If you had to pick: .45 or 9mm

To me the choice is whichever you're more comfortable with, if you've shot neither 9mm would be easier to get used to if you will have limited practice, granted its not a Glock, they are just a little sluggish and harder to control. They will shoot every time you pull the trigger no matter what though. (Some fanboi is going to go off, I own 2). That being said if you're going to go to the range and practice, and If it were me a 1911 or variant there of is a gun I want to add to my list so .45 would be my choice. I know ammo is slightly more expensive but its all ridiculous now days and anyone who said .40 over .45 for cheaper ammo were talking about less than the difference between regular and premium gas so that argument is null and void.

 

Wow, I can't even imagine the clearing drills needed for this weapon. Would a FTE cause a FTF in the opposite barrel? Twice as many failure points just to keep the interchangibility of as many 1911 parts as possible? But it looks cool though!

 

That's because there is no "best" for all people.

Anything .38special and larger is going to get the job done.

For those of us in California, Hawaii, New York, and other restrictive states, the .45 may be a "better" overall answer because of the lack of a huge difference in magazine capacity (unless you have owned the high-caps since before the ban in the states that allow that exemption... and if that's the case you likely already know your answer, and is one reason my wife has a 92FS).

In a free state, you can be looking at a significant difference in capacity between two comparable guns of different calibers.

 

hahaha you actually think that 850FPS 45 acp is gonna do anything BUT piss a bear off?

i wouldn't shoot at a bear with either 9mm or 45

 

I wouldn't chose either for bear protection, but would way rather test my luck with the .45. Also, given the OP wants only one gun, a .45 seems more versatile.

 

I had the same decision to make, and the outcome for me was a 9. My primary reason is because rounds are cheaper, not by too much but I shoot often and over time it will add up. I load up with HP rounds when it's at home and I'm more then confident that it will stop any intruder. This being your first gun, your going to want to shoot it a lot and if your tight on your money like I am, I would get a 9.

 

Can't decide still? Just get the compromise round. Get a Glock 20 in 10mm and buy a .40 conversion for it.

You got pretty much a hand cannon with that 10mm

 

You are right, opened my mouth before I actually looked, it is a .357 Sig

 

10mm is a great round it fires a lot like a .45 the recoil is more of a push than a snap like the .40, but ammo is ungodly expensive unless you reload. I actually sold my 10mm to get a 9mm. I have bad wrists from a motorcycle crash and the 10mm was becoming uncomfortable to shoot on a regular basis.

 

assuming someone is inquiring about buying "just one" pistol i'd also assume they dont reload, if you dont reload dont buy a 10mm you'll go bankrupt

that being said i recomend everyone reload and own a 10mm, i've got 2 glock 10mm's.... what an awesome round

 

lol, i've been kicking around the idea of selling my G20, BUT it has the FDE frame (and i only have 2 like this) and i just cant justify selling it yet i just dont shoot it much anymore and always carry the G29 into bear teritory it's just easier

 

... 10 mm specs --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10mm_Auto ...

PS ... tigarfan00 .. you should have won that shotgun by now with my clicks alone on that hyperlink ...
.

 

I like this paragraph in the Wiki:

"The Government of Denmark has issued the Glock 20 pistol chambered for the 10mm Auto cartridge to members of the Sirius Patrols in Greenland.[21] The pistols were issued as a defense against polar bears which the patrols encounter."​

 

Shotgun...

 

... ^^^ ... yep, click on tigarfan00's hyperlink on his signature at bottom, and maybe he wins a shotgun ...

 

i didnt see the home defense post. i guess it depends on where you live and what kind of criminals youre around. here in Texas, we got a lot of mexicans. and mexicans usually roll around in packs (especially if theyre cartel). so although a .45 is ideal for one shot to get em down. the round capacity and concealability of a 9 mm would be better suited for this neck of the woods.
happy huntin'

 

I would'nt stand in front of either.

 

One shot knock down doesn't exist.
Unless your Danzel Washington in Man On Fire, then 1 shot with a 9mm fmj will drop people.