Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns is 9mm better than .45 for protection?

was this fact ever decided? Most of the police has now the 9mm's and now the army has had thems for a while, must be more and deadlier than 45 which most must not like further?

Here we go. 😂

If statistics mean anything at all, it would appear the 9mm and .45acp are virtually in a dead heat for lethality. With today's ammunition choices and a little investigation, most reasonable people would have to conclude the .45acp no longer offers much if any advantage over the 9mm.

If one were going to shoot a bear, and had a choice between 9mm ball and .45acp ball, I would opt for the .45.

Just remember that it was men armed with .45's who made it safe for people to have this debate.

The whole arguememt revolves around the availability of PREMIUM ammunition. If your only choice is FMJ, well we might as well be living in 1919 opposed to 2019.

One thing seemingly always ignored by the 9mm fanboys is that the .45 ACP has also benefited from better bullet availability.

Where’s Jimmy? We need him to weigh in here.

I don't think it's strictly a lethality issue, it's also a "Can a woman shoot it?" issue....

Women are far more prevalent in those two organizations now.

He’s gathering his clinical jelly shoot tests as we speak

Capacity is what favors the 9mm. All things being equal, I cannot believe .45 ACP isn’t at least a little more effective, round for round, than the 9mm.

If you can shoot the 9mm better than the 45 ACP, then the 9mm is better. If you shoot them equally, pick the one you like, are most likely to carry, or based on whatever criteria you deem important. I use either on occasion though I most often split the difference and carry a 40 S&W. More important than cartridge is picking a gun you are willing to carry regularly. Cartridge doesn't matter if the gun is left in the safe.

I personally lean toward the larger bore when possible. Though the wound channels may appear similar, based on observations when hunting, larger bore diameters often appear to have a greater impact reaction than smaller bores on game. I suspect the effect on people would be much the same. I know this is totally subjective but it gives me some degree of greater confidence with a larger bore. I am confident with a 9mm and do carry one on occasion but place a little more trust in something larger.

I think Vic in Va has it correct .
The 9mm pistols are easier for smaller hands to shoot .
Soup

Does a 9 automatically expand in a huge way as it hits? Does a 45 shrink? That's my answer. I have at least five 45's and two 9s and don't carry the nines. The 45s are larger and heavier making them a bigger burden to hide and carry. But if I have to shoot one round or 6 to defend myself I want as large as possible. In the winter I sometimes carry a 50 GI in a Block 21 Gen 3 with a tiny bit of customization. That starts a 300 gr HP at a decent velocity. I haven't forgotten though that someone said, "Glock is Austrian for Hi Point".

Sure does seem like Im not the only doofus on here. It would take a Major Doofus to bring this up again this soon. So I am now handing over the robe and crown of king of the Doofuses.

REMEMBER: MOR the more MOR the more better it is.

The increase in 9mm popularity coincides with the rise of "Kaitlyns" and metro-men. IMHO of course.

As someone once said "a 9mm may expand but a 45 won't shrink"

Two things that I think are of considerably more importance in self defense situations than what caliber you are using.

1. The will to fight.

2. The ability to fight.

IMO if you don't have both of those you're pretty much dead in the water and it doesn't matter what gun you are carrying.

You could add in situational awareness. But folks here prefer dick measuring contests so you're wasting your breath.

I traded my Xds in 45, for a Xds in 9mm. What appealed to me was A. Higher capacity magazine B. The ability for quicker follow up shots due to more manageable recoil.

I don't believe the difference is enough to be relevant.

Awareness, training, mindset. That is what will make the difference between success and failure in a defensive use of either choice.

Agreed!
Also, what you are most comfortable shooting? I like the feel of my 1911s, but I like the greater round capacity of my Glock 19. Tough choice, sometimes.

The schit you shoot,is never not better than the schit you don't shoot.

Less IS more.

Hint...……………………...