.45 ACP: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing?

[V0OBWxZS16]

Honestly, there needs be another iteration of the Thompson-LaGarde tests of 1904.

The Thompson-LaGarde tests were trash and should never be repeated.

There are also intangible considerations I think certain- especially larger, more bureaucratic- organizations tend to ignore. That is the level of confidence, elan and pride of its members.

That is a new argument or at least one I've never heard before. The idea that elan and esprit de corps is only possible with inefficiently large cartridges and firearms is just silly.

Nowadays, "ballistic effectiveness" has come to mean different things to different people. Many equate ballistic effectiveness to the size and shape, expansion or lack of expansion, of a projectile. That distracts us from what we really want to know; effect on the target (incapacitation). That is what should be measured.

What "should be measured" can't be measured.

 

[10ring]

What "should be measured" can't be measured.

That's what she said...

 

[gman51]

If someone thinks a 40 recoil is way to hot then they better not try switching to revolvers and shooting a 357 magnum. Oh don't even get started on pros or cons of the 357. That's another large popcorn theater.

I don't think it makes any difference what caliber or model a person carries as long as they can shoot it well. I would guess those that carry a 45 are quite accurate with it or they wouldn't carry it.

 

[Laketime]

Thank you very much for taking the time to read the OP from beginning to end and responding directly to it.

You'd be surprised at how many folks these days are too lazy to actually read any further than the thread title, then post some sort of knee-jerk response that doesn't have anything to do with the thread itself, thus making a total fool of themselves in the process.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your impeccable deductive reasoning that someone named Dirty Harry Callahan would hate .44 Magnum.

It was meant as humor but you took it as serious

 

[nachogrande]

I TRIED TO TELL YA.

[QUOTE 45 GOOD FOR NOTHING? Don't even say it in jest. That is one cage you DO NOT want to rattle. [/QUOTE]

But you had to go and say it.

 

[jupiter1]

What "should be measured" can't be measured.

Well, we may as well end the conversation; we're chasing our tails.

 

[sandog]

I bought my daughter a 9mm Shield, but she really likes shooting .45 ACP too. Here she's shooting my 325 PD, it's so light it's got a bit of kick to it:

 

[studenygreg]

Cant we all get along and treat all calibers equally. Sure, some calibers create more crime even though there are fewer of them. Sure some like to cut off people's heads and burn people alive. Some are good at math but cant drive. Wait, what are we talking about again?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Echo40]

It was meant as humor but you took it as serious

My apologies, but the joke seems to have sailed right over my head.

Would you care to explain it to me, because for a joke, it lacks any sort of obvious setup or punchline, ergo it just comes of as a flat comment.

 

[Rick_A]

Typically, if one wants to kill/destroy things they'll use the best tool for the job...and everything is a compromise.

 

[swsig]

What I would really like to see discussed here today is the .45 ACP and nothing more. Not how it compares to other cartridges, just the .45 ACP cartridge on its own, something that nobody can ever seem to do anymore.

In this thread, let's discuss the merits of the .45 ACP cartridge, it's strengths, what it's good for, where it shines, and how it's still relevant today.

Getting back to your original question, here is some actual data. I hope this helps.

One of the range officers at my range is a retired homicide detective from a major city PD. One of his duties was to investigate every officer-involved shooting. He asked every officer how the bad guy reacted when he was hit. Across many such interviews, three rounds emerged as momentum disruptors. (That's my term. I don't want to get into the well-worn "stopping power" and "knock down power" debate.) These three rounds all caused the subjects to lurch backward when hit in the torso, at least temporarily disrupting whatever they were doing. One of these momentum disrupting rounds was the .45 acp.

(Just as an FYI, the other two were the .357 mag, and the .357 SIG. Notably, the 9mm round created little or no momentum disruption.)

So there it is. Although it is a small sample study, it is based on real-world observations of actual shootings made by trained professionals. No gel, no animal analogs, just reality. Take it for what it is worth, and do what you think is best for you. In my case, I've given up 9mm, and carry .45s. YMMV.

 

[nachogrande]

NOT WAR RELATED

Ask any recent war vet how the 9mm vs the performance of the 45acp.

In a close quarter conflict it takes too many 9mm rounds to kill the bad guy. The 100yo 45acp will always be the rooster in the hen house amongst the ladies(9mm/40cal ect).

Just goes to show you never can tell.
I've told this before so please bear with it. App 2006 I had a 15 y/o boy as a pt that had shot himself in the upper thigh with a 45 acp. (don't know the bullet type used) The bullet exited the rear calf of the same leg without ANY major damage??? STUFF HAPPENS. IT DID increase his street cred & the little "imp" was sneaking out with 2 of his groupies (on crutches under his own power) to smoke weed & whatever.

 

[Laketime]

My apologies, but the joke seems to have sailed right over my head.

Would you care to explain it to me, because for a joke, it lacks any sort of obvious setup or punchline, ergo it just comes of as a flat comment.

Your screen name and thinking the .44 magnum is obsolete was the joke.Fear not if I had issues with your thread I am never one to be short on words.

 

[MOONDAWG]

Why I love .45 ACP 1911's?

 

[Darkenfast]

"Never let the muzzle cover anything you do not wish to destroy!"

 

[stansdds]

Why I love .45 ACP 1911's?

I always knew the 1911 was an inspired design, just did not know the inspiration came from that high up on the chain.

 

[nachogrande]

DARN TOOTIN

I always knew the 1911 was an inspired design, just did not know the inspiration came from that high up on the chain.

THE BIG MAN HIMSELF, JOHN MOSES BROWNING.

 

[texmex]

In the August 2011 issue of American Handgunner, Mike Venturino rated the 45 ACP as the "best revolver cartridge" due to it's combination of range of useful bullet weights and efficient powder combustion.

 

[gwpercle]

For being good for nothing it still is showing an awful lot of life after being around for 108 years ..... doesn't seem to be loosing any luster to the 40 S&W or 10 mm .
The 45 acp just keeps on keeping on , doing it's thing .

 

[Rudi]

"Sometimes big, fat, and slow is just what you need." Not sure who said that.