One of the great debates regarding doomsday protection or self-defense is what caliber ammunition to use, particularly if you are protecting yourself or loved ones during a home invasion.
Everyone obviously has their own preferences based on what they are comfortable with and can reasonably control in terms of firepower, but one type of ammunition stands above the rest with it comes to impact and stopping power.
That would be the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge.
Developed in the early 1900's this “mighty-might” cartridge walloped its target and was so effective, it eventually was adopted by the US Calvary along with the Browning .45 Colt handgun as the .45 M1911 cartridge.
It was adopted because it was devastating to whatever it is – the only issue was a relatively high degree of training needed to ensure it was deployed correctly.
To read more on this incredible cartridge and why you should have it in your home, check out the next page.
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Have you ever shot or do you own a 1911? I have always wondered how they compare when shooting.
Preference goes out the window in many ways for SHTF guns. Logistics and capacity takes over.
Of course if fired wheel guns, single stacks, double stacks Glocks, Sigs, smiths, 1911’s, and much more.
Hitting a target the size of a soda can is not what to look for in a SHTF pistol. Though my Glock 17 will do that easily, as will my S&W model 65-3 and my Sig p220, P226 and P228.
You don’t know that though. That’s my point with 9mm and 40s&w, it’s what the attackers will have.
James Myers. Yeah the1911 is awesome, it has lasted the test of time and it’s a solid design from cheapest to an expensive model. But for self defense the 21 is better, it’s easy to shoot, easy to aim, even though it’s full size it’s easy to carry and holds 13 rounds. I trust my life with the model 21.
The 30 is also good, sometimes I carry my 30 and the 21 mags fit in the 30.
Well Justin if you want to imagine and plan for your Rambo fantasies but I tend to practice the “gray man” principle. Besides, in case you didn’t notice, I did mention that I carry an H&K USP-9.
Kevin Suggs thanks for the response. How is felt recoil on the 21 as compared to the 1911? I have a 1911 and have no problem with the recoil. I just have always wondered how they compare.
About the same, I can empty a mag and control the 21 about the same as a 1911. I cant tell much of a difference in the recoil. I have shot 1911s with better grips and better triggers than the 21 but those were really nice customed 1911s.
Like my uncle has a supper nice 1911, he went all out on some nice wood grips with rubber for support, finger grooves and a thumb groove, its like the perfect grip, and he had a trigger job and it was one of the best shooting guns I have ever shot. Then my cousin had a Rock Island arms 1911 basic nothing special and it shot fine. Then my friend had inherited some kind of limited edition Colt 1911 from his grandad that had never been shot and we shot it and it was also supper nice. I would trust my life with either of their pistols but my basic Glock with those extra 5 rounds in my mag make feel a bit better walking around.
Or you can just stock up on components and tools and make your own damn ammo. In a SHTF I would rather have $500 of tools and components than $500 of OEM ammo. The reason is simple: Components are easier to hide, easier to acquire when supplies run low, and more customization for situations; such as the loss of a type of firearm and acquisition of another. If you get 500 rounds of .45acp, but only have a .40sw firearm that you got in the field, you’ll need to know how to turn those .45’s into .40’s.
I do reload. And from someone who does reload, 45’s cannot be turned into 40’s. Well, unless one has a metal refinery, sure.
I do use demilled components, that is the big secret to this bulk ammo question. It also gives one a window to see what is being used officially, law enforcement agencies. They replace ammo every year. a lot of them keep it to burn off at training, a lot sell it to demil buyers. Federal law prohibits destroying ammo, so it is disassembled and sold to reloaders.
About 2 years ago it was 40s&w. I could get federal HST pull down 40 bullets for $90 per 1000. That is ultra cheap. bullets are the most expensive reloading component. I cloned the commercially available ammo that costs upwards of $1.50 a round for about $.19 a round on the high side.
Now all the pull down ammo you see is 9mm, and by far. you never see 45acp pull downs at all. This is why i say 9mm and 40s&w only. And with my experiences in LE security and training. I say double stack only and no revolvers or single stack. 1911’s especially.
1911’s are fantastic for what they are, a legacy 100 year old pioneering design that has been surpassed by modern firearms technology. The nostalgia they have is well deserved. The trigger set the gold standard for how a handgun trigger should feel. But they defiantly have their downsides. The most troublesome platform I’ve ever seen is the 1911. They are very ammo picky. You have to be a serious 1911 enthusiast to run one. There are a lot of people that are. When it counts we need to rely on and the 1911 is not that pistol.
All rounds are good, shot placement is what counts!!! You can stop or kill a man with a 22LR, you don’t need a 45acp to do it
My point was I’ll use the the best until I dont have that option. Then I’ll go to whatever is available. It’s a handgun so it’s not like battles will be fought with them.
Bad advise. .22lr, 9mm, 12 gauge. In that order.
I like my P90 but I’m really loving my new .10mm,
WOW THATS AWESOME
.45 CAP is a great round with excellent reliability and stopping power. Well worth having.
toi each their own
To protect yourself and family and hunting for food 😀
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The FBI has returned to 9mm. The US Military changed to a new sidearm chambered in 9mm. Ballistically what is the diff between 9mm 147gr and a .45?
The size of the exit wound. Hollow point 9mm expands to a little over an inch. Hollow point .45 expands to closer to 3/4 inch. Shock and fast blood loss are what you’re looking for in terms of self defence. But accuracy and ability to control the firearm are also factors. I chose 9mm because it’s the most common type of round which makes it very cheap.
Once upon a time I had a Taurus 45 sidearm that I carried while deer hunting (lots of black bear and wild boar in Ark). Several hunters and several gunshop owners told me to lose it and carry a .357 revolver or a .40cal semi-auto after explaining how a .45 will not get any penetration into bear hide enough to slow it down!
You know, when I see them say implemented by the US Calvary I just stop reading. Folks that can’t differentiate between Cavalry and Calvary should not be writing posts.
45 auto may have morr stoping power, but most pistol I looked at only have a 6-8 round mag. You may find one with 10. Great if you have only one attacker . But if you have more then one I want a 15 plus in the magazine that you get with a 9mm load. And if they are high on drugs nothing going to drop them in their tracks.
Paid $40 for a teen round mag
Ten..