Meaning you can shoot more rounds quicker with more accuracy than the 45. scientifically the 230gr .45 acp IS more powerful than a 147gr 9mm. The Super with the 1300 fps (1930s loading) 130 gr blunt RN its supposed to be loaded with for FMJ is better than 9mm hardball on all counts. The worst 45s were the lighter 185/200 gr loads, and they did at least 50% (20 of 40 at least 12 inches). I carry a S&W M&P .40 I like having nearly as many rounds as most .9mm but the slow powerful stopping power of the .45. The .45 acp bounced off the helmet at 35 yards while the 9mm penetrated the helmet at an astonishing 125 yards proving that the 9mm with its higher velocity, flatter trajectory and higher capacity (they used a Canadian High Power) that the 9mm was the superior combat pistol and caliber period. A 9mm round can have anywhere from eight to sixteen inches of penetration, while a .45 will have anywhere from eleven to fourteen inches. What Is The Best .32-Caliber Cartridge Of All-Time? I like 45 and always have. Hello, I am new to this forum. Reason: Current 9mm ammunition has more consistent and better barrier penetration than.45 ACP. First of all, an unfired bullet .45 ACP bullet is exactly 0.095 of an inch larger in diameter than an unfired 9mm Luger bullet. Any for what? The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol.After successful military trials, it was adopted as the standard chambering for Colt's M1911 pistol. Why, some newbies may wonder, is there such an intense and long-standing argument over the merits of 9mm compared to .45 ACP? The only thing a 9mm round is good for is general target practice because the rounds are cheaper. More recoil means more time spent between shots trying to get back on target. Why, some newbies may wonder, is there such an intense and long-standing argument over the merits of 9mm compared to .45 ACP? Truthfully, all of these calibers are awesome. Fired in full-sized pistols such as 1911s, the .45 has a Substantial but relatively gentle “push”. Pistols are used at close range to no range. ( although slightly). There has always been a debate over the best caliber for self-defense. If you are close and need to use a handgun it better keep the bad guy from shooting you. Have three .45 acp’s and 5 9mm. go home kids, the shows over. Pick the one you like, learn how to shoot it and stop wasting time arguing about something neither you nor anyone else will ever be able to prove. […] A joy to shoot. But one cartridge stood out to the FBI above the rest. Odds are, you will not remember the events in correct order for DAYS, if ever. If you find yourself in a fair fight your tactics suck. The Ballistics of the Calibers Today’s standard issue .45 ACP projectile travels at around 830 feet per second while the typical 9mm travels in the vicinity of 1200 feet per second. The 9mm. Until someone has been in that situation, he just needs to be quiet. (2020). The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge holds bullets that have a diameter of .452 inches (11.5mm) so it is slightly larger than the 9mm (.355 inch bullets). Someone mentioned helmet penetration. .45 ACP vs 9mm comparison. pressure difference and speed alone doesn’t mean its more powerful. The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge holds bullets that have a diameter of .452 inches (11.5mm) so it is slightly larger than the 9mm (.355 inch bullets). The typical conversation points that arise in the 9mm vs .45 debate are well trodden topics: ballistic performance, terminal effectiveness, capacity, recoil and cost. A .45 averages about 11.3”-14.3” penetration. huntershooter, Jun 18, 2006 #2. Please try again. There is a reason for that. I was wearing body armor which absorbed most the impact but I did a face plant. 9mm vs .45 ACP But what about 9mm and .45 ACP revolvers? This was the last straw for me. I have seen very few .45 wounds to the chest survive. Most people who carry for protection don’t practice enough. I will tell them I have seen too many 9 mm GSW’s to the chest survive that round to make me comfortable carrying it. Its also poor on window glass. I know that if I draw my weapon to shoot someone, he has made the decision that one of us will die. For example, the .357 SIG and the .400 CorBon both outperform these two icons, but both are spinning down the drain of consumer rejection, while these two old warhorses just keep going. Any for what? It predates almost all the popular handgun cartridges currently on the market including the 10mm, .40 S&W, .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Super, .380 ACP and even the .45 ACP. Compare 9mm Vs .40 Vs .45 Caliber Bullet. Due to what we did and where we were, I was issued a 19111. Spare me from “experts” who have never been there, who have never walked those paths. If you read this far, you should follow us: "9mm vs .45 ACP." Army officials were recently quoted declaring its stock of 200k-plus semi-auto Sig Sauer M11 and Beretta M9 pistols to be outdated. I plan for that survivor to be me. Truthfully, all of these calibers are awesome. The 9mm Federal Hydroshock 124 grain at 988 fps produces 268.84 foot pounds of force. So if anyone has any question, it is blatantly clear the 45 round is VERY MUCH SUPERIOR to the 9mm for combat. This, in conjunction with the faster twist rate of 9mm barrels, makes it easier to design bullets for the 9mm that will reliably expand over a broader velocity spectrum. Bullet Penetration. All the energy from the bullet is absorbed by the target person. I carry the LW Commander in Super most with 1350 to 1400 fps 125 gr HP handloads, 357 mag/357 Sig ballistics. 9mm vs. .45. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Have to go with .45 acp. Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links. The thing about a pistol is, as in York’s case, its the last resort, emergency weapon for the soldier. 45 caliber bullets are heavy subsonic bullets. The anemic 455 Webley out performs the 9mm with hardball or a FP fmj (the loading at the time that the gunwriters were all agog about when it came back out 20 odd years ago). 9mm vs. the 45. About 15 to 20 years ago, several OCPD officer were involved in a shootout in a restaurant.