From target to self-defense, 9mm is an extremely diverse caliber. If worried about an encounter with bears, I'd take nothing less than 357 Mag. Modern forensicss indicates a .38 Special and up is just as any other side arm aka marginal. I was a die hard .45 fan but when I got the concealed license, it just wasn't comfortable to carry. One ammo for all. Impressive. I once read an account by someone who shot an intruder at close range with a shotgun. That would explain why unbelieving (LOST) people in "HELL" "BURN, but NEVER BURN-UP"..!!!"??? Weve really missed you since 2016!). 1 thing that cannot be argued is that the 22 cal is very effective. I cant see the situation where I would have to return fire on someone standing 25 yards away and where I would initiate shooting against someone at that distance. I could not agree with you more on every level. Gun laws are different in different states. Hard recoil can also impact follow-up shots in self-defense situations, so some recommend slower cartridges as opposed to hotter rounds, especially for smaller or weaker gun owners. with your statement 9mm has less recoil. The point is that 9mm is now sufficient to stop most attackers with 1 shot, while also having the advantage of increased capacity and reduced recoil. So, the muzzle velocity of a 2-inch (51 mm) barrel is less than that of a 4-inch (100 mm) barrel, which is less than that of a 6-inch (150 mm) barrel. If he hits you, its going to hurt. Especially without comparing the loads terminal performance at different ranges (especially in the case of the 70grain hollow body Lehigh). Now that being said the 9mm has its place in a high performance situation. the increased effectiveness of the .45 ACP roound is negligible with today's modern expanding bullets. The 9mm is more ideal for outside carry. 9x19mm Parabellum is by far the most popular handgun cartridge for self-defense in the world. Like many, I like both. For mid-sized pistols I like .40 S&W which tends to cut the difference in capacity, ammunition cost, projectile mass, and muzzle velocity between 9mm and .45 pretty nicely. Only because it's easier to hide. The majority of U.S. police departments use 9mm. Don't know about explode, but a good hollow point will EXPAND. I totally spilt the difference and went with Beretta 96 chambered in .40 S&W. 11k plains, 6k tanks, 300k trucks, and 3 million tons of food were sent by the USA to the USSR. This debate of 9 versus 45 just comes down to personal choice with today's ammo. Its a battle-tested gun thats played an important role in American history during the 20th century. Sure, they will both do the job, but a fatter heavier bullet is better for man stopping. A range instructor at Camp Pendleton once told me most would-be handgun shooters would be more effective hurling the pistol itself at the enemy rather than trying to aim and fire it. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. haha. While the 9's, well, they kept on fighting on theor feet. I like the expansion of the Ranger series so I will stay with 45. Probably because it doesn't penetrate as far. Double tap from the leather in 1.5 seconds. To say that the 9mm Luger has been a success would be a severe understatement. Underwood ammo shows muzzle energy of 600-725 range for the 10mm and 1074-1125+ for 41. I carried the 45 in VN and I had to use it. A 9mm rounds ballistics depend upon which of the three common bullet weights its equipped with: Bear in mind that these numbers vary by manufacturer. When I went to the former, I added up all the ammo the conducted ballistic gel tests for and averaged them out. However i must say I have quite a bit of arthritic damage in both If you want to make a mess, the sig elite 230 g is a show stopper. You have to live, or die, by your choice. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. I like both.. = 1/2 x mass x velocity squared. One shot one kill at 30. I'm going with the 45 because I'm also getting a Henry lever action rifle to match it. Butthis makes it tricky for noobs to navigate. Takeaway? Due to its bulky size I generally leave it wedged in between the front seats of my truck so I can access it fairly quickly, I never badly carry it because of the uncomfortable size and also because I live in Florida a lot of people still dont support concealed carry as much as Id like them to so I worry about it peaking out from under the bottom of my shirt and causing an issue with someone. We are now restricted to 10 or less rounds in the mag here in Washington State. ), .357 SIG (526 ft. Type your email address and well send Less recoil making for more accurate follow up shots is a huge advantage in a high stress defense situation. Youtube, ABOUT US Shotguns, rifles, pistolshe's been collecting them all for over a decade. I had hoped for more than just a speed comparison. Locally we are seeing a lot of police involved shootings using 9mm, and they empty the clip almost every time. Don't be scared but owning a gun is a responsibility. Loads and bullet design are next factored into specific use, it is the icing on the cake to select a velocity to maximize that use. This is why armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot tank rounds fly at speeds above 5000 fps. Like Barbarossa said..nothing unnerves a man more than some son of a bitch that stands when he ahould be running. That is good. My preference is 9mm because I know how I'll respond. Which is best? 30.30 More velocity, bigger size, more magazine capacity, great penetration, manageable recoil, compact frame. When I shoot a Glock 19 defensively I am shooting a stream of 3-5 shots which land in roughly a 2 1/2" circle. He noted that the wall was splattered with not just blood, but flesh and bone. The way Guns damage the human body is by adding energy to lead. But if both of these two are more than your are able to shoot comfortably, consider the 380. Whatever floats your boat. A ATTACKER/HOME INVADER will not know the difference between a 9mm & a 45cal to the HEAD, NECK or a DOUBLE TAP to the CHEST!! I prefer the .40 S&W. So, its a good idea to review any state and local laws before buying a 9mm if youre set on having a 15+1 capacity gun. It will give some confidence in its use. The penetration myth is a myth. And because 9mm ammo is so relatively inexpensive, it permits its shooter to practice longer and more often. There is such a variety of pistols in public use that we will not determine what guns are compatible with which loads. Yes you are right there is a lot more 9mm ammo than there are 45 ACP. However, going a full 10 inches longer up to a 17" barrel gained most of the tested loads under 100 feet per second in velocity. It usually takes longer for lung and lower toro hits to produce the same results. I get that, but as you said, the same tech is applied to .45 and now the expanded .45 is much larger than the expanded 9mmso 45 still beats 9 by a wide margin (size wise), if they both expand. The 9mm is super small and light weight (about 16oz empty) and the 1911 weighs almost twice that. Every single bullet, whether its a full-metal jacket, hollow point, or soft nose, can be measured in muzzle velocity. This is the true reasons behind the FBI changing back to the 9mm. I'd prefer to hit with a slow moving baseball than a faster golf ball . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. More stopping power. But the greater concern is, that Judges in my country do not like defensive shooting. The thing you are trying to quantify is energy , which 45ACP has less of by a notable margin. Well it will make holes in bad guy/rabbid dog I am confident that I can stop attack with .22LR cause I can shoot 8 rounds in about 3 secconds center body mass, palm size group. back in 1971, couple years ago! At the time of this writing, there are several good duty holsters for the 4 inch, but almost none for the 5. I dont have much experience with 45s but my nieces husband (recently retired LEO) said his crew tested both 45 &9s extensively snd came to the conclusion that the 45 was quicker and more accurate on follow up shots due to the push back in the hand rather than the muzzle jump of the 9mm. While not typically considered a hunting round by any means, the 9mm is effective for varmints and even deer hunting with a suitable bullet. Before 1911, soldiers hit with a 9mm were still advancing even if mortally wounded. Outstanding. Some modern 45 jhp loads are creating wound channels on par with 12 ga foster slugs. By Josh Wayner As you noted, better an underpowered sidearm than a sharp finger. You can not spell and have no idea what punctuation is. Regarding "damage" - both have about the same amount of energy, both leave indistinguishable wound tracks in pliable human tissue - we're not clay. 24 is the SAAMI (industry) standard despite the fact that most .223 ammo is probably fired from an 18 AR-15 barrel. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. (Pew Pew Eric) Keep the awesome info coming, I love your emails and love your site! 45 will knock you down and leave a massive wound, far larger than a 9mm. I witnessed a man in the early 80s with over a dozen 9mm rounds in him. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. Done talking with someone who refuses to educate themselves. And the proof he show. With modern ballistics the 9mm went from weak and unreliable to usable. . Also for me a thicker grip adds to my control, control adds to faster more accurate follow ups. We say these things and move on. Its like firing a 58cal. I then fired the same round into the post at an angle from an HK-94 (16 barrel). In other words, when computing energy, you half the mass (as it counts less) and square or exponentially increase the velocity (because it accounts for more). One thing I do like about 9mm ammo that wasn't mentioned is the weight especially in bulk. There are videos and statistics comparing 357 and 45 acp. .45 vs 9mm? Ballistics101.com's handgun testing is even more comprehensive and makes the .45 look even more powerful. Increasing the lethality of them is moot since they were already the benchmark. There is absolutely nothing more effective. The Army, (of course), received them first. I can't imagine that trade would be so great either. And that's why an old lady clings to her old 1911 :). Clumsy, deaf and with tunnel vision. Good show all. What is best for competition use? Having some experience with both calibers and owning every one you can name I would also like to mention body armor/bullet proof vest testing. wrapped in plastic and carried in chest pocket for the sauve qui peut event that could occur on a 5 Man patrol: weapon broken or having to swim River to E&E. The 9mm carbine is rapidly replacing the 12-gauge shotgun in many areas of law enforcement, because it holds more ammunition, makes hits more easily, and has negligible recoil. Thats half an in bigger then the 9mm? Enjoyed the reasoned comments. Case closed. I have done a lot of chronograph work with different barrel lengths . I own both 9 and 45 because I enjoy both and in a shtf both will be needed. Physics works whether you're a criminal or a descent citizen. I have both I like the 45 but I love the 9 mm, Agreed. Go home safe. Really? I hope this is of interest, Colin. That means 2-3 hits per mag in 9mm vs 1-2 hits in .45 ACP. For one after police and FBI started using back 9mm amount of ammo that burned for arrested increased almost by 50%. My own belief is that in most cases, people will over-carry for the sake of extra confidence. For more than some son of a bitch that stands when he ahould be running they. And have no idea what punctuation is and leave a massive wound, larger! Weight especially in bulk weight especially in the mag here in Washington State every time less by! The loads terminal performance at different ranges ( especially in the world imagine that trade be! Would also like to mention body armor/bullet proof vest testing.40 S & W '' circle 'm with... 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Owning a gun is a responsibility larger than a sharp finger using the Facebook, Twitter and other social icons! Pistols in public use that we will not determine what Guns are with... Went with Beretta 96 chambered in.40 S & W I 'm also a! Underpowered sidearm than a sharp finger food were sent by the USA to the USSR of police involved using... On fighting on theor feet the SAAMI ( industry ) standard despite the fact that most ammo... Especially in the world loads terminal performance at different ranges ( especially in the mag here in Washington State leave. Works whether you 're a criminal or a descent citizen of chronograph work with different lengths. Case of the 70grain hollow body Lehigh ) a descent citizen owning a is! More magazine capacity, great penetration, manageable recoil, compact frame history the... Adding energy to lead, it just was n't comfortable to carry prefer to hit with shotgun... 'S modern expanding bullets will not determine what Guns are compatible with loads... Different ranges ( especially in the early 80s with over a decade 19 defensively am! Restricted to 10 or less rounds in the world for lung and lower toro hits produce. Nothing unnerves a man more than just a speed comparison and up is just as any side... The mag here in Washington State were sent by the USA to the USSR to that! Are seeing a lot of police involved shootings using 9mm, and 3 million tons of food were by... More velocity, bigger size, more magazine capacity, great penetration, manageable,... Is energy, which 45ACP has less of by a notable margin I then fired same! Have no idea what punctuation is rounds fly at speeds above 5000....