Guy switches from .45 to 9mm after gunfight

sigp220.45

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A young guy we just got in the office was a uniformed copper before becoming a feebie.

As a cop, he rolled up on a gangbanger who matched the description of someone who had been firing at cars (in broad daylight). He stopped about 35 yards away and as soon as he exited the car the banger opened fire. My pal let fly in return with a Sig 220 .45 and hit him three times out of eight, the fatal shot being a hit to the thigh that severed the femoral artery. The good guy wasn't hit - the rounds went over his head and impacted a boat store some distance behind him.

He switched after the shooting to a Sig 226 9mm because he wasn't happy with his accuracy shooting the .45. He didn't use the 9mm in a gunfight after that, but he did headshoot a running pitbull with it, and was pleased with his choice.

I bring this up because I have seen instructors say they never heard of anyone who wished they had a smaller gun after being in a gunfight. I guess it does happen.

He carries a generic Glock .40 now, but that's because he doesn't have much of a choice.
 
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Never did understand why so many think a 9mm is not enough? I have both Sigs. Let's see 8 +1 or 15+1? Seem to work for a lot of agencies.

Both are extremely accurate guns.

Now maybe one of the double stack plastic 45's with 12 or so rounds.
 
Never did understand why so many think a 9mm is not enough? I have both Sigs. Let's see 8 +1 or 15+1? Seem to work for a lot of agencies.

Both are extremely accurate guns.

Now maybe one of the double stack plastic 45's with 12 or so rounds.

9MM I think of as a last resort.
start big and work down till you have something that works for you ... if it happens to be a 9MM .. then I guess it's better than fists.
 
I don't have any problem with a 9mm. What a lot of people fail to consider is the improvements in bullet construction and improved powder in many modern loads, including the 9mm. Premium factory loads have made good performers out of several formerly marginal cartridges.
 
A 9mm way not have nicked that femoral artery....which would have been a terrible shame. I kinda think he may be blaming the .45 for what was really caused by being shot AT!!

I absolutely agree. In an actual firefight, percentage of hits is WAY lower than in virtually any practice scenario, no matter how realistic or how often it is practiced.
 
Nothing wrong with a good 9mm

A lot of folks who question 9mm effectiveness seem to be locked in a time warp. In case they hadn't noticed 9mm and every other round out there, has gotten better over the years (you gotta love technology). I can't even count how many choices you have just in 9mm. Thirty years ago...not so much, but then how big was your cell phone 30 years ago??? Just about every LE agency in the country carried 9mm for years as they all migrated from wheel guns and many still do. That's good enough for me but largely because 9mm (in my case an MP9c), is what I shoot best. As always....YMMV.
 
Everyone is different. We have different physical characteristics, and we shoot differently. Particularly under stress. But I doubt if many shoot better when being shot at, only worse.

That said, if you're an experienced shooter, not necessarily an expert, but someone who has shot for a long time and is stable in their shooting, you can tell for yourself. Just take your guns out for a leisurely afternoon at a range. See which gun you shoot best when relaxed. What you're really looking for is a material difference. You might discover there is little or no difference. Or you might find out you shoot one gun really poorly, and a bunch of others well. Or one brand better or worse.

Then sell any gun you don't shoot even moderately well. What good is it if it'll get you killed? But if you shoot one gun very well, note that and then carry it.

If there is no difference, and you can select any carry gun you want, then pick the one you just prefer, or the one with ivory grips!! :D
 
I support the following concept -

Shoot the largest caliber you can deliver with the best bullet placement, on a consistent basis.

Modern bullet design/manufacture does give the smaller calibers an advantage compared to their older counterparts.

A large hole is better than a small hole

More holes are better than one hole.

From my brother in arms Erich

Shot placement is King.

Adequate penetration is Queen.

Everything else are angels dancing on the head of a pin.
 
Not sure I get this, he won the gun fight and parts with the gun that saved his life? I'd be glued to that gun for life.

As for his hit percentage; seems pretty typical for everything I've ever heard about real life fights.

I asked him about this exact thing. He said he just thought he shot poorly with the .45 and was more comfortable with the 9mm. Rolling a running pit bull (it had just mauled a kid) affirmed his choice to him.

He's actually a very good shot, and hitting three out of eight at 35 yards with bullets passing overhead is probably better than I could do.
 
I maintain that a person get accurate with practice. It does not matter if you use a .380, a 9mm or a .500.

Police officers are notorious for not shooting their sidearms until it is time to qualify. They do not practice as a general rule.

I shoot a .45acp 2-3 times weekly and can hit whatever I am aiming at and I am fairly accurate with point shooting. I did not get this way because I shoot a .45acp but rather I practice with the .45acp.
 
I asked him about this exact thing. He said he just thought he shot poorly with the .45 and was more comfortable with the 9mm. Rolling a running pit bull (it had just mauled a kid) affirmed his choice to him.

He's actually a very good shot, and hitting three out of eight at 35 yards with bullets passing overhead is probably better than I could do.

Well, I'd agree you should carry the gun you're 120% confident in rather than the one you're not completely sure of.

I guess it's just me; if I have something that "works", I stay with it. I have a bunch of hammers, but the one you'll find on my tool belt is always my Dad's old black handled Estwing. Why? It's just right in my hand. I have a number of guns, the one you'll find on my hip when I'm out and about is the one I shoot the best. Now, if I got in a gun fight with it and won, I'd definitely never give it up (assuming the court gave it back to me :-)
 
I maintain that a person get accurate with practice. It does not matter if you use a .380, a 9mm or a .500.

Police officers are notorious for not shooting their sidearms until it is time to qualify. They do not practice as a general rule.

I shoot a .45acp 2-3 times weekly and can hit whatever I am aiming at and I am fairly accurate with point shooting. I did not get this way because I shoot a .45acp but rather I practice with the .45acp.

there is a lot to this statement I agree with.
Im trying to give my wife the gift of confidence with arms.
That arm right now is a 45ACP.
By my reasoning, I'd rather see if she can be seasoned to it before I allow negotiations for her go to piece.
When we pull the trigger, we have to have a baseline as to what to expect and it isnt going to be butterflies and potpourri ... though the latest cast bullet lube does have a nice hint of banana nut bread:D
She can rack the slide of my 45, which is a legit requirement, and the hardest part of operating a pistol.
The rest of the evolution is more about getting this city girl over her fear of being cuffed and stuffed for pulling the trigger. As we know, its illegality is more the exception than the rule .... we've got some work to do in this area;)
 

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