.45 vs 9mm

[92FSTech]

I carry different stuff based on the perceived needs of the environment that I'm going to be in. My preferred carry gun is my 6+1 shot P245 in .45 ACP with an 8rd reload. I like the way that gun shoots and I'm very accurate with it. In certain circumstances, though, I feel the need for more capacity so it gets swapped out for a Beretta 92X Compact for 15+1 9mm. Going the opposite direction, if I'm needing something small and light and going to be in a very low-threat environment, a scandium 5 shot .38+p J-Frame is the weapon of choice.

I don't think there's any magic to any pistol caliber (internet memes about the 10mm notwithstanding )...at the end of the day it comes down to shot placement. If you hit vitals, you can get a pretty quick stop. If you don't, you're stuck hoping they have a psychological response or lose enough blood to pass out before they kill you back. I've seen both. Pick a gun you can shoot well that's appropriate for your environment and the threat that you are most likely to encounter.

 

[ACC]

 

[tcecil88]

I used to subscribe to the great caliber debate. I also bought new guns all the time trying to find that magic combination. I have settled down in my old age and have gone back to the guns that started my EDC "career" so to speak. For several years I carried a Glock 21 in the winter and then switched to a Glock 23 or 27 for summer. Now I carry some sort of Glock 9mm everyday. Say what you will about Glocks. I simply have more trigger time with them and that's what I shoot the best. I don't care what gun a person carries. Carry what you shoot the best.
And, Uncle Joey says they will blow the lungs out of a person, so that's good enough for me. I also just have a double barrel shotgun for HD now, and a detailed cheat sheet for my daily activities.

 

[jbombelli]

Thousands upon thousands have been killed over the last century with 9mm. You'll be fine with either.

 

[robgott1]

I have been carrying a M&P .45 Shield for quite a while and felt quite comfortable with it. I recently purchased the same gun in 9mm from a member here (thanks Spencir) and find that I am very impressed with the feel of it. So much so that I am seriously considering making it my EDC and retiring my .45 to a HD pistol (along with my Maverick 12 ga that sleeps next to the bed) that will live in an end table next to my recliner.

My question is, would I be under gunned by going from 7 rds of .45 to 8 rds of 9mm? Have a ton of confidence in my .45, but not so sure about the 9mm. Could be due to the fact that I heard to many horror stories about the poor performance of that round back in the 80's and 90's (yes, I am that old).

Any and all comments or observations will be appreciated.

My personal preference is 9mm due to the quantity of ammo you can hold. 45 and 9mm are relative whereas 45 and 223 are worlds apart in terms of ballistics.

 

[bobzilla]

Thousands upon thousands have been killed over the last century with 9mm. You'll be fine with either.

Same can be said of the .45.

 

[jbombelli]

Same can be said of the .45.

That's why I said "you'll be fine with either."

 

[MrSmitty]

This is a great discussion...never heard of this one....wonder how it will turn out?......

 

[Expat]

where are our .22 LR devotees. we used to have a few pop up during the caliber wars...

 

[mcapo]

The answer is .357 magnum.

 

[DadSmith]

If a grizzly is charging you do you want 9mm 147gr +p or a 45acp 230gr +p hard cast bullet to defend yourself?

 

[Born2vette]

If a grizzly is charging you do you want 9mm 147gr +p or a 46acp 230gr +p hard cast bullet to defend yourself?

Grizzly's are special and don’t think either 9 or 45 is enough. For them I want 44 magnum

 

[DadSmith]

Grizzly's are special and don’t think either 9 or 45 is enough. For them I want 44 magnum

They've been killed with both. You would be surprised what a 45acp 230gr hard cast can penetrate.

 

[Expat]

I have read some of the Alaskans carry the 10mm up in bear country.

 

[Born2vette]

They've been killed with both. You would be surprised what a 45acp 230gr hard cast can penetrate.

Yes, but you better be able to place your shots exactly in the right place.

Age Verification - NRA

www.americanhunter.org

 

[Born2vette]

I have read some of the Alaskans carry the 10mm up in bear country.

Or even .357 mag

 

[DadSmith]

Yes, but you better be able to place your shots exactly in the right place.

Age Verification - NRA

www.americanhunter.org

With a 9mm yes. 45acp will do more damage to dangerous game than a 9mm.
Now days high capacity is nothing since you can get 15+1 45's now.

 

[88E30M50]

The challenge is less about killing someone. The real challenge is in quickly stopping them from doing whatever warranted shooting them in the first place. A .22lr can kill them but it can afford them the luxury of killing you while they die.

Speed to stop is the real goal. Gel tests are decent at predicting performance in a consistent medium but don't really say much about how a bullet performs in crunchy stuff, like a human body.

I like bullets with the energy to be less phased by the crunchy bits

 

[rugertoter]

I have been carrying a M&P .45 Shield for quite a while and felt quite comfortable with it. I recently purchased the same gun in 9mm from a member here (thanks Spencir) and find that I am very impressed with the feel of it. So much so that I am seriously considering making it my EDC and retiring my .45 to a HD pistol (along with my Maverick 12 ga that sleeps next to the bed) that will live in an end table next to my recliner.

My question is, would I be under gunned by going from 7 rds of .45 to 8 rds of 9mm? Have a ton of confidence in my .45, but not so sure about the 9mm. Could be due to the fact that I heard to many horror stories about the poor performance of that round back in the 80's and 90's (yes, I am that old).

Any and all comments or observations will be appreciated.

Both rounds have put a lot of people on the wrong side of the dirt. Both rounds get the job done, just in a little different way...neither of them are the wrong choice. JMHO

 

[edporch]

Each to their own.
I've been carrying just shy of 40 years and never carried a 9mm until I bought a 9mm Shield as a pocket pistol about 5 years ago or so.
I now use a Sig P365 with 12 round magazine as a pocket pistol.

For regular carrying I like Underwood 10mm and .357 Sig most.