Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Who prefers the .45ACP and why?

I don't see the value of having this debate ... again. Those who believe that a 9mm is almost as effective as a 45ACP will have a variety of justifications for that position.

For those of us who know that the 45ACP is every bit as effective as a 45ACP, we'll just keep carrying what we know works.

I see no need to try to convince anybody to do anything they don't want to when it comes to providing for their own and their familiy's defense. It's a free country still, after all.

That's because in the hood, they keep their "nines" loaded with Winchester White Box FMJ 9mm.

It's likely a bit more of a reliable stopper than 9mm, but 9mm permits twice the capacity at (let's say) 90% the stopping reliability. So it all depends on how much weight you put into stopping power vs capacity in your decision making. Seems like you'd have to weight it 90% on the side of stopping power vs capacity to choose the .45 ACP over the 9mm, assuming you're willing to carry a substantial sidearm on a proper belt/holster combo. If all you will carry anyway is a single stack compact handgun, then the .45 ACP makes perfect sense, assuming you shoot it about as well.

I prefer the 45acp over the 9mm because it handles cast bullets better.

A 255gr flat point 45cal bullet doesn't need to expand to work well.

My 45's push the 255 to 800 to 850 fps.

Spring change and square firing pin stop with super brass and you get 900 to 1000fps with same bullet.

May have issues with over-penetration though

Most of my time is spent in the woods.
City use a hi capacity 9mm makes a lot of sense.

Practically everything you wrote here parallels my situation and explains my preference for the 45 Colt.

i have had people, mostly the hicap, spray and pray types, give me grief about the 45colt, and i make a variety of projectiles for them. My favorite is that 270grain rcbs scovill design, in a hollow point pentad, and solid. At around 950fps or a little more. I have ran it to 1100fps. I think it would take care of most anything.

Jimmy,

I still like the .45 for a multitude of reasons.

A primary one is that I am an outdoorsman. In carrying a sidearm in the mountains, for both hunting, and defense against predators, I prefer a bigger projectile, and a .45 caliber can deliver that. A good 230 grain or 250/255 grain cast flat point is pretty big medicine.

Certain platforms like the G30S and the classic 1911 fill roles for me.

Much like the G19 and G17 fill roles in urban environments, certain big bores fill roles elsewhere, and I simply don't see the .45 ever fading from popularity any time soon.

Not too many are arguing for the old "split the difference" solution, referring to the .40 S&W. I used to hear that a lot.

It is my long favorite for compact carry guns and I still use it. Works just fine on men, 120 pound attack dogs in full charge and deer too. Not guessing about any of that. Many folks are all about the nine these days and I just don't see any need to convert them.

Border Patrol seemed to like the 40 S&W and were often the LE agency with the most shootings under their belt year to year! The lowly 155 grain JHP seemed to work very well for them.

I do. Cause they do not make a 46 and a 500 is too big

it is interesting that you find most people considering only the high capacity magazine 9mm guns. The 9mm is not as popular in 1911 style guns. Sometimes it makes me think that if the glock had not come along the 9mm would never have become as popular as it has. The good news is that the 9mm is probably responsible for the push for better bullet technology.

The adoption of the Beretta M9 is what "made" the 9mm in the USA. It had always been fairly popular, but the Beretta put it over the top. It didn't hurt any that the police forces in the USA were in the midst of being militarized and many adopted the cartridge following the military.

Here are two big reasons for the start of the popularity of the double stack 9mm, particularly the Beretta 92.

That makes me want to run out and buy a Beretta - I think.

It did for a lot of people. Not me. I've never had one, although recently I purchased the Taurus version of it.

When I first started buying handguns back in 1980, you couldn't find a Smith & Wesson Model 29 for anything. They were back ordered for years. Why?

Because it was Harry's gun.

I found the character of Harry Callahan a lot more compelling than those others.

If you are basing your choice on a movie, watch Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis.
He has a 1911 in each hand.
Why would anyone spend $1800 on one?

What can an $1800 45ACP 1911 do that a $500 45 ACP shield not do?

Along with some "rubbers"