I had a friend who was a Mash Medic in the Korean War he said he saw body's hit with 230 grain hardball .45 ACP and that it blew big holes out their backs.
@@jamespmullin21753 the 90s Tombstone movie said he only been in one prior to the OK Corral... then there would have been a few more fighting the Clanton gang afterwards.
Issued a 1911a1 in 1967, used it with 100% One shot kills as a radio operator during the tet offensive in Hue City. It was my T O. Weapon Would have been more confident with an m- 16 a1; but couldn't confiscate one until another Marine was medivaced Radio Operators didn't live long back then, so the 1911a1 kept me alive through the bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War
God bless, you made it home. My draft number was 112 and they were only drafting up to number 90 back in 1972 as the war was winding down. That war never should have been. I know too many people who were messed up when they came home. I'm glad you made it back, especially as a radio operator. LLAP.
@@daffidavit My lottery number was over 300 I was reflecting on that recently with the Titan disappearance, and was reminded how I went to the Navy recruiting office back in 72 and the recruiter told me I was qualified for sub duty. I don't know which idea I disliked more, going to Nam or being on a sub. Everyone back then had friends who got messed up over there and some guys came back OK too. Good to hear the OP made it back .
45 ACP. Good enough for Black Jack Persing, good enough for me. On a side note, the FBI has lost any credibility it once had and quoting them as a reliable source makes me cringe. It is 60 years past the time to disband the FBI. JFK and Me agree.
45acp is my choice for carry. Why because I shoot it well. I'm not taking any shots over 25 yards anyway. That being said shoot what works best for you.
Not all ball ammo is the same in the real world. The round nose tends to go through smoothly and doesn’t shear blood vessels and nerves. A flat nose, the same weight has more damaging effect like a plow blade. Velocity on the 230 gr is relatively low , but Gold dot is designed well and dumps a lot of energy, and has momentum. For hollowpoints I like 200 gr that we’ll get 900 fps plus . Some will say that 45 only has 9 rounds. My feeling is you won’t need to use the last round. 1 45 is worth two smaller rounds. If I was dumped into a bad situation with only a handgun , it would be a 1911 with all the mags I could carry, especially if limited to ball ammo
Elmer Keith (godfather of the 44 and 41 mag) once said that when you shoot a man with a 45 and go don't go down, look behind him and see what's holding him up. A quote from his book, Hell, I was there.
Very good presentation! For many years I carried a Colt Combat Commander with 165 grain Federal Hydra-Skoks. Both firearm and Ammo were a good combination.
1980s federal made a 130grain hydro shock 357 mag. It would blow massive holes in sheet metal. It would end a fight no matter where it hit. And that was out of a 2' /3''/4 inch speed six Ruger. Thank God I never had to use it for defense. 45 ACP ammo has been improved through the years, some are capable of a huge wound channel with velocity equal to the same 185 grain 10mm. After the FBI was shot up in a bank robbery, the need for a more powerful weapon was realized. A 9mm stopped just short of the heart of one of the robbers who had a mini 14. So the 10mm was developed. Officer's on the streets had no problem with it. Others who worked in offices did not like qualifying with it. Federal loaded lite loads and they used them for defense. It totally defeated the reason for having a 10mm. Federals rounds were compared to a standard load 40. This is why the 10 was not used for many years due to full 10 ammo being hard to find. More agents carried 40s because they were easier to carry. So when it come down to bad guys behind barriers, once again the agents were under powered. Today with all the improved ammo,a 9mm is capable. A 45 is better and they can hold double stacks as well. I would still think a 1911 would the the choice for many reasons.
@rainmaker8892 indeed! I have carried Federal ammo as a personal defense round for over 30 years. In my opinion, they are top of the line. Even the 95 grn. Hydro-Shok packs a nasty wallop.
I can't remember if he discussed this, but the size of the damage, especially in hollow point ammo is far more devastating than the other calibers discussed. Let me put this in layman's terms; the 45acp. is for close self-defence, and puts a big ol' hole in a human or animal, especially hollow point ammo. The internal destruction and exit wound are gnarly. P.S. For black bear country, you should load fmj, and maybe in the lighter 185 grain (might not be much difference), for better penetration.
Shot my first handgun during army officers training in 1980. It was the 1911. I have owned some 11 1911s since then..I have other pistols and revolvers but that 1911 still fits my hand the best and nothing beats that trigger. I had a Colt 1911 next to me during ghr Rodney King Riots. Had it near me during all.those BLM peaceful protesting, along with my Remington 870. I have 5 1911s currently and when the world ends ill have one in my hand.
I started out shooting .357 (S&W6 inch 19) back in 1982. But developed a love for the .45 1911 too. To this day these two rounds are still my go to calibers.
I agree with your assessment of the Sig 1911. I have a full size Sig Nightmare and it has been fully reliable. I've had no failures of any kind and very accurate. A very underrated 1911.
You mention the hard hitting nature of the 45acp, that's called momentum and is a very real thing. In todays world of the high cap 9mm culture the value of momentum and bullet frontal area have been lost. Its a tragedy that since Jeff Cooper passed there has been no one to pick up the advocacy of those merrits in 45acp over 9mm. I believe that the large amout of bullet drop you experienced is more due to the high bore offset of your sites rather than the actual trajectory of the bullet. My WW2 GI issue 1911 with it's stock issue low profile sites only drops a few inches at 50 yards when shooting hardball. Thanks for this informative video.
Interesting observation......I have found that aspect of these videos to be my favorite......the different perspectives and impressive and well thought out. Thanks for viewing and hope to hear from you again.
What I like about your presentations is they are clean, smooth and right to the point. You brief us on the rounds, testing protocols and get rolling. Great stuff
Thanks for viewing and I appreciate the positive feedback. It was a challenging day. We found out later back in the lab that both of the FMJ rounds entered the gel backwards which is a touch surprising and perhaps an indicator of tumbling but more research is required. Thanks again and be safe.
I good 230 grain bullet either hollow point or FMJ is a stopper. I have always said in any defense pistol or rifle use premium ammo. The 230 grain for me is like a one-hitter quitter like a 12ga shotgun at short ranges. If you want a longer range you use a 9mm, 357 mag, or a long gun. For me, I use a Glock 21 and I have 5 inch Springfield stainless steel and both for me hit point of aim out to 45 yard for the most part, closer I can shoot the buttons on a threat. The 45acp for me is only fired from full-size guns and barrel to get the max velocity out the caliber.
I've been shooting the .45 ACP for over 40 years. You definately have to lob your shots at distance. Knowing your drop and compensation thereof always makes for a good shot.
Last autumn (2022), I noticed something that may interest a few people. I was practicing double taps with a 9mm compact pistol. (9mm is my least favorite caliber, can't shoot groups for squat.) Started at 3 yards, one da shot, one sa shot, move back 3 yards, do it again. At 18 and 24 yds, I got bad fliers and re-shot those groups until satisfactory. At 33 yards and 36 yards, limit of my backyard range, I was getting large drop from most shots. This spring, 2023, I tested 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 SIG, and 45acp from rest at 36 yards. All firearms compact or subcompact carry guns, all ammo standard pressure normal loads. The 40 was about 2" low, 45 about 3" low, 357 SIG pretty much on, an inch or two high. I sighted in a 357 Magnum decades ago at 50 yards. So little drop in those calibers, right? However, 9mm groups were 8", 12", and 13" low, depending on the particular ammo. (If you could call them "groups.") The 8" group ammo had the most variance, some shots dropping over 24". My conclusion is all the propaganda about 9mm is VERY iffy. All the other calibers that have a good reputation perform much better, and 45acp with normal 230 grain should give a decent shooter torso hits regularly at 50 yards. I don't believe that about 9mm. If I somehow have a gunfight with perps in a Walmart parking lot, I'll take 45 over 9mm every time.
Used my 1911a1 at close distances. Never thought about long distance. Too much muzzle.flash at night. That's what claymore are.for. cannot aim an m 16 in the dark. Have to learn to shoot over the sights Preference for grenades Just have to be sure of your designated fields of.fire. I trusted my.1911a1 to be successful at up close and personal situations. No Long range. " A MAN HAS TO KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS "
The 230g is the most common. First let me say I don't want to get shot with anything, and most crimes are stopped just by you showing your gun, but for stopping power I like the 45. Put simply I would rather get hit with a BB than a baseball shot at the same speed as the baseball has more surface area and will do more damage. Oh and now days due to age, I carry a Micro 9 and love it, but still around the house I like my 45acp. Oh and also any gun you carry is way better than the one you left at home or in the truck. Thanks
I live in southwest Colorado and it’s a pretty rural area. Several times a year I have to dispatch a wounded deer and an occasional elk that has been vehicle struck and still on the roadway and still alive. For a multitude of reasons I carried several different handguns. Each time I dispatch an animal I put myself into the position to put one in the back of the head I guess you could call it movie mafia execution style. I have never had a problem with the .45 ACP, 9 mm, 38 or 357. They have always been one shot for the coup de grace to dispatch the animal. One evening the only fire arm I had with me was a 380 ACP. I put one round into the back of the head of a buck deer and it turned around and looked at me with the expression of “you’re pissing me off!“ I fired again, then again, then again. I emptied all eight rounds into the back of his head and it still kept trying to get up. It was very disheartening and troubling to me. I mention this because you said something to the effect of it’s not so much the caliber but bullet placement. I will only carry that 380 as a pocket pistol or a back up now. I will not. As my primary concealed weapon firearm. Caliber, foot pounds, energy, and bullet weight absolutely do make a difference.
I’ve been a 1911 shooter since Vietnam but I’m under no illusion that the 45ACP is anything other than a close-in weapon that packs a lot of punch. I also own a Sig Tac Ops 1911 that is a real pleasure to shoot. For us purists out there you just have to get used to the idea of the external extractor but in practice it means you don’t have to spend time tweaking the tension on legacy extractor design. My 45ACP round of choice is the 185 gr JHP +P from Buffalo Bore. My Colt Defender seems to like that round the best. Nice video.
I bought a 45acp carbine rifle, to extend my accuracy. I love it! It is so light in comparison to a battle rifle, but it still delivers 45 acp devastation. Hi Point has a very inexpensive, but reliable version, and they go up in price from there. Less than $400. This gives the 45acp the ability to reach out and deliver that big hit. 100 yards, easy, and further. Much further. Of course, you have to elevate the heck out of the shot. I watched a guy, Iraqvetreran8888 I think, hit targets with lethal penetration at over 400 yards. FYI.
I agree and carry 185gr. +p's as well, I think the 230 gr. bullets are just too heavy for the cartridge unless you are going for deep penetration on larger animals.
@@phillhuddleston9445 most of my self defense rounds are 200-230 grain +P velocities. I just like the idea of heavier and faster. I do have some 185 +P JHP, but I just prefer 230 +P JHP. They're just good thumpers.
Hitting a human sized target out to over 70 yards is quite easy with a 1911.... hardly "close in" as I understand the term... True is needs a bit of 'Kentucky windage" but not so much as to be much of a problem if you practice a bit... 🙂
I will always be a believer in the "Big, relatively slow-moving, bullets make bigger holes down range....Even if they DON'T expand much if at all." theory of saving your own bacon with a handgun.
@Fred the 47th If a projectile MUST expand to achieve a larger caliber size it neither efficient nor even potentially effective as a projectile that is already of the larger caliber that does NOT REQUIRE expansion. The nine not only MUST expand it all too often requires far more rounds to be fired into a "target" to be effective while failing to be efficient. Autopsies proved that to my satisfaction.
@Fred the 47th Physical evidence, in the form of the recently deceased in this case, proves many things that ballistic gel can never reproduce. Failure to expand on the part of JHPs, even those marked as +P and +P+ do not make small caliber rounds superior when the projectiles fail to expand entirely (a frequent problem of late). The 9 Minimal makes for a great submachine gun round, I would never argue that point, but assuming the 9 Minimal is anything but minimal I'm left to wonder why pistols chambered in the caliber require large capacity capability to be considered THE answer to self-defense. Reality can suck but it can also be a great teacher. I paid attention in class.
@@furmanmackey5479 - a .45 non-expanding bullet doesn't make enough of larger hole to make a difference, unless your shooting thin metal or something similar. Might as well shoot something with a field tipped arrow. I have a .45 and like it, but in my experience the slow velocity of standard rounds is not a positive attribute. I don't shoot any of the weak factory ammo, from any pistol.
@@G53X0Y0Z0 You made an excellent point about "weak factory ammo" as I, and others, have noticed and complained about factory ammo being underloaded of late despite +P, +P+, and even magnum box and case head printing or stamping. As for expansion or no expansion as relates to bullet size or design (JHP V FMJ for example) in shootings I worked and autopsies I attended there were only a handful of cases that come to mind where bullets "performed" as advertised or even resembled the artwork on the boxes the ammo came in. The one constant was that the larger the bullet caliber the fewer rounds were fired. The two exceptions to that "rule" that come vividly to mind involved 125grn JHPs fired from four inch .357 Magnum revolvers at ranges at and just under 25 yards. Both of those rounds produced massive internal (almost center mass in both cases) damage and resulted in "one shot stops".
Smaller gun in the summer is nice. Also being a 45 guy I carried a 9mm in the summer until S&W made the Shield 45 Performance Center. Try it out. Still get 7-8 rounds depending on the magazine and in a very small package. The performance center model has porting and it makes the little gun easy to manage recoil. Haven’t carried my J frame or compact 9mm’s since.
I think the shock trauma is overlooked a lot. My ideal round would drop 700 to 800 ft lbs into the first 12 inches. The 45 is great for that. I think it maximizes the energy dump because it's so wide. You have to beef it up a bit to get 800 but most popular 45 handguns can take it.
I would love to see a side-by-side comparison looking at force of impact and size of the affected area of impact over the wound channel/penetration standard test. I believe the 45 regardless round type has a special place as a round that carries a severe punch. The goal is to stop the threat and I've seen far too many LEO videos showing an assailant coming even though there is a magazine worth of 9 blowing through him. I think the velocity and small size of the 9 makes it a good killing round but doesn't carry the wake up call a 45 hitting center mass would. I also see the 45, simply because of it's velocity and mass being a safer round around innocent bystanders. There is little chance of this round over-penetrating and hitting another. As a side note, Judging from where you aimed on the long range shot, aiming at the head still places this round center mass and does the job rather effectively with overwhelming force. I'm sure if you aimed center mass, there would be a very effective castration occurring as well. Good presentation!
I really think shot placement is the most important thing but if everything else is equal a believe when it comes to handgun rounds bigger is better. But if you can only shoot a 22 accurately and effectively than hits with a 22 beats misses with a magnum handgun round all day long.
Where can you shoot somebody with a 22short to stop them? Would a larger bullet change that? The cool thing about larger cals is a handful in center mass is going to cause lots of blood loss
From all my years in the military the .45ACP was viewed as a good “knock-down” caliber. This, I believe was primarily due the Speed and the weight of the FMJ round itself. The bullet is large and the speed is low that could felt as being hit with a brick and placement is imperative at any time. I’ve seen so many military training videos on this caliber in the 1960s. As you said, bullet standards have greatly improved and yes throughout ALL of the common calibers. Speed or HI VELOCITY seems to be the current driving factors and that’s all fine and GOOD. But, being hit with a relatively SLOWER projectile and very LARGE in comparison does have it’s merits in the hands of the right shooter. For me, I love my .40S&W as I can control (heavy per caliber) it much better and lighter for CCW than the .45ACP. The Trend is to carry LITE with rd-count, that is the biggest draw back to the larger calibers as well as the more training required in the heavier calibers, CCW has been commercialized to sell the 9mm.
With military the added weight of all that lead and steel sure does amount to a lot. That crap is heavy and gets increasingly so in the field trudging along. Add to that how much you can carry and ammo commonality between Allies ect….. and it’s easy to see why the 45 went the way of the T. rex and took the 3006 and .308 along with it. They had their time and now for the military at least it’s past.
@Wehrewulf X. Cross sectional area is the point, not diameter. .45 area is 103 mm2 vs. 63.6 mm2 for 9mm. The hole punched by .45 is 1.6 times bigger than the hole punched by 9mm. That is significant.
@@drizler you did notice the military just went from 5.5mm to 6.5. Considering the investment in 5.56 as a standard nato round that is a considerable move.
@@drizler In response, not many carried a .45ACP as most would carry their rifle ammo and other explosives or to say their position within the platoon or squad. Yes there was weight and that’s why not all would be assigned to carry a backup weapon, like those carrying the M-1, while others (officers or the like) would carry the M-1 Carbine. As you mentioned newer tactics along with logistical support was a main problem and what goes on the belt or breast harness and that has changed again to newer tactics and squad/platoon make ups as one would expect. Newer weapons in the field also bring their own problems (auto fire weapons) in statistical support arena. It is a changing world all around.
It depends on what you mean by less penetration because it'll go right through the front door of a 72 Ford Torino. It leaves a damn hole you can stick your thumb in almost.
Less? I hate this stupid myth. It consistently penetrates to an average of 15" in 230gr JHP. A clear 2" more than the best 9mm loads. .45 is a very consistent penetrator.
A cheap RIA is our handheld heavy artillery, only 230gr ball when loaded...it is reliable and accurate, but a little too bulky for EDC...it ain't much, but we have little doubt it would be just fine if ever needed...freight trains are big and slow also, but who wants to be struck by one...?
A reasonably priced RIA/Armscor 1911 A2 FS with a 13 rounds high capacity double stack magazine (10 in California) is a good home defense gun. Too heavy with thick grips for EDC but quite accurate and very reliable for home use.
I run an HK p9s in 45 acp for daily carry.. My use of this caliber is based not so much on its penetration as its accuracy out of this weapon.I can easily and consistently hit a 2inch half circle target at 20 meters without dropping a shot below the line and so losing points in competition. The penetration I know will be good as that was the reason for the initial adoption of the 45 by the US in 1911.I have no doubt that this is still one of the top manstoppers in its class, if you are prepared to practice and can handle the slightly stiffer recoil. The old HK is a smooth and flat gun without protrusions which shows little signature when concealed, and can be carried one up in complete safety due to its unique de cocking system..
Another great video. I carry a 4" aluminum frame 1911 45 every day. I one hundred percent trust my life with Miss Liese (pronounced Lisa)!I've tested several different brands of defense ammo and surprisingly the 230 grain Winchester Ranger T Series performed the best in my particular pistol. At 15 feet, I got around 14 inches of penetration and a very large expansion of the bullet.
Thanks for viewing and also for the great information. I really have learned a lot from our viewers from their personal experiences have enjoyed the dialogue. There are some well versed and experienced people out there. Again, thanks for the views and be well.
Awesome I carry my SA Range Officer Compact in .45 and have for years. The 4inch bull barrel is amazing. I switch it up with my P365 but those are my two main carry guns
Nice demo, good shooting. For a semi auto pistol, the 230 grain .45acp will stop when called upon for defense, especially critical defense rounds. 99% of the time the use will be under 10 yards
I 100% agree with ya on the wasted energy comment on a shot exiting the cavity. Iron sights looked very hard to use at longer range. Great closing remarks Thanks for a great video.👍
Longest I used my 45 acp qas 25 yards out of 4 inch XD. Love the gun and the round. Where I am with that pistol it hits every single time. I would rely on it more than my 9mm for count of higher impact power and damage it does. Highly effective round. Off course stoics will debate and debate and debate...night....
You have a point, there is more stopping power when the bullet stays inside the body, why? I don not know, I just know it does have more stopping power. Penetration is king, FMJ helps you penetrate obstacles such as: BP jackets, crystals, car doors and wood walls; in addition, it helps you reach vital organs such as the spinal cord. I have participated in two wars, so I speak by experience.
As a Former Army Military Policeman who carried a 1911A1 45ACP as a daily Duty Sidearm for 3 years Active Duty and Qualified as an Expert 1980-1983 To this Day my Home Defense Pistol is a Ruger 45 ACP American Pistol with Hornady Critical Defense Ammo...I sleep well at Night with this Security System...I know when I shoot the Bad Guy...He is Going to go Down....Period!!!
I am a 45 nut too. I have Les Baer, Ed Brown, Colt, Springfield, and a Ruger 1911. My carry gun is a M&P shield in 45 acp. No one will ever convince me that a 9mm is as lethal or has as much stopping power as a 45. Ive seen the ballistic tests too but Im not buying it.
My (concealed) EDC is a Glock 42 (.380), but my home defense weapons are a Walter PPQ .45 and an AK SBR. Both house-guns are equipped with light/laser combos. Seems that most civilian gun-owners reject the laser in favor of the red dot. I have one of those (Holosun) on an AR pistol chambered in .45, but the mount’s screws got loose after my 1st test-firing at the range. I’ll eventually get around to applying lock-tight to it, perhaps after I retire next year. Anyway, just some gun-nut rambling from an older guy, lol.
All things being equal, if a .35 caliber projectile, and a .45 caliber projectile penetrated the same distance, the 45 caliber projectile would destroy ~62% more material, due to it having ~62% more surface area.
That may be true if you are shooting bullets with flat noses and relatively sharp edges or hard targets. Pointed and rounded noses on stretchy tissue, not so much.
@@G53X0Y0Z0 If we're going to introduce different bullet construction into the argument, then a hollow point expanded to 0.85 (45 HST) inches has almost twice the area of a projectile expanded to 0.61 inches (9mm HST).
@@vlogfriendsutopia - Lot's of if's when your talking about this subject. Bullet diameter is certainly part of the equation. But, bullets don't punch holes in flesh the quite the same as other matter such as sheets of paper or steel. Velocity can easily be a more dominant factor in the size of a wound channel than bullet diameter. It all works together as a combination, and not always like you would have thought.
@@G53X0Y0Z0 Projectiles don't cause plastic deformation until they supercede 2,200 FPS, i.e., rifle velocity. Handguns typically do not achieve this. What that means is that a projectile expanded to 0.85 inches will cause more damage per inch than something that expands to 0.61 inches, assuming neither crosses that threshold.
Personally, I prefer the Speer 200gr. HP. above All others. JMO. You rarely Ever hear about "imparted" energy. I believe it' a Real thing and the .45acp Has got the perfect balance of velocity & weight.
G.K. I own a Para- Ordnance double stack .45acp that holds 14-15 rounds. It is set up for competition or home defense. I am sorry for not buying the Para P-14 Tactical. What a beast! I will never buy a single stack 1911 in.45acp. With + P 185, 200, or 230 gr. Ammo, the .45 is about as fast as standard 9mm ammo in 115, 124, or 147 gr. Shooting 100-200 rounds of standard ammo is no problem. Happiness is a pile of warm 45acp brass.
great video. im just getting started with 45acp on a 4" M&P LE trade in. use it with 14+1 magazine and nightstick light on nightstand. very good shooter at range. subscribed
What you did not evaluate is that the 45 ACP travels at @ 875 fps and the other rounds travel at @ 1200 fps. Plus, the ft-lbs of energy is much high then the other rounds. The 45 ACP was designed to knock a man down. The other rounds can not match this stopping power.
I mean absolutely no disrespect but............ Pistols were not meant for long distance shooting. The bullet drop on the table leg was shotgun territory or carbine. 50 feet and in for a 45 acp is what it's made for. Not football length. 45 acp is a hammer at 50 feet inward. 9mm can't even come close to it. My son is actually in special forces, everyone says their son is too. Must be like a million special forces in the military ""Coughs"" they get a lot of perks and bonuses. My son likes the 45 acp round. He made it 9 years before things started breaking. He's an instructor now for them. Very few make it 9 years. It's a non-stop go go go job. 45 acp is a very old round and it's just as good today if not better than it came out due to better everything. For people it's a monster round. Not to big ,not to small. The reason they are so popular is because they work, no advertising or production crew or marketing specialist needed. Peace.
Actual shooting and hundreds of autopsy reports show that the 230gr ball only has a 60% on shot stopper rate. The 230gr Federal hydra shock comes in at 96%. See the book, Handgun Stopping Power by Sanow.
As a retired police officer I can tell you that Joe Citizen can shoot all the static targets he wants on a sunny Sunday afternoon, but when the PCP enraged bad guy comes charging down on you at an ATM on a rainy night, there will "not" be any shot placement going on. The first then Joe Citizen does is pee himself. Hunting is much different, everything is slow and you have time for correct shot placement. Many deer where I live have been killed with a 22 to the head at night.
I feel the reputation of a .45 comes from the superior terminal performance of a ball round on soft tissue over other calibers. As you demonstrated here the .45 created a better wound channel then a 9mm and didn't over penetrate as a 9mm would. With a proper HP bullet there is indeed little difference but if I had to carry FMJ I'd carry .45 hands down.
If there's no difference in caliber. Why do some game departments put a minimum on what you can use for big game hunting? And why don't you see a bunch of people deer and bear hunting with 9mm where there's no minimum by law? Maybe because the smaller bullet just doesn't work as well in the real world vs gel?
if caliber didn't matter and shot placement was truly everything, the standard defensive caliber would be some sort of centerfire version of .22lr with 25+ round magazine capacities. certainly no one would bother with expensive JHPs or +P ammo, ball would be just as good afterall. intuitively most people realize this is flawed reasoning and there is more to the equation than simply shot placement and adequate penetration (although both are certainly very important)
@@quietus13 today i stopped in the only local gun shop.. They had 1 national brand of 9mm hp. And some stuff I have no idea what it is. Same thing with the 44 and 45. So I had to get some hp that might be ifey. I trust the big heavy bullets when they are a unknown. 9mm might be ok with premium bullets. But what about when you can't get the premium bullets?
Something the penetration tests miss is that I don't want penetration. Perhaps more correctly over penetration. For self defense I want the bad guy shot and nobody behind him. Of the half dozen hand guns I have around it I have fell into using my 1911 for edc. The other thing with a 45, in my opinion, is that expansion is not needed. The 45 hole is big enough when placed in a vital spot. A hollow point will not turn a bad shot into a good shot in any caliber. The only thing I like about hollow points is that they help limit penetration. Very notable the 1911 and .45 hardball ammunition were designed for each other. It is a package deal. For new people I'd advise buying the best new gun you can afford. Then shoot the heck out of it. Being a good shot with a dependable gun counts way more than bullet type or size. My gun for hot summer days with light clothing is a small 38 with wadcutters... any gun is better than no gun. I have .22 to .44 magnum and try to be a decent shot with all of them... when things go bad you grab the closest gun not the best gun.
Ammunition has been so vastly improved over the years. Even .380 has been vastly improved. In real world encounters almost all of them will suffice. I personally prefer 9mm. My favorite carry gun when in a combat zone such as my old hometown of Houston texas is a glock 19. When in oklahoma where I know reside I am comfortable with my glock model 42.i am 76 years old it amazes me how times have changed.
Thank you for the 45 ACP ammo demo. I have a question. I have a Ruger Blackhawk with a four inch barrel that shoots both ACP and by switch of cylinder the 45 long colt. I had a Blackhawk with a seven and a half inch barreel for about thirty years and did a lot of shooting with it both commercial rounds and hand loads. Could you please do a comparison of the two types of 45? Thank you. Rick in Kansasb
I think people forget tissue elasticity has limits and real organs do not behave the same as ballistic gel. When hydro-static shock is not a factor, all you have left is the size of the wound and what organs the projectile passes through. If a large enough hole is punched through someone the tissue is not going to tighten back up enough to seal that hole and slow the bleeding. This is part of why a 12 gauge slug is so devastating, and why a .45 going so slow compared to smaller calibers going faster can be as effective as it is. Caliber does matter. Sure, a skewer can make you die, eventually, but having a piece of rebar rammed through you instead is probably going to stop you a lot faster and will certainly make you bleed out quicker. That's pretty much what the .45 is doing.
Ive been carrying my glock 30 for 15 years now.. its my EDC.. its tried and true for me.. everyone always says to me, is it heavy? With a great belt and good holster it feels like nothing is on my hip..
My EDC pistol is my Glock G30 Gen 3. I also own a Glock G21 G4 & the G30 is nothing to carry in comparison to the bulky & heavy G21. I have started using my G21 13+1 capacity magazines in my G30!!
Makes me wonder how bullseye shooters used to clean the 50 yd target shooting with one hand. Oh wait, they were good shots, weren't they? Maybe YOU shouldn't consider using the 45 ACP for defense.
I carried a 1911 45 acp in the army and would never trust my life to plastic toys for wanna b's. Same for the m-16 . It was awful when it came out, but that big old heavy ass 30.06 m1, did fine.
EXELENT VIDEO, YOU SIR JUST CONFIRM MY THOUGHTS ON THE 45 LESS PENETRATION FOR BEING AHEAVIER AND FATER PROJECTILE PLUS ,DID'NT KNOW THE 185 GRAIN PENETRATES MORE THANKS MAN LOVE THAT VIDEO, STAY SAFE.
Just for fun I fired my 1911at some silhouette targets. One being the rams that were 200 yards away. I had to aim about 8 feet over the rams to hit them. It was like lobbing artillery into your target.
The one thing most i love about the 45 is that it is an American round while the 9mm is an European round while i use a 9 as a backup the 45 is my primary EDC
All the comparisons in magazines like Guns & Ammo of 9mm and .45ACP is with 180gr .45ACP instead of 230gr then compare energy. Then the .45 was supposedly adopted by the military to knock down horses of enemy cavalry not men. Uh, if that sucker will stop a horse, what in the “H” will it do to a man? Sometimes I think writers for gun magazines in their search to blow up “myths” use literary “slight of hand.” 😀
I load a 200 grain jacked slug,lower recoil...4 pound trigger; works great.even better is a long slide 45( after u Smith pistol)...can reach out n touch someone.amts always need work out of the box and fixing them up nice hobby duplex loads and one has to be careful; I'd only recommend a single stage press to experiment with
Those Hollow Points REALLY dump the energy where you need it, that said, please look at the Underwood, rounds for their Speed and Cavitation effects, Very Deadly, and also the .45 Buffalo Bore, some are doing testing with the 255 Solid Lead for Bear, and it is REALLY impressive.
I fully agree with your statement about over penetration. Twelve inches max. without heavy clothes barrier, and eight to ten inches with heavy clothes barrier. To me, that is ideal penetration, and the larger caliber weight, in thin jacket, will cause the maximum amount of trauma without causing collateral damage to surround individuals or property.
The 16 inches gel penetration rule is because a round may have to go through a shoulder a raised hand, ribs etc and still have enough power to penetrate organs.
I used a 1911 in vietnam, always did the job great. Today I am 69 and I own a gun store. I carry a Springfield 1911 every day. When airwaves myb45, it is hard for me to fear any thing.
I carry a glock g20 in 10mm. Its a full size heavy handgun but if you carry it enough you get use to it and it doesnt bother you to carry and the 10mm is a good strong stopper of trouble.
You be surprised how many people do not look at it like that. I'm sure you already know. Sometimes a lot of people don't know what they're talking about. They always complain it's snappy no it's just a push. Forty five is not effective oh yeah standing front of it.
The 1911 is a fantastic firearm! My Kimber Custom Shop CDP 2 is beautiful and fully functional. The 45 acp served in many battles and is battle proven. The trigger on a 1911 can't be beat!
