45 to only 9mm

[bannockburn]

Currently I have about a 3 to 1 ratio going with 9mm. guns over the .45s; all of them 1911s too.

Love the 9mm.s for their excellent design features, ergonomics, reliability, durability, innovative technology, and their less expensive ammo!

Love the .45s for being well...1911s! With the exception of a few guns (like the Browning Hi-Power, HK VP9, CZ P01, and the Ruger SR9c), no pistol fits my hand so perfectly than a 1911 does! With 1911s, Colts in particular, they're what I cut my teeth on, so to speak, when I was growing up and getting into handguns. It's what my friends had (though typically used because there weren't all that many new ones commercially on the market at the time), and it quickly became one of my favorite guns to shoot (and still is)! Liked the Colt Governments that I owned (though I managed to "sneak" a couple of foreigners into the mix, an HK P9 and a Browning BDA .45 because I wanted to see what they were all about), but my most prized .45 is a Combat Commander done up right by Colt's Custom Shop!

 

[John_R]

It sure seems like my beloved .45ACP is becoming an abandoned caliber, like .40. Other than 1911s, are there any new guns coming out in .45? Will .45 be a casualty of the great ammo famine? Or will they eventually crank up the assembly lines once again?

 

[kcofohio]

It sure seems like my beloved .45ACP is becoming an abandoned caliber, like .40. Other than 1911s, are there any new guns coming out in .45? Will .45 be a casualty of the great ammo famine? Or will they eventually crank up the assembly lines once again?

IMO, it seems like 9s, 380s, and 22LR handguns are the focus of sales, due to more new and to be new gun owners of late. When the political pendulum swings the other way, I would think that more 45s will show back up.

 

[Riomouse911]

It sure seems like my beloved .45ACP is becoming an abandoned caliber, like .40. Other than 1911s, are there any new guns coming out in .45? Will .45 be a casualty of the great ammo famine? Or will they eventually crank up the assembly lines once again?

I’ve seen .45 on the shelves recently. It ain’t cheap, but it’s there.

There are so many .45 pistols in circulation that they’ll be making .45 ACP rounds for generations to come.

Stay safe.

 

[d'zaster]

I have been accumulating calibers for years and sometimes I think I have too much. At some point I'll be down sizing but would likely keep .45 for sentimental reasons.

 

[Jim Watson]

In an open field, starting over, I would be all 9mm.
In the real world, I keep and use my .45s because I have guns, loading press, and components that I doubt I could sell profitably.

 

[Obturation]

If I were you , I'd just load lighter for the 45s. Bigger hole is better in my opinion and if I want a 9mm sized hole in something I'll take a 357 mag. I'm not here to help you over the edge, I'm here to drag you back. I've got no love for the 9mm but I think 45acp is a wonderful cartridge for carry. Lower noise, less dependent on velocity, starts out big and gets even bigger on impact. By now we all should know that handgun cartridges are generally unable to produce hydrostatic shock, therefore we rely on direct hits to critical anatomy , bigger diameter increases the likelihood of hitting something important . that translates to bigger is better, always has been.

Different strokes and all that but no one will ever convince me that bullet technology levels the field, the same technology is applied equally to bullets. This may have made the 9mm comparable to old school 45 bullets but it also advanced the effectiveness of the old 45acp too.

Do what you think is best but I'll stay loyal to big & slow.

Good luck

 

[3Crows]

Variety is the spice of life. I think OP you are wanting justification and per your last post have in your mind justified selling the .45s. But really, are you just wanting to trade or cash out of them to buy something different?

I did get rid of .40S&W, a Glock and a SA plastic pistol, and replaced them with 9mm plastic pistols. And I like Glocks! And I want the new military side arm M18 P320 in 9mm. But there is a place for .45ACP and as well .357 and .45Colt and .44 Mag and, well, 9mm is just not everything. Too light for woods carry where big furry things with teeth abound and just kind of boring for the rest.

3C

 

[redcon1]

I’ve been slowly moving away from 45 to 9mm. I reload and have many large pistol primers and 3 45 autos left. All others are 9mm with red dots. All future pistols will have dots. I’m considering selling all my 45s and trading the LPP for SPP. I just don’t shoot near as well with the iron sites on the 45s. So help push me over the edge here!!!

I wouldn't get rid of any primers. I would just add to the stockpile. I too made the switch to 9mm but I still have large pistols and ample components for them that I'm itching to shoot and primers may never get cheaper. 9mm is pragmatic but .45, 460 Rowland, 10mm and .44 magnum are fun and it should be fun as well as practical.

 

[Buzznrose]

Other than the title, what is the OP saying that makes one think he’s getting rid of his .45’s? I read it three times and don’t see it..

ETA: Sorry. I missed later posts including #25

 

[Buzznrose]

It sure seems like my beloved .45ACP is becoming an abandoned caliber, like .40. Other than 1911s, are there any new guns coming out in .45? Will .45 be a casualty of the great ammo famine? Or will they eventually crank up the assembly lines once again?

.45 is coming off the line, but in proportion to the number of .45 guns being sold versus 9MM.

I’m not taking a side here. I like .45 fine. But manufacturers trying to appease demand have to build what is asked for.

 

[3Crows]

Just saying, at least around here, I have had no difficulty finding plenty of ball 230 grain .45ACP. The 9mm in anything other than ball 115 grain, not so much. True during the "Great Ammo Dearth" of recent, yes, there was little ammo around of any sort. But I did find enough. The difference to me is that the .45 is fine with plain ball ammo and the 9mm is not.

3C

 

[redcon1]

Just saying, at least around here, I have had no difficulty finding plenty of ball 230 grain .45ACP. The 9mm in anything other than ball 115 grain, not so much. True during the "Great Ammo Dearth" of recent, yes, there was little ammo around of any sort. But I did find enough. The difference to me is that the .45 is fine with plain ball ammo and the 9mm is not.

3C

They both work well enough for paper targets though. I have thousands of.45 and 9mm jacketed, lead, and plated projectiles though so I've no worries either way. And brass? I barely have room for any more .45/9mm brass. This ammo dearth has been mostly unnoticed by me. I like .45 and 9mm. I think both rounds will be around until we finally get phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range.

 

[John_R]

Now CZ is discontinuing the 97B, in .45. That’s not a good sign.

 

[Ignition Override]

The type of gun, DA trigger and overall ergos plus having the highest quality control are why I bought my various handguns.

—Excluding— complex chat about carry topics, ie a .380 vs. a 23 mm incendiary round

it Then is not about the exact chambering, as long as one can justify ammo costs.

 

[Terry G]

Now CZ is discontinuing the 97B, in .45. That’s not a good sign.

I saw this too. The 97b is my favorite .45, but obviously CZ is not selling enough of them to keep the production line going. I'm down to a Colt Series 70, a Glock 21, a S&W 1917, and the CZ97b, while the 9MM's have grown. The LEO's around here both city and county have either already switched to 9MM or in the process of doing so. Hard to convince people to lug around a .45 when a polymer 9 with 15 plus shots weigh half.

 

[3Crows]

They both work well enough for paper targets though. I have thousands of.45 and 9mm jacketed, lead, and plated projectiles though so I've no worries either way. And brass? I barely have room for any more .45/9mm brass. This ammo dearth has been mostly unnoticed by me. I like .45 and 9mm. I think both rounds will be around until we finally get phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range.

I was really addressing the OP. He did not provide info as to his supplies and reloading capabilities. I too have plenty of ammo supplies and reloading capability and primers and brass to get me to the next restocking opportunity.

I understand trying to focus on one round like 9mm, especially in pistol where it is so easy to burn ammo quickly at a range trip or two.

3C

 

[Armybrat]

Gave all my .45 1911s, .44 magnum revolvers, and some .357s to my sons after the arthritis in my hands got worse.
My 9mm & .380 pistols aren’t a problem to shoot.... yet.

 

[ev780]

We are only days away from the next whacked out meth head who walks through a 17 round mag dump and the .45 will be back in vogue again.

Even gun fashion is a fickle mistress.

 

[Buzznrose]

We are only days away from the next whacked out meth head who walks through a 17 round mag dump and the .45 will be back in vogue again.

Even gun fashion is a fickle mistress.

What about the stone sober guy who sucks up 14 rounds of .45 ACP and the cop switches from .45ACP to 9MM?

https://www.police1.com/officer-sho...5-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job-clGBbLYpnqqHxwMq/

 

[3Crows]

What about the stone sober guy who sucks up 14 rounds of .45 ACP and the cop switches from .45ACP to 9MM?

https://www.police1.com/officer-sho...5-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job-clGBbLYpnqqHxwMq/

And the rest of the story?

So he switched to 9mm because he did not have a 12 gauge handy. Or an AR. Heck, just grab a .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun and see if he can take a full mag dump!

3C

 

[Barbaroja]

I enjoy the versatility of having more than one caliber. I had gotten my first 45 about 2 months before the pandemic hit back in 2020 and while most of the 9mm ammo and components had been bought up first I was able to find plenty of large pistol primers and projectiles for it. That said if you have what you need(ammo) and know what you like (9mm in this case)….go nuts

they are still releasing new guns in 45acp just fewer of them

 

[ezee]

I understand all the feedback saying not to limit yourself to just one caliber or 45s are much better in this situation or that one. And all and many more reasons are true to each person.
But again for me my 45s rarely get out to play. Many of my 9mm are custom pistols with incredible triggers and workmanship. They are a hoot to shoot. I’ve nothing at all against 45s. Shot 45s exclusively for many years. But with many other great choices in calibers and firearms , well they just sit in the safe. The press that’s dedicated to 45 sits as well along with components for them.
I’m very fortunate to have other great choices. And like I mentioned before if I miss the 45s I’ll purchase some more at that time only with dots. I’m in my 70s and as some know the eyes aren’t that great anymore. the dots work very well for me.
Anyway as of now I’m may sell most my 45s but keep the press and components. Which speaks to the fact that all the responses has swayed me some towards a more logical approach. If that’s even possible at my age !! LOL.

 

[nofendertom]

I can understand going to only one caliber as far as ammo, reloading supplies,etc.
I once thought about doing it, but there were 1 or 2 firearms I liked in different calibers.

 

[DR505]

Reducing down to one or two cartridge types (not calibers) just seems boring to me. Variety really is the spice of life. Imagine eating bologna sandwiches for every single meal...

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