If you had to pick: .45 or 9mm

... ^^^ ... that Sig 226 (9mm) is probably my next pistol ...
.

 

I go for stopping power. .45 ftw. I love my Rugar P89 but my FNP .45 is my favorite hand gun I own. Just love that FNP.

 

come to think of it. my brother gave the sig 226. it was his first service piece. i had to change the springs in all the magazines. it is older looking, but functions perfectly.

my tiny wife can flat out shoot the sig. she is deadly on paper.

 

neither 10mm ftw

 

I have both calibers and I voted 9mm. Both will stop an intruder. The 9mm ammo is much cheaper to practice with which means you can fire more rounds. We forget to include practice in our preparedness planning. Nothing is more important. 9mm will not travel through multiple rooms as easily as a .45ACP. The recoil of a 9mm is more controlled which allows for a quicker second shot of the first misses the target. The .45ACP is much louder than the 9mm. A standard full size Glock 17 9mm will hold 17 where a full size 1911 .45ACP will hold 7 rounds. A female typically finds the 9mm easier to handle which means that more than one person can use the gun in a defensive need.

On the other hand the 1911 is a classic and is more fun to shoot IMO.

 

Penetration Results
CCI Speer Ammo (Gov. Test)Bare GelatinExpansion
9mm Gold Dot JHP115gr ..........12.8".....0.67"
9mm Gold Dot JHP 124gr +P13...40"........0.68"
9mm Gold Dot JHP 147gr14........80".......0.57"
40 S&W Gold Dot JHP 155gr.......10.70"...0.84"
40 S&W Gold Dot JHP 165gr.......13.05"...0.65"
45 ACP Gold Dot JHP 185gr........11.95"...0.68"
45 ACP Gold Dot JHP 200gr +P11....70"....0.75

Ammunition Muzzel (FPS) Muzzel Energy(Foot lbs)
9mm Luger 64Gr +P Magsafe 1950 540
9mm Luger 115gr 1190 362
9mm Luger 123gr FMJ 1250 425
9mm Luger 147gr +P+ 1175 451
45ACP 185gr 5"BL 1000 411
45ACP 230gr P+5"BL 950 461

http://www.best9mm.com/9mmballistics.html

 

.45!

 

Not sure if its because you are in California or what type of rounds you are buying, but a box of .40 for $30 bucks seems way too much. I'm paying $18 a box for my .40 (50 count).

 

.
I loved that 1911 in the military ... but I can put more "rounds on target" with a 9mm than with a 1911 .45 ACP.

Even if my shooting skills were "exactly the same" with both guns (which it won't be as good with the .45) .. you have the magazine capacity issue.

I know my shooting skills best and I could put 2 rounds on target with the first .45 ACP on target ... but that is just me.

Plus, I could not get my wife or daughter to be comfortable with a "loud barking" 1911 .45 ACP ...

That Sig 226 9mm is my next pistol ...
.

 

Exactly. Shot placement is the key to ending the fight. I can plow rounds down range quicker and with much greater accuracy with my Glocks in 9mm more so than with .45 ACP. Cheaper to shoot also which in these times allows me to practice more. And practice makes perfect.

 

i carry a .40 FNP, but if i just had to choose between the .45 and 9mm, i would choose the 9mm hands down. as someone else said: better accuracy > stopping power. for all those who think 9mm is a bad round or has no stopping power, would you want to take even one to the chest? don't think so.

 

A well placed .22 rounds can ruin your life. So practice to shoot straight and accurately. Of course larger does massive damage, in all aspects, more expensive, heavier, bulkier.

Cheap, Light and Efficient is the way to go.

When I say cheap I'm reffering to the ammo prices. Practice what you intend to shoot with. Lots of people practice with cheap rounds then shoot defense rounds. Those are 2 different animals.

As far as for stopping power.

CCI Speer Ammo (Gov. Test)Bare GelatinExpansion
9mm Gold Dot JHP115gr ..........12.8".....0.67"
9mm Gold Dot JHP 124gr +P13...40"........0.68"
9mm Gold Dot JHP 147gr14........80".......0.57"
40 S&W Gold Dot JHP 155gr.......10.70"...0.84"
40 S&W Gold Dot JHP 165gr.......13.05"...0.65"
45 ACP Gold Dot JHP 185gr........11.95"...0.68"
45 ACP Gold Dot JHP 200gr +P11....70"....0.75

Ammunition Muzzel (FPS) Muzzel Energy(Foot lbs)
9mm Luger 64Gr +P Magsafe 1950 540
9mm Luger 115gr 1190 362
9mm Luger 123gr FMJ 1250 425
9mm Luger 147gr +P+ 1175 451
45ACP 185gr 5"BL 1000 411
45ACP 230gr P+5"BL 950 461

 

gotta listen to the guy from gun wavin new haven

 

are .45 ACP rounds as readily available as 9mm?

 

Home defense and recreation? As in CCW concealment not a consideration?

Glock 17 with 33-rd "happy sticks":



Keep in mind the muzzle energy of .357 Mag. pales in comparison to rifle rounds like 5.56 mm NATO, and even those can't consistently stop a Somalian with one shot. For all intents and purposes you will have to shoot the attacker several times, whether 9 mm or .45, so you might as well pack more ammo.

 

Two to the chest and one to the head works every time!

 

Good info. I'm extremely accurate w/ my 9mm. It's comfortable to shoot and recoil is not much, making it easy to group my shots.

 

Cost more that's for sure.

 

I will have to get "happy sticks" lol..... I can't imagine anything more intimidating then 33 rounds ready to be pumped into the first fella that steps into your home with bad intentions

 

Your best bet is to go test fire these. And see which one YOU like better.