spitfiremac
New member
I want everyone to weigh in... I've been carrying 9mm for a while... my first gun was a .45 ACP in 2006, but I switched a combo of that and 9 or just 9 pretty soon after.
Recently I got my first .45 in a while... since the Shield 45 came out (which I sold sometime later.) This was a store demo (not range rented) XDm45 4.5". I got it wholly because it was to be a stock beater for travel and the trail that could handle infrequent amounts of 45 Super hard cast in bear country (the other stock pistol with this capability is the USP.)
My other pistol was a CZ P-10F with all the trimmings. Other than the thickness of the XDm's grip, these two pistols have exactly the same dimensions. I'm keeping this about big pistols because I like and can conceal them. The CZ had to go in for a warranty repair, and as I've been relying on my backup it's grown on me. I think I'm starting to Benjamin Button caliber preferences from the overwhelming favorite (and generally right modern answer) to the obsolete, Fudd's favorite.
REASONS .45 COULD ACTUALLY BE A GOOD CHOICE
1. 45 Super, is a modern loading and design for a cartridge of that size and seems to redeem the caliber for me. I've seen the velocity specs for hot variations out of a 4.5" barrel on Ballistics By The Inch surpassing 750 ft/lbs, well above 10mm, above most .41 Mags, and on the higher end of average in the .44 Mag field of tested cartridges. Would I carry 45 Super if not expecting large animals or predators? No. So it's use would be with hard cast lead bullets used for such endeavors. Such bullets get their penetration from retaining their shape and momentum, so no expansion or tumbling should be expected and in such a case I want the biggest non-expanded hole reasonable. This represents a quite staggering versatility in power band and application for 45 Super-capable pistols, what can go from mild .45 ACP to one of the larger Magnums in terms of ft/lbs in the same gun.
2. Availability and ease of reload. .45 ACP is the second most available cartridge in the country, and it's the easiest to reload and experiment with. It's also best to have something to run both calibers likely to be found so that you can make use of what you find.
3. Modern defensive JHP, such as HST and Ranger T-Series penetrates on par with the same premium stuff in 9mm, and expands to 1" in some cases, double the size and AN ENTIRE INCH WIDE.
4. FMJ is viable in a pinch. Survival in a WROL is not something I consider worthy of losing sleep over, but it's interesting to think about and in such cases you'd scrounge what you could. 9mm meets most marks here better: lighter, more capacity, faster firing, more controllable, etc. But if scavenging uncovered only staple FMJ 9mm and 45 ACP, I'd be happier to have the 45 ACP pistol than the 9mm one. It will deliver more energy in the form of ft/lbs to the target, transfer more of that energy into the target, and will most likely make a bigger hole in the target then 9mm FMJ. According to Paul Harrell's penetration meat target, plain WWB FMJ did quite well on its own. It doesn't deserve it's own point, but .45 ACP rat and snake shot cartridge is also the only viable caliber for use when compared to the 9mm.
REASONS .45 ISN'T SO BAD
5. Capacity isn't the panacea it's made out to be... I like capacity. Who doesn't? The P-10F holds between 19+1 to 21+1 rds standard. That being said, the more rounds you have the more marginal incremental value of each round following. The XDm holds 13+1 rounds of .45, which is 6 less than the CZ, but not much less than you should need in any given situation. When I carried the shield I'd have 14 rounds on tap also with a reload in between. As far as true single stack guns go (not 1-1/2 stack pistols like the P365), I still think the Shield 45 is probably the finest, though I got rid of mine when I got rid of all me 45 because I'm a 9mm guy.
6. Controllability of .45 for a large polymer gun like the XDm is pretty good as it is. Nothing is as pretty much perfect as the P-10F, but the XDm45 isn't bad at all. On top of that, I picked up the DPMS recoil mitigation guide rod and spring system that makes it feel like slightly hot 9mm. I've often, throughout my past, preferred the slower straight push back to the pop and twist sensation of early 9mm's. I don't feel that way now, as I'm a better shooter now and appreciate how fast and accurate 9mm makes me perform, but, I did start out liking it a little better.
So what do you think?
Recently I got my first .45 in a while... since the Shield 45 came out (which I sold sometime later.) This was a store demo (not range rented) XDm45 4.5". I got it wholly because it was to be a stock beater for travel and the trail that could handle infrequent amounts of 45 Super hard cast in bear country (the other stock pistol with this capability is the USP.)
My other pistol was a CZ P-10F with all the trimmings. Other than the thickness of the XDm's grip, these two pistols have exactly the same dimensions. I'm keeping this about big pistols because I like and can conceal them. The CZ had to go in for a warranty repair, and as I've been relying on my backup it's grown on me. I think I'm starting to Benjamin Button caliber preferences from the overwhelming favorite (and generally right modern answer) to the obsolete, Fudd's favorite.
REASONS .45 COULD ACTUALLY BE A GOOD CHOICE
1. 45 Super, is a modern loading and design for a cartridge of that size and seems to redeem the caliber for me. I've seen the velocity specs for hot variations out of a 4.5" barrel on Ballistics By The Inch surpassing 750 ft/lbs, well above 10mm, above most .41 Mags, and on the higher end of average in the .44 Mag field of tested cartridges. Would I carry 45 Super if not expecting large animals or predators? No. So it's use would be with hard cast lead bullets used for such endeavors. Such bullets get their penetration from retaining their shape and momentum, so no expansion or tumbling should be expected and in such a case I want the biggest non-expanded hole reasonable. This represents a quite staggering versatility in power band and application for 45 Super-capable pistols, what can go from mild .45 ACP to one of the larger Magnums in terms of ft/lbs in the same gun.
2. Availability and ease of reload. .45 ACP is the second most available cartridge in the country, and it's the easiest to reload and experiment with. It's also best to have something to run both calibers likely to be found so that you can make use of what you find.
3. Modern defensive JHP, such as HST and Ranger T-Series penetrates on par with the same premium stuff in 9mm, and expands to 1" in some cases, double the size and AN ENTIRE INCH WIDE.
4. FMJ is viable in a pinch. Survival in a WROL is not something I consider worthy of losing sleep over, but it's interesting to think about and in such cases you'd scrounge what you could. 9mm meets most marks here better: lighter, more capacity, faster firing, more controllable, etc. But if scavenging uncovered only staple FMJ 9mm and 45 ACP, I'd be happier to have the 45 ACP pistol than the 9mm one. It will deliver more energy in the form of ft/lbs to the target, transfer more of that energy into the target, and will most likely make a bigger hole in the target then 9mm FMJ. According to Paul Harrell's penetration meat target, plain WWB FMJ did quite well on its own. It doesn't deserve it's own point, but .45 ACP rat and snake shot cartridge is also the only viable caliber for use when compared to the 9mm.
REASONS .45 ISN'T SO BAD
5. Capacity isn't the panacea it's made out to be... I like capacity. Who doesn't? The P-10F holds between 19+1 to 21+1 rds standard. That being said, the more rounds you have the more marginal incremental value of each round following. The XDm holds 13+1 rounds of .45, which is 6 less than the CZ, but not much less than you should need in any given situation. When I carried the shield I'd have 14 rounds on tap also with a reload in between. As far as true single stack guns go (not 1-1/2 stack pistols like the P365), I still think the Shield 45 is probably the finest, though I got rid of mine when I got rid of all me 45 because I'm a 9mm guy.
6. Controllability of .45 for a large polymer gun like the XDm is pretty good as it is. Nothing is as pretty much perfect as the P-10F, but the XDm45 isn't bad at all. On top of that, I picked up the DPMS recoil mitigation guide rod and spring system that makes it feel like slightly hot 9mm. I've often, throughout my past, preferred the slower straight push back to the pop and twist sensation of early 9mm's. I don't feel that way now, as I'm a better shooter now and appreciate how fast and accurate 9mm makes me perform, but, I did start out liking it a little better.
So what do you think?
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