Stepping up from my Browning 9mm (FReeper advice needed for higher caliber pistol)

vanity ^ | 8-5-10 | wac3rd

[Spok]

I have a 45LC and never thought of subsonic loads. Are you using loading tables? Which ones?

[RetiredNavy]

Pet Peeve post warning!:

“a higher caliber”

maybe you mean:

“a larger caliber”?

[RetiredNavy]

almost any powder manufacturer will have a “cowboy” section in their data these days. In addition, original loadings for the 45 colt were typically subsonic. The standard loading these days seems to be around 850 FPS or so.

[texmexis best]

yes, I use tables for all my reloading.

The best by far are on line at www.hodgdon.com. They not only have the fps, but the pressures and are easy to download and use. They are the absolute best.

[texmexis best]

“Have you ever fired a judge yet?”

No, I haven’t had that privilege, but I am looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to trying out the .45/.410 Bond Arms derringer.

These guns are really popular. I noticed some of the rifle makers are now putting out .45/410 rifles and Federal has special ammo for the handguns that works better than the normal shotgun shell.

[texmexis best]

For those of you who are not familiar with cowboy shooting, cowboys always hot one handed because the recoil of the round was not nearly as disruptive as the modern rounds.

The classic .45 Long colt load is 700 fps, 250 gr. Very slow recoil and easily handled with one hand.

[archy]

I bought a 9mm and love using it, but am debating what to get for home protection at a higher caliber.

I like the looks of the 1911 45's and I also like the idea of a 40 caliber Glock or 10mm Glock. I think I want a semi-automatic, so the revolver is out...

Finally, should I get a shorter barrel (4" or less) or stick with the standard 4.5 - 5" barrel?

Your advice would be very much appreciated...

I've carried and used a Browning GP/Hi-Power/L9 since around March of 1968, and picked up spares to use while mine was getting reblued, modified sights, etc. In late 1976 I was very slightly injured by a fella armed with a sawed-off M1 carbine, who desisted from his criminal tresspass at the farm I then called home after three of the four 9mm rounds from my GP hit him and put an end to his shooting. I make no pretense that a 9mm is the best or even a particularly good choice for such things, but circumstances ruled that I use that particular piece at that specific time, and it did not let me down.

I bought a 9mm and love using it, but am debating what to get for home protection at a higher caliber.

Keep your 9mm. You may be well advised to get a larger caliber handgun, especially if you already have an effective shotgun and rifle. But hand on to your Browning.

I like the looks of the 1911 45's and I also like the idea of a 40 caliber Glock or 10mm Glock. I think I want a semi-automatic, so the revolver is out...

Either the 1911 or Glock can be user-maintained with complete and total parts removal and replacement done by the user, so you're in good shape with either. the 10mm Glock can be fitted with a conversion barrel that will let it use the very common .40 ammo for practice purposes, so that might be a thought. Likewise the M1911 can be used with a .22 conversion kit for practice, making it similarly versatile; one can be had for your Browning, too. But don't give up completely on the idea of the revolver, even if that's not your immediate planned acquisition. I've had a couple of periods where the fingers of my right hand were out of service in a cast, once for almost a year, and a revolver on the other side became a very handy thing.

Finally, should I get a shorter barrel (4" or less) or stick with the standard 4.5 - 5" barrel? look here, at the top right of the page.

Your advice would be very much appreciated...

Get more ammo for your 9mm and practice with about half of it. Don't count on having trick ammo improve the capabilities of your handgun, but assume all you have/ is available is standard ball ammo. It'll do if it's what you have, if you're practiced and experienced with it and know where it will go. Get a couple more magazines for your GP, too,

Practice, practice, practice....

[wjcsux]

I used to love my Springfield 1911-A1 and my Ithaca M&P 12 gauge. I had a very unfortunate boating accident and lost them along with the rest of my guns, and the safe, too.

[wjcsux]

I used to love my Browning High power as well. It got lost in the boating accident with the rest of my guns. A Sig P-226 in .40 is a nice choice as well. It got lost, too.

[Stentor]

...(I can nail a small bullseye in the black at 30 feet one-handed with it)...

Not laughing. I was at the range today shooting very well with mine one handed. Don't expect, where I live, that I'm going to necessarily have the time to get into one of those nice looking two handed stances.

[Durus]

I have err...used to have a Sig 226 in .40 and I'm not in love with the caliber. I prefer my 226 in .357Sig. What I meant to say is that I really miss my 226 in .357sig. The reason why I used to like the 220 over the 226 was that it was a much flatter design as it's a single stack and it's a .45.

[wac3rd]

Thanks...larger caliber...got it...

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Good home defense is quick access to a gun. That usually takes more than one gun place around the house.

This strategy still baffles me. How do you secure all these various guns at night when you go to sleep? If you leave guns more than one place at night and a perp comes in and finds one of them, you have just violated the sacred maxim "never give your enemy ammunition". I've never understood the idea of leaving a shotgun at the front door and assault rifle at the back door and a handgun in the study, all there just waiting for an invading perp to find so he is well armed while he approaches your bedroom. I don't get this. I really don't.

[texmexis best]

For some real fun with your .45 long colt look here:

Bullet pouring porno for .45 LC on pages 10 and 11

http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog.html

Making your own wax bullets for .45 LC:

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=2294&cid=32

Special drilled out cartridges to use 209 primers for 950 fps wax bullets:

http://www.banditshooting.com/

.45 LC is the most fun you can have with a gun.