Amateur shooter here. I've watched 100's of videos from probably as many shooters. Just started watching Harrell's videos. I have learned more from EACH one of his than all the others combined. He is a true teacher and his knowledge is unparalleled. Outstanding!
I don’t think I’m the only person reviewing Mr. Harrell’s older work. Has anyone noticed, either his editing is absolutely seamless, or he nails his presentation in one go, and also without notes? Simply amazing.
I come away from Paul's videos feeling better informed with solid facts as opposed to hearsay and bias. Anyone can spout a little history lesson on their channel after a little reading and web surfing, go out hit some balloons and bottles, chuckle and act like their wise. Paul obviously comes from serious life experiences and has the credentials to back up what he says; because he is a professional and that should be apparent in the way he speaks, shoots and does a methodical break down and analysis. I am willing to bet that a lot of FBI folks are tuned into his channel, just wouldn't surprise me.
The difference between these two calibers for me is this: Right now, there is a 2 box limit on 45acp (and 380acp and 9mm) at my store, and that's if there is even any for sale which is often not the case. At the same store there is a pallet with over 20,000 rounds of .40 s&w sitting on it. So no matter what the ballistics are of any caliber, I'll take the one I can shoot today.
This is something we are all learning. I bought 9mm weapons years ago because they are so common and I thought finding ammo would be easy. In a crisis, I've found that common ammo is not at all commonly available. Less popular caliber ammo is more available. Availability is key.
@snoopy dubnation If you are worried about the very real possibility that a civil conflict occurs soon, and you can either get armed with 17 HMR or be unarmed, then yes. But also buy ammo for your other guns any chance you get.
My buddy and I bought firearms this year he bought a 9mm and a AR. Arm and a leg for ammo. I got the judge which fires .45lc or 410 and a .40; ammo everywhere for less then either of his firearms.
I agree. What is more, he never calls someone stupid for anything, even when he demonstrates the flaws in someone else's thinking. Paul is a true professional!
A buddy was buying a pistol at a local shop a while back and he told me the story. A guy mentioned that he wanted a self defense pistol but it had to be accurate to 60 yards. And some other guy spoke up and said, "if you think 60 yards counts as self defense, what you'll need is a really good lawyer.". That popped up in my brain when you mentioned 60 yard bulket drop.
I work for police (IT) they often have engagements farther than that. If you can't hit a target that far you need to train more at least to hit 50 yards.
Paul once picked up 12 ribs, 6 t-shirts, 24 soda jugs, 6 watermelons, and 6 pig ears. When the clerk asked him what he was gonna do with all of those bizarre items, he simply said: "You be the judge.".
I love how logical, calm and intelligent you are, in any subject you choose to discuss. It shows your due diligence on the matter, and your dedication to truly educating people. Specially in a field, which involves potential lives at risk. Thank you, and keep up your fantastic work.
+georgjohnsmith: You could answer your own question to your own satisfaction by WATCHING some Paul Harrell videos. But you just sound like an attention-seeking troll, so please trundle off & get lost. Thanks.
+Michael Shapiro. Dear Michael, exactly how f***** up your "life" is? How desperate you must get to defend a youtuber from an obvious joke? Do you also smash the heads of children on the street when you hear them laugh?
You are a absolute gem to the documentary presentation enjoying gun nuts. I really appreciate your dedication, it's like watching PBS, when PBS was PBS.
МЭF15ТФFДL VЄЯↁЦИЅНДЄL are you being sarcastic? If not, there is another great RU-vid show where a guy shoots pots, hence the smoking pot comment. If you know, you know.
As always very thorough. I was trained in the early 1970's, the old FBI style, revolvers out to 60 yards. In real life my longest gunfight was 12 feet, 3 under 10 ft and 2 at about 4 ft. Believe it or not I was trained to use a 1911 out to 100 yards. I've used only used 2 calibers in those gunfights a 357 S&W model 27 and a 1911. As good as both those calibers are, I cursed my stupidity for not having my 870 12 ga. Fortunately for me the good Lord and luck kept me safe.
@@douganderson7002 From the 70's till the late 90's when we locked up enough people, the crime rate was crazy high and shootouts/gunfights were not uncommon for police. Casualties were high also till body armor became commonplace . Its absolutely possible that the poster had that many incidents over a career. If it was say 20 years , that is one every 3 years which isn't that many for the era.
This is by far the most exhaustive comparison of the 40 vs 45 cartridges done by anyone. Great job and thank you for all of the effort it takes to make a presentation like this!
If the objective of a .40 S&W was to get .45ACP like performance out of a 9mm framed pistol, as opposed to outperform a .45 ACP, I'd say the round delivered in spades.
The objective was to be the middle round between a 9 mm and a 10 mm. And it performed perfectly. Unless it is just too much Pistol for you and I'm not mocking you I'm just saying unless it is. The 40 Cal is the best Pistol hands-down
You have to wonder what the cashier at his local grocer thinks of him though, when every time he comes in he buys thirty two litter crappy sodas, watermelons, oranges, and pork ribs.
Got both, love em both. If I was forced to choose though I'd have to go with my .45 1911. It's a little more high matinance but I can shoot it better and I feel like it will last longer than my .40 m&p2.0. I love my smith and it's very accurate and reliable but of the 2 the 1911 wins because of the materials, great trigger and my ability to shoot it with great accuracy.
The price issue is the ammo, 45 acp ammo cost more than 40 sw and less available than the 40 sw, gun price is about the same if you are not trying to get a 1911. But why would you get 45 acp and not have it in 1911? 45 acp is a preference caliber for self defense. In terms of capacity, price, practicality, and EDC , 9 mm and 40 sw are much better than 45 acp. 45 acp 1911 is for gun enthusiasts. I have a 45 acp 1911 just to have it, I switch between glock 26 and 27 for EDC. At most I'll use the 1911 at the range for fun and as a backup gun for home defense. But I train extensively for self defense with 9 mm and 40 sw.
Paul is awesome. Although I have shot for nerly 50 years, I always learn something from his videos, and especially appreciate the fact that he conveys knowledge without preconceived notions or unnecessary drama.
You can do it too! Most people just don't take the time to train (or have the facilities) for accuracy at a distance. Here's how my range session looks like when working on accuracy. 1. Loosen up, do some dry fire practice and draw/present from holster. 2. Shoot a patch. 1" patch plastered on a IPSC target, from 10 feet, shoot it completely off the target. Take all the time and rounds you need. 3. Move out to a distance from which you can still see the bullet holes. Put up a bright, contrasting, post-it sticky at the center of your IPSC target. Draw from holster and put one bullet thru the post-it. Repeat and increase speed gradually (push yourself to failure), replace post-it as needed. 4. Do the same drill with a 6-8" steel plate for instant feedback. Start at 10 yards and work your way out in 5 yard increments. 5 hits on the steel = move back. Balance speed and accuracy. Quality in every shot. 5. Fun drill of the day to finish off the ammo. Not too ammo intensive but very effective. Soon you'll be hitting that 8" plate at 50 yards and the IPSC target at 100. Best of luck!
Years ago I was ok at 50 yards at a man size target with a 6" barrel Model 27. Typically one flyer, two either near misses or hits in non-vital areas, and three solid hits. With an autoloader, I'd be lucky to keep half the shots on the paper. Then I watch Paul with great groups at 50 to 100 yards. And Jerry Milchliuk (spelling?) Hit a ballon at 1,000 yards on his second shot with a stinking 9mm. They make me feel so bad about myself being a pathetic little excuse for a shooter. Then I perk up because it means I just need to practice more!
Have carried both as duty weapons. Trained 100s of officers on both. Had better results with marginal shooters with the 45 vs the 40. I preferred the 45 over time only because the 40 caused more parts failures for our special ops shooters and officers who took advantage of shooting a lot at ur range. Good video Paul.
Hey folks, lets promote this channel in the comment section of other gun channels...just to give other gun enthusiasts a chance to learn ..rather than just getting questionable entertainment
Well said, it's obvious many gun channels on YT are just "tacticool entertainment" consisting of an overly long "show and tell" with ZERO real world ballistic testing unlike Paul's videos.
+kriz zzz I don't know, if people are still watching some of those other gun channels, many of them, then I'm not so sure they have the right stuff between their ears to be watching this one.
I carry a PPQ loaded with Fed HST 165 GRAIN .40 and it is pretty devastating to anything I've shot with it. I certainly wouldn't want to get hit by it.
In general both rounds are not the same. Didn’t even know they made a .45 that light. If both rounds do happen to be similar then round count is the next determining factor (some would say it should be the preliminary factor) and with that being said, .40 always wins.
@@徐银伟 Watch this video. Maybe a new solid-copper projectile from Lehigh Defense would interest you, more than the caliber wars. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ClJcJ8LQFbQ.html
A very good presenter based on fact, not emotion. What I learned is that I don't need a 40 in addition to the 45 I had. I'd feel the same if the reverse were true.
A great round in 9 mm is just as effective. There’s less than three or four percentage points difference from the best nine to Either 40 Cal or 45 Cal, if you don’t get the best round possible for the 10 mm it’s worse than the other three
Exactly right. I could only see minimal benefit between the two. If you're below average stature (body weight) go with the .40 and enjoy two extra shots and 5-10 yards of accuracy. If you're larger stature, go .45 and enjoy the benefits of .40 over .38 (9mm) with even greater close in destruction. .45 doesn't feel awkward to me despite average or smaller stature. The weight is comforting and returns the sight ti true faster despite the added recoil. It's more about how you play the fiddle than who made the damned thing.
Concur wholeheartedly. Only discovered this channel a couple days ago. Extremely informative, well-spoken, great demonstrations and, most of all, eschews all the tacticool crap prevalent on RU-vid.
The Stoned Videogame Nerd That actually did make me snort... 🤣 Need to spread the word on this channel. I've actually **learned** more in the dozen or so so videos I've watched than I have in years. Actually reminds me of when I first started learning to shoot as an adolescent, only obviously more advanced. No BS, no "this cartridge sucks and you're a loser for using it," no tacticool machismo 💩 and absolutely no attitude... packed with perfect humor.
"and I'll shoot from 60 yards". Dude you are my hero. I don't know anybody able to casually say and shoot that far away right past their camera like it's nothing. Haha. Your channel is my go-to for thorough information.
Great video Paul. This was interesting to me because of my 36 years as a LEO I carried the G21 for about 7 years and then the G22 for about the next 7 years until I retired. If I was given a choice I would have continued to carry the 21 but due to varying hand sizes in the department it was decided we would all be issued the 22. Even though I preferred the 21, as you stated at your conclusion, I didn't feel under gunned with either weapon. It was definitely more reassuring carrying autos over revolvers due to number of rounds in the gun and faster reloading.
Paul is the best. I love how he states the 21 does not fit his hand as well but then proceeds to shoot the 45 more accurately both fast and slow and then knocks down the metal more quickly with the 45.
I just watched this on my big screen, but had to comment so I went to my laptop. I have learned more from you Paul, than all the other experts that I have been exposed to, and truly you are not only knowledgeable, but one hell of a shot. Thank you for your educational videos.
Bottom line, to each their own for caliber (whether it be 9mm, 38spl/357mag, 40s&w/357sig, or 45acp), buy some quality ammunition, and train. Doesn't matter it you have a 22LR or a 500S&W Magnum if you can't hit the intended target's vitals.
Saving people money and time Thank you for the most realistic tests and explanations. I have noticed the comments are positive above average on Paul's channel compared to others I see. That's pretty good consistent content quality.. I can not emagen the work that goes in to these videos. There should be RU-vid creators taking notes.
Remember, something reloaders have know forever, every gun is an individual with individual preferences. This is a fact, so even if he tests the same model you have that ammo might not be the best fit for your individual gun, ( whether it’s barrel is rifled or not and whether you loosely call it a weapon or not). Still there’s a LOT of value in his presentations.
This video needed to exist. People like to say the .45 ACP is dead and obsolete, but based on the following demonstration, .40 and .45 are neck in neck. It was like watching the .22 LR vs .25 ACP Pocket Pistol video you made a few years back; the differences between the two are minimal at best and weight and fair comparisons shine a clearer reality of the calibers. If I can afford to own it, shoot it, and it fills my intended roles, it works. Period. Thanks for landing another blow to the Caliber debate Paul 👍🏼.
Wasabi Kicks Yankee Marshall calls it 45 aarp and says it's old technology. Then again that's coming from the guy who says the Chiapas rhino is the best concealed carry gun.
Nick Harrell Chiappa Rhino's are aesthetically unique in a sci-fi kind of way. But I don't believe they are worth the price. It's an attempt at reinventing the wheel when the wheel is already functional, of course there are always different materials you could use to make the wheel that make it fresh or bring it into the modern age, but it will still function just as well. That aside, no one can really sit there and tell me the .45 ACP is not effective, Nor can they say the same for the 9mm. I use to regularly carry a .25 ACP and it was effective to me based on its highly compact size and light recoil (ammo prices suck to say the least) but it wasn't a range rat. With proper handling, training, and fair knowledge of human anatomy ANY caliber can be made effective. Especially if we observe Paul's studies and factor in ammo selection.
Some youtubers are always looking for a way to get more views, not to provide the best and most trustworthy content. TYM is relatively gun smart, but like a guy who's been hanging out on forums for years (which he has - I remember seeing him on those like 12-14 years ago now), not like a guy with a lot of training or experience. He is a 'hobbyist', i.e. someone who has the money to buy a lot of guns and enjoys looking at them and talking about them... more than shooting them. When was the last (or first) time you saw him shoot? His creds are paper thin and his near-use of force (brandishing at an intersection) story is pathetic. Like a train wreck I can't help watching some of his videos when bored and at least he has the balls to voice some controversial opinions, but it's the contrarian and troll in him more than the thinking man. His video on the .45 ACP is a joke made purely for the controversy, just like Yeager (an old TYM man crush) and his "1911s suck" or "the .40 sucks" ones.
My Name Is Legion I absolutely agree. When it comes to firearms I like to think I keep an open mind, primarily due to budget constraints and also because a lot of firearm selection is trial and error. In the beginning I had a tendency to underrate firearms I already owned and pick ones that didn't suit my needs. From .40 to .380 to .25 to 9mm to .25 again the issue didn't become the caliber in my case but what worked for my circumstances and budget. The .25 ACP works for me based on concealability and recoil, but I hate the price of ammo and I already have given my reliance to a Brand or model that is not particularly well made, but works as needed (and just based on my experience alone Jimenez Arms and Ravens are stellar and more reliable than Rohm). I learned that through trial and error. I'm just fortunate that it didn't happen when it actually counted and my circumstances didn't have me smack in the middle of a bad neighborhood again. Sometimes all we have is what we know to educate others and help them along. I will never discourage someone from a .25 if It works for them, I will give them my most humble recommendation because of my strange romance for the little Caliber, but the same goes for any gun; get what suits the user, practice and train regularly, and apply knowledge to any and all scenarios. I always recommend Paul because his videos pertain to the realism not the Bearded, Tatted fantasy of Duke Nukem wanna be's: Everyone wants to kick ass and chew gum, but few want to use common sense and logic.
The Rhino is certainly interesting. I've never shot one, but I want to. I want to feel the difference in felt recoil from a 6 o'clock firing position. It's definitely not worth the price, but it'd be nice if that kind of innovation was more prevalent and more accessible to us common folk.
Hey Paul. Just wanna say I love your videos. They are no bullshit. You make things pretty blunt & seem really non biased, which I greatly respect. God bless you. Keep up the good work!
Great vid! Kinda just proves wat I've always said when comparing the two.With modern ammo they are almost identical. But with the .40 you can get .45 performance in a smaller , lighter weapon and have added ammo capacity. I'll always be a .45 guy, but for concealed carry, the .40 just makes more sense mathematically and comfortably. That is just my opinion though. I still carry a 45 sometimes in the winter when clothing and holster choices are more conducive to a larger CCW.
@@TechAndMotorcycles No, that is not what he said. They are remarkably similar in all aspects. What he said was to choose what is most comfortable for you and best fits your budget. That he would not feel "under-gunned" with either. Other than the grip size, the AMMO you choose will largely dictate which one performs better.
Paul: This .45 has a huge grip that doesn't fit my hand well, and it has a lower ammo capacity. *Commences to shoot the 45 faster and more accurately than the other handgun.
A similar thing happened in his Walther PPK/S vs. Bersa Thunder 380 video; He talked about how much more experience (a decade plus if I am recalling correctly) with the PPK/S he had, and that the Bersa had a horrendous trigger. He then proceeded to shoot a tighter grouping in his accuracy test with the Bersa. There are definitely a few head scratchers every now and then with Paul's vids; my favorites are his ammo tests where he tests an ammo that supposedly is very effective according to ballistic gel tests (like on lucky gunner labs), but end up being sub-par on the meat target.
@@ExceptionalPleb My thought exactly. Bones are hard targets that will crack and break, absorbing a lot of energy from a passing bullet, kinda like a ceramic plate (though obviously nowhere near the same efficacy). If you ever have to shoot a real target, you need to factor bone into the equation somehow.
@@keithgraham9547 It must come down to weight and balance. It may feel uncomfortable in terms of grip but perhaps the heavy barrel and magazine well give a solid return to original position while the .40 floats more?
@@keithgraham9547 well, Lucky Gunner is replicating the FBI's testing methods. Paul is going at it from a medical perspective, which frankly I put more stock in than a block of Jell-O. So far, that I know of, there have only a small handful of, as Paul calls them, "hyper ammo" that have performed equally well in both tests; the one that comes to mind is the 40 S&W Winchester Ranger T-Series. In my opinion, the Lehigh/Underwood .380 Extreme Defender gives the .380 a much needed boost to it's viability...and I say this going off of both gel tests I've seen, and Paul's own meat target tests. But aside from concealed carry, I'd rather go with .40 or .45 ACP. Yes, I know of the much repeated line from the FBI report stating modern 9mm is equal to a .45...which smells like horseshit. There's got to be something omitted (like bean counting, and lesser training), because from everything I have researched, which admittedly involved a lot of staring at Lucky Gunner tables, the best 9mm hollow point out there, that penetrates to about 14 inches or greater in gel, expands to about .65 of an inch or the width of a dime. The best .45 ACP, same penetration depths, expands to 1 inch, or about the size of a quarter. The best .40 does .85 of an inch, about a nickel. Now I may not have passed discreet mathematics in college, nor trained at THE academy, but I damn sure can tell ya a quarter is bigger than a dime, all things being equal...sorry, went off on a huge tangent there...
Cementing them together and adding the weight of the entire structure gives them a lot more strength. I wouldn't build a bunker out of them, but its definitely okay for a house.
Buildings build with blocks like that typically have the holes filled in with concrete, significantly increasing their strength and durability, and plenty of "bunkers" have been built with concrete blocks, though if you can afford it, steel would be better for a "bunker".
I love your videos! They are very informative. Ever since I was in the Corps in the mid 60’s and in Vietnam I’ve always felt comfortable with the 1911. I always qualified expert with one and I have large hands so I like larger guns. I did however purchase a Beretta 92 in .40 caliber. I also loved it because of its size. I did however give it to my son when he went into the police academy. He still has it 20 years later.
And experienced too. Seeing as he was in the military (marines and then national guard) for twenty years and took several schools and qualifications. He is also well versed in teaching at he was an instructor before. Blend that all together with his style, you get a great RU-vid channel.
This is part of why I like .40. Very close in performance to .45, but cheaper and generally higher capacity. You just have to be very careful about choosing the right platform.
I suppose I'd fallen for the myth that the .40 was hot but getting hit in the thumb with a .45 would take a shoulder off. The results were surprising because I expected to see a much greater disparity between the two, but as per your demo, the difference wouldn't be worth worrying about in a fight. I like and appreciate your videos. Lots of empirical data with a good blend of common sense. Thank you.
i know right? its almost as if two cartridges packing similar KE do the same amount of damage. And in his other tests like 357 sig vs 40 and 357 mag vs sig, that bullets with more KE do more damage. Its almost as if KE makes an a difference which is completely contrary to the 9mm glags assertions.
Dammit Paul ! If I shot as well as you do, I'd probably be comfortable with a 25 caliber pistol ! Thanks ever so much for efforts. Please keep up the great work for us .
In my personal opinion. The 40 vs 45 is like the 9mm vs 38spl. They are similar in a lot of ways but also different enough that you'll want to do shooting with each caliber to see what you like. Personally I carry a 40s&w almost all days of the week besides Sunday when I got to church, I carry a snub nose 38spl +p to hide it better in my clothes
Spoiled kids. They typically want a 'cool'-looking gym rat covered with tats or a hot chick to present, seizure-inducing editing and music, and tacticool toys useless in real life. Now since hickok45 did manage 2.7M subs I really think that Paul deserves a lot more than he gets. His subs seem to be loyal, quality ones, though, and growing slowly but steadily... which will happen when you are about substance over style.
My Name Is Legion Well said. I always read Paul's comments section because of the high level of education and substance. Many familiar names. Side note, I recently bought the Gen4 G22 and the grip barely fits my smaller than average hands; owning a subcompact G27 for twenty years developed the right muscle memory for, what really is, oversized grips for my hands. I love the new gun but can't imagine trying to hang on to that G21 double stack. Watching Paul shoot both guns was a thing of beauty, and he makes the Glock transition look like there isn't one. I don't know many guys who can shoot the Glock as well as Paul unless they exclusively train with the Glock. I don't know if the general public realizes the significance of this and what it says about Paul's ability to shoot pretty much... anything.
+Brad Erickson Yeah, the 10 shot groups for speed, with unfamiliar major caliber, from 15 yd ... yikes! Paul's training, experience, and skill really shows.
seth tenrec RIGHT!? I know his "posse" only recently procured that 22 and the 21 even more recently. I don't care how many takes I make, I'm never duplicating those speed groups with a platform I've been shooting all of my adult life. I think what Paul does with all firearms is as difficult as trying to hit a 100mph fast ball. Only a handful of people in the world can do either.
Thank you Mr. Harrell, your videos are very informative. What I take away from this is, these two calibers are very similar, with the .45 ACP being a bit more robust. I have both calibers in my collection and feel confident carrying either one.
16:07 Too funny, seeing the first set destroyed , then the second set Obliterated, literally lmao at the bottles , each shot got sequentially wilder results. This is entertaining and Paul explains things so that you aren't left with a dozen questions at the end, thorough and to the point, very informative.
When the .40 S&W first came out I was enthused about having an auto with .45ACP power with more cartridges in the mag. That was a long time ago. Advances in ammo design and capabilities really narrowed up the difference between 9mm, 40 and 45. Still boils down to the specific ammo.
I myself have noticed that when I shoot both my 40 and 45 the recoils are slightly different. The Glock 23 has more snap to the recoil while the 30 feels more like a push back against the hand.
every able mind should be aware using barbeque meat for target practice is against all universal goodwill and should be punished with a vegan diet for life.
Back in 2014 I was buying my first handgun - the S&W Shield. I called Academy and asked if they had one in 9mm - they only had one in .40. I was hesitant but bought it anyway. I'm glad I did. I know many rag on the .40 saying "what is the point? Etc" It's been good for me and so has the S&W Shield platform! Of course I also have a different model S&W 9mm pistol as well as a 9mm PCC. Never bought a .45 as I never saw a need for it - same with 10mm. I have a .357 revolver and a Glock 357 Sig - so no need for a 10mm or 45 , etc. I feel the .40 is close enough to a 45 and the 357 is close enough to a 10mm.
I much prefer the .45 in a 1911 which has a better size grip, and is better all around than the .40 with any frame, even with fewer rounds. Hand size and comfort makes me want a 1911 which I have shot for 50 years. Personal preference is always subjective. Thanks for all you do Paul. I always learn something.
The only gripe i have, is that most .40 shooters I know, dont use 180 grain anymore. That weight is still very popular to find, but the preferred weight by most is 165 grain. I would like to see Paul's results using the most common weights between the two.
The .40 S&W was designed to put the power of a .45 ACP in a 9mm package, so since they are both very close it shows the .40 has fulfilled its concept. Thanks Paul.
No lol, Paul clarifies that ammo selection plays a factor on power and velocity. You can get stout ammo in both calibers and both will do just fine in defensive situations.
The history I've read does not agree with the original post. Best as I remember, after the FBI Miami Dade disaster, LE wanted an autoloader for capacity and hitting power. In the Miami fight, I think several FBI agents had 357 Magnums, but 38 Special +P ammo. One or two had a 9mm, one a shotgun. Paul has a video on it FBI goes to 9mm. Underpowered. They try 10mm. Too powerful, lot of agents do poorly with it, and cost of ammo is too high. Went to 40 S&W. Good results, but kind of a "tweener." LE teams up with SIG Sauer, gets an excellent 357 SIG round (which should be called 9mm Magnum). Lib Congressman threatens to outlaw 357 SIG, the ammo gets watered down. Costs a lot for ammo and wear on guns. Ammo and gun industries say "we have the magic 9mm round with new, improved technology! Now available in pink!" Everybody buys in to The One Round To Rule Them All, even though all real statistics I find do not bear out the claims. So 9mm is a compromise round that is relatively cheap, and easier to shoot for mediocre shooters, which most people are. 40 S&W is kind of that confused identity round. Colin Noir has a comedy video on it, even. A perfectly good round that is losing market share because of marketing about 9mm being all that and the proverbial bag of chips.
I'm going to be the judge and say that even though the .45 doesn't fit your hand as well and may be uncomfortable to shoot, you shot it better than the .40.
Another great video Paul. The .40 caliber has great appeal and performance, I still enjoy the .45 acp myself. Depending on need or carry, my go to calibers are .45 acp, 9x19, 10mm. In my opinion those three cover all needs. .45 acp & 9mm - personal defense .45 acp - Home defense ( perfect home defense) .45 (hardcast) & 10mm - wooded country and bear Thanks again for your time and informative videos. 👍
Al Capone used to carry a 380. So did many gangsters of that era. Small, concealable, little recoil (fast follow ups) and in the hands of someone halfway proficient, quite accurate. I have seen a small framed female shoot a Sig 365 in 380 at 15 yards with deadly accuracy. All her shots were in the area just below the Adam's Apple in a circle of 3". That was all the more impressive since she shot rapid fire. She told me that the pistol was very pleasant to shoot for her; even the small micro nines kicked too much for her. But to each his/her own.
I think the biggest thing I've learned from watching Paul's videos is just how big a difference ammo selection really makes. A newcomer who hasn't shot many things would think "a 9mm is a 9mm, why would it make much difference if it's Remington or Winchester or etc.?". Well, here's Paul to show you the difference; is it enough of a difference to matter? You be the judge.
I carry a Colt 1911, 8 round magazine . Yes old school ,I have had the weapon since I was in the army 30years ago. I carry two spare mags . If I need something more powerful with more rounds I will go get a rifle. K.I.S.S . Principal. Great video thanks.
I love to carry my Springfield Range officer under my jacket in a WW2 tanker style holster during the winter months. I've heard all the excuses like ammo capacity with the 1911 but the fact is I don't shoot anything else as well as that gun and if 8 rounds of 45 acp isn't enough you'd probably be screwed anyway.
@@wagstag89 that's for sure 👍. The guys that need 17+ rounds really don't know how to shoot they just fire Thier gun towards the object to be stopped knowing they have that many rounds to fire off and sadly to say they will still probably miss Thier target. I have a S&W 40 with two 14 round magazines and doubt it very seriously if I have to use it fire more than 4-5 rounds unless there are a bunch of bad guys then I will need those other rounds, but I never think of just firing until I run out that's just stupid. Shit placement is key and you might have to fire two rounds of JHP'S .
@@brianb900 great be comfortable with what you carry, I love my 40 S&W SDVE , No recoil to me and I'm very comfortable with everything about it, wouldn't trade it for anything else.
thanks so much Paul, first time handgun buyer and this video (along with other sources) helped me to decide what caliber to go with. Ultimately I went with an M&P 40. Thanks for your excellent work.
Reassuring: being super comfortable with my G36, it’s good to know both .40 S&W and 10mm don’t make .45 ACP utterly obsolete. I never thought so and the RU-vid community generally agrees. Thank you, Paul; I can sleep with both eyes closed from now on… 😁
At 5' 8" I'm kinda a runt with medium size hands according to my glove size and the SF models of the .45acp Glocks, having a smaller grip, fit me well.I carry a Glock 30SF daily and have a Glock 21SF by my bed every night, I simply shoot .45acp better than any other caliber. Being an old man (68) I'm kinda set in my ways but I have and shoot 3 Gun on occasion with my Glock 23. Glock 22 and Glock 17 all great weapons and much fun! All that said, carry your weapon all the time it is possible, practice as much as possible and shoot what works for you! We are all different and that's what makes America great!
45 acp in my opinion is the best home defense handgun caliber, less penetration and the most tissue damage while also not being excessive in blast and recoil. I love it and respect it, although its a bit hard to get it to expand much in shorter barrels i suspect you are using a very specific and good bullet for the smaller glock 30, or your shooting lighter bullets.
23 minutes, and the net is: no difference. Not NO difference, but in practical terms within the parameters tested, they're pretty much the same. That's valuable insight - very valuable. I would have thought the .40 would have an edge, velocity- and energy-wise. Wrong. I would have thought the .45 would have an edge in penetration and destructive power. Wrong. You'd be hard pressed to tell them apart if you didn't know which was which. The biggest difference I could see was grip size, and that's pretty much it - although it certainly did appear in the video that the .45's recoil was snappier, which corresponds with my experience. Of course, that also depends on the gun size, mass, mass distribution, and grip geometry. Very useful information. I just bought a Taurus G2 in .40 to compare to my G2 in 9mm and haven't taken it out to the range yet. For concealed carry, if it is controllable, that's a capable (10+1), VERY affordable solution ($200), in a very compact and light package (the size of a PPK/S), by an increasingly premiere manufacturer (their stock is up 40%). I love my 1911s, but man - what a difference in size between those two.
Between both calibers the only difference that matters to me is in regards to ammunition capacity. My current favorite is XDM .40. I get 16 rounds with the factory mags, but I have some that can hold 20.
There are some differences to consider among the common pistol calibers, the starting diameter for one means something because it means a bigger hole before it starts expanding (if at all). Also the 45 usually does penetrate the least while giving the most expansion which is good for people that want the least possibility of a round exiting a purp but expanding a lot in him, which is good for home defense situations or police work indoors. The 9mm has easiest follow up shots with most velocity and capacity and very good penetration which makes it almost a perfect marriage with subcompact guns for summer carry. The 40 has a huge energy increase over the 9mm, more expansion (usually 0.10 more), bigger starting diameter, more sectional density, more weight, while still having a fast moving bullet and good capacity in same size guns as the 9mm’s. This means .40 S&W is a very potent and viable choice for a full size 4 inch barrel carry gun, it definitely performs better than 9mm as paul harrel himself proved on one of his videos. Each caliber definitely has its own characteristics and advantages over each other, to me that definitely means something.
@@Omar-if1cu Yes - my experience with the .40 is that it is not as soft-shooting as the 9mm, but with a proper grip - particularly one with a finger extension at the bottom of the magazine - it is just about as fast for follow-up shots. And I'm comparing two Taurus pistols with essentially the same dimensions and weights. I don't have a similar .45 - Taurus made one, but I haven't found one available yet - so my .45 recoil/recovery experience is with 1911s, which is not a fair comparison with the much smaller and lighter G2s. After all is said and done, controllability is a key characteristic; if you can't hit with it, it really doesn't matter what the bullet diameter, weight, or velocity is.
George Steele I get what you mean, there are plenty of people who can shoot a 1911 extremely well and even fast but everyone is different. Some people feel much better with different types of guns, this is why generally speaking finding a good quality pistol that works for you with good quality ammunition is more important than caliber. That being said im always a strong advocate of the differences between each caliber, all of them have their own characteristics and advantages over each other
Another plus for me is that,at least round my way,I consistently find more ammo for the .40 than all of my other pistols with different calibers.In these times, it’s a big plus
The muzz velocity of the .45 was impressive. In the military ('73), I think my M1911 sidearm muzz velocity was always around 830 fps. Better ammo !! Thank you Paul.
Second video I've seen of yours, the first one was about an hour ago, "Beretta 92FS and M9 Accuracy". Been on youtube for years watching shooting vids and never seen your channel. I'm now new subscriber and fan.
Absoultley the best Gun instructor for learning about Guns and ammo on the internet. HIS Method and analytics are extremley helpful. MOST OF TNE OTHER CHANNELS are now where near his ability and level of expertise. I always leave his videos with valuable knowlege not just gun hype and faux machismo. HIS EXPERTISE IS CLEARLY VISABLE AND his teaching is extremely effective.
Im halfway through this video and this guy knows how to truly put a side-by-side measurement on film. I should have subscribed sooner - will be my go-to researcher for ammo and weapons
Awesome test, done very well thanks. I stuck with the 100+ year old 45 acp through all these new calibers. Overall the gun manufacturers seem to be trying to re invent the wheel. Over and over it doesn’t seem to be that much difference, I’m not running to the gun shop to trade in the old 45acp just yet. Probably never will trade it in. Sometimes the newer calibers don’t mean there better. Great video.
I grew up with .45 acp in the 1911 platform. So I have a emotional attachment to that caliber and platform. Considering all the ammo selections available I think it really comes down to which you shoot more accurately than anything else. So carry what you shoot best might be the best approach?
What you shoot the most is likely the best as long as it is a "good" round. I'm a big revolver fan and love to blast .44 mag and shoot it the best. But for carry a .38/.357 would be better but strangely I shoot 9mm very well. If I were to carry, (I'm Canadian and so I'm prohibited to do so, although I probably wouldn't even if I could) I'd go with .380 or 9mm to fit my lifestyle. Some people can carry a slim and powerful.45 1911, I'd opt for the same pattern but in .380 or 9mm.
berserk7111 you realize black powder is very easy to make right charcoal salt Peter and something else boil your urine to get salt peter charcoal well I don't need to help with that I forget last ingredient haven't used this since like high school chemistry.
I'm late to the show and just discovered this channel a couple weeks ago. I have missed out. Great channel, great information, and I have been learning 👍 So thank you.
Thanks for the comparison, Paul. I now have an FNX 40 and have chosen to use it with my Ruger SR45 in my EDC rotation. My FNX has the advantage in magazine capacity with 14 rounds each.
