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  #51  
Old 05-11-2012, 01:31 PM
ben1 ben1 is offline
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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The one you can hit the target consistently with. Placement trumps caliber every time. I have seen many die form 22 LR and live from 45 acp. Placement. Right spot right shot. That is the point.
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  #52  
Old 05-11-2012, 01:41 PM
44wheelman 44wheelman is offline
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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E= 1/2 mv^2 but, the .45 has a 60% more area to deliver that energy.

So if I were shooting a skinny man, I want a 45. if I were shooting a morbidly obese man, I think I need a 357
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  #53  
Old 05-11-2012, 02:38 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Honea View Post
Without possession of indisputable factual information,capable of being presented as an evidentiary article,which would lend credence to,or support a certain degree of accuracy,free of speculative assumption,in determining and providing a logically presumable correct answer to your question,I would decline to express a definite opinion.
I hesitate to articulate for fear that l may deviate from the true course of rectitude... in plain English... heck if l know! now if you want my opinion...

Hog
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  #54  
Old 05-11-2012, 02:42 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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M1gunner said, "A through and through will generate twice the number of "leaks" than will an entrance wound only."

Never thought of it that way! Bleeding out from both sides!

Last edited by smithman 10; 05-11-2012 at 02:46 PM.
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  #55  
Old 05-11-2012, 02:46 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OK Hog Shooter View Post
I hesitate to articulate for fear that l may deviate from the true course of rectitude... in plain English... heck if l know! now if you want my opinion...

Hog
"I hesitate to articulate for fear that I may deviate from the true and given course of rectitude. In short, I am very stupid and do not know, SIR."

Boy, that brings back memories from my days as an ROTC cadet, pledging Pershing Rifles.

John
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  #56  
Old 05-11-2012, 03:59 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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what if you throw 180 grn JHP 357 into the mix....how does that heavy hitter stack up? Federal makes 180 grn.
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Old 05-11-2012, 05:21 PM
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I'll take either .357 or 45 ACP when the chips were down...uinless I had a shotgun.
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  #58  
Old 05-12-2012, 11:15 AM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Originally Posted by blujax01 View Post
Wow if I took that stance I wouldn't even need an Internet connection!
That used to be my well rehearsed answer to smart aleck lawyers who tried to elicit opinions and trip me up on the stand. A couple of them stood there with mouths gaping open,and one superior court judge actually laughed outloud.
I enjoyed it myself.I was a smart aleck,too.
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  #59  
Old 05-12-2012, 11:38 AM
hammeredbean hammeredbean is offline
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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In my opinion both are excellent. I don't know what type of areas you are able to shoot/practice etc.... but here is something a bit off topic that one might consider also. If you only practice at a range....no worries, but if you are a person (redneck like me) who dwells in rural areas and might have permission/opportunites to stop off at the neighbors pastures, gravel pits, creek banks, etc... to shoot a few rounds......the 45 at sub-sonic speeds is MUCH quieter. My family knows EXACTLY which gun I am shooting in the pasture when I have my 3" 357. They don't mind, and no harm is done, but my point is when/if targets or practice shots of opportunity arise, and you might not have time for earmuffs/plugs or you might be within a reasonable distance from neighbors...so the noise might be something to factor. I find myself not shooting at things while out in the woods with my 357 that I'd probably shoot at with a 45acp. Everyone would still here the shot with either, but it is like..."oh, someone is target shooting over yonder" compared to "holy **** that person must be close!".
Having said all of that, I don't have a 45 anymore and I carry a 3" Ruger SP101 that I love. I can shoot 38's when I want to be quieter,,,,,but I never do. I just make lots of noise and keep earplugs in my pocket
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  #60  
Old 05-12-2012, 11:51 AM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Wink Its a Toss Up

The ability to accurately launch eight chunks of lead from either one comforts me. I feel good to go with either.



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  #61  
Old 05-12-2012, 01:02 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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A .357 magnum is clearly more powerful than .45 ACP. It also has much more penetrating capability - too much in some applications. Law enforcement seems to settle on 125 grain bullets, specifically to reduce penetration while delivering the same or higher muzzle energy as traditional 158 gr bullets. One exception may be state police, who are more likely to fire into vehicles through glass or steel.

Back when cars had steel bumpers (with chrome), I had occasion to use an abandoned bumper as a target. .357 SP would penetrate the bumper at any angle, and at least one shot left a hole 1/2" wide and 3" long. .45 ACP at the same target left big dents. Nor will a .45 penetrate a WWII steel pot helmet, per army training films.

It's questionable whether penetration power makes a good defensive load against soft targets. My preferred CCW is .45 ACP, not necessarily on a scientific basis. That load would be relatively ineffective against a tough target like a bear or hog. My woods handgun is .357 with 180 gr hard cast bullets, or .44 mag with 300 gr hard cast. They'd still work on a soft target, maybe two or three enfilade.
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  #62  
Old 05-13-2012, 04:57 PM
JRWnTN JRWnTN is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PDL View Post
Since no one else has mentioned the obvious. The real answer is the one you can control, and effectively put on target.
Yeah, but that means you have to go the range and realistically practice: firing double action (depending on type of pistol), drawing from a holster, moving and shooting from cover, shooting on the move, shooting multiple targets, shooting one-handed, shooting weak-handed, using a timer to see what techniques really work, shooting from 1 to 25 yards, etc.

It's so much easier to just choose a magic bullet, caliber, gun, etc.
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  #63  
Old 05-13-2012, 05:26 PM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Originally Posted by JRWnTN View Post
It's so much easier to just choose a magic bullet, caliber, gun, etc.
So, 10mm Auto, S&W 1006 right?




(Actually, I'm firmly in the .357 camp, but I love my 1006.)
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  #64  
Old 05-13-2012, 06:09 PM
hammeredbean hammeredbean is offline
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Originally Posted by jlanecole View Post
So, 10mm Auto, S&W 1006 right?




(Actually, I'm firmly in the .357 camp, but I love my 1006.)

I wish I had a TEN. I sort of consider it the 357 auto....plus a bit extra.
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  #65  
Old 05-14-2012, 10:59 AM
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Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357 Which is more powerful?  .45 or .357  
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Here's my opinion:

I would consider the .357 Magnum to be more powerful. With that said, I have no interest in carrying it for self defense. The reason for that is the negatives outweigh the positives.

1. Flash from a .357 Magnum is tremendous, and at night, will be blinding. (Source: http://www.mcrgo.org/mcrgo/photo_gal..._blast/mb1.jpg )

2. The sound pressure created by a .357 Magnum round is about 5 times higher than that created by a .45 caliber round. Firing a .357 Magnum indoors whether you hear it or not, will mean you seriously damage your hearing. Period. There is indeed a "flash-bang effect" in play, imho. A .45 is still loud and painful, but less damaging by a fair amount (Source: FreeHearingTest.com - Gunfire Noise Levels ).

3. As already mentioned, follow-up shots are more difficult with a .357 Magnum.

Those are three main points I can think of off of the top of my head.
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