.45 vs 9mm

[Steve]

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.

 

[churchmouse]

Do some testing on your own.
Just run a string of steel with fresh paint.
Watch the targets react (12” disks work nicely for this) and you tell us what you find.
I have done this several times.
I carried a 1911 in 45.

 

[Ziggidy]

I do not have an answer but I do have a comment.
9mm is the largest selling ammo next to the 223/556; secondly the FBI uses 9mm.

Looking into the future? What is most available and what is most affordable.

 

[Scott58]

I wrestled with the same question recently. Getting older recoil started to become a concern. But having purchased the 9 and shooting side by side with my .45 it was clear the .45 was a bit more exciting on milk jugs, 2x4's, etc. Down range So until my wrists actually feel pain I'm staying with my . 45. I do like the 9 as a range gun. Alot less recoil and cheaper to shoot. No feed issues so far or anything like that. Both are 1911 platform so not alot of difference there, but for a defence situation. I'm staying with the .45 for as long as I'm able.

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

 

[Chewie]

Yes it is but so much fun!

 

[JTL165]

If you can shoot the .45 with the same speed and accuracy as the 9mm then stick with the .45 (most cannot and for that reason I would generally recommend the 9mm). Well placed rounds, with good modern SD ammo, from each will be as effective as handgun rounds can be. They obviously have their limitations and require shot placement against determined adversaries.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Use what you shoot the best. I like 45acp. I like the equivalent of throwing 2 115gr 9mm bullets with one round of 45acp. That's just me though.

 

[Expat]

I hear 9mm will blow your lungs out...

Just some general musings. Studies show that millennials don't have the hand strength of prior generations. Shortly after that all the experts came out and said caliber doesn't matter and 9mm was the best choice for self defense (although it seems like .380 is starting to gain acceptance by the same experts). Are the two related, I dunno.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Well Joe Biden told us a 9mm will blow a lung out of the body..so case closed.
I personally carry a full size 1911 in 9mm. Gives me 11 rounds that feel like a BB Gun and with GOOD 9mm ammo I do not feel under gunned. I would go on about shot placement but

 

[armalitesheepdog]

I hear 9mm will blow your lungs out...

Just some general musings. Studies show that millennials don't have the hand strength of prior generations. Shortly after that all the experts came out and said caliber doesn't matter and 9mm was the best choice for self defense (although it seems like .380 is starting to gain acceptance by the same experts). Are the two related, I dunno.

You beat me but a minute..lol

 

[gregkl]

This topic gets a rest and then comes up for another round.

Carry what you want, what works well for you and what you have confidence it.

 

[cosermann]

This feels like a thread from the 90’s.

There are 9mm/40sw/45acp loads that meet the FBI stds for penetration and expansion. I wouldn’t sweat carrying any of them and would focus on other factors rather than worrying about caliber (amongst these 3 anyway).

 

[88E30M50]

To me, it comes down to what you can shoot well first, then other factors second. If you are comfortable with both, and don't mind the reduced capacity of a .45, then go with the .45.

CM makes a good point regarding how hard steel is rung with different calibers. Maybe that makes a difference, maybe it doesn't. I tend to believe that it does, but I've never had to shoot someone before, so I'm far from being an expert in terminal ballistics.

I like to carry a Commander sized 1911 in .45 as well as a compact in either .357 Sig or .40. I do carry a lot of 9mm in summer months though as I like the higher capacity during the months where there's more congregating outdoors while drinking than in the colder months.

 

[bobzilla]

9MM blows your lungs out but .45 rips out your soul.

 

[Butch627]

I would read back through the last half dozen threads on this and then go what the consensus was in those threads

 

[biggggg]

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.

modern ammo makes 9 and 45 virtually equal... it is shot placement that matters... central nervous system disruption(head,spine) or blood loss... carry the 9, practice lots, use good situational awareness... avoid foolish encounters, I do love my 3 1911a1`s though.... just sayin...

 

[churchmouse]

A

modern ammo makes 9 and 45 virtually equal... it is shot placement that matters... central nervous system disruption(head,spine) or blood loss... carry the 9, practice lots, use good situational awareness... avoid foolish encounters, I do love my 3 1911a1`s though.... just sayin...

After all of the completely "NON" scientific testing I and my compatriots have performed in this area I will never be convinced that the 9mm is totally equal to the 45ACP. Ball to ball the 45 rules over the 9mm (per our totally "NON" scientific testing )) per the consensus of the panel of non-expert's we gathered for this series of tests. SD to SD ammo it was ruled the same.
We based our findings on impact responses and amounts of materials dislodged and destruction rendered. Many different materials were used. Our tests usually included a 9mm/40mm/45ACP/10mm. It is easy to say that the 10mm was well ahead of the rest but not many sissies can run a 10mm a full range session due to recoil. I use the word sissies in jest as the 10 kicks butt. I have a few friends that live and die by the 9mm and when they were in these loosely organized tests even they saw the differences.

I do not wish to be shot with any round in any caliber. For obvious reasons.
But I will not hinge my life or the lives of my loved ones on a round I do not trust.
For competing I will run a modified 9mm CZ Shadow. The low in the frame bore centerline allows even less felt recoil and extreme accuracy. For a man-sized target, the 45 suits me well enough. Practice on full sized steel silhouettes proves out my opinion.

This debate will go on to the end of times.

Shoot/carry what works for you. Just get your facts together when debates come up and yes, they will come up.

 

[ECS686]

While I also like the 45 there is nothing wrong with a 9mm. Especially when they are on about the same level with similar ammo and with your single stack comparison mag capacity isn’t anyone argument (mag capacity is way over rated anyway)

Wherever a perp is hit that a 9mm fails a 45 will not fair much better. Just stuff it with good quality ammo and your fine. (And split time difference between the two won’t matter outside a competition realm unless one has HORRIBLE recoil management)

And while Yes a 45 might knock a Bowling Pin off a table a little quicker shooting stats with LE Agencies prove the main calibers used for carry perform in gunfights equally enough the difference is moot.

Funny how the 9mm worked just fine in all the African conflicts of the 60’s and 70’s (When Rhodesia was a thing) and worked fine for European (German) Police since like 1902

 

[WebSnyper]

While it's not going to pronounce a winner, I'd read some of the threads and posts by @BehindBlueI's to enlighten on this topic:

Random violence stats I've compiled

These are mostly cases I worked in some capacity (lead or assisting), but do include some from detectives I've asked to notify me of instances of citizens fighting back so that I can get information from Sex Crimes, etc. that I don't work. 19 total cases. I'd hoped for a larger sample, but...

www.indianagunowners.com

FBI Ammunition Test Protocol Scores

Does anyone know if the results/performance data resulting from the FBI's testing of ammunition using their own ammunition test protocol* are readily available online anywhere? One would think they would be, but I've been unable to find a source so far. * - (i.e. involving test shots into...

www.indianagunowners.com

A better Hydra-Shok?

Found this in my inbox today. Federal has modified their Hydra-Shok bullet in .380 Auto and 38 Special +P to have better penetration over the old design. Hydra-Shok Deep

www.indianagunowners.com

and there are likely more I missed.