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?

[wildbill]

I had some factory loads with mercury in the tip once, but finally decided I didn’t want mercury flying around my home. I know there are others, but DIY is cheap

[Tijeras_Slim]

Do you like the Kahr? It’s been some time since I fired one, but I liked the trigger.

[TalonDJ]

Not that hard. Carried a full size 1911 under tshirts in FL for years.
Also an XDs is pretty tiny.

[OKC Patriot]

Great idea on the potato, but be sure to put it in the front not the back!! :)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Either way, they won’t notice the gun. ;)

[Georgia Girl 2]

For everyday CC the Springfield Armory SDS in 9mm is hard to beat.

[Georgia Girl 2]

For everyday CC the Springfield Armory XDS in 9mm is hard to beat.

[Joe Boucher]

I love my .45 Kimber.
With the lazer spot.

[RandallFlagg]

I like it. Took a bit to get used to such a small pistol, but it’s nice.
No rail, no drop trigger, no safety and no loaded chamber indicator.
Just a plain-Jane .45.

[Celerity]

“one can realistically worry about.”

Yeah, here too. Me and my neighbors do track things to keep each other informed. I carry the 357mag when I’m hiking, and I normally have my 40 on me. It should be fine.

But killing a wild animal in defense is a sticky, sticky situation. Try to get away first and remember that you can’t hear a bear at all. Their fluffy little feet make no sound whatsoever. Keep your head on a swivel.

But firing at the ground is also effective for everything in the forest. For a bear to come after the prey that can make thunder happen that bear must be awfully hungry. This is why the first week of the thaw I tend to just stay out of the woods.

[Celerity]

I’m not saying that you need to calculate your shots with a charging dog. I’m saying that just about any hit you have on the center mass of a dog facing you is going to take it out of commission.

[Celerity]

I had to kill one. And the next time that happens, I’m not going to the cops anymore. They put me through the wringer.

It was sad watching a dog writing in pain, really hard. But I’m still convinced he was gunning for me.

[Jack Hammer]

The one you have when you need it is the best one.

You may lug around a .45 for ten years and never require it, which sets the mind to thinking, “Maybe I should be carrying a .380...”

[KC Burke]

Got the Alien Gear IWB holster for my new night-sighted M&P Shield and it is the real deal for CC.

[dangerdoc]

I found my revolvers to be more finicky than my better autos. After extended shooting I have had them bind to the point where I had to use a hammer to open the cylinder. I finally got around to locktiting the screws so they wouldn’t back up during extended shooting.

miliage may vary, back then I might shoot a thousand rounds in a sitting. My old government model could shoot a thousand rounds without stopping. My 625, I would stop every 100 rounds or so and tighten screws and wipe the forcing cone. With a newer auto, can’t remember now which one, I had to dissassemble and clean it after a few hundred rounds or it would start refusing to eat target loads.

The mechanism of a revolver is more complicated with as many, or more things to go wrong as an auto. That being said, for sheer shooting joy, I would rather spend the day shooting my 625.

[dangerdoc]

look into 45 super, you can modify many semi autos without a huge investment and get the ballistics of a 100mm and still be able to shoot 45 acp.

[dangerdoc]

100mm, that would be cool. 10mm, my cumputer is busted and I’m trying to post from my phone

[CodeToad]

Kimber Ultra Carry TLE II. Handloaded 45 ACP 185gr Speer Gold Dots. Why, yes, I do trust my life to it.

[B4Ranch]

The absolute best way to be aware of any bears in your locality is to bring a dog with you when you roam.

[B4Ranch]

What do you use for lube? I prefer Militec-1.