Quote:
Originally Posted by InspectorGadget
I have seen the lack of stopping power from a NATO 9mm first hand in Afghanistan, I'm ok with the design of the gun(M9) in and of itself, but in a 9mm NO FRICKING WAY.
I have carried both the 1911A1 and the M9 and just like the 1911 better. And most importantly to me the guys handling my security element in Afghanistan (SOCOM) trusted the 45ACP over the NATO 9mm. Considering how many rounds they had put into BG's there with both weapons that is the best reccomendation I ever got.
I have never shot someone with the .45 although I carried it for 15 of 20 years but since it's my caboose on the line that is an easy choice.
For a camping weapon, I want sheer power .44 Mag Mountain Backpacker for defense against hungry animals. I'll keep my 1911 avaliable for the real monsters if they show up.
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9mm NATO rounds aren't meant for stopping power, which is what you want when carrying. I understand the military can't carry anything but FMJs but most of us aren't military. The Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P has a muzzle velocity of 1180 fps and muzzle energy of 384 ft lbs. It also expands very reliably and has about an 88% one-shot stop rating according to the book "
Stopping Power: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition". It was stated in the book that it's not the caliber that makes the difference but the choice of ammo. The Magtech Guardian Gold has even more impressive ballistics: 1246 fps and 397 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. The book goes on to say that the INS and The Border Patrol, the largest LEA in the country, won't even consider a round unless it has at least 400 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. These two come very close and there are some .40S&W and .45ACP rounds that fall very short of those specs. I'm not trying to create an arguement here, just participate in the discussion. Basically it's a trade off of velocity, momentum and energy and how reliably that enegy can expand a hollow point round in a short amount of distance without exiting, i.e. transferring that energy to exapnd the round enough to stop the BG by creating as much damage as possible.