Differences in gun platforms may change things. Moreover, the smaller caliber does not always kick less. This has often been attributed to the harder-kicking gun forcing the shooter to “hold harder.” 45 with the same harder-kicking ammo in the centerfire stage in lieu of switching to a lighter-kicking handgun. It is quite common for Bullseye competitors to use their. 45 ACP stage than in stages where they have been using light. While this sounds obvious and objective, it is not 100-percent true and therefore does have some subjective elements.Ĭompetition shooters have noticed over the years in traditional, one-handed Bullseye events that some contestants have higher scores over the exact same course of fire in the. 9mm vs 45 vs 40: Recoil ControlĬonventional wisdom states that a lighter-kicking round will be easier to shoot rapidly and accurately than more powerful ammunition. This will allow considerably more 115-grain 9mm training rounds than 230-grain. If, for instance, you’re flying to a training session, the FAA and TSA generally limit each passenger to 11 pounds of small-arms ammunition in checked baggage. Soldier, cop or civilian-the weight of your ammo is a big consideration.

45 ACP do not apply to the less popular calibers.Īnother logistical element is weight. This impacts cost as well as availability in a negative way, since the “economies of scale” that keep costs down on the 9mm. 45 GAP-are so much less in demand that ammo companies schedule fewer production runs for them, usually on smaller production lines. While we are on the topic, it should be noted that some service pistol calibers not under direct discussion here-like the 10mm Auto.

Since we can all agree that “wound placement” is the single most important element of using a gun to stop a violent attack, and the person inflicting that wound will require skill to do it, it follows that the more ammunition we can afford, the more likely we are going to be well trained. This means that, within a given budget, more ammo is available for skill-building practice. It takes less lead, copper and brass to manufacture. Whether we are talking about institutional or individual purchases, this is another indisputable, objective advantage to the smaller caliber. 40 S&W, and both are less expensive than. In both duty loads and practice ammunition, the 9mm is distinctly less expensive than the. Thus, while a 9mm pistol’s greater cartridge capacity may not always be the deciding advantage, it is certainly an indisputable advantage. We resort to handguns for worst-case scenarios, which can go to high round counts. Had he been forced to rely on a single handgun, a fully loaded 18-shot Glock 17 would certainly have served him much better than a larger-caliber sidearm holding too few rounds.

He was able to accomplish this by resorting to multiple handguns he had carefully staged behind the counter at his shop. In at least one of his famous gunfights with multiple gang-banger/armed robber opponents, watch shop owner Lance Thomas had to fire 17 to 18 shots before the last of his multiple opponents had died or fled. Such things happen to private citizens, too. He also was allowed to start carrying more than 100 rounds of 124-grain +P Gold Dot 9mm ammo while on patrol. 45- caliber Glock 21 when his 17th hit finally killed his antagonist-he switched to a 9mm Glock 17. After Officer Tim Gramins’ famous gunfight several years ago in Skokie, Illinois-where he was deep into the third and last magazine for his. While round count is not an issue in every gunfight, it certainly is in some. When it comes to selecting a duty/defensive handgun, there are issues that go beyond “ stopping power.” Some of those are objectively measurable, but there are also subjective elements that can still be important and even decisive. 45 ACP XTP +P from Hornady-but only careful consideration and testing will show you what you need to get. Ammunition makers are creating some of the best loads ever-including this 230-grain.

10mm vs 9mm