45acp or 9mm

[TIMO]

I love them all. 9mm, 45, etc. But I’m inherently lazy. For me, the more capable the gun, the more planning and dedication I have to put into carrying it. Therefore the pocket 380 usually wins out. I know, it’s crap compared to pretty much anything else.

Range time, 45 is in a league of its own. Nothing else like punching those crisp holes in paper with an all steel 1911.

I will say, if you’re into custom 1911 budget territory, for 9mm target and range fun check out the Sig P210 Target. It’s incredible.

I like the .380 acp also for carry. An older Sig P232.

Tim

 

[ogre1911]

There is an old saying that I believe in and seems to have been proven to me through the years on the C.P.D. including my own experience. " You can never make up in velocity or bullet design for what you lose in caliber."

Yes. Same thought process as "no replacement for displacement".

 

[Doug Casner]

Heck, I got two of each and had more than that of each. I like the sigs myself. 220s 226 easy to take down there not plastic. Mine shoot accurate. I can tear those sigs down and have them cleaned up before I can get the 1911 on safe and theres 3 safties Doug

 

[DaveTooley]

I learned on a 1911. I have both 9MM and 45 ACP in various configurations. My favorite is a Sig Sauer 226 single action only in 9MM. This old dog didn't need to learn new tricks.

 

[7br]

38 super!
Lol!
Love my 1911 in 45acp but manufacturers are getting a lot better at getting the 9mm to work well in a 1911.

I second the .38 super. A great round and good enough to be used in the ambush of Bonnie & Clyde (it was said that it was chosen for that task because it would effectively pierce the heavy steel bodies of that era’s automobiles). I’m a firm fan of the 1911 and own them in .45 acp, 10mm, 9mm, and, of course, .38 super. I carried full size .45 acp & .38 super for decades, and then later 10mm. I’m an old guy now and carrying a full size brings on hip and back pain, so I’ve switched to a Sig P938 for carry. Alot easier on the hip and super accurate. I still shoot and reload for all of them. I have to add that my 6” long slide 9mm is a pure pleasure to shoot at paper and steel. Long live the genius of John Moses Browning!!!

 

[Doug Casner]

I liked Bonnies custom bar. Doug

 

[alf]

Who doesn't like a 38 Super......

My carry gun is a Ruger LW Commander switch barrel with Truglo sights in 9mm or 38 Super, which ever barrel I happen to have on at the time.

 

[7br]

I liked Bonnies custom bar. Doug

Also kudos to John Browning!!

 

[gpoldblue]

Good morning,
What is the general census with folks here?
Between 9mm & 45acp

Is any one still using the 45acp.
Ive always loved the way a 1911 lays in my hand.
No other pistol on the market like it. And i like the fact i can tune the gun and trigger.
Lately i see a huge push in 9mm..its becoming the rimfire of the center fire world price wise

So in 2025 is it possible to find a higher capacity 9mm style 1911 with the same trigger system of a 1911.? Is that what the 2011 pistol is all about? Im trying to catch up.
Would you buy such a gun or stick with 45acp.
Even if your a reloader is there much difference in price between making 9mm or 45acp ammo once brass is purchased.
All i see is that goofy striker fire stuff. It is not for my old bent fingers. The looooong take up and clicks seems rediculous, it jist isnt for me.
Why cant we have drop in trigger systems for pistols like we do rifles that would be awesome. Haha..
I want a 3lb trigger pull. Short take up with a nice wall before release ive only gotten that from Kimbers, and Colts 1911..
I know im jimping around a bit but it was an odd topic that feels like it has been answered 15yrs ago when i wasnt paying any attention.
So whats your opinion and what did you choose or would choose
Thanks

Remember....A good big one will ALWAYS beat a good little one!! Choose wisely.

 

[divingin]

The 2011's (as far as I know) were spurred by the competition action shooters looking for higher capacity pistols than a standard 1911 provided. The double-stack-accommodating frame in 9mm aren't all that much of a width increase over the single stack 45 (and much smaller than the double stack 45's.) Throw in the recoil reduction for a given weight pistol moving to 9 from 45 and you get a comfortable, reliable pistol that doesn't move much when firing (moreso if you compensate the muzzle), with fewer reloads needed over a sustained course of fire. The 9 is problematic (or maybe that should read "could be problematic") when needing to meet higher energy power factors, but the newer crop of 2011's are seemingly being designed to handle that as well (possibly at a price.)

I've shot my buddies' competition 2011's; they're pretty impressive. I'm not sure I could stomach the amount they put into them (at least one of them ran to 5 figures), but they are quite good at what they are designed to do.

 

[Rwfish]

Today, the great thing about the 2011 market is the huge range of products available. You can purchase or custom build exactly what fits your needs. Yes, current trends are towards 9mm especially in the Carry and competition markets. The USPSA competition open 2011 in the top of the pic uses a magazine that can hold 30rnds. 9mm and has never malfunctioned in competition except for ammo issues. A 1911 in .45 with the highest capacity magazine is going to be 10rnds. Personally, I think with the reliability of current 2011 offerings (which are many) in 9mm especially for carry over shadows the 1911 in 45acp just with capacity capabilities. Would you want to have just 1 shot remaining that makes a big hole or 6, 8, 10rnds of 9mm?

In pic are 2 in 9mm, 2 in 45acp and 1 in .40s&w. The options are endless….

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Colt Defender, 1911, .45 acp
lets in more light!

 

[BHP9]

I have a STI Trojan in 45 and a STI Ranger II in 9mm.

I love them both. I love my Glocks (3), SIG P226, S&W 686 Revolvers (4), CZ75B, and Ruger MkII and MkIV.

 

[Jr solocam]

Browning Hi Power (and new clones). If you like the feel of the 1911 you will like the feel of these. They came for awhile in 40 S&W. I have three of them. Beautiful pistols.

 

[CF Junkie]

I think your first line comment "I love the way it lays in my hand" says a lot for your preference.
The 45 ACP 1911 is also my favorite for the same reason.

I have three 45 ACP Kimbers, one is a Custom Shop version, one is a LA SWAT Team version with a rail and the third is a double wide 13 round version. They are the pistols I always take to the range when I am shooting pistols.

Interestingly, my late wife, who was 5'2" and 105 lbs, started with a 38 SPL Air Light revolver, then a 9mm semi Kahr 9. Because of her small size and small hands, she felt she needed a small pistol. Unfortunately, small, light pistols are really tough on recoil and she was never comfortable shooting them.

I had a 45 ACP Kimber double stack. It was heavy, but the recoil was very controllable.
I asked her if she would like to try it and her response was "It will knock be on my backside".
I assured her that it had less felt recoil than any of her little pistols.

She tried it, put the first round in the bullseye and said, "I have to get me one of these."

She bought a Para 45 ACP with a Light Double Action trigger and loved it. She wasn't comfortable with single action pistols, but she shot her 45 Para double action every time we went to the range.

 

[ISS]

As Askins once said, "a 9mm might expand, but a 45 ain't gonna shrink...".

 

[alf]

There's been quite the advancement of bullet technology since the Miami shootout......

 

[SSL]

A little exaggerated,"but a .45 bullet starts out as big as a good 9mm ends up..."

 

[Knotwild]

There's been quite the advancement of bullet technology since the Miami shootout......

Your are right. The 185gr Speer Gold Dot at 1000 FPS is a good example.

 

[Hino895]

Cajonized CZ 97