.45 ACP: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing?
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KSDeputy
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When my Sheriff's Office changed from the model 66 .357 magnum to the model 645, I learned all about the new pistol. I liked it, and sold several revolvers to buy a few .45 pistols. Ultimately, I kept the generation 3 pistols, and replaced the revolvers. Shortly before I retired they changed to the new 4506. When you retire, they give you the service pistol, so I had a 4506 with 50 rounds through it ( one range qualification ). I cleaned it well and put it in the safe. I kept two alloy frame pistols, and have carried my CS 45 for over twenty years. I have no reason to change. I am well pleased with the pistol, and the caliber. I do carry 165 gr. Hydra Shok loads in enough loaded magazines to have 25 rounds at the ready.
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Just now came back and went through this post and thread again. Just a few thoughts. The merits of the .45 ACP are multiple. In any loading, it is effective for range use and SD/HD. Some loadings are more useful. It shines for range use. Holes in targets are easy to see. A good H&G 68 will cut a very clean hole in paper. It can be down loaded to powder puff level for target shooting, etc. It can be loaded up to ball to the wall levels for shooting ... whatever. Brass is easy to find. It is a easy cartridge for reloading either single stage or progressive. It is chambered in a very broad variety of pistols and revolvers. It offers power that is useful w/o being so excessive as to be unpleasant for long strings of fire. Its relevance today is indisputable for those who enjoy the 1911 series of pistols, for those who enjoy reloading, for those who enjoy the history and mystery of the round, for those who have an emotional connection with the round and the pistols for which it has been/is chambered. At present a nicely customized RIA 1911-A1 is lying on the couch to my left. It is loaded with plain Jane 230 gr. ball. To my knowledge, this pistol has not ever failed to do anything at all. It has feed and fired everything ever loaded into it. I shot it till the front sight got loose. A new front sight was fitted. It didn't even require a change in sight settings. One day when I can the pistol will have a wide beavertail safety fitted, a commander hammer and a new sear to fit the hammer. I would trust this relatively inexpensive pistol with my life ... even the life of my loved ones. Sincerely. bruce.
If the 45 acp is so worthless why do the sub caliber guys spend so much time trying to prove it. Why has it stayed around for well over 100 years. Just how many people has it killed and just how many more is it going to take to convince the sub caliber guys. If the 9mm is better than that 11.5 mm, why isn't a 6.5mm hand gun even better?
I do not see this as being any kind of argument. The 9mm is a better bet for the average person to learn to shoot well for all the reasons given in this thread. We need to remember that not all cops, agents, etc are gun people and to them the gun is nothing more than a tool. For those of us in this forum, we are gun folks with many of us having many years of shooting experience as well as shooting know how. For us the 45 is always a better choice because it offers added insurance for anything we want to do with a centerfire auto handgun.
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SEE post 263
Almost unbelievable but I believe it. From WWI it was investigated proven (found evidence) St York killed 7 Germans with 7 shots so I believe this.
IAhunter
Member
Based upon the decision making of FBI's lawyers and accountants around the 2016 Presidential election, this retired fed will go ahead and stay with my .40 S&W pistols for SD and HD. Any recent decision made by leaders at the FBI is probably the wrong one.
Chino74
Member
.45 ACP is a great round but not for everyone. A lot of younger folks look at 1911's & the .45 as 'old guy' platforms. As to it's effectiveness, it's been plenty effective since the year 1911 & the .45 Colt 'long Colt' to use the slang term, in the SAA format for years before that. In fact many of the older established calibers used over the last 150 years do just fine.
In todays world a lot of camps are focused on progressing power, velocity, hyper performing rounds,. the old stuff took care of things just fine.
In todays world a lot of camps are focused on progressing power, velocity, hyper performing rounds,. the old stuff took care of things just fine.
Ruger Nut
US Veteran
The FBI....
The FBI can't make up their mind about ANYTHING.
It's more the person shooting it than the gun.
The FBI can't make up their mind about ANYTHING.
It's more the person shooting it than the gun.
Alvin York was an expert marksman who was known to shoot the heads off of Turkeys.
He also hunted for fur. In order to take the animal without ruining the pelt a headshot was required.
Human beings tend to revert to their training under stress. Where do you think he shot those Germans?
. .45 ACP revolver or automatic with 200 gr. SWC bullets make impressive holes in targets. Larry
38SPL HV
Member
The bigger 45 ACP cartridges allow my big arthritic mitts to handle them better, and also with aging eyes, I can see the bigger holes which they put in paper targets better compared to smaller bullets.
...kidding aside, a fantastic cartridge. One can have their entire handgun needs covered by 22lr, 38/357 and 45 ACP. Add in a 41 or 44 Magnum for bigger game if you so desire.
...kidding aside, a fantastic cartridge. One can have their entire handgun needs covered by 22lr, 38/357 and 45 ACP. Add in a 41 or 44 Magnum for bigger game if you so desire.
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In regard to 45 ACP magazine capacity, I find 13 round double stack, quite satisfactory.
I hear this a lot, and in the 70's and 80's it would have been true.A 9mm might expand. A .45 won't shrink.
Bigger holes are better.
Bullets back then, no matter the caliber, were inconsistent in the expansion department, and were very reliant upon velocity to achieve any expansion.
Fast forward to the present, and many (but not all) of the current crop of defensive loads will always expand.
An HST, Gold Dot or Ranger-T will ALWAYS expand, no matter what caliber, weight or velocity.
Even a 147 grain 9mm HST, starting at less than 1000 fps, or a 230 grain .45 ACP HST or W-W Defend, starting at less than 850 fps, will expand beautifully every time.
max503
Member
Despite the 45 acp being my favorite handgun caliber I think this thread deserves an award for having the best title.
max503
Member
Its kind of fun to practice changing mags and see how fast you can re-load the 1911. With repetition it soon becomes second nature.
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FiveG
Member
So, here's a Gold Dot question in this caliber: Speer offers 230 gr. in two versions -- regular and "short barrel." What's the real world difference, and in a 4-inch barrel, which is recommended?
Lucky Gunner tested their .45 ACP loads out of a Kahr CW45 that has a 3.64" barrel. Gold Dot results were:
230 Gold Dot-752 fps.,expanded to .71 caliber with 12.9"of penetration.
230 Gold Dot Short Barrel-806 fps, expanded to .70 caliber with 14.4" of penetration.
For comparison... 200 gr. Gold Dot +P - 982 fps., .70 caliber and 13.8" of penetration.
185 grain Gold Dot - 964 fps. ,.70 caliber, and 14.1" of expansion.
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference between the 4 loads as far as performance.
The Gold Dots, along with HSTs and Ranger T's seem to be very consistent across the board, more so than any other brand or type of bullets.
230 Gold Dot-752 fps.,expanded to .71 caliber with 12.9"of penetration.
230 Gold Dot Short Barrel-806 fps, expanded to .70 caliber with 14.4" of penetration.
For comparison... 200 gr. Gold Dot +P - 982 fps., .70 caliber and 13.8" of penetration.
185 grain Gold Dot - 964 fps. ,.70 caliber, and 14.1" of expansion.
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference between the 4 loads as far as performance.
The Gold Dots, along with HSTs and Ranger T's seem to be very consistent across the board, more so than any other brand or type of bullets.
FiveG
Member
So, any reason NOT to use the short barrel version in a 4-inch barrel or a Commander? I ask because I am able to find that version locally, but not the regular.
I believe in diversity. My EDC is a Shield 9, at night, beside the bed is a nightstand, the Shield rests there at night, but in the drawer is a RP .45 full of flying ashtrays, and 2 steps away from that is an Ithaca 37 DS, full of buckshot. Knockdown is directly connected to bullet placement. Let's don't refer to the 9mm as a newcomer, after all it's 3 years older than the .45. At 67 years of age, I finally have a 38 Super, a Colt Competition Stainless. Man, is it sweet!
The short barrel Gold Dot would be a good load, a bit more penetration ( and velocity) out of a shorter barrel than the other Gold Dot loads, expansion is pretty much the same in all 4 GD loads, .70 to .71 caliber.
Harkrader
Member
As did jerrydm60, I carried M1911s in Viet Nam and was quite happy with their effect on obstreperous interveners.
It was my caliber of choice for many years after. I have subsequently ownedn .45ACP arms by Colt, Kimber, S&W and Sig and never had a moment's concern about effectiveness. I also have a Thompson M1A1 and happily load thousands of .45ACP to keep it fed.
I am most likely to carry other calibers for self-defense, today, but anything in 45ACP suits me just fine.
It was my caliber of choice for many years after. I have subsequently ownedn .45ACP arms by Colt, Kimber, S&W and Sig and never had a moment's concern about effectiveness. I also have a Thompson M1A1 and happily load thousands of .45ACP to keep it fed.
I am most likely to carry other calibers for self-defense, today, but anything in 45ACP suits me just fine.
Tubbsy
Member
"Army Sergeant Alvin C. York used his 1911 pistol to single-handedly kill six German soldiers charging him with fixed bayonets. He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result."
I think the fact that he used old gi mags and ball ammo says a lot for the old .45.
I think the fact that he used old gi mags and ball ammo says a lot for the old .45.
AJ
US Veteran
I do believe that "old GI mags" were all they had then, no aftermarkets were available yet.
Nothing wrong with ball ammo, it penetrates well.
It works well in my M1911A1
.45 ACP along with .45 Colt and .40 S&W are my favorite pistol calibers. I like that the USP here in .45 and .40 works perfectly with all brands of ammunition that goes through it and a plus is even if a .45 whether ACP or Colt does not expand you still have a .45 caliber hitting the target.
Who on here thinks the government is made up of the best and the brightest? The best and brightest go private because that is where the money is. Go to the dmv or the post office of you think differently and evaluate.
Just because the fbi thinks something like the 9 mm is better does nothing for me. Bigger is always better. I often carry a 9mm Due to size but if I knew I was going to be in a fight , my 1911 would be my choice. 20 years of uspsa competition is responsible for that. I do carry a 1911 when I can conceal it ok.
Just because the fbi thinks something like the 9 mm is better does nothing for me. Bigger is always better. I often carry a 9mm Due to size but if I knew I was going to be in a fight , my 1911 would be my choice. 20 years of uspsa competition is responsible for that. I do carry a 1911 when I can conceal it ok.
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