How powerful is a .45 ACP?

The standard-issue, military . 45 ACP cartridge contains a 230-grain bullet that travels at approximately 830 feet per second (253 m/s) when fired from the government-issue M1911A1 pistol, and approximately 950 feet per second (290 m/s) fired from the Thompson M1A1 submachine gun.
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Is 45 ACP more powerful than 9mm?

As we can see from the chart above, 9mm bullets have a higher muzzle velocity than 45 ACP bullets do. Combined with the 9mm's smaller size than . 45 ACP, that translates into deeper bullet penetration. A higher muzzle velocity and lower weight also means that the 9mm usually has less vertical drop than a 45 does.
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Is a .45 good for self defense?

Many shooters like to have the . 45 ACP for home defense. It's the perfect grab-and-go handgun to fire in close quarters where recoil won't pose such a problem.
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Is the 45 ACP a man stopper?

45 ACP is the elder statesmen of the two cartridges. In keeping with the prevailing attitudes on handgun cartridges in that era, Browning designed the . 45 ACP to shoot a big, slow bullet that was an effective "man-stopper" when using full metal jacket ammunition. He was very successful in that regard.
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Will 45 ACP stop a bear?

45 acp is a poor choice for bear defense. The round is slow, fat, and has fairly poor penetration on tough-skinned animals; however, some people carry . 45 acp with modern +P ammo and hardened bullets for bear defense. There are many better options, but it can work.
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.45cal Vs 9mm Ballistic Test | Ammo Comparison | Tactical Rifleman



Does a 45 kick hard?

Recoil Energy

45 ACP recoil is nearly double that of the 9mm when launched from a similar pistol. Size and weight of the gun matter when calculating recoil. For example, a . 45 launched from a carbine will have less felt recoil than a 9mm shot from a subcompact CCW pistol.
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Do police use 9mm or 45?

"While many law enforcement departments and agencies still use . 357, . 40, and even . 45 caliber guns, most have already switched or are switching to 9mm," says Joel Harris, SIG Sauer's director of media relations and communication.
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What is the deadliest 45 ACP round?

If you want the deadliest 45 ACP ammo then hollow point is the way to go. Because this type of bullet favors expansion, you get the most powerful 45 ACP ammo in terms of internal damage.
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Which is more powerful 45 ACP or 10mm?

Both are popular choices for self-defense and both have a lot of stopping power. The 10mm is a bit more powerful than the . 45 ACP and it also has a higher capacity.
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What is a good 45 ACP ammo for self defense?

Here's the Best . 45 ACP Ammo for Self-Defense
  • Winchester 230-Grain Ranger T-Series. Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.
  • Federal 230-Grain HST. Brownells.
  • Remington 185-Grain Golden Saber +P. Ammunition Store.
  • Magtech 230-Grain Bonded. MidwayUSA.
  • Speer 185-Grain Gold Dot. ...
  • Speer 230-Grain Gold Dot Short Barrel. ...
  • Hornady 200gr XTP.
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Is there a .45 Magnum?

45 Winchester Magnum is a . 45 caliber rimless cartridge intended for use in semi-automatic pistols. The cartridge is externally a lengthened . 45 ACP with a thicker web to withstand higher operating pressures.
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What gun do FBI agents carry?

The FBI Relies on Glock Gen 5 Handguns

Like many other law enforcement agencies, the FBI relies on the fifth generation of Glock handguns, including the Glock 19 Gen 5 and a Glock 17 Gen 5.
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What handgun has the most stopping power?

The GP100 can hold . 357 Magnum rounds, giving it high honors for stopping power.
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What pistol does the FBI use?

So when the new agents come to us, the Firearms Training Unit, we train them on three specific types of weapons. Their primary weapon, their sidearm, is a Glock 19M; it's a brand new weapon—that's predominantly what we're going to teach them with.
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What does more damage 9mm or 45?

Using a . 45 ACP might lessen the risk of bullets going through walls. Hence, it's a more preferred caliber for home defense. However, the 9mm may be more comfortable to use, but it might cause more damage indoors because of its penetration.
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Is a .40 or .45 better?

All things being equal, the 40 and 45 are very accurate cartridges and there should be little to no difference between them. However, many shooters report better accuracy with the 45 ACP, which is likely due to softer felt recoil.
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Which caliber is best for self-defense?

Capacity. The 9mm offers greater magazine capacity than virtually any other pistol caliber carried for personal defense. If the wounding capabilities of 9mm and the other cartridges are nearly identical, it would seem to be that having more rounds in you magazine will give you a better opportunity to stop an attacker.
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What gun is best for self-defense?

Top Ten Home Defense Firearms
  • MOSSBERG 590 TACTICAL. 12 Gauge. $693. 8+1.
  • Taurus Judge. 45 Long Colt / 410 Shotshell. $512. ...
  • Glock G21 Gen 4. .45 Caliber. $585. 13+1.
  • Beretta CX4 Storm. 9mm. $699. ...
  • KEL-TEC KSG. 12 Gauge. $1,040. 12+1.
  • KRISS Vector SBR. .45 Caliber. $1,549. ...
  • GLOCK 17. 9mm. $500. 17+1.
  • Sig Sauer P226 Legion RX. 9mm. $1200. 15+1.
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What is the best gun to carry for self-defense?

5 Top-Rated Handguns for Home Security and Self-Defense
  • Glock 19. When it comes to handguns, the pinnacle brand for reliability and ease of use is Glock. ...
  • Glock 43. ...
  • Sig Sauer P320. ...
  • Sig Sauer P365. ...
  • Smith and Wesson M&P.
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Why do cops carry Glocks?

The Glock's large capacity and light body gave it advantages over other guns. "Police departments were amazed when they took their officers out to the range and found out not only could they learn to use the Glock pretty quickly, but the Glock also made them more accurate as marksmen," he says.
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What sidearm do Navy SEALs use?

In 2015, the Glock 19, a compact 9 mm, was added to the SEAL handgun inventory. The SEALs plan to eventually replace the P226s with the newer Glocks. For now, the M9 continues to be the primary sidearm for U.S. uniformed personnel worldwide and the P226 continues to be the primary handgun of the SEALs.
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What caliber pistol do police carry?

In each of the three most common law enforcement handgun calibers (9mm Luger, . 40 S&W, . 45 Auto), there are some projectiles that have a high likelihood of success for officers (i.e., all three are very effective).
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Is a 45 or 44 more powerful?

44 Magnum delivers between 900 and 1,500 foot pounds of energy; by contrast, the . 45 ACP's power ranges between 400 and 600 foot pounds. In recent years the . 44 Magnum's supremacy has been eclipsed by other rounds, including the .
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