I choose 40S&W or 9mm because of a key reason: for the same number of rounds--which to me matters more than the hole size each round is capable of--the 45 pistol typically is either bigger, heavier or usually both. Less appealing to carry if I have to deal with this big tumor strapped to my waist. Besides, making a big hole doesn't mean much if I miss, so I'd rather maximize the number of opportunities TO miss, because conversely I'm also in better shape to get actual hits.

I can’t remember exactly how it went or where I read it but I once saw a quote that made me laugh. It went something like “9mm is what you use to defend France. .45 ACP is what you use to liberate France.”

Of course I use a Glock 19 as my carry and my HD gun but I love my Colt .45 1911 and the above quote makes me chuckle every time I pull it out of the safe.

I like the 45 because it does not put a metric size hole in my target (LOL).

There's always the window sticker that says ".45acp, because shooting twice is silly."

I dunno. Either the 357SIG or the .45 or the .38 Super or the 9mm is cleaned and lubed and sighted in. I guess I'm lazy enough to figure "why not?".

I carry 9mm, .380 and .45.

Having said that, if you shoot steel with .45 and then with 9mm, you will see and hear that the .45 hits the steel harder.

I find it hard to believe that won’t matter in a self defense scenario.

The calibers do not hit steel the same, so why assume they hit an assailant that same?

quote:

Originally posted by R K9 J:
I like the 45 because it does not put a metric size hole in my target (LOL).

Best answer yet!! Remember, with all those ammo improvements the 9mm have seen, the 45 enjoyed as well.

quote:

Originally posted by esdunbar:
I carry 9mm, .380 and .45.

Having said that, if you shoot steel with .45 and then with 9mm, you will see and hear that the .45 hits the steel harder.

I find it hard to believe that won’t matter in a self defense scenario.

The calibers do not hit steel the same, so why assume they hit an assailant that same?

Think about this one...
You have twice the mass hitting a surface, sure its going to sound louder. What it does on the inside is what matters.

Because they don’t make a .46

It’s about the Indian, not the arrow...

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Oh no! Another 9 v .45.

I think it's been a few weeks since the last one, so it's time. Maybe we can throw in this one by adding round count info.

Mostly it's personal preference.
In Maine the top deer cartridge is the 30'06. Probably 99% of hunters in Maine could get the job done with a 30/30 which cost less to shoot and has less recoil. Doesn't mean the 30'06 is any less effective.

I have both and generally carry the 9mm.

The other day I was hiking an unknown trail in a National Forest, solo. I kept thinking to myself, "I'm not sure 9mm would be enough against a bear..."

I can argue both sides. I generally carry 9mm, but the 45 is so much fun to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Because they don’t make a .46

For the win!!!!

I carried 45acp for years in a Wilson compact 1911. I switched to 357 sig around 2007 and carried an HK P2000 and an HK P2000SK for almost a decade. A funny thing happened after I bought a P2000 and P2000SK in 9mm for training. I found I shot them slightly more accurately but way faster than the 357sig variants. So now, for the last few years I have been carrying 9mm. I am comfortable with any of the above mentioned calibers, but probably still shoot 45 better than any other calibers because of the platforms I use to shoot it. I don’t really see what difference it makes, in a defensive situation I would much rather be equipped with a long arm than a handgun.

In NYS, we are limited to a magazine capacity of 10rnds.

Now, the benefit of a 9mm has always been firepower notwithstanding the better bullet construction and performance of modern bullets.

If you could only have a weapon that contained 10rnds why wouldn't you choose .45ACP?

Except where it makes sense, like a subcompact where 10 of 9mm is a benefit to generally 6-7 .45ACP.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

And in Kommie states with magazine restrictions, you can make the case that bigger boolets are better boolets when the number of boolets is equal.

^^^ this ^^^

I carry a SIG P938 because it's easy to conceal, accurate, reliable, controllable, comfortable and I am confident with it. I'm a 1911 fan so the P938 platform suits me well. I do not carry the P938 because I prefer 9mm over a 45 ACP.