[Vile Papist]

I beg to differ. The .45ACP is probably the easiest round I've shot. Might have something to do with the heavier pistol itself, but I find the 9mm "snappy" while the .45ACP is more of a "push".

your mileage may vary.

All that being said, buy what you want, shoot what you want. I do. Counting up, I've got:

• .22LR
• .22WMR
• .380ACP
• 9mm
• .40S&W
• 10mm Auto
• .45ACP
• .44 Magnum

Stopping power, schmopping power. As Disturbed70 says all the time, "show me the measurement". Bad guys have been dropped with a single 9mm round. Bad guys have survived several rounds of .45ACP. You're going to hear from all sides, from supposed "experts" with unpronounceable names to LE vets who have "seen the elephant", so to speak. Do what you want. Just practice, practice, practice.

The only thing I *don't* and *won't* shoot that is on the popular side is the .357 Magnum, and it has nothing to do with the recoil. I can't stand the report.

No doubt that a .357 is loud. While I do have a 9mm in the truck, I always keep a .357 and a .38 as last ditch backups. Being over cautious is just part of getting older.

 

[Vile Papist]

LOL...What I want to know...is why has everyone stopped saying you should get a 38sp...

Is it because the ammo cost for .38 Special is about 1.5+ times higher than 9mm?

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Is it because the ammo cost for .38 Special is about 1.5+ times higher than 9mm?

Probably has more to do with the proliferation of relatively cheap concealable 9mm's.

With $200-$250 Ruger LC and EC 9's , and <$300 shields (prepandemic pricing). It's hard to justify paying MORE for a J frame that shoots more expensive ammo (so, contributing factor) and is harder to hit with.

I had picked up a number of cosmetic-blen Smith's and older Rossi's (Smith copies) on the cheap because everyone wanted "the new hotness" a number have been sold or borrowed, and yes, I stocked speedloaders/strips and a couple cases of premium HP'S.

But those prices weren't the prices most people see, and for the same price the small semi's are a more shootable gun

 

[goat daddy]

You were in college prior to 1935!?!!!!!!

Graduated in 1973. the California Hiway patrol carried 357. Smith 19, 6" very popular. Colt python less so.

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Graduated in 1973. the California Hiway patrol carried 357. Smith 19, 6" very popular. Colt python less so.

The P35/Browning hi power was invented by 1935.

S&W 59 was 1971.

Couple others too IIRC.

 

[Altarboy]

With some of the ammo available today such as +p and RIP and improved technology in hollow points, the 9mm has become quite an adequate round.

 

[Steve_In_29]

With some of the ammo available today such as +p and RIP and improved technology in hollow points, the 9mm has become quite an adequate round.

RIP ammo is just a gimmick.

 

[Dutchmano1]

Okay, maybe not everyone but a surprising number of people keep saying that the 9mm is the way to go. The FBI, police, blah blah blah.

Why should I change? What does the 9mm give me that I can't get from the .45ACP besides extra ammunition?

It's not like I would be adding a caliber, I've had 9's before and still have all the reloading stuff.

Had the 1911 at the range and had some super soft loads in it, 185 @650. Cutting these nice round holes in the paper, and less recoil than the 9's and 40's everyone else was shooting.
These loads also knock down small game really well.

Why change?

Easy to shoot, +p ammo quite effective, ect... Still, if you like your 45, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Peter]

Is it because the ammo cost for .38 Special is about 1.5+ times higher than 9mm?

Good a reason as any...
I have a bunch of .357/38sp brass, several cast bullet molds and enough alloy, powder and primers to last a while. I've considered getting a mold and bullet sizer/top punch for the 9mm. Just haven't gotten around to it...yet.
I shoot the .357/38sp for the cost of powder, primers and a bit of my time. Thinking I may want to set up to do the same with the 9mm.

 

[PalmettoTree]

9mm, .38 special, .45 all good; .357 is over kill. Most .357 owners are not very good shots with their .357. I knew one who could not pass her CWP test with the .357 her boyfriend gave her. She passed when I let her shoot my gun. I hope she learned that the only thing dumber than the .357 for her was her boyfriend.

 

[thess02]

This thread is 2 years old.

 

[Steve_In_29]

This thread is 2 years old.

We won't let that stop a good caliber debate thread.

 

[MA Survivalist]

9mm, .38 special, .45 all good; .357 is over kill. Most .357 owners are not very good shots with their .357. I knew one who could not pass her CWP test with the .357 her boyfriend gave her. She passed when I let her shoot my gun. I hope she learned that the only thing dumber than the .357 for her was her boyfriend.

I've got 9mms, a .45, and some .357 magnums, Im good with all of them although I will admit the 9mm is perhaps the easiest to use. However, one of my favorite calibers is 10mm and I can do really good with my 10mm, perhaps almost as good, or as good, as I am with the 9mm.

 

[Nick30]

Okay, maybe not everyone but a surprising number of people keep saying that the 9mm is the way to go. The FBI, police, blah blah blah.

Why should I change? What does the 9mm give me that I can't get from the .45ACP besides extra ammunition?

It's not like I would be adding a caliber, I've had 9's before and still have all the reloading stuff.

Had the 1911 at the range and had some super soft loads in it, 185 @650. Cutting these nice round holes in the paper, and less recoil than the 9's and 40's everyone else was shooting.
These loads also knock down small game really well.

Why change?

In my opinion there's no reason to change since you already have a handgun your happy with.

If you want another pistol you might get a 9mm just to have more options. But I wouldn't call it essential.

1911's in .45 have been taking care of business for a long time.

I'm speaking as one who owns 1911's and Glock's of various calibers. Including but not limited to 9mm and .45.

 

[ForumSurvivalist]

?

Never had any issues shooting any handgun accurately. .357's have all been very accurate when I used to shoot.

There are different calibers because there are different targets. You would not want to take down a rabbit that you planned to eat with a .308 rifle.

9mm is OK, but when I owned firearms, I never owned one. Never saw the need. For my needs, I prefered a .22, .357, .45, 10mm, 12ga, 223/556, 7.62x39, .308, and I liked +P or +P+ ammo. But to each his/her own.

 

[thess02]

We won't let that stop a good caliber debate thread.

The never-ending caliber debate which is pointless.

 

[Area Man]

The never-ending caliber debate which is pointless.

nobody's forcing you to respond, and in responding, aren't you contributing to the pointlessness?

And just to show I can be as pointless as anyone else, I have come to prefer the 10mm, but after watching many videos on the subject I'm beginning to wonder if I should look at the 30 super carry. I'll probably wait 'til there's more than a couple manufacturers on board, though.

 

[Rural Buckeye Guy]

I prefer 9mm but bought used 38 revolvers for our kids BOBs when they were children for 2 reasons. Half grown kids can competently use them and the hollow point rounds are manstoppers. 38 revolvers were very common in the 40s, 50s & 60s, so the original owners are likely to be dead. If you buy with cash in a private sale, its a ghost gun. So, instead of kill the dad, rob the family in a SHTF, everyone in the family is pointing a gun loaded with hollow points at you, and you can see them with your own eyes. Right now. They look like death.

OTOH, we are all grown a***d adults, leave if you dont like the topic. Quote me, "b'bye".

 

[Theflyingsmurf]

You should get a 9mm.

🙃

 

[bighanded]

9mm - currently rnage ammo is half the price of 45.
9mm - most common- suppliers struggling to catchup to panic demand will run that cal first.
9mm - capacity - honestly i'm a 1911 guy. I like and have trained extensively with 45acp. I purchased 9mm simply because the politicians were screaming that i should not be allowed to have more than 10rds. So I went out and purchased a higher capacity platform, solely due to them.