This is a discussion on Caliber Wars are over for me within the Defensive Ammunition & Ballistics forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; I found some very interesting info over at Warriortalk, posted by some folks who I respect and who are well versed on ballistics.
It seems ...
I found some very interesting info over at Warriortalk, posted by some folks who I respect and who are well versed on ballistics.
It seems the math has been done, and the .45 has a 4-7% probability (per shot, depending on whether or not it expands) of hitting something vital (spine or major artery) that a slightly smaller 9mm barely misses. That means if you shoot 100 rounds, you would nick something vital with a .45 that would be a near miss with a 9mm only 4-7 times on average. You are better served by firing more 9mm rounds - this gives you a much greater chance of hitting something vital than relying on the larger size of the .45.
This small per-shot advantage for the .45 comes at the expense of less magazine capacity (in a given size gun), greater recoil/slower follow-up shots (all else being equal), and more expensive practice ammo.
Ammo capacity is important to me, as I do not expect one shot from any handgun (regardless of caliber) to stop a determined attacker. Thus, controllability and the ability to make fast, accurate follow-up shots is also important to me. The 9mm has a distinct advantage here.
For me, the small per-shot advantage of the .45 over the 9mm is not worth the associated trade-offs. By all means, if you can conceal-carry a double stack .45, and make repeated hits with it as quickly and accurately as you could with a 9mm, go for it. Most folks, however, would likely find that hard to do.
So, I'm sticking with the 9mm caliber. I've conceded that there must be some per-shot advantage to the larger calibers, but I've been unconvinced that the advantage was great enough to warrant the associated systemic trade-offs. Now that I know the actual "number" I have even more confidence that the 9mm is the best all-around caliber for self-defense for my purposes.
"Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks."
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Certified Glock Armorer
NRA Life Member
As they say, a .22 that hits the target does more damage than a .44mag that misses.
Caliber wars are silly. No one get's out of the morque because the round that killed them was too small - or too big. There is not less dead and more dead. There is just dead.
"A heavily armed citizenry is not about overthrowing the government; it is about preventing the government from overthrowing liberty. A people stripped of their right of self defense is defenseless against their own government." -source
Disclaimer: The posts made by this member are only the members opinion, not a reflection on anyone else, nor the group, and should not be cause for anyone to get their undergarments wedged in an uncomfortable position.
My purpose is not to beat that dead horse, but to pass on info that was new...to me, anyways. I've not ever seen the per-shot advantage of the .45 over the 9mm quantified before. I figured it was there, and I figured it was small...but I never knew the "percent advantage" before.
It is, of course, up to everyone to decide on their own if this advantage is worth the trade-offs. At least they now know what the advantage actually is...
I'll take some popcorn too - light butter and salt, please!
My purpose is not to beat that dead horse, but to pass on info that was new...to me, anyways. I've not ever seen the per-shot advantage of the .45 over the 9mm quantified before. I figured it was there, and I figured it was small...but I never knew the "percent advantage" before.
It is, of course, up to everyone to decide on their own if this advantage is worth the trade-offs. At least they now know what the advantage actually is...
I'll take some popcorn too - light butter and salt, please!
I didn't think you were beating a dead horse, but I anticipated what was coming. No comparison on the .357 , or was there?
Disclaimer: The posts made by this member are only the members opinion, not a reflection on anyone else, nor the group, and should not be cause for anyone to get their undergarments wedged in an uncomfortable position.
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Originally Posted by retsupt99
EM1(SS) Retired 
