40 SW vs 45 ACP

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Leedavisone

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I want to buy a Semi- auto, and I have always wanted a 1911. I recently bought a Springfield Armory pistol for a cop friend... in 45 ACP (not their 1911), and I was fairly impressed. A question... If I get a semi, what are the benefits of a .45 vs the .40 SW? I tend towards the .45, but I have heard a lot of good things about the .40. Please! Keep politics out. You Glock guys please don't try to sell me on one. I am not wanting advice on a brand of pistol... just some advice on the difference between 45 and 40. I don't care about 10 or 9 mm. just what I am asking for. I have to admit, I have been out of the loop for many years... I bought my last gun, a Ruger single six in 1972. I want to get back in...
 
They're both good.

The .45 is more expensive, has larger bullet weights, and a little more recoil (but IMO "softer" recoil). I can shoot the .45 more accurately than the .40, but YMMV.

The .40 is a little cheaper, has more velocity, slightly less recoil (but a "sharper" type of recoil).

It comes down to what you prefer... big bullets moving relatively slowly, producing a mild to moderate "push" type of recoil... OR medium bullets moving at medium velocity, producing a mild to moderate "snappy" recoil.

I think the type of gun also plays a big role. Many .40s are essentially 9mms chambered up to .40 cal, so they tend to magnify recoil a bit. Most .45s are built from the start to be .45s, and have the weight and width appropriate for the chambering.

I say get one of each!

So, I tried to be as non-biased as possible above. If I had to pick one over the other, it would be .45 hands down!
 
Get a real 1911. Meaning a .45. It is the most popular for good reason. Then you can play around with other calibers.
 
i prefer .40 because i shoot alot and it is cheaper for me to shoot, also i get more capcity then i would in the same frame sized handgun in .40 than a .45
nothing wrong with .45 though.
 
i have both calibers. i think i like the .45 better just because it is bigger and all that goes with having a .45, it lets you feel like its a "real" gun your shooting. i like the .40 a lot, but had i gotten a .45 first i dont know if i would have ever gone smaller. i know one thing is certain that i will probably never go smaller than a .40cal. get both if you can...if you can only afford one then go with the .45 and have no regrets that you didnt get the big dawg.
 
There is NO practical difference between the two. Any one who claims there is doesn't know what he's talking about. Since 1990 when introduced the 40 has had an impressive record as a police cartridge . I've shot many feral dogs and 'chucks with both and see no difference and I've carried both with full confidence !!
 
There is NO practical difference between the two. Any one who claims there is doesn't know what he's talking about.
Click to expand...

In terms of real world performance in real world situations, I agree. Of course most medium and large bore rounds can be looked at the same way. I feel as well armed with high quality 38 Special as I would with a 45 (if I owned one), since I am pretty accurate with it.

As for the 40, lots of people like them, and in they're favor they are almost as affordable as 9mm. However I never warmed up to the feel of the 40. To me, it combines the quick, sharp snap of the 9mm and the slow, heavy push of the 45. So I personally did not like the feel of the 40 and it reflected in my sad groupings. In an auto, I'd rather have a 9mm or 45.
 
Perception is reality...

Go shoot similar guns in both calibers and see which caliber's recoil you percieve as being more comfortable / more controllable. See which caliber you prefer to shoot. Find a platform you like that's chambered in your preference. My experiences mirror those of jad's, and I prefer shooting 45 ACP over 40 S&W. See what you like because either caliber will serve you plenty well.
 
Random thoughts:

I have both a 1911 in .45 and a CZ75b in .40. My jury is still out, as the CZ is still pretty new. It's a lot cheaper to reload for the .40, if that makes a differrence to you. My CZ has a fully supported chamber, so I'm not really worried about kB! type scenarios. Though the recoil of the .40 is snappier, the steel frame of the CZ absorbs it pretty well. For that reason, and ergonomics, I vastly prefer it to my old Beretta 96. At this time, the 1911 with its .45 cartridge is still my favorite. I like push as opposed to snap.

We shall see...
 
Advantage .40sw:
  • higher capacity
  • higher velocity
  • cheaper ammo
  • smaller/lighter platforms

Advantage .45acp:
  • wider expansion
  • deeper penetration
  • heavier bullet
  • higher sectional density
  • lower pressure
  • less snappy recoil


I choose .45acp. If I was going to downgrade, I'd go straight to 9mm, which imo further maximizes all the advantages gained in going from .45acp to .40sw in the first place.

But all that is purely theoretical, because of course the real answer is that they are all exactly equal in terms of performance, as mete has proven:
There is NO practical difference between the two. Any one who claims there is doesn't know what he's talking about. Since 1990 when introduced the 40 has had an impressive record as a police cartridge . I've shot many feral dogs and 'chucks with both and see no difference and I've carried both with full confidence !!
Click to expand...
Exactly. If they both can kill a dog equally well, it stands to reason there could be no possible difference in self defense performance. (I wonder if a .44mag could kill a dog too?)
 
In guns with barrels less than 4" I prefer the .40 S&W because I'm affraid the .45 ACP loses too much velocity to insure adaquate penetration.

Otherwise, I prefer the .45 ACP which is much more forgiving when it comes to reloading.

--wally.
 
Everybody always says....... "It's as good as the .45 ACP" and makes arguments why it is as good.

I guess because the .45 is the best.

I would feel comfortable with a .40 and a good deal more comfortable with a .45.
 
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I want to buy a Semi- auto, and I have always wanted a 1911.
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I think you answered your own question. Both will make a big hole in a piece of paper. Both will stop a bad guy equally well. But it's going to be very difficult to find a 1911 chambered in .40.

My recommendation is to get both! A 1911 in .45ACP and a Springer XD40. :)
 
In case you haven't distilled the answer to your question from all this, it boils down to accuracy and recoil.

Stopping power? I think they both have proven track records, but neither is a Death Ray (nor is ANY small arm.)

Recoil? .40 you've heard described as snappy, sharp, unpleasant. It is. But all recoil is in the wrist of the beholder. I would be more than willing to endure the .40's brisk recoil impulse in exchange for the deeper magazine capacity and cheaper ammo, if it weren't for one thing.

Accuracy! Regardless of gun brand, ammo brand, platform configuration... any variable, in fact, I can't make a .40 group as well as I can a .45. I bought the first S&W Sigma .40 on my block back in the mid-1990s (back when they were perfectly-functioning clones of Brand Gaston with pre-ban Hi-cap mags) and it turned in paper-plate sized groups I was embarassed to pull off target carrier (where my Ruger p-90 was putting everything into a single ragged hole the size of my palm.) I've rented or borrowed S&W 4006s, Glocks, H&K USPs, Beretta M-96s and the Taurus eqivalent... and I almost found an acceptable one in the S&W M&P .40... but nothing gives me that shot-after-shot placement confidence of the older-school .45s (1911/P-90/P-345) or the 9mm (92F/PT-92/P-226).
 
I beg to differ. The .40's that i have shot have a more noticeable amount of recoil then any .45's i have seen and also alot more muzzle rise.
 
Go with the .45ACP. Especially if you really want a 1911. Bigger bullets, moderate recoil, and good accuracy and stopping power. If I had to do it all over again, I would stick with 9mm and .45ACP rather than getting .40S&W.
 
Both Great Cartridges!

But I prefer the .45 for basically one reason, it has less recoil and therefore I am a little more accurate with the .45 They are the only calibers I shoot in semi-auto's, because I have the highest confidence in both of them if I need them for SD/HD they both tear things up quite well! My ammo costs are pretty much the same since I buy ammo at Walmart [practice ammo] The .40 costs a little less to shoot.

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank
 
Ha!


If you want a powerful round get a 10MM.

If you want an adequate service round get a 40 or 45. Both are equally good at defense. Capcity vs Muzzle Energy vs Momentum vs Weight vs Caliber is all useless in this case.

32 vs 45 would be an actual debate.


Both of these rounds are good. Now it just comes down to what gun fits you best. I own a 1911 and its ok. My P99 and Sigs seem to be a better self defense platform in my eyes as I am faster, more accurate and better versed in using them than I am my 1911. With a 220 I'm just as accurate. So it's all personal preference. You cant go wrong with either



If number of years in service sways your decision look into rocks, arrows and daggers. 40S&W much like the 45ACP were only designed for one purpose..Killing people. Both do it well
 
quote by 10-Ring :
I prefer the 45 acp. Bigger bullet, bigger hole, lower pressure & more manageable recoil.
--------------------

+1
You saved me some typing.:D
 
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