45acp or 9mm

[Tesoro]

Forget ballistic table debate and shoot heavy steel with a 9 and 45 using foam ear plugs. Then u know the difference in whallop. And then switch your 9’s for +p+ hard cast and listen to the hit. No joke!

 

[hpshooter]

Use what you can control and are accurate with. 1911's in.45ACP are what I shot USPSA comps with for 15 years. Definitely my favorite platform/cartridge combo, HK USP .45 compact is a close second and I don't like polymer framed firearms!

That being said, a Para LDA Commander sized double stack in .45ACP is getting more and more carry time.

 

[Steve h]

Thumbs up on the Para LDA

 

[wedgy]

The 2011's are a lot of fun in high capacity, some with great triggers or you can have them worked on. I'm messing with the speed plate game so I run a 9mm 2011 with hi cap mags. A .45 would be a lot slower for me so it really depends on what you are going to do with your choice. Why not get one of each ? There are some really good 2011's for just over the $1,000 mark.
Pewview has some really good reviews and Nick is quite the shooter.

 

[Fire Dog]

Has anyone seen this ammo? Its kind of related to the topic i.
I guess its something the 9mm can do but the 45acp cant , because i dont believe its offered in that caliber so there is that..hahaha..i know lots of 9mm love out there just not much from me. This has to be some of the most impressive ammo ive ever seen. In a 9mm size cartridge.
I kind of feel a need for that..because i dont have it..no other reason hahahaha just so i can say check this out ...pew pew pew

I remember this round when it came out in the mid 60’s and knew someone that used it in a 1911 for “Combat” competion… It did have the occasional mis-feed but could be loaded soft or really hot to 38 Super or better with 125gr bullets.

.38/.45 Clerke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Fire Dog]

Love the 1911 format but this 9mm Ruger P89 is a joy {aside from a very long pull DA}, SA is a go and solid metal, de-cocker.
Bit of a tank but also a “Never Fail” and carries 15+1 Frangible ammo {to keep from going through anyone/anything else}
If you are a 1911 sort of person you will love the feel of this gun..
The Houge grips also help ahead of the stock ones.

 

[bobcat93]

I remember this round when it came out in the mid 60’s and knew someone that used it in a 1911 for “Combat” competion… It did have the occasional mis-feed but could be loaded soft or really hot to 38 Super or better with 125gr bullets.

.38/.45 Clerke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 1712799

That looks alot like the 22 TCM cartridge

 

[J.d. Popkes]

The 2011's are a lot of fun in high capacity, some with great triggers or you can have them worked on. I'm messing with the speed plate game so I run a 9mm 2011 with hi cap mags. A .45 would be a lot slower for me so it really depends on what you are going to do with your choice. Why not get one of each ? There are some really good 2011's for just over the $1,000 mark.
Pewview has some really good reviews and Nick is quite the shooter.

Agree. Him and honest outlaw, humble marksman.

All depends on what you are looking at accomplishing. 9 is cheaper and less recoil and higher capacity.

I’ve taken a cheap Tisas and put all new parts in it as well as bought the better ones. Very fun to tear them down, learn how they work, upgrade and tune. Also learned that there’s always a new one I’m looking for. They are addictive them cool handguns.

 

[Big Fred]

I am right partial to the 45 ACP for around the homestead but I carry a micro 9mm when I am out and about. It is just easier to conceal and with a full mag and one in the chamber it holds thirteen rounds. I keep it filled with 124gr Federal HST. I believe shot placement is what's important. The 1911 is just a hoot to shoot and easy to load for too. When I carry it I load it up with coated 18 BHN 230 gr. LTC hand loads at around 900 fps.

 

[wildcatter]

A 1911 is my choice to reliably protect my life with, never a 9mm! there is a reason the 1911 was intended for 7 rounds, not 18, it does not need them. There is a reason the 9mm usually carries 18, it needs them.

One thing I learned decades ago, if you ever need a gun to protect your life, you have one shot to do it! in rare occasions you may get 2 shots before your attacker shoots you, after that the rest are just for pounding your chest! But if you don't have control of a situation after the second shot, you don't have to worry about being the defendant, your most likely going to be the victim! I'll stick with what gives me the best chance at only needing one shot to make my statement, anything else is to play with!

Winchester 230 grn. Law Enforcement ammo (black Talon) they just work

 

[ELR LVR]

Personally I preferred 40 S&W to either of them.

Definitely
.40 is SOOOO much better than a 9mm
And double stacks better than a 45
---
1911 form is still doable in a .40
(The first Semi I began shooting cans at 100 yds with pretty regularly)
---
For Carry:
The subdued Alum frame, 4 inch LTC is slim a light and just as accurate
which surprised me for shorter barrel semi.
I've had some dang accurate Kimbers but Para makes just as nice of a 1911 in my book.

 

[ELR LVR]

For an accurate Bullseye shooter
I dont need no $3000 1911
A Kimber Target II, has a nice fitting slide, bushing and very high quality barrels

 

[kelbro]

My favorites are all .45. HK USP, HK USP-C, HK45, HK45CT. Very accurate. Easy to clean. Easy to make ambidextrous (I'm a lefty)

 

[wright brothers]

R Lee Ermey was on the tv yesterday comparing the two.
He said the 9 wins. Back on target quicker and high cap mags.
I figure he can still stir us up.

 

[Steve Donlon]

My favorites are all .45. HK USP, HK USP-C, HK45, HK45CT. Very accurate. Easy to clean. Easy to make ambidextrous (I'm a lefty)

The HK 45' are overlooked IMO. It wasn't until I shot one that I realized all they had to offer. Very easy to shoot with less recoil and very easy to take down, clean and maintain and accurate. I don't much care for plastic frames but the recoil reduction and weight savings make it a good choice. It's lighter than a double stack 9 like a Sig P228. I like the exposed hammer on the HKc compared to the bobbed hammer on the USP even if the USP has a better double action. This may sound trivial but the HK throws my brass in a neat little pile less than four feet from me. I hate looking for my brass. I still love my 1911's, just not so much any more for concealed cary.

 

[ELR LVR]

R Lee Ermey was on the tv yesterday comparing the two.
He said the 9 wins. Back on target quicker and high cap mags.
I figure he can still stir us up.

Actually, for the untrained, meaning if you are likely to miss your first 2 or 5 shots
the 9 makes sense for his reason

 

[charlie b]

So, those of us who can make a head shot under stress should carry a .45 instead of a 9? Right.

I love the .45, and the 1911. One of the easiest cartridges to reload for and cast bullets for. Relatively easy to shoot in the full size. Not bad in the light commander. Once setup the guns run like crazy and you can tune one to be a cracker bullseye pistol.

But, I don't believe the mythology unless you limit yourself to ball ammo.

 

[kelbro]

Agreed. I shot (highly customized) 1911s for a long time. They fit me. They shot well. Solid pistols. Not a choice for concealed carry for me.

I was at the range one day and a guy asked me if I would be interested in trading for his full sized USP. I told him that I was not a fan of plastic guns. He said, Here, shoot a mag... That pistol was the most accurate factory pistol that I had ever fired and it was 100% stock. We traded and then I got a USP compact. Stumbled onto an HK45 and liked the exposed hammer better. Then bought the HKC which I can CC. I still love the 1911, shooting it, customizing it, but HK has it figured out.

 

[Richard Jones]

A 1911 is my choice to reliably protect my life with, never a 9mm! there is a reason the 1911 was intended for 7 rounds, not 18, it does not need them. There is a reason the 9mm usually carries 18, it needs them.

One thing I learned decades ago, if you ever need a gun to protect your life, you have one shot to do it! in rare occasions you may get 2 shots before your attacker shoots you, after that the rest are just for pounding your chest! But if you don't have control of a situation after the second shot, you don't have to worry about being the defendant, your most likely going to be the victim! I'll stick with what gives me the best chance at only needing one shot to make my statement, anything else is to play with!

Respectfully, I'm going to disagree with almost all of this.

1911's are also made in 9mm and other rounds. Single stack and hi-caps. So in single stack mode, 10 round mags, plus 1, at least in one of my Commanders. So 11 rounds instead of your 8, if you insist upon a 7 round mag, as it was 'designed'. Lots of 'design' changes to the gun in your post that you seem to be OK with, so I'm not sure where you draw the line.

I would welcome reviewing your forensic data on the 'one shot is all you get'.

I will always have 45's in my safe, but there is nothing special or magical about them or any other round. You still need to know how to shoot. And if you think a well constructed, well placed 9mm, 147 gr bullet, @1125 fps is for 'play', then you need to think again. Emotions should play no part in bullet selection. "That's the way JMB designed it, by God" just doesn't cut it any more. It's rare to see a 1911 now that duplicates the original 'design.'

To the OP: A 9mm hi-cap Prodigy/Staccato with a dot, loaded with appropriate bullets, makes a superb carry gun. And I believe it's still cheaper to buy 9mm ammo then load it, depending upon what you want. For plinking/practice/etc., FMJ is still probably cheaper to buy than load. A 3# trigger in a 1911 is not difficult to obtain.
Out.