45 Cal as EDC/Personal Defense Weapon

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 9/6/2016 | J Hines

[w1n1]

There are many pros and cons on carrying a 45 cal handgun for your everyday carry as a personal defense weapon. Experts and common Joe’s like us choose brands and models based on afford ability, gender, hand size and functionality. (stopping power) Most of us will agree the 45 has good stopping power and yet there are some school of thoughts a 10mm will have the same effect. Then there are debates on the stopping power versus accuracy, the later being more important to focus on. And yes, last the bullet itself, the reloaders will talk about the best amount of grains for personal defense loads.

Regardless of the arguments here’s an excerpt of this conversation on Reddit and Smith and Wesson Forum.
Rpg: In my view, the 45acp in a 1911 is the ultimate edc and home defense handgun. Nothing works as well for the purpose as a 45 acp. The Commander (aluminum frame, 4 1/2″ barrel) is very comfortable for edc.

cmort666: I went from a 5″ Norinco M1911 in .45acp (when I had to sell it to pay the rent) to a Glock 19, to a 3 1/2″ Citadel 3.5CS M1911 in .45acp. There are self-defense handguns almost as good as an M1911 in .45acp. There’s nothing BETTER.

Muss Muggins: Advances in ammunition have been the great equalizer in recent years. Nowadays, pretty much any caliber will suffice. Choose a pistol you shoot well and run with it . . .

exile0514: The relative stopping power between 9, 45, 40, and the commercially under-powered 10mm (not full pressure) is nearly identical. Use whatever you shoot better with.

BeforetheRobots: When it comes to handguns, stopping power is a myth. Shot placement is everything. Read the rest of the sentiments here. What about you all, what's your thoughts on the 45 cal handgun for EDC?

[TMSuchman]

I am a revolver kind of guy, I love the sight & sound of that cylinder “clicking” over when the hammer is pulled back. That will put the fear of GOD of any person looking down the business end of one of these.

[Reno89519]

I carry either a 380 ACP or 9mm. The latter, smaller footprint than a typical 45 is still too big this time of year to conceal easily. I want concealed carry. Figure my 380 is just fine. Whether shot with a 380, 9mm, or 45, I don't think many people will walk away. I get 3-4 MOA at 45 feet so no loss of accuracy.

If you are carrying a 45, how do you do so with summer or warm weather attire?

[CGASMIA68]

If you are carrying a 45, how do you do so with summer or warm weather attire

Is that a pistol in your Speedo or are you just happy to see me?

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Kimber Ultra Carry is my current carry piece. I shoot it exceptionally well.

Just bought a M&P Shield because even the smaller .45 is too bulky for most warm weather CC.

[Mr. Douglas]

Open carry.

[PapaBear3625]

If you are carrying a 45, how do you do so with summer or warm weather attire

My .45 cal Glock 30 conceals just fine in an inside-the-waistband holster in my shorts, with a t-shirt over it.

[imardmd1]

For me, the .45 Gov’t is the most conformable to my body as an in-the-pant concealed hideable instrument. Sub-compact 9mm is almost as good, but its lighter weight would make recoil a bit more difficult to manage for double-tap. The bulge of the cylinder on a Colt or S&W revolver is less comfortable as an ITP item, but otherwise acceptable with frangible +P ammo.

[riverrunner]

In the free states we carry our full size 1911’s out in the open.

The more I open carry the less I carry small handguns the smallest these days in a Glock 23.

[suthener]

Springfield XDs with Fobus holster (outside waistband) baggy kind of thick pull over shirt. Prints a little but not real obvious. Very easy to get to, but not good retention. Wouldn’t get in a fight with it.

[Fightin Whitey]

[Billthedrill]

Lots to like about the .45 (Lord knows I love mine), mostly that it fairly reliably deposits all its kinetic energy in a human-sized target. But they tend to be big, and since you're going to fight with the gun you carry, that can be difficult.

Shot placement is so much more important than caliber that it nearly makes the latter irrelevant, especially with modern ammunition. After you've answered the question, "Can I hit with it?" then we can talk about caliber.

[dangerdoc]

I was a .45 guy for decades. As I got older, fatter and became more sensitive to constant skin pressure, I moved to a very small 9mm.

When I moved to the mountains, I started carrying a fanny pack when hiking with a full sized 10mm pistol, I gradually stopped carrying the 9 and just carry the 10 now.

I don’t think the 10 is better than the 45 for 2 legged threats, it’s just easier to carry the 10 all of the time rather than switching weapons based on where I am headed for the day.

I still think 45 is better for self defense over 9mm but the difference is now marginal enough that I didn’t think twice about switching to the 9. Seeing the effect of 10mm on soft targets, I am very happy carrying it all the time now. 180 XTP for winter and town, 220 solids for trails when bears are moving.

[smokingfrog]

** If you are carrying a 45, how do you do so with summer or warm weather attire? **

Use your “man purse”. ?

[Verbosus]

I agree with you.
My .45 is too big for concealed carry, and the .380 is the perfect size.
A .380 has plenty of stopping power.

[Lurker]

XDS in .45 is my EDC.

Love it.

L

[Jack Black]

45. ACP is a proven great self-defense round, and the Colt Commander is a great proven pistol to chamber it in.

The 10mm in original format, a 200 gr bullet at 1200 fps is damn near the .41 Mag in terms of power. It's probably more than is needed for most self-defense scenarios. Great for rural or mountain environments where livestock or predators might be a concern, though.

I believe the .41 Mag was originally adopted mostly by rural law enforcement for the same reason.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

That’s why they make Hawaiian shirts.

[sean327]

I “grew” up with the Barretta M-9 9mm in the Marine Corps and became very very good with it. I don’t own one, I have a Ruger P-94 in 9mm which I am also very good with. This isn’t a debate to me, figure out what caliber you are most comfortable with and become proficient with it. Accuracy is everything no matter the caliber.

[wrench]

Only hits count. A hit with a 22 beats 7 misses with a 45.

If you are accurate with one caliber, carry it.. If that is 45, great!