9mm, .357 Sig, .40 or 45 ACP?

[Ed Ames]

If you live in a state with 10rd magazine limits, .45, or .40 should top your list for mid-to-large frame pistols, with 9mm for subcompacts....

There seem to be some pretty big, unsubstantiated assumptions behind this and the rest of your post.

Exactly. Which is why I prefaced my reply with, "To me this is somewhat of a meaningless question without more context. "

However, given the lack of context on the OP's part my assumptions are not only big and unsubstantiated, but good. No, awesome.

These cartridges are all about the same. The big difference is that practice ammo gets more expensive as you go up in size.

That said, If I was limited to 7 rounds in a handgun I'd rather have 7 rounds of .45 than 9.

If I'm limited to 15 rounds, that's a tight (but possible for people with big hands) squeeze in .45 but easy in .40. It is also easy in 9mm but - again, all else being equal - I'd rather max out on .40 than have a light magazine or short grip of 9mm.

If I'm not limited...well, .45 is still a 15-and under proposition, .40 is too, but 9mm can run up to 19.

 

[Plan2Live]

Vaalpens said:

Everybody probably needs a 45ACP

Okay......why?

 

[Girodin]

The pretty big assumptions I'm talking about is that .45 and .40 are superior in any way in terms of terminal ballistics to 9x19 loads. The underlying assumption that you haven't supported in anyways is that 10 rounds of 45 is better than 10 rounds of 9x19.

 

[Ed Ames]

The pretty big assumptions I'm talking about is that .45 and .40 are superior in any way in terms of terminal ballistics to 9x19 loads. The underlying assumption that you haven't supported in anyways is that 10 rounds of 45 is better than 10 rounds of 9x19.

Yeah, but that's not my assumption so I don't really need to support it.


I have two assumptions. The first requires a few words to explain so hold on tight...

In the 1990s I wound up with a 9mm pistol designed to hold 14rds in the double stack magazine. Unfortunately, at the time civilians where I lived were not allowed to have magazines that could hold more than 10 rounds. My pistol had magazines where the metal body ended half-way up the magwell where they attached to a big chunk of plastic stretching the magazine out to normal size. This was an ugly, unsatisfying arrangement.

I would much rather have a pistol optimized for the legal limit, than a pistol designed for more and crippled. It is an aesthetic choice. And, for reasons which are largely ergonomic, it is easier to fill a pistol grip with 8 rounds of .45 than 8 rds of 9mm.

The second is pretty empirical. .45 is about half as loud as 9mm.

Beyond that, I already said that they are pretty much the same so I don't know what you are basing your assumptions about my assumptions on.

 

[vaalpens]

Vaalpens said: Okay......why?

To be honest, I don't own a 45ACP and that is why I said probably. It is a nostalgic caliber, and if you are into pistols then probably (there he goes again) you want to own a 45acp 1911 at some time.

My views are a bit different since I had a Star B 9mm when I was in the army, so maybe that is why i don't have a 1911 45acp yet.

I have been collecting 45acp brass and do like the single stack SIG P220, so maybe a 45ACP is in my future at some point of time.

 

[Plan2Live]

^^Okay, just curious.

 

[Fremmer]

Everybody needs a .45 ACP because it's a big thumper. That's why!

You arrive at the range, and everybody is shooting a 9mm. Crack! Crack!
And you pull out the .45 and fire the first shot. WOOF! And everybody pauses...

 

[Deaf Smith]

Currently I have a 9mm Sig Sauer P320 Compact. I am looking for another handgun, perhaps the same type as I have now but probably in another caliber. I am looking for suggestions to the other calibers relative to my current 9mm. Things I am mainly looking at are cost and anything significant in performance that may set a caliber apart from the others. Thank you.

10mm glock 20sl with a extra 9x25 dillon, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, and maybe even a 9mm barrel.

Deaf

 

[DeepSouth]

I have more 45's than I do all other handgun caliber's combined. I don't own a 9mm, but I've been saying I was going to buy a BHP for a while.

I am 45 guy all day, every day. Even most of my revolvers are 45acp.

It's just what I like but I don't get all upset when other people don't like it nor do I care if you love another cartridge and think I should shoot it.

There's realisticly not enough difference between most of them to matter.

 

[Bill.45]

The question did not state what use the caliber would be used for

 

[TwinReverb]

Cost and performance? All calibers 9mm and up perform. Outside of reloading your own ammo, which makes all calibers really cheap, your cheapest option right now is 9mm. Followed by .45 ACP if i remember correctly (in terms of price).

My advice is go try out any gun at the range before you buy. Shoot it.

I've tried .45 and 9mm and 5.7. The old forty five isn't too much more recoil than 9mm, and like 9mm, it's performance is proven.

 

[CZ9shooter]

IMO, 9mm and 45 are the two classic must have semi-auto calibers. You've already got a 9, so I voted 45. However, a full size 9mm (steel frame maybe) might make a nice supplament to your poly compact.

 

[C0untZer0]

A SUPER-SIZED .45 would compliment your nine - get an HK MK 23 !

The thing eats 45+P ALL DAY

You said you were looking at cost, the price tag on the MK 23 will give you a lot to look at.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I voted .45

The only reason I even own a 40 is so I can keep shooting during the next panic---and got the gun cheap ---S&W SD40VE

.357 Sig is too expensive--even during the good times and really doesn't offer anything exceptional---get a .357 Mag if you want some power

Own 4 9mm's and a .45 too

 

[TwinReverb]

I voted .45

The only reason I even own a 40 is so I can keep shooting during the next panic---and got the gun cheap ---S&W SD40VE

Yeah I've been thinking about doing the Glock Trinity (Glock 23 .40 S&W and some interchangeable barrels) so that i could cover three other calibers, just in case.

 

[Valkman]

I only own .45's, never had a 9mm because I started shooting Bullseye and there you needed a .45. Been with 'em ever since. I also reload so it is not expensive.

 

[sequins]

IMO it depends on if you want a range toy or something practical.

I'm with Ed that I might go with a .45 if the choice were between a 'crippled' 9mm that had been mechanically rendered inferior to it's intended design. Luckily that's not the choice offered and there are both revolvers in revolver calibers and compact singlestack 9mm handguns so you're never forced to choose .45 unless you want .45 and I personally think 9mm is a superior round. I'm thinking the Kahrs, the Keltecs, the Glock 43s and Sig P239/P938s of the world. Probably loads more that I'm not mentioning and am myself unaware of. I'd carry a Sig p239 any day of the week but because I live in a semi-free state I can carry a 15 rounder. So, from that perspective a 9mm that's radically different from one's current can be a fun idea (getting a subcompact if you have a fullsize or vice versa).

However I might get the .45 just to compare to the 9mm at the range as the range is where my guns actually get used (and that's how I'd like it to stay). I went through several 9mm handguns trying to find my ideal carry gun and now I'm branching out into range toys. In my case that's revolvers rather than alternative semiautomatic calibers but I could see myself picking up a .380 and .45 at some point just to have more experience enjoying more different calibers.

 

[TwinReverb]

Yeah avoid 380, op, if you care about ammo cost (unless you reload).

 

[iagbarrb]

Si vis pacem para bellum.
Just my opinion. But it is the most used caliber all over the planet.

 

[Ed Ames]

10mm glock 20sl with a extra 9x25 dillon, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, and maybe even a 9mm barrel.

Deaf

I like the way you think.

IMO it depends on if you want a range toy or something practical.

I'm with Ed that I might go with a .45 if the choice were between a 'crippled' 9mm that had been mechanically rendered inferior to it's intended design. Luckily that's not the choice offered and there are both revolvers in revolver calibers and compact singlestack 9mm handguns so you're never forced to choose .45 unless you want .45 ... I'm thinking the Kahrs, the Keltecs, the Glock 43s and Sig P239/P938s of the world.

I agree with that, in the range you identified. That's why in my first post on the subject I included, "with 9mm for subcompacts".

I'll even broaden that, somewhat. I have a single stack 1911 that holds 10rds of 9mm. As far as I know the most restrictive magazine capacity limit in the US is 10rd. So if you want a single stack 9mm you have no-compromise options up to 1911 size.

However, many of the popular full size handguns today are designed for double stack magazines. There you are compromising for capacity (thicker grips etc) but not getting the rewards.

...and I personally think 9mm is a superior round...

I used to. However, the ammo trends over the past decade have left me seriously questioning that premise.

I see photos of gel tests where every cartridge, from 9mm through .45, penetrates about the same and creates about the same wound cavity, and I now think "that looks like it is about the same".

And the price for ammo that performs about the same is..about the same.

 

[ohioshooter]

.45 cause I love 1911s

 

[agtman]

10mm AUTO ...

... because every other option listed screams "Wannbe."

 

[Big Bad Bob]

If this is a fun gun, I would go .45 ACP. Everyone should own at least one. Its a hoot to shoot.

 

[Partizanai]

What about a speedy alternative?

I have had many wheel guns of various calibers. I also have owned
a number of auto loaders in differing calibers. For a dependable, flat-
shooting and super speedy round- it's hard to beat the 7.62 X 25 TOK.
Yes, it's small at about 85 grain but, it's zooming at about 1600 to 1700
FPS!
It was potent enough in WWII for Russia to eliminate many, many well
trained German troops.

 

[sequins]

The funny thing about that 7.62.25 ammo is that it most completely ignores any kind of barrier up until a rifle plate. Imo I'm never going to shoot an armored target and penetration (over) is a liability (I carry 9mm).

I thought about getting one of those nagant 7.62x25 revolvers but they looked hard to maintain with expensive ammo I wouldn't want to reload for even if I did.