What's better 9mm or 45?

45-caliber round is the bigger bullet, so it has the “knock down power” to neutralize any adversary with one shot; while pistols that fire 9mm rounds are generally more accurate and can carry more bullets. Where a bullet hits the human body is also a major factor on whether it inflicts a mortal wound.
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Is a .45 stronger than a 9mm?

With a good modern defensive ammo, the 9mm is just as powerful as any . 45, just in different ways. When comparing the two handguns, it's important to note that the 9mm hasn't become better than the . 45 ACP…it just caught up to it.
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Is 9mm or 45 better for concealed carry?

The lighter . 45 ACP projectile bumps velocity up to 1050 fps and 435 ft-lbs; the heavier 9mm rounds have slower velocities, at (an alleged) 1150 fps and 985 fps respectively, and muzzle energy of 364 ft-lbs and 326 ft-lbs. In other words, a little bit of an edge, but not a drastic one.
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Which is easier to shoot 9mm or 45?

45 ACP is probably a bit better in terms of a larger wound cavity if no barrier is involved. If a barrier is involved, a 9mm +P load is superior. You can carry a lot more 9 mm rounds in the mag, and it is easier to shoot well.
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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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.45cal Vs 9mm Ballistic Test | Ammo Comparison | Tactical Rifleman



Is .45 a good home defense?

45 ACP caliber has outstanding stopping power and has more recoil. It has a smaller bullet capacity, and it's typically slower because of its bigger and heavier bullets. It has a shallow penetration, which makes it an excellent gun for home defense.
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Will a 9mm stop a bear?

The 9mm can kill bears but is considered underpowered by experienced woodsmen. The 9mm has 350 to 450 ft/lbs. of energy, while 1,000 ft/lbs is considered the minimum for a bear hunting gun. Proper 9mm bullets yield sufficient penetration in soft tissue, but it may not stop a bear quickly enough to avoid being mauled.
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What pistol do Navy SEALs carry?

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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Why is 9mm so popular?

Right now, 9mm is quite popular because it is a versatile cartridge, and advances in the technology used to make it have improved its performance. But that doesn't mean other types of ammunition are disappearing or that they aren't suitable for different missions.
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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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Will a 9mm go through a person?

It depends on the gun

Experiments using ballistic gelatine to mimic the human body suggest that a 9mm bullet from a handgun will penetrate about 60cm through human fat tissue. A fully jacketed bullet from an assault rifle, such as an AK-47, will go much further and can easily shoot through a brick wall.
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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. These are 9 mm models.
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Do police officers use 9mm?

Currently, the . 40 S&W is a law enforcement favorite, but after recent studies on new 9mm rounds by the FBI's Ballistic Research Facility, the 9mm is slowly finding its way back into the hands of police officers across the country.
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What pistol did Mike Day use?

“Because it's painful,” said the SEAL who survived a grenade blast and 27 rounds fired at close range by an AK-47, M4 rifle and Sig Sauer pistol. “It's [all] that running; the running really beats me up.” Mike Day during a deployment. Photo provided by Brenda Day.
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What gun does John Wick use?

In the inaugural John Wick film, we see our titular character dig up his old gear and guns. From an OTF knife to the various handguns for his return to work. His main handgun being the Heckler and Koch P30L. L stands for Long, and the gun features a slightly longer barrel than the standard P30.
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Why did the FBI switch back to 9mm?

Today many loads for police duty cartridges meet that benchmark. By going with the 9mm, the FBI gets the terminal performance it desires, with more capacity, in a handgun that's easier, and faster, to shoot accurately.
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Will a .45 stop a bear?

In general, the . 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.
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What guns kick the hardest?

The Six Hardest Kicking Cartridges
  • 700 H&H. The . 700 Nitro Express or H&H Magnum. ...
  • 600 Nitro Express. A . 600 Nitro Express cartridge. ...
  • 475 A&M Magnum. A . 475 A&M Magnum cartridge. ...
  • 577 Tyrannosaur. Two . ...
  • 460 Weatherby. The . ...
  • 454 Casull. Many regular-frame handguns are offered in the hard-kicking .
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Is 9mm good for self defense?

So, with proper HOLLOW POINT and 124-125 grain ammo, a 9mm will work fine for defense, since it meets these two F.B.I. criteria. Recognize that some guns perform better with high pressure loads or bigger grains, while some don't.
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What is more powerful a 357 or a 45?

357 Magnum is more powerful since it has more powder. However, this doesn't mean the . 45 ACP isn't reliable for self-defense. In fact, it's a great round as well.
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Is 357 better than 9mm?

The 357 Magnum round loaded with a 125-grain projectile reaches almost 1,500 feet per second and strikes targets with 585 foot-pounds of energy. Needless to say, ballistically, it outperforms the 9mm. The 357 Magnum also has no problems reaching the FBI standards and even exceeding them.
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What caliber is closest to 9mm?

357, . 380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.)
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Why do people love 9mm?

Reliability: Pistols chambered in 9mm are generally the most reliable pistols available in those configurations most popular at police agencies. They're also less susceptible to changes in duty ammunition and can reliably function with both practice and duty ammunition.
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What handgun has the most stopping power?

Ruger 1707 GP100

The GP100 can hold . 357 Magnum rounds, giving it high honors for stopping power.
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Why do police use 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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