15 Second Briefing:
This debate has been going on forever. What’s better? 9mm or .45 ACP? There are tried and true supporters on each side that will fight to the death to prove they are better.
It depends on many factors including how you plan on using your handgun, if you plan on suppressing your handgun, and even the cost or availability of ammo.
Welcome to the ammunition Thunderdome! Our contenders: 9mm vs .45 ACP
Let’s get readdddddyyyyyy to rumble.
In this corner, we have the fast and lean 9mm. In the opposing corner, we have the heavyweight slugger, .45 ACP. Are you ready? Let’s have a clean fight!
Yeah, we know this debate has been going on forever. We still hear it all the time. What’s better? 9mm or .45 ACP? There are tried and true supporters on each side that will fight to the death to prove they are better.
So whaddya say? Would you rather have the hard-hitting power from 8-10 rounds of .45 ACP or 15-19 rounds of supersonic 9mm? Purists would choose one over the other for sure. And some may even call it a tie.
What Do We Say?
It depends on many factors including how you plan on using your handgun, what works best for you if you plan on suppressing your handgun, and even the cost or availability of ammo.
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As your primary concealed carry weapon, you must take into consideration the size of your firearm and where on your body you plan on carrying it. For some, a .45 ACP handgun may be too heavy or bulky for concealed carry. If you plan on using appendix carry, a smaller 9mm handgun may be better. If you have a larger frame or carry concealed in a different location, a .45 ACP handgun may be perfect. This is where comfort and personal preference matters most.
In addition to the size and weight of your handgun for concealed carry, you may be more proficient and accurate with a .45 ACP rather than a 9mm. Or, you may not like the recoil of a .45 ACP handgun and prefer 9mm. If you’re concerned about overpenetration, a 9mm cartridge will penetrate further than a .45 ACP bullet because it’s a lighter, faster round. Due to its smaller size, you can hold more rounds of 9mm than .45 ACP. If capacity is important, 9mm wins in most cases as few .45 ACP handguns hold as many rounds compared to a 9mm pistol of similar size.
One area that the .45 ACP shines is when using a suppressor. Due to the heavier weight and slower velocity of .45 ACP, it makes a better subsonic round with a suppressor. Does that mean you can’t suppress 9mm? Absolutely not! And many firearms manufacturers have suppressor-ready 9mm handguns. It comes down to preference and use.
Cost and Availabilty is a HUGE Factor
One last factor to consider is the cost and availability of ammunition. Typically, 9mm is less expensive and more readily available compared to .45 ACP. The difference may not be enough to hinder someone from purchasing a bigger and heavier round. But it is something to think about especially when ammo is extremely limited as we’ve seen during the Coronavirus.
The Verdict
When it’s all said and done, 9mm and .45 ACP (and everything in between, yes, even you .40 caliber) are great cartridges for self-defense and target shooting. Get and shoot both. Train with both. Find what you like and stick with it or get equally good with a variety of handguns and calibers from .22 LR to .50 AE. Heck, you may even find that you prefer .38 special, 10mm, or .44 magnum instead of 9mm or .45 ACP.
Let’s stop arguing about which caliber is better and get out and train more. Everyone can use more training. And everyone should be pro-Second Amendment. Join a local or national 2A group. Vote for pro-2A politicians. Just get out there and keep training and promoting the Second Amendment.
Big Daddy Unlimited advocates strongly for Second Amendment rights because we believe that the right to keep and bear arms exists to protect all of the other God-given rights of American citizens. Become a member today to join our community of freedom-loving Americans, and let’s work together to support and defend our Second Amendment rights.
