A key advantage, as stated, is the 45's shallower penetration for home defense. And no the target is not shooting back so the stress level is low. 20 ~ 30% accuracy, you have got to be kidding? It is not an issue. Don't know about explode, but a good hollow point will EXPAND. If there's bears...I'd go with bear spray first. It was intended to be a “real man-stopper.” It was adopted by the United States Army in 1911. Because 99% of people will never fight off a coyote attack let alone see a wolf and if your wandering into areas with wolves carrying a 9mm your pretty stupid as those places also have bears who aren't going to be impressed with the latest plastic fantastic. On the other OTH, if you're proficient with either the 9mm or 45 AUTO, then, go with it. hey’re still sticking to the 9mm caliber design. That's up in 10mm territory! Many shooters like to have the .45 ACP for home defense. It's all about the ammo. The 9mm pistol is the best gun for self defense. Soul people go to hell. 9mm vs .40 vs .45 For the sake of comparison, these are all Speer Gold Dot hollow-point rounds (from left to right): the 124-grain 9mm, 180-grain .40 S&W and 230-grain .45 ACP. It kills everything else. lbs. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. Later when they started coming out with pocket 9mm handguns I started to practice with those. My personal preference for a home defense handgun is a full-sized pistol chambered in .45 ACP. Outstanding. I started shooting at age 8 I am now 64, aferter seeing many debates on this topic, here is my own opinion the best pistol or rifle for self defense is the one that you can shoot the best. Others will be stopped by a minor injury or thumping them with a fist. You're 100% right the big boy can handle a coyote and a wolf so why waist your time carrying something that cant protect you from the both of them?? Good show all. Or shooting people in the back while they are running away. I am not sure if i would like to be hit by one 45 acp or 4 high velocity hollow point 22's ( honestly i can say neither but i do not disagree just throwing my 2 cents in it is all about shot control and placement. Cameras Don't Lie: 9mm vs .45 ACP. Yet, many who carry a handgun as part of their job choose to use other handgun cartridges, such as the .40 S&W and 9mm Parabellum. Notice that the goal is not to kill the attacker, but to stop the attack. n 2014, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a report detailing the potential combat effectiveness of the 9mm cartridge when compared to other calibers such as the .45 ACP and the .40 S&W cartridge that was specifically developed for use by the FBI. :), Here's an old lady's take on it: the best gun/caliber is what YOU shoot best. Glock 43 9mm is my every day carry, IWB. On these metrics, the rounds are generall equal. “Again, when technology fails, the .45 ACP makes a bigger hole. From the days of the trusty Colt M1911 to. Usually i hear 40 cal ford truck fender blah blah blah. There is a difference between an LEO and a civilian. They hardly hit that number. What they neglect to take into consideration is that in order for a cartridge to meet the testing criteria, the cartridge is required to get a minimum of 12" of penetration. It doesn’t get any smaller. Interestingly, the 9x19mm rounds generally produce higher muzzle energy which, as we all know from Newton's 3rd Law, produces an equal and opposite reaction. As to why heavier projectiles penetrate more than light ones, given similar shapes, is due to conservation of energy. Now – I see these new cops high fiving each other for passing. I also own a glock 19 as well. But do please keep up the good work with the site - from a country where only the police are allowed handguns, it’s like a window on the free world. And, once you get below 9 rounds in the weapon, bullet effectiveness becomes much more important. I walk, run, stand, drop, moving toward and sideways to targets which are set standing height and kneeling height. And, if you are really concerned about penetration on hard targets, then you should probably be carrying a magnum or the .357 SIG or 10mm rounds, not a 9x19mm or .45 ACP. lbs.). I would probably carry the gun inside the waist. 30% is being nice. Getting back to the point – the 9mm gives less recoil and many cops nowadays can’t shoot for shit. I would have to say that for me I am more accurate with a .45 acp then a 9mm but that may be because the 1911 is a better fit for me and feels better balanced then a polymer 9mm. I do just like the author says. While modern ammo allows a 9mm to reliable penetrate sufficiently and expand to over .6”, the 45 can now reliably penetrate sufficiently and expand to over 3/4” of an inch. I will always favor 45 Acp over 9mm. The 9mm is super small and light weight (about 16oz empty) and the 1911 weighs almost twice that. I do like shooting the .45acp But a 1911 commander as much as I love it, is harder to fit in my pocket. The .45acp makes bigger holes, all else being equal. However, I am getting an M&P9 2.0 for my daily carry. I believe you can make darn near any caliber and pistol you have just as flexible as the next caliber. Plus they have extended mags of many sizes Or back the other way, you can run 9mm NATO, +P adn all of that song and dance. Recoil is largely the same between the 9x9mm and the .45 ACP. Did the "suspects" who had 9mm rounds bounce off of them happen to be wearing red underwear and a big "S" on their chest. Just not before he stabs you to death. Now you may assume that the 9mm's must be effective because they simply passed through the body since more than half were FMJ's. Bullets which do not trike the target are worthless for self defense and represent a real danger to innocent bystanders. Some people carry a 124gr for summer and 147gr in cold climates where the BG might be wearing a Carhartt over sweaters, etc. Also buy a super bright flash light it will help you see and blind the intruder. Probably because it doesn't penetrate as far. This is why K.E. What may look like running away to someone not involved, might loot a lot more moving to cover from someone getting, or anticipating getting, shot at. The same gap between the 9mm vs 45 still exists. One other thing of interest is that in the Buckeye Firearms study both velocity and mass increase accuracy, but again, accuracy favors calibers that can excel and one or both of these things. Otherwise, Along with comments as well! I could not agree with you more on every level. Both are valid points and very understandable reasons to prefer one over the other. In my under experienced mind, you don't take 4 .45 rounds to the upper body and suffer life threatening injuries....you just plain and simply die. I'm not knocking the 9mm as a protection weapon. have the .45 pistol/carbine combo, luv 'em. However I don't really feel the average .45acp has that much more recoil "if any more" than a hot 9mm round. Every time. We really have the best there can be in terms of equipment so learning to employ them is the big issue other than defense against democrats. Well written, and no trash talking, rare in the gun world. 45 will make a bigger hole, which can be a decisive factor in lethality. Engaging, defensive and cover fire; they all require lots of bullets. 20-30% really isn't that bad. And honestly the 357magnum puts em both to shame. Drop to a knee which will angle your bullet trajectory upwards and if the rounds exit his body they should be travelling in a safe direction. My personal favorite without a doubt is the 1911 design, even though it's heavy, expensive to shoot, and has a limited magazine. But if cost IS an issue, then a well placed shot with a high grain 9mm FMJ is better than a poorly placed .45—what I mean is that you have to get your time in at the range. In a self-defense scenario, you're using your firearm because if you don't, you or a loved one will be harmed. I would think soldiers in fire fights face similar circumstances, except with more opponents who may also have body armor, which would favor the 9mm further, since it pierces armor better. With a good modern defensive ammo, the 9mm is just as powerful as any .45, just in different ways. Going to the store I take my 9 with 124 gr hst. Thanks, Eric! It's just going to tear stuff up more in there. What ever cal. If new powders and more advanced bullet designs used helped make the 9mm better then would not the new powders and more advanced bullet designs also then put every other caliber a step up also? The 45 acp has better stopping power. Apart from the .22lr, I would consider using any of them for self-defense. One type of ammo in both guns makes things easier. I carry a Glock 30 concealed . There are many good rounds for the G19 for social work. My personal word: Those who prefer the 9mm to the 45 ACP argue that it has higher accuracy and capacity than the .45: hence, the best of handguns. Did I leave something out? Its not about hitting something or someone behind the assailant, it's about hitting something through the wall and the garden fence behind the assailant. 3. With a wider selection of officers being able to shoot handguns chambered in 9×19mm, many departments choose this caliber so they can standardize around a single firearm and loading, making logistics and supply easier. What I am talking about is getting your front sight back on target after taking a shot. God bless. Shotguns, rifles, pistols...he's been collecting them all for over a decade. You effin ROCK! Only because it's easier to hide. Very informative article! I'll be shooting faster when I'm more confident that I can hit the target (the closer the distance; the bigger the target; the easier to handle, more accurate the gun...). For the United Kingdom, after Dunkirk, the UK lost basically everything. Campbell points out that gelatin blocks are not human and that humans are much more complex and react differently than an inanimate, unmotivated blob of jelly. The .45 was developed by the U.S. Cavalry in the late 1890s and early 20th century in a bid to create a bullet that was more effective against determined opponents. I don't believe that MEN can Kill the SOUL....It's GOD BREATHED Genesis 2:7.... and since the "SOUL" is "GOD-BREATHED", then The SOUL is "IMMORTAL".! Plenty of ink has already been spilled in the caliber wars. In that case consider a 10mm or .357 magnum (better get a .44 magnum) depending on how big the bears are. I prefer to carry a 45acp because it rips arms off bodies and a 12 gauge in the house. But if both of these two are more than your are able to shoot comfortably, consider the 380. A big, fat, 230 grain hollow point at that speed will drop the MF faster than a 9mm any day of the week.. My state has a 10 round limit. Excellent well researched response. I don't rely on the bullet (nor the sound of racking the gun, nor the sound of explosion to scare the intruder away). This depends what you mean by "outperforms the 9mm". The FPS isn't about dodging the bullet, that would be ridiculous, as you pointed out. They will both have the same result! I don't think the debate will ever be answered. The 9mm has to have much higher velocity to have the same momentum as a 45. And speaking of comments…we had some fun with this video…. If you come into my home, they're carrying what's left out in a bag. 9mm wins. Even the training provided is usually lacking. Unless you through simple logic out the window, the 45 does more damage. This is where the argument begins. Almost reaching weak .44 mag specs... Take the 155gr XTP 10mm round from Underwood. I do take into consideration penetration behind what I am aiming at with the 9mm because of over penetration, but you must ALWAYS be aware of what is behind the perp. Modern ammo has not only benefited the 9mm. Energy is a square of velocity. 11k plains, 6k tanks, 300k trucks, and 3 million tons of food were sent by the USA to the USSR. Does anybody have one of these that can state how their carrying experience has been? with two shots in the heart from a 40 S&W. Basically, I believe with smaller bores you need to make use of their speeds and get a temporary wound cavity that matters (to make up for its smaller permanent wound cavity). When comparing a 115 grain 9mm round to a .45 ACP bullet that weighs twice as much, that difference is so substantial that the energy foot pounds can be nearly equal. The ones that I carry travel at 1000 fps. Truthfully, all of these calibers are awesome. I do exactly as you stated, we think alike. My 45ACP at 12 rounds was well on the way to chewing it apart. As good a reason as any, I guess. ERIC! No less than the late Pat Rogers, who I have trained under and who has used a gun while in the U.S. Marines and as an officer with the New York Police Department, switched from a 1911 chambered in .45 ACP to a double-stack, striker-fired 9mm polymer-framed pistol. Everything is a compromise. It could be that when hollow points fail, 9mm isn't going deep enough, and perhaps the FMJ's don't overpenetrate in this caliber as much as others (especially because the most popular FMJ rounds are usually lighter 115 grain bullets). But that's all a moot point. While there are a number of compact .45 ACP models on the market, as a general rule, you can expect the 9mm to be more comfortable to carry in a holster. I'm not sure what 230gr advocates think the advantage of weight is in such a round, but anytime you can get a hollowpoint to open up, it's going to increase the stopping power. For a carry I use a compact 45. Here are more tips on how to. Most ATTACKERS will not realize the difference of being Hit with either bullet!! I am currently looking into a kimber ultra carry ii or a sig p938. I always figured that the 45 ACP would over-penetrate in a family home, but I read that it tends to be a slower round and might struggle to go through the more robust walls, etc. Brownells How To Pages are good research tools and will incite bring you stirring to rapidity fast. 9mm vs. .45. This should bring a target down. Switching to the 9mm makes them look less sexist. Some people intent on doing injury to others will be stopped and scared off at the mere sight of a gun. I want harm for nobody, and especially me and mine, too. That is kind of odd to me!! FBI agents have been observed to shoot faster and more accurately with the 9mm. Thanks for the one sided argument. I don't think i would hesitate to use my ruger 1022 for home defense with modern rounds like stingers or velocitors the new browning rounds that go 1450 fps. ), 9mm (379 ft. .380 vs 9mm ballistics…well, aren’t really close. Any high penetration rounds for handguns beyond fmj are usually considered as "armor piercing" and therefore illegal in the us. I had never thought about all this before the day that an Iraq veteran, who loves hunting, told me “use a BB gun to shoot rats in your backyard and carry a large magnum as a backup against a hog charging against you...”. Sure enough, it is certainly more destructive from what I've seen. * more rounds (20-30% accuracy by FBI measures) All bullets kill. Personally, I feel 9mm needs a boost in its speeds, because you are sacrificing bore size. I love your Pro / Con's of each. The average penetration is as follows: .380 ACP (14.9"), 9mm (17.1"), .40 S&W (17.9"), .357 SIG (18.0"), .45 ACP (18.1"), and 10mm (18.9"). Here in my area ( and pretty much every american homeowner) it will be a gunfight that will be fought at close range, fewer than four bullets shot and be over in seconds. The fact of the high muzzle velocity will lower the enteral damage done to organs . If you have to reassess after every shot, then that first shot needs to count. And this is all before we even talk about the lack of concealability of .45 ACP double stack. Get proficient on YOUR time. Just saying, look it up. Brandon Harville, There is a link to a notorious anti-gun organization in your article. And, we all know that the more damage done, to the body, the faster the blood loss. Only thing I would add is my home defense pistol fights me to my rifle...since pistol rounds are weak compared to a good old 5.56. 9mm or .45 ACP, that is the question. Ive loved the 45 since my Marine Corps days 50 years ago. As will pretty much anything under #4 buckshot. Just saying. Adam, Eve (before they sinned), and the Lord Jesus Christ (Who never sinned.) This begs the question: is bigger necessarily better? But apples to apples the 45 will always be a superior round. This has been a very interesting post! Others think 9mm trumps all or the .40 caliber has its own merits. Just keepin it real, and saying I'd like to see the testing that backs up a claim the 9mm has "way higher" muzzle velocities than the .45 ACP. If you can hit with one and allways misswith the others , I think I would chose the one you can make the most hits with, just from my own exsperance , I had some mild steel targets out at my home we used to shoot at all day and almost every day with .38 spl, And 9 mm, then I bought a kimber1911 9mm vs .40 vs .45 Debate | Which Is Better for Self-Defense? – 15 years ago, a 210 or 215 was something to be embarrassed about. Not that a low rent trash bag would be wearing a vest if he decides to break in your casa but with the cost of bullet resistant vests getting cheaper and cheaper any things possible. According to Dave Emery, wizard and senior ballistician at Hornady Manufacturing, an innovative maker of a variety of ammunition, there’s now very little difference in the actual terminal performance in ordnance gelatin between premium self-defense .40, .45 and 9mm projectiles. .45 ACP Vs 9mm: Does The .45 Still Reign Supreme? 45 Vs 9mm For Defense And Other Purposes The oldest debate in the handgun book at this point is 9mm vs 45 for concealed carry and/or self-defense. If you don't currently write articles professionally, you should consider doing so. Here are some of its best features: While slightly impractical, the .45 ACP also has the coolness factor on its side. It usually takes longer for lung and lower toro hits to produce the same results. The main drawback is the 8 round magazine (WC). These are FBI statistics. Talk about high-capacity magazines! More misinformation about the 9mm vs 45. If you're really intent on a firearm...go bigger. You cant beat the trigger on a .45 1911. I'm pretty sure the .50 AE can kill the soul. Bullet tech has come a long way for the .45 also.. ya ever seen the hole a .230 grain HST makes?..960 dia. It isn't a miracle round. More stopping power. https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2017/03/9mm-40-45-acp-stopping-power/ Without the hydrostatic shock of a rifle round, wouldn't more organ and tissue damage be most important? In .45 acp, with 230 grain target rounds we started shooting the same targets we shot with the 9mm and 38 spl, well guess what There’s no doubt that the .45 ACP is a classic handgun that’s not going anywhere in the foreseeable future, but it just doesn’t outperform the 9mm. Controllability How about another argument - controllability. Bull!! There is a plethora of loads in both 9mm and .45 that do a better job of expanding and out perform the FBI test rounds in nearly every way. Why? Killing the BODY "in this world" is MORE than Sufficient. "My husband doesn't like the sound of loud guns".....For Christ sakes, get him a pellet gun. pros y contras, el 9mm. The FBI employs some smart people. 540 ft lb was the highest recorded muzzle energy for the 9mm in their testing. If worried about an encounter with bears, I'd take nothing less than 357 Mag. The entrance and exit wound will be bigger (with a good hollow point). As a beginner, I'm going hiking with lots of bears. So I'm an operating room nurse in a level 1 trauma center. I have many .45s and 9mms. Thats what I carry now.Always will.When that loud bitch goes off it gets everyones attention..especially the turd youre trying to ghost. If I’m going with a traditional hollow point, give me .45 ACP Federal HST +P at 950 FPS. While the answer to this is up to debate, one thing is certain: higher muzzle velocity does equal slower bullet drop. He survived wounds to the chest, back, both arms and both legs. I'm not making this up. That is just simply a foolish claim to make. Even if you think size > capacity or more bullets is better, you have to admit having bigger bullets and having more bullets on tap are both worthy considerations when choosing one gun over the other. With boxes of 9mm Luger rounds being 30 to 40% cheaper than .45 ACP ammo, increased range time isn’t going to break your budget; and after all, spending more time on the range does make you a better marksman. Look at 5.56 vs 7.62 - the 5.56 makes havoc (spinning widely) when it enters the body which results in way more damage than the difference in diameter. A direct hit to the heart or aortic arch can take as long as 8 seconds to result in unconsciousness. I own both 9 and 45 because I enjoy both and in a shtf both will be needed. This is a great article period.! So .45 is the guarantee to punch big holes, with 9 you have to have the right conditions. Over penetration matters in public too. The .380 is obviously light and slow and has the least penetration. Locally we are seeing a lot of police involved shootings using 9mm, and they empty the clip almost every time. http://www.ballistics101.com/45_acp.php Good evening! lbs. The matter of fact is that the three most commonly carried/used semi automatic calibers (9mm, .40 s&w, .45 acp) are all equally quite weak compared to shotgun and rifle rounds. I'd love to find a 10mm SubSonic round in the 250gr range, my son has a Kriss Vector with a SilencerCo can. When you said buy both at the end I was thinking .45 for carry and 9mm for backup. I rely on my skill to execute the shot. I have been shot, it happened in the suburbs back in '74. I carry both 9mm and .45 ACP (not at the same time.) He hits the nail perfectly on the head. I have a Sig 1911 Ultra Compact .45 and a Sig P938 9mm. Either way, the 9mm and the .45 ACP both pack a strong enough punch to neutralize any threat. He can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about hunting and recreational shooting. This would most likely result in you firing at the assailant in a less accurate fashion as well as possibly harming others. It gives perspective from both sides. But Campbell is rational and not married to the .45 ACP just because of tradition. Thanks for the article, and for the mature comments. It is always situational awareness no matter what. Seriously, people think that the 9mm rounds are the only that made progress in development. But a small number will not stop unless they’re physically unable to continue. You are going to get a lot of arguments for one or the other. It is a lot easier with a 9mm than a .45. I had thousands .45 230 grains  hardball and some +Ps hallow points with my standard 1911 when I tested my friend's full size 9mm. Many handgun enthusiasts believe that bigger is, in fact, better and love everything that the .45 ACP has to offer. As a civilian I shouldn’t find myself in a situation in the street to have to shoot into cars and where I live by code all exterior walls are concrete. But barrier's and body armor slows 45's down to BB gun effectiveness! It fires slow and heavy bullets at a lower muzzle velocity than the 9mm and can be suppressed to near-whisper levels. If you, as an individual, can put in the training required to fully leverage 40S&W or 45acp then it can be a great choice for personal defense. Overall, I'll carry 9mm when outside my home, eventually acquire a double stack .45 ACP for home defense, and will shoot the 1911 for fun :).