Which is better 45 ACP or 357 mag?

Target Penetration
The . 357 Magnum can penetrate distant targets better. It's also lighter and faster because it doesn't have a metal exterior to hold its shape after firing since it's a magnum round. On the contrary, the 45 ACP penetrates nearby targets better because it's heavier and larger.
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Does a 357 Magnum have good stopping power?

Their initial research, published in 1992 and entitled, Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study, showed the . 357 Magnum had the best track record in actual shootings. It delivered one-shot stops at a rate well over 90%.
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Is a .45 good for 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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Is the 357 the most powerful handgun?

357 Magnum (9x33mmR) cartridge was for decades the most powerful commercially available round. Invented in 1934, the cartridge was developed by leading firearm authorities and quickly became the round of choice for revolver enthusiasts, law enforcement and military forces worldwide.
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What is 45 ACP good for?

The .45 ACP is an effective combat pistol cartridge. It combines accuracy as well as stopping power for use against human targets, has relatively low muzzle blast and flash, and it produces a stout, but manageable recoil in handguns (made worse in compact models).
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357 MAGNUM VS 45 ACP VS 9MM VS PUMPKIN



Why 45 ACP is outdated?

It's outdated because it travels at a slower velocity and cannot be carried in the abundance the alternative can. The majority of the world's militaries employ the 9mm round and even the United States Special Operations Command has gone back to the 9mm after years of employing several . 45 ACP pistols.
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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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What has more stopping power 357 or 45 ACP?

The . 357 has more stopping power when aiming at targets further away, while the . 45 ACP provides higher stopping power when shooting targets at shorter ranges.
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What caliber revolver is best?

45-70 to the tamer . 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum rounds. These stainless steel guns are extremely durable and pack a precision-grade barrel for those long-range shots. Accuracy matters a fair bit when hunting, and the BFR packs a great barrel and excellent trigger for that task.
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What is the difference between .45 and .45 ACP?

There is no difference between 45 Auto and 45 ACP. They are in fact one and the same, which leads us to the point of this article: Some cartridges have more than one name. Some have many, in fact, to the point where an inexperienced shooter may wonder if they are ordering the correct ammunition.
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What is the best caliber for home defense?

The most common caliber for a home defense handgun is 9mm. This does mean that your gun will penetrate through walls and can possibly harm your loved ones during a home invasion. Also, many experts recommend hollow point ammo because of the power, and they are a bit safer to shoot in a home defense scenario.
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What type of bullet is best for self-defense?

The most successful defensive bullet design has historically been the jacketed hollow point, or JHP. These bullets have a lead core that expands and transfers energy, as well as a partial copper jacket that controls the expansion of the lead for deep penetration.
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What is the most powerful hand gun?

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 has held its rank as the world's most powerful handgun since it was first introduced in 2003.
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Whats stronger 357 or 44?

As for bullet energy, the 357 comes out at 566 ft-lbs while the 44 creates 832 & 904 ft-lbs. This indicates what we already knew: The 44 magnum is much more powerful than the 357 magnum. When he changes things up to compare the most commonly-used bullet weight for each cartridge, you can really see the difference.
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Is a 9mm more powerful than a 357?

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 is the most reliable pistol ever made?

Glock and More: 7 Most Reliable Striker-Fired Pistols
  • Key Point: Each of these pistols are truly excellent choices for self-defense or personal protection. ...
  • CZ P10C. ...
  • Glock 17/19. ...
  • Heckler & Koch VP9. ...
  • SIG Sauer P320. ...
  • Smith & Wesson M&P. ...
  • Walther P99. ...
  • Walther PPQ.
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Are revolvers better for home-defense?

For a first home-defense firearm, a revolver is hard to beat. And if you're looking for a firearm you might choose to carry concealed sometime down the road, a revolver won't leave you disappointed.
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What is the most popular revolver in America?

One of the most popular revolvers in production, the Smith & Wesson 686 revolver is a medium (“L frame”) revolver chambered in the powerful . 357 Magnum caliber. The 686 is designed to handle the heavier magnum round while pairing it with a heavier barrel and a six-round cylinder.
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What is the most powerful handgun cartridge?

500 S&W Magnum is considered the most powerful commercial sporting handgun cartridge by virtue of the muzzle energy it can generate.
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Is a 10mm more powerful than a 45?

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 gun did Dirty Harry use?

In the 1971 movie Dirty Harry, actor Clint Eastwood introduced the world to the double-action Smith & Wesson Model 29 . 44-cal. Magnum revolver—"the most powerful handgun in the world." It was a crown S&W wore proudly, albeit briefly.
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Is a 357 Magnum a good bear gun?

357 Magnum or other similar-caliber load, a well-placed shot with a good bullet will certainly kill a bear, but it's not recommended.
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What is the best caliber handgun for bear?

44 Magnum is the minimum for charging bears, many others have opted for a Glock 20 in 10mm Auto and, interestingly enough, passed right by the . 357 S&W Magnum. Several folks have even successfully killed bears with a 9mm.
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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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