45 to only 9mm

[George Dickel]

The arthritis in my hands is getting pretty bad anymore and my .45 1911 just has more recoil than I want to subject myself to. I got rid of my .44 Mag pistol for the same reason. I have tried lower power loads but the mass of the slide is still there. I'm seriously looking at a 9mm 1911 as I am a 1911 fan boy. I would change right now but I have more large pistol primers than small pistol, so I've been letting my 9mm pistols gather dust.

 

[.308 Norma]

Reducing down to one or two cartridge types (not calibers) just seems boring to me.

Yep, cartridges not calibers.

Besides, how would we have those great bear threads every now and again?

Don't worry, someone would figure out a way. If all we had was 9mms, we could argue about which 9mm bullets are best for grizzlies - HPs or FMJs. And we could argue about how many rounds of 9mm it takes to stop a charging grizzly, and whether or not to carry a backup. And don't forget - that lady that killed a grizzly with a 22LR is still out there, and someone would bring her up before any thread about 9mms and grizzlies got very long.

 

[.308 Norma]

I have tried lower power loads but the mass of the slide is still there.

Sorry to hear your arthritis, and I'm hoping you can find a combination of gun and cartridge that works for you. But tell me - wouldn't there be about the same amount of "mass of the slide" in a 9mm 1911 as there is in a 45ACP 1911?
Just curious. I do hope you can find something that works for you. I've watched my wife struggle with the arthritis in her thumb joint - she carries a Smith Shield 380 EZ, because the same gun in 9mm hurts her.

 

[Average Joe]

I'm an 9 guy, can shoot all day long without getting beat up by recoil.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

If you are target shooting, then shoot whatever floats your boat. But for self defense, 9mm seems to make the most sense for conceal carry, in terms of ballistics and stopping power in a small package. For open carry, I can see 10 mm and other larger calibers as a viable choice..

But 45ACP just seem to be too slow for reliable expansion. Without reliable expansion you risk excessive penetration and hitting innocent bystanders. 45ACP just seems like an obsolete round for self defense. I just see 45ACP as a nostalgic round.

 

[Nuclear]

All modern self defense ammo have been tuned by the manufacturers to FBI criteria of penetrating 12-18", including 45ACP. Probably easier to get it to expand with that big opening in the nose.

 

[wmgeorge]

Here’s my reasons for considering getting out of 45s
I shoot 3-4 times a week. When I go to the safe the 45s never seem to make it into the range bag anymore. I have plenty of other choices I always seem to pick first. Years ago I shot 45 almost exclusively. Now it seems to be mostly 9mm and 556
As mentioned above I don’t feel like sending the 45s out to have the slide milled and not excited about any of the existing 45s red dot ready.
As crazy as this may sound to some of you I’m very fortunate to have some very fine 9mms that are so fun to shoot that the 45s just never make it to the range. Not to mention I’ve recently started shooting 556 as well.
This will sound crazy also but It doesn’t make sense to me to have safe space and reloading space taken up by a caliber that I hardly shoot anymore.
Not an ez decision but also not an important one in the scope of everyday life. If I regret it I can always jump back in!

I have done the same. I have my 45 ACP for a range gun and I reload when I can get primers. I have a Star 9mm for the range and shoot with factory ammo only. A Sig 380 1911 style with laser sight for light carry and a new Kimber 9mm 1911 type for serious carry. PS I am a year or so from being 80.

 

[sequins]

I feel like I'm stuck on 45 because that's the only caliber 1911 worth a darn

If I'm going to have a 1911 in 45 that means I'm already loading for it, so a glock 21 seems like it makes sense as a modern compliment.

I got one glock in each of the calibers to avoid the ammo shortage. I hate loading 9 and it costs a lot now, used to be it was only a penny or two over the cost of components.

 

[kcofohio]

There was an write-up once called, "The Geezer Load". Berry's use to have it linked.
Basically using a Berry's 185 gr. HBRN, using a light load of either Clay's or WST and a 16 lb spring in a 1911.
Here's a partial write-up.
https://handloadingnotebook.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/the-geezer-load/

I use that same bullet with 5.1 gr of WST. That load runs in the upper 700s IIRC.

 

[Bcwitt]

History repeats. The Army dropped the 45 revolver in favor of a .38(Lighter weight). The 38 proves inadequate in combat many times, so they adopt the 45 auto. The 45 proves superior. The alliance wants a 9mm (because it's cheaper) so they goto the 9mm & make up a BS story that it is somehow better. Are you sure you want to do that?