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moose13
New MemberPosts: 20 New Member
9mm vs. .45 suggestions please
First off, Hello all. Newbee here.
I know this topic has probably been beaten to death but i am ready to buy and would like your opinions.
Ok, i have fired both the Glock 9mm and .45 and like both guns. I know the .45 has more punch and the 9mm holds more rounds and the ammo is cheaper.
I am trying to talk myself into the 9mm since the ammo is less and would probably target practice more, more rounds shot = more proficient with the gun.
To me it doesn't matter how big the gun if you can't hit your target.
That being said, i do like the thought of the .45, definitely a proven weapon.
I know i could go to the .40 cal as well.
What do you think? Which one do you own? Am i missing something?
Thanks!
I know this topic has probably been beaten to death but i am ready to buy and would like your opinions.
Ok, i have fired both the Glock 9mm and .45 and like both guns. I know the .45 has more punch and the 9mm holds more rounds and the ammo is cheaper.
I am trying to talk myself into the 9mm since the ammo is less and would probably target practice more, more rounds shot = more proficient with the gun.
To me it doesn't matter how big the gun if you can't hit your target.
That being said, i do like the thought of the .45, definitely a proven weapon.
I know i could go to the .40 cal as well.
What do you think? Which one do you own? Am i missing something?
Thanks!
Replies
I nominate the 9mm as the greatest beneficiary of modern bullet designers. Once the FBI laid out a set of performance parameters the manufacturers had a goal to achieve. The advances in 9mm bullets relegate 40 S&W to something to have as a contingency to have for countering the huge purchases of ammo by Homeland insecurity and other potential tools of oppression. This of course only applies to your defense ammo.
As a newbie, pilgrim I would advise the 9mm for precisely the reasons you mention.
As for what I have: All of the above.
"The power of the United States has peaked. Oppression follows." Socionomics.net
Thanks for the reply!
I should have stated a newbee to this forum, not to gun owning and shooting.
I own a S&W .357 revolver, .22 woodsman pistol and several different hunting rifles.
I just think i would practice more with the 9mm as it is cheaper to shoot. But, still can't really let go of the .45
Luis
What is the predominate Law Enforcement round in your area?
You have half of the top two fight stopping rounds in your S&W. The .45 is the other half.
Buy soon and stock up on magazines.
These are the two i shot in trying to decide what to get. He also does reloading. Not sure what dies he has, might cut down the cost difference if i went with the .45
Jerry
While on the street you'll only have your pistol so go with the higher capacity of the 9mm.
There has been a serious lack of enabling going on around here lately.
NRA Endowment Member
So, I guess I have to recommend the 9mm.:tooth: I may not be the brightest bulb in the batch but I do have some wattage.
Merry Christmas to me, Sweet!
Conditional congratulations! But there is a $5.00 fine for no pictures. And we won't believe you until you do post pics.
No pic = no gun huh? Haha
Proof it was test fired?
Required in some states.
That can't be a 45. It's not steel and wood and designed by JMB. Just kidding ya.
Luis
Hahaha, thank You
Understood! I like this place already!
Energy transfer, punch, knockdown, etc. . . When it comes to duty caliber handguns, such terms are pretty much meaningless and marketing-department driven. The recoil your hand feels is the impact your target gets, and that's all there is to that subject.
You need to put the round in the right place. That's the most important thing.
Once you have that accomplished, the round needs to penetrate deeply enough to strike major arteries and/or nerve clusters.
ONLY after you have those first two items achieved does diameter of the hole you make start to matter.
The way I look at it:
When you get realistic about the amount of money and time that can be spent practicing, and set the macho/ego factor aside, most folks are going to shoot a 9mm better. More practice for the money and less flinching = better shot placement.
If you choose the ammo correctly, lack of penetration is not an issue with any of the three rounds. When you look at how they do in "official" FBI spec Jell-O tests, this is basically a three way tie.
Which brings us to diameter. The bigger the hole, the faster the bleed out, but keep in mind the difference between an expanded 9mm and an expanded 45 is only going to be about 0.2 to 0.3 inch.
So strictly in the area of terminal performance, the .45 has a very slight edge in causing rapid leakage, but in terms of interfacing with the average shooter, the 9mm is more likely to allow that leakage to be from someplace where it will be most effective.
As to the guns, both Glocks are good, but unless you are a center in the NBA, the 9mm will probably fit your hand better.
The .40? One of those compromises that I feel is better in theory than practice. No advantage in terminal ballistics, but harder on guns and hands than either the 9mm or .40 thanks to high chamber pressures.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Well said!
I am not a center in the NBA, but I definitely am a bigger boy, 6'4 350. I thought about size and recoil. But when i shot the two i really did not notice the difference. I also looked into the dies for reloading, no big deal to get into, i think i will end up going that route making target shooting easier on the wallet.
I have 9mm's and one 40 S&W, and I believe all the arguments in favor of the 9mm, and would be completely confident that it would do the job, should the need arise to fire in self defense.
But, I love shooting the .45, and it is usually my choice for practicing at the range. So naturally, it is also what I usually choose for self defense preparedness.
Oh yea,Welcome to the forum!
-96 lbs
Man up, get the .45.
Don't really like this. Implies something. My bro has be LEO for 20 years and uses 9mm exclusively, his preference. Nobody on the force would even dare to tell him to "man up".
Ahhh, now I understand...:tooth: I saw the jarhead logo, just didn't realize....:usa:
He doesn't own a 270 does he? If so, the original statement stands :jester: