40 or 45 cal

[1911ES]

.45 .... :d

 

[Engineer1911]

This is the S&W Forum, but ...

A Para Ordnance double stack auto holds anywhere between 10 and 18 rounds in .40 S&W or .45 ACP. It's tough to beat a Para longslide .45 with a new 17 round mag. It sits next to the S&W SS Match target so neither gets lonely.

Wolf makes the world of recoil springs. Carry factory ammo with stock spring as your CCW weapon. Use a recoil spring 4# or 5# lighter and shoot target reloads for practice. I have made .45 ACP loads that cycled flawlessly that might not have stopped a new-born mouse and were extremely accurate at 25'.

Find the weapon that fits your hand, attracts your eye, and in the caliber your are confident with when shooting.

 

[maccpd]

I belive that shot placement is more important than caliber .40 S&W, .45ACP both are excellent. Find a pistol that you like and that fits your hand then seek out some training I'm thinking NRA and then practice.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I used to be a .45ACP 1911 guy, largely influenced from my time in the Army, until I suffered a wrist injury to my dominant arm. Even after surgery and months of rehab, my wrist would "unlock" under recoil of anything larger than a 9mm. I switched to a revolver for my .45ACP, and tried the .40 first in a model 4006, and later a Sigma 40F. I now have arthritis in both hands, and I find the Sigma to be "softer" in recoil than the much heavier 4006. I am comfortable and fond of both calibers, but for me, it depends on whether I'm using a revolver or a semiauto that determines the caliber for me - I also believe that "bigger is better". By the way, a Model 610 is vying for the number one spot on my "grail gun" list.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[mrt949]

My choice was S&W MP in both fullsize & compact in 40 sw.Due to hand surgery. They did not hurt as bad when shooting the HK in 45 acp.or COLT DEFENDER.

 

[DougDubya1970]

The .40 has a good record, but I just can't get behind it. It could be either sour grapes over the 10mm, or I only have room for a few beloved calibers, and two of those are firmly .45 ACP and 9mm Para.

Honestly, I personally would pick the .45. The MP45 I tried out was sheer joy, and could hold 11 shots.

Although, there is one more option, but the ammunition is hard to find and costly - the .357 SIG Auto. I even have one of the heroes in my current novel carrying an MP357.

 

[Wee Hooker]

My 2 cents. The 45 acp has been the round to beat for over 100 years. It's accurate, easy on the recoil and will stop a cow. The 357 sig, 40 and the 45 gap are just attempts to get 45 acp effectiveness in a high cap gun. IMHO, a well practiced man with 7-11 rounds of 45 ACP is the man to fear in any civilian firefight.

Beyond that, I just find that most of the 40's I've shot were obnoxious in recoil and flash. I'll take the "push" of a 45 acp over the "snap" of a 40 any day.