45 cal as EDC and Personal Defense weapon?

[dben002]

Your thoughts please.

 

[Rpg]

In my view, the 45acp in a 1911 is the ultimate edc and home defense handgun.

Nothing works as well for the purpose as a 45 acp.

The Commander (aluminum frame, 4 1/2" barrel) is very comfortable for edc.

 

[dben002]

Mulebuk Sam.......Well in all honesty (since you did ask) it looks like the end of your barrel is disintegrating.....but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and blame it on camera shake as you should have been scared as hell to take that picture....LOL

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

TracFone on the cheap from Wallyworld

 

[cmort666]

I went from a 5" Norinco M1911 in .45acp (when I had to sell it to pay the rent) to a Glock 19, to a 3 1/2" Citadel 3.5CS M1911 in .45acp.

There are self-defense handguns almost as good as an M1911 in .45acp.

There's nothing BETTER.

 

[SAFireman]

Jovino made snubbie revolvers in 45 ACP and 45 COLT (all you sticklers did notice that I omitted the 'Long' in front of Colt???)

Either one will get the job done handily

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

(when I had to sell it to pay the rent)

...and that pawn shop only give me pennies on the dollar barely enough left to get me a dime bag and a quart.

 

[Arik]

30 years ago sure. Today, about as good as 9/40

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[Muss Muggins]

30 years ago sure. Today, about as good as 9/40

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Advances in ammunition have been the great equalizer in recent years. Nowadays, pretty much any caliber will suffice. Choose a pistol you shoot well and run with it . . .

 

[quinn]

Short, fat & slow does the job. I have one WWI model 1911 in that caliber and about 7 revolvers. However, I will admit that for home security they are not quite up to a nice 10 gauge.

 

[cmort666]

...and that pawn shop only give me pennies on the dollar barely enough left to get me a dime bag and a quart.

The major components of the Norinco guns are fully the equal of any domestic M1911. The small parts are garbage, but that's mere trivia.

I'd rather have a Norinco than an '80s Colt.

 

[JDBoardman]

In reference to the claims of ammunition superiority nowadays, the 9mm MAY expand, but the .45 will NEVER shrink. John Moses Browning got it just about perfect with the 1911, only the sights needed improvement to bring it into its second century.

 

[dben002]

I have retired and active duty LEO friends who say they favor the 45. I have other friends who say the 45 is "overkill" and not needed...

For me personally, I want the knock down power as you may not always have the time, advantage, and nerves to make that exact placement shot you need to make.....

Anyway...just wanted to hear other thoughts about the 45 versus all the other edc/personal defense calibers....thanks to all who comment.

 

[Arik]

I have retired and active duty LEO friends who say they favor the 45. I have other friends who say the 45 is "overkill" and not needed...

For me personally, I want the knock down power as you may not always have the time, advantage, and nerves to make that exact placement shot you need to make.....

Anyway...just wanted to hear other thoughts about the 45 versus all the other edc/personal defense calibers....thanks to all who comment.

No such thing as knock down power.

Plenty of people have been ventilated by a 45 and lived to tell. In some cases even overpowered and killed the other guy. One good example is of a MN cop who was shot 7 times with a 45, including two times in the face only to get up and kill his attacker with a 9mm.

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[Arik]

In reference to the claims of ammunition superiority nowadays, the 9mm MAY expand, but the .45 will NEVER shrink. John Moses Browning got it just about perfect with the 1911, only the sights needed improvement to bring it into its second century.

Actually, since soft tissue stretches, you most likely won't see a difference between 9 or 45.

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[Iggy]

Makes a decent hole without nasty recoil and muzzle blast in close quarters situations.

 

[armorer951]

Caution....opinion:

The .45 makes a large hole, and has the power to reach vital organs. Those facts, coupled with the advancements in the Federal 230 grain HST ammo make it a good, or arguably, the best choice for personal defense.

As a Crime Scene Investigator (now retired) I have seen it's affects, both in the ER, and at autopsy. It is both formidable, and effective if used properly.

 

[Buford57]

I don't. You might like to. It has the advantage of a 100+ year track record as a stopper (nothing's 100%) and the challenge of finding the right carry mode and dressing around the gun to a greater extent than, say, a J-frame snub or a micro .380.

I do keep a .45 as a house gun and sometimes carry it when traveling or in the winter months when cover is easier. YMMV

 

[Muss Muggins]

Caution....opinion:

The .45 makes a large hole, and has the power to reach vital organs. Those facts, coupled with the advancements in the Federal 230 grain HST ammo make it a good, or arguably, the best choise for personal defense.

As a Crime Scene Investigator (now retired) I have seen it's affects, both in the ER, and at autopsy. It is both formidable, and effective if used properly.

I'd be willing to bet you saw at least an equal number of victims of the lowly .22 LR . . .

 

[crazyphil]

If you don't mind carrying the size and weight there is nothing better.

 

[kthom]

You MUST be able to hit consistently well with whatever you carry! With the improvements made in the ammo available today, there is not much difference between calibers suitable for the purpose. But there is always a difference between a good solid hit and a very loud noise!!! That also applies to the second and third round fired immediately after the first one! Whatever you choose, the gun must fit YOUR hand well, not somebody else's, and you MUST be able to handle and fire it well consistently. Otherwise, you just make a lot of racket! Or hit something or someone that you did not intend to hit ...

 

[cmort666]

Actually, since soft tissue stretches, you most likely won't see a difference between 9 or 45.

If the soft tissue isn't TEARING, you're using the wrong bullet.

 

[federali]

My Thoughts?

There are enough threads on this topic to keep you reading for the rest of your life, and then some. All someone needs to do is suggest an alternate caliber and we're off to the races.

The .45 ACP: hard to say anything bad about it. Place a contemporary hollow point in the 10-ring and you generally win.
Recoil is manageable. Many prefer a slimmer cartridge that offers greater ammunition capacity in a given handgun when compared to the .45 ACP.

 

[dben002]

If you don't mind carrying the size and weight there is nothing better.

Well, in honesty, I find the size and weight of the new Shield 45 to be perfect for this purpose. And in all honesty, this is the first 45 I have ever owned/carried.

 

[Smoke]

Nothing works as well for the purpose as a 45 acp.

Source please?

 

[Donn]

I'm never sure if a thread like this is square business or a troll trying to start a caliber war. I EDC a 9mm or 38spl. I lose no sleep over either of those choices. They'll continue being my sidearm of choice until my LGS gets a shipment of Shields in 45acp. From what I've heard, that won't happen any time soon.

 

[dben002]

I'm never sure if a thread like this is square business or a troll trying to start a caliber war. I EDC a 9mm or 38spl. I lose no sleep over either of those choices. They'll continue being my sidearm of choice until my LGS gets a shipment of Shields in 45acp. From what I've heard, that won't happen any time soon.

I started this due to my always carrying a 9 and switching to a 45 which I never owned before. Really just interested in others thoughts yours included..no trolling here

 

[therewolf]

I carry 45ACP for it's legendary stopping power.

Sometimes I carry 9mm for the extra rounds.

Love the 45ACP. Just got an old Ruger P90. It rocks,

very accurate and dependable.

 

[Arik]

I'll add this before I sound like I'm bashing the 45. I own quite a few 45s.

Sig P220
HK USP 45
HK USP compact 45
Glock 21
Glock 21 (yes two)
Springfield 1911 TRP

That's 6 guns in 45acp. I bought them because they were excellent guns at excellent prices. Some are fairly recent purchases while others are much older, dating back to when I was searching for a "perfect" handgun/caliber combo to carry.

The caliber works.... obviously. But so does the 9mm. By the way, the 9 is older. It predates the 45 by three years.(1901 vs 1904).

When it comes down to it Uncle Sam DOES NOT supply me with ammo. I have to pay for that. 9mm is cheaper (by about $100/case) for practice and carry. It has good results, the guns it's chambered in are typically smaller, lighter and carry more ammo. I can practice with it longer and there for I shoot it faster with better accuracy. In the end this is what counts.

If hollow points become illegal or for whatever reason we have only fmj I'll go to the 45 but as long as i have quality self defense 9mm I'll stick with that


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[ContinentalOp]

If it works for you, go for it.