41 mag vs. 45 acp

[pawcatch]

I know I'm comparing apples to oranges but which with the best factory loads is a better stopper?My guess would be the 41 mag.What's yours?

 

[Robert the41MagFan]

Original "defensive" 41 Magnum loads are what today would be considered 40 S&W. Now we are talking apples to apples.

 

[pawcatch]

Are "defensive" loads really the best stoppers?

 

[Ala Dan]

Although I like the .41 Magnum very much; I would have to say the .45 ACP has been more widely used as a BG stopper.
Big, slow, .452 diameter bullet's have a tendency to put men
down for the count!!!

Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[J. Parker]

Please bear with me on this one but it's the only data I could come up with. From The Stopping Power Home Page (Marshall); 41 magnum Silvertip, 53 shootings, 89% "one shot stops". 45 ACP Federal Hydra-Shok, 71 shootings, 94% "one shot stops". There's newer 41 magnum loads on the market (Cor-Bon) and newer 45 ACP loads but no data as yet. Difficult question actually because normally a 41 maggie isn't used for human self-defense. Best Regards, J. Parker

 

[lucky085]

A 41 magnum is a better stopper if you go by the theory that bullet expansion will much more likley take place with it rather than a 45.

Both will do the job well if aimed correctly.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Working on a light (120- to 170g) defense load for 41 Magnum, but at this point the very best 45ACP ammo is much better for defense.

 

[Hard Ball]

I shoot both calibers and I think that they are approximately equal in stopping power. but the .45ACP is much faster to reload in a revolver or an automatic and a quakity .45ACP automatic holds 8 to 11 shots compared to 6.