice a week.
 
I do not care for HK pistols but that may be just me. HKs just do not feel right in my hands. Back to the question at hand, I went with with the last option as my pecking order for pistol calibres is: 45acp, 9mm, 22 LR, 9x18mm (Mak), 32acp, and in last place the 40 S&W. Why? I do not see anything a 40 S&W can do that can't be done as well, using proper loads, by a 45acp or 9mm. Regards, Richard:D

PS I would consider trading/selling the HK for a good 1911A1!
 
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