New side arm what do you chose 9 mm or 45 ACP & why?

Cpl Brett Wagner — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:13:01 -0400

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Jul 8 at 2014 3:26 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:26:54 -0400

I would take a 45 any day, more power behind it. It has more recoil but that is what you get when it comes to weapon strength!

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Apr 28 at 2015 2:19 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 14:19:21 -0400

Stopping power

Response by LTC Matthew Tieszen made May 7 at 2015 10:31 AM

LTC Matthew Tieszen — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:31:21 -0400

*** Edit***
Readress as my 1st post was more towards personally owned firearm as opposed to discussion of a new military pistol.

Unfortunately, and to the chagrin of many here... I think I would have to lean more towards 9mm again.
Main reason... I've watched too many people shoot the M9 and don't think a large part of the force would be able to shoot the .45. Just go to a range and watch the bolos and handling of the pistol.

*** End edit***

Originally my answer would have been 9mm. this was based on $$ round and how this translates into opportunities to shoot more and become more proficient with the fire arm.

I'm aware of mot the arguments: Penetration, over penetration, stopping power.. most of these can be addressed with a specific round in the category (hollow vs ball ammo, +p etc.)

However with ammo prices being what they are, availability, and size of particular pistols (M&P Shield, XDs, etc) I think it is a toss up and one that the person would have to shoot the firearm and base on personal preference for recoil, ability to re-engage and weight when loaded.

I've carried in both. I tend towards the 9mm only because my M&P shield is 9 and my .45 is a full frame.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 5:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 17:01:59 -0400

My preference is either .40 or .45. That's what I own. What ever the Army decides to use I'll train with it and become as proficient with it as I can.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made May 17 at 2015 5:05 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Sun, 17 May 2015 17:05:17 -0400

.45 ACP the round was designed and tested for trench warfare stopping power against attackers on methamphetamine.

Response by Sgt Jerami Ballard made May 20 at 2015 1:55 PM

Sgt Jerami Ballard — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:55:21 -0400

Everyone who carries swears by 9mm for its typically compact frames and cheap ammo costs (especially in an age of cutbacks and teh DHS buying all of the ammo) while mostly older service members and veterans will swear by .45 ACP for its stopping power.
I love both of them for the aforementioned reasons and have reasons to side with both. Pistol is extra weight and drag until you have to use it and then it never seems to hard hard enough to get the point across. It's the same old song of ammo availability, weight, and stopping power.
I have to say that I'd stick with a .40 and hope the military makes the decision to adopt a pistol that uses it. Cost, compactness, and recoil are all more in line with 9mm while the penetration and expansion are more in line with the .45. Muzzle velocity typically exceeds the .45 which is actually a benefit if god forbid you have to fire on an armored target. In the era where active duty service members across the board seem to be getting smaller and people who would never be considered to be put in a physical security billet or a combat zone, lightening the load while retaining effectiveness is key especially because we carry more crap than ever now.
We've had an option to do it for some time now and many special operation units have already made the switch to light and reliable pistols chambered in .40 such as the Glock 22 you see Marsoc throw around cause it's not a MEU(SOC) pistol but then fall in love with it on the range.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 8:34 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:34:51 -0400

I'm fine with a hollow point 9mm.. I like the extra capacity over the .40 or .45... It's all personal preference. Accuracy is more important that the round!! The FBI has done studies and went back to 9mm....

http://loadoutroom.com/12077/fbi-going-9mm-comes-science/

The FBI is Going 9mm: Here Comes the Science

UPDATE: There have been some questions about the origin of this FBI statement. As the word of the FBI’s solicitation for 9mm handguns became public, they were hit with a flood of questions fr…

Response by Sgt Dave Fender made Jun 7 at 2015 7:55 PM

Sgt Dave Fender — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 19:55:08 -0400

.45 its just my preferred caliber I've always owned .45's just what I like

Response by Cpl Anthony Hendrickson made Jun 18 at 2015 5:13 PM

Cpl Anthony Hendrickson — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:13:27 -0400

We have .45 at my reserve unit.

Response by Cpl Chris Elliott made Jun 30 at 2015 1:24 PM

Cpl Chris Elliott — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:24:17 -0400

I used both when I was stationed at barracks duty. 45 is a better weapon to me

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 30 at 2015 1:36 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:36:39 -0400

Conventionally I would like to stick to a 9mm round. For military used and application, we may need to go back to using 45 ACP.

Example for reasoning. If a suicide bomber is running at you, I want him put down till he gets in the kill zone.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 2:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:40:59 -0400

I'll take the 9mm because there is less recoil, greater performance manageability, higher magazine capacity, hollow point ammunition makes it very effective with regards to stopping power.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2019 3:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:09:20 -0500

My newest was a 45APC, but I do have all the other calibers, 9mm, 45APC, 40S&W, 45APC, 38 super, 45APC, 357mag, 44mag, 45APC, 22LR, all in that order. Lol
"Other 45ACP's are not in photos"

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 14 at 2019 10:58 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:58:57 -0500

I'd stick with the good old .45. The knockdown power it has.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 14 at 2019 11:02 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:02:40 -0500

Weapon choice depends on the use. I doubt if I'll ever see a battlefield. (Not many 75 year olds found there). Almost any small bore is adequate for home/self defense. (Actually, I keep a short barrel 12 gauge for that). If I have to carry concealed, I'd choose a .38 revolver or 380 auto. Good enough to hold perpetrators at bay, loud enough to summon attention and scare off the more timid miscreants. Actually, even a .22 might serve the purpose

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Jan 14 at 2019 11:19 AM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:19:12 -0500

Preference has little to do with it for me. When the army handed me a 1911 .45 it was love at first sight. Now, I pay for the ammo, so it's 9mm these days.

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Jan 14 at 2019 1:57 PM

SPC Gary Welch — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 13:57:12 -0500

45 everyday of the week and twice on Sunday I wouldn't own a 9 mm even if you gave it to me I have a couple of 40s but those only go to the range

Response by SGT James Murphy made Jan 14 at 2019 3:22 PM

SGT James Murphy — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 15:22:31 -0500

I've been using the 9mm for some time now. However to boost the knockdown power I use HydroShock Hollowpoints and Hot Loads.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Jan 15 at 2019 11:42 AM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 11:42:30 -0500

Call me an old fart but I will take the venerable.45 ACP in 1911 everytime. Locked and cocked.

Response by SP5 Peter Hawkins made Jan 31 at 2019 1:08 PM

SP5 Peter Hawkins — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:08:21 -0500

.40 S&W, the best of both worlds. .45 ACP is heavy and not as effective at 800 fps. 9mm is no better than .38, which the United States Armed Forces replaced with the M1911 over a century ago. But I admit that for really close work I'll take a .380, which is just a 9mm Short.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 11 at 2019 6:41 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 11 May 2019 18:41:33 -0400

I carry a pistol primarily to administer the coup de grace for injured animals on and off my farm. My secondary purpose is concealed carry for self defense. So I'm interested in a small frame, light weight pistol, but still big enough to be comfortable in my hand. In general I'd go with a 9mm/.38. HOWEVER, the one exception, when I hunt feral pigs I carry a .45, cuz if you didn't kill them you probably pissed them off.

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made Nov 14 at 2021 9:56 AM

1LT Voyle Smith — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 09:56:21 -0500

I carried a 1911 for years, going back to 1967 when I arrived in Vietnam. But earlier this year I sold Orr gave away all of my .45s, including a Kimber with a Crimson Trace laser, a stainless steel Colt Commander and a Tisas from Turkey. Now I carry a Kimber Micro9 in 9mm because it’s easier to conceal.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2021 8:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 20:41:23 -0500

Neither. I choose the 47mag but will lower myself to 10mm

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 28 at 2022 8:21 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:21:36 -0400

Neither I don't favor having guns at home because more people who have guns sometimes get shot with their own weapon.

Response by SSG Jack Scott made Aug 29 at 2022 2:09 AM

SSG Jack Scott — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 02:09:22 -0400

The most successful military pistol the Colt & Remington 1911 45 over a hundred years. The modern military doesn’t have a great track record on weapons selection. The worst was the selection on the M16 over the M-14 a true battle rifle instead of selecting a comparable battle rifle as the rest of the world. My opinion only. Just like the 1980’s in the Marines when they took all our 1911’s and replaced them with crappy Beretta‘s! It all comes down with military Purchasing through Committee! It’s not about what’s best for the military it always comes down to Politicians and who makes the money in what back room deal. A senator has manufacturing in his district so he pushes for the contract and wins.