.40acp. or .45acp.

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I would go with the 45 auto. They are cheaper to shoot . And they make 185
grain loads similar to the 40 . So think the 45 offers more anyway you look at it.
 
I would go with the 45 auto. They are cheaper to shoot . And they make 185
grain loads similar to the 40 . So think the 45 offers more anyway you look at it.
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Huh?

Winchester White Box:
50rds of .40S&W(all bullet weights) = $15.95
50rds of .45acp(all bullet weights) = $19.95

Speer Gold Dots:
50rds of .40S&W(all bullet weights) = $25.95
50rds of .45acp(all bullet weights) = $28.95

Also, the .40S&W 180gr load is a much better penetrator than the .45acp 185gr load. It's something called Sectional Density. In lay terms, it is the mass concentration of a bullet relative to its diameter. A 9mm 135gr bullet concentrates its mass into a smaller focal point than a .40S&W 135gr bullet resulting in a more elongated bullet with more momentum behind it.

Speer Gold Dots:

.40S&W 180gr(1025fps):
Bare Gel: Pen=14.3" Expansion=.66"
Through Denim: Pen=15.2" Expansion=.62"

.45acp 185gr(1050fps):
Bare Gel: Pen=11.3" Expansion=.69"
Through Denim: Pen=12.5" Expansion=.64"

The .45acp is much better in 230gr bullets which have a higher sectional density and get better penetration.
 
I was not aware that there was such a catridge as ".40 acp" I thought there was only .40 S&W. Is this a new catridge or an error of the poster.
 
I wasnt aware of the current ammo prices. I remember when the 40 first came on the scene it was higher . My mistake. I still think the 45 is a better choice. I guess it depends on which you like .
 
This is the author of the thread, I don't know why they have me as a guest. I am a member. I made a mistake about the 40acp. I meant 40s&w. I wasn't trying to start an argument. It's just I don't know anything about the 40s&w round. I was going to buy a sig sas 220 45acp, then I thought if the 40s&w was just as good a round I would get the sig 229 sas 40s&w. It's the same frame size and I would be getting 4 more rounds. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
It basically comes down to the .40 being the faster, smaller bullet that your mag can hold more of.. and the .45 being the bigger, slower bullet that your mag can hold less of.

.40 = muzzle flip/snappy ; .45 = not so much muzzle flip/push

So unless you find yourself needing to shoot though walls, or being in a prolonged gun fight.. go with the .45.
 
.40 S&W:
-greater energy
-more recoil
-flatter shooting
-larger magazine capacity
-155, 165, 180gr SD loads available
-cheaper to shoot

.45ACP

-less energy
-less recoil
-MUCH less magazine capacity in standard models
-185, 200, 230gr SD loads available
-more expensive to shoot

Those are pretty much the primary differences. Saying things like "I like .45, but .40 is no slouch" is just an ignorant comment. There is a reason the FBI chose .40 over .45.

If you want to compare by the numbers, the only thing .45 really has over .40 is years in service. By that fact, .45 may have "stopped" more bad guys than .40, but look at the Germans and the 9mm legacy.

Compared to other calibers, .45ACP under-performs in many different aspects, even compared to 9mm (yep, I said it; .45ACP was not created by God, sorry guys).

The 1911 has become, to some, the weapon all others are compared to. But compare it to a modern, standard 9mm platform, the Glock 17:

Magazine capacity
1911 - 5, 6, or 7+1
G17 - 17+1 (225% more ammo)

Recoil (compared by bullet momentum):
.45ACP - ~195,500 gr/f/s
9mm - ~120,000 gr/f/s (~38% less)

So, in short, I am saying that either caliber will do the job equally as well in most cases. And "most cases" encompass virtually every SD encounter that occurs on the street. Your attacker is not tactically savvy, he/she is not likely wearing body armor and the encounter will take place within 20 feet. At 20 feet, anything from .380ACP will do just fine 99% of the time in 99% of situations. And when it comes to SD, you hope for 100%, but 99% is really the best you could ever hope for.

Now, don't be fooled in to thinking I posted this to make fun of .45ACP lovers--I didn't. I own a SA XD45 Tactical and I love to shoot it a lot. It is my favorite of what I own only second to my SIG Sauer P226, coincidentally in .40S&W.

-Jason
 
So unless you find yourself needing to shoot though walls, or being in a prolonged gun fight.. go with the .45.
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Can you qualify this statement?

How do you know you WON'T have to shoot through walls and how do you know you WON'T have to engage multiple targets? Furthermore, who, in their right mind, would just "assume" the minimum of circumstances will occur?

I really hate to just be blunt about it, but .40S&W straight out-performs .45ACP in all categories except popularity. The .45ACP cartridge has some grandiose aura around it that seems to blind some folks to the truth. I've even read arguments that, "I'd carry .45ACP before I carry .44 special any day", when in fact, their ballistics are almost IDENTICAL. There seems to be a mantra that "if it ain't .45ACP, it ain't worth my time." That simply shouldn't be the case.
 
What? My Kimber Custom II 45acp kicks more than my Glock 22 40 caliber. Feels like it so in say a Glock would the 22 or the 21 kick more?
 
How do you know you WON'T have to shoot through walls and how do you know you WON'T have to engage multiple targets? Furthermore, who, in their right mind, would just "assume" the minimum of circumstances will occur?
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Sure. If you have that mindset go with a FN-FiveSeveN. Its got 20 rounds and can punch holes through walls. It has basically no recoil, and its slim. To be on the safe side he might need to invest in some armor piercing ammo, because the BG might have body armor on. The FiveSeveN is also great to have in the off chance his house's interior is 300 yards long.

All departments covered. End of Thread.
 
Rules to picking caliber.

#1- go with what you can shoot best
#2- then go with whatever is cheapest

edit- oh and .40cal is not any harder to shoot, it's just different. Once you combine proper fundamentals with practice, you will be fine.
 
edit- oh and .40cal is not any harder to shoot, it's just different. Once you combine proper fundamentals with practice, you will be fine.
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Exactly.

The .40 takes practice to get good with, just like anything else. However, I've noticed that the majority of people I know who shoot the .40 "very well", still shoot the .45 a little better and more fluently.

40 and 45 essentially do the same job. Pick whatever fits you better.

ps: I'm not a .45 snob. I have a Beretta 90-two in .40 SW as my nightstand gun. I use it for HD not because of the caliber/shoot through wall capabilities/magazine count, but because it has tritium night sights.
 
Sure. If you have that mindset go with a FN-FiveSeveN. Its got 20 rounds and can punch holes through walls. It has basically no recoil, and its slim. To be on the safe side he might need to invest in some armor piercing ammo, because the BG might have body armor on. The FiveSeveN is also great to have in the off chance his house's interior is 300 yards long.

All departments covered. End of Thread.
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Your point?

If you feel your need is that great, then carry a Five-seveN. My point was, that seemed to be missed, was don't settle for a MINIMUM when it comes to self defense. Sarcasm wasn't a valid response.
 
edit- oh and .40cal is not any harder to shoot, it's just different. Once you combine proper fundamentals with practice, you will be fine.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The .40 takes practice to get good with, just like anything else. However, I've noticed that the majority of people I know who shoot the .40 "very well", still shoot the .45 a little better and more fluently.
Click to expand...

I could not agree more with either of those statements. The .40S&W recoil is different compared to .45ACP, or 9mm for that matter.

It took more practice with my SIG Sauer P226 (.40cal) to be as proficient as I am with my XD45. I won't deny the .45, for most shooters, will have an easier learning curve.

I would also like to clarify, that by .40cal having "more recoil", I didn't mean more quantitatively. By the numbers, the recoil is nearly identical, but in recoil delivery (impulse), the .40 has a greater impulse of recoil.

I own both, I shoot both and I enjoy both. Hell, I want a compact 1911 style pistol to add to my concealed carry rotation.
 
The gun should fit your hand well. Then, you should find the caliber you want in that gun. The 1911 fits my hand better than any other gun, and they happen to be .45. I like the .45.
 
I have both and have equal confidence in both calibers. For carry, I like the .40 for larger capacity in a smaller platform.
 
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