.45 ACP or .40S&W????????

by **agonist** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:22 pm

I also agree with VAGABOND, a 12 ga. is the best close range defender against just about anything. I might opt for a slug for black bear.

by **vikz** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:19 pm

always go with 45acp!!!1911s are good pistols..

by **XXOXX** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:41 pm

40 S&W was designed to put a 45 ACP caliber round into a 9mm pistol frame.

Police went from 9mm to 40 Smith because the 9mm was bouncing off car windshields.

40 Smith gets put into a 9mm frame and women LEOs can manage it.

But if youre gonna carry a handgun, 45 ACP is the way to go for urban defense.

In the woods, against animals . . . you want 44 magnum or larger. Im a big fan of the Smith Mod. 629, 4 bbl.

by **agonist** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:51 pm

I think what youre trying to say is the .40 S&W was designed to get the most punch out of an average 9mm sized frame. The one advantage that gives the .40 over the .45 is hi cap mags while being an effective stopper. Now that gun designers are getting more creative, I beleive youll see more officers carrying things like the XD or S&W M&P hi cap .45s.

by **bigdon** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:07 am

when this discussion was first started, the first piece was really about what gun or firearm would be good in the forest on dangerous game. Even though the .45 and .40 are great bullets, it would be wise to check with local game officials to check what is approved by the state. Again well known pistol loads used for hogs, bear and deer have been the .44 mag, .45 long Colt, and the .357 mag. Now with larger bullets and firearms to use them with , hunting mags are good resources. I for one believe that a good rifle that will work in all conditions, and lots of practice to be able to handle the threat.

by **XXOXX** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:02 am

Animals in the woods. You want an animals in the woods caliber. In a handgun that starts at 44 magnum.

by **ANTI-XD** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:49 am

If your going into the wonds you have think OVER KILL so the bigger the better with, understanding it's something you can controll of course , but keep in mind with 45acp +p you get more speed out of a REALLY BIG SHELL, and the 45 long colt +p are aesome, but the big momma that you might be able to asofrd is the 454 casaull, it's like a BIG magnum 45 long colt you can shoot 45 long colts in this caliber if the gun permitts ( be sure and make sure you gun can before doing so )

by **ANTI-XD** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:50 am

O yea before useing +p ANY THING make sure your gun is rated for it, other wise the gun will go BANG but not in a good way

by **weekendfunandgun** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:35 pm

Ekimox -

I don't know the "correct" answer to your question as I have never shot either of the animals you specified with either of the calibers you specified. So I can't speak from experience, but I can give you a very brief point to consider from a physics-minded point of view.

Doubling the velocity of a projectile increases the energy (ft/lbs) 4x over. Doubling the weight of a projectile increases the energy only 2x over.

Therefore, you gain more power by using a fast moving .40 than a medium speed (even though it's a bit heavier) .45. Likewise, a lighter weight (say, 165-180 grain) .45ACP travelling at a much higher speed will produce more punch at the other end than a heavy 230+ grain .45ACP with only average velocity

Heavier is not always better.

by **agonist** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:36 pm

True weekend but the caliber size around not the weight is the major factor. Thus, expanding hollowpoints. You sacrifice penetration but the circumfrence of the projectile is a multiplier for the expanding width of the wound channel. The advantage to a heavier projectile in a hollow point is that mass is a multiplier for momentum (as is velocity) so the heavier bullet will penetrate further. A .45 +P hollow point would be more devastating than anything the .40 has to offer.