.40 vs .45 LAW ENFORCEMENT USE

[bramdawg]

Going onto a local PD in los angeles area. Have heard stories both about .40's and .45's what is really the difference. I know comfort is important put I want to know if I will be safe with a .40 or if I should go with .45. I want the best gun for my job.

[Squantos]

I have at times carried a little snub S&W 317 Airlite 22 revolver in my ankle rig that holds a small box of 50 spare rounds.

As a fan of Mr Paco Kelly I have modified each round with some of his "tools" of the trade available for purchase. Good stuff for a revolver, but it doesn't like my little semi autos too much . I had to find one brand and stick with it for the automatics.

[yarddog]

I still have about half a box of Super Vel 9mm 90 grain jhp which I bought back around 1970. It really is hot ammo.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Nasti-nose! I've been meaning to get one of those. I've read about it in several places.

[Squantos]

LOL....I carry a 45 because they don't make a 50 guy ?

I have a piggy bank fund going for a Guncrafters Industies 50GI 1911A1......it's a chunk of coin but I'll have one pretty soon!

Maybe by xmas !

[ctdonath2]

I know for a fact that a G26 can drop a cow like a light switch.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Slims saving his pennies for a Citori XS Skeet in 20ga. I'm all handgunned out for a bit... unless of course a nice Lew Horton Model 24 falls under my eye.

[Squantos]

Well worth the coin....Paco Kelly is one of my go to gurus as far as read and heed educational info !

He has the accurizer and the hollowpoint tools and a few others I don't have.........yet !

[Horatio Gates]

There are many different considerations and they vary greatly from person to person. I have large hands and my first issue PD pistol back in 1990 was a Glock 17 and it felt very uncomfortable and I tended to go heavy on the trigger. Thats what everyone was issued. Then we all went to Beretta 96D .40's. A little bigger frame but still a little small for me but thats what we got. I didn't care for the full time double action/semi concept either. The trigger pull seemed a mile long and about 10 lbs if not more. Now we get a choice of the Glock 21 .45 which I carry,the Kimber 1911 knock-off which is a nice piece too or the Glock .40 cal. The G21 is still a bit too small but I've never been consistently better with qualifications or tactical shooting.

If I had my druthers,I'd walk around with an AR-15 if they'd let me. Thats where I get really dialed in 8>)

[5Madman2]

"CorBon bullets tried out a necked-down .45, calling it something like the .45/40 CorBon:

I am unsure, but I believe STI made a 1911 in that caliber

[Squantos]

I had an old boy in Lubbock do a deep relief 100% engraving on my favorite 1911A1 and some days a fat man just sweats a bit too much to consider anything that purdy a tool to abuse in such a horrific manner Dr Muttly....

... I break out the combat tupperware aka the glock and it's tenifer fat boy sweat proof finish for work details!......:o)

[rahbert]

unfortunately departments have to reckon with lawyers
and possible wrongful death actions from overpenetration..

[Kokojmudd]

I am not LE but I would agree with whatever you can shoot the best and is the most comfortable...try a lot of different calibers and models as allowed by your dept. I like to have stopping power of a .40 or .45 best of luck

[PoorMuttly]

...."a" Seecamp, "a" S&W .22 revolver....

....it's enough to make a professor chase his tail with glee, for hours. We be finding things that WORK!

The most horrible thing is a "failure to stop," be it in game shooting, or self defense against anyting. So, while it is utterly important to be accurate with a reliable handgun, for various good reasons...."using enough gun" is not to be minimized. Wounded creatures can get away and suffer, or kill you real good if they're predators and up to it, because they will be as motivated as they can get once shot!

Now what else can we learn from this voice of Squantos experience..? Well, he is using these pocket weapons to GET to his shotgun or rifle, which he HAS. So, if we DO NOT have such formidable, but not foolproof instruments near by, "HAVE enough gun."

You may all now proceed with chasing your own tails.

Class dismissed.

[Squantos]

True....after lots of discussion with Dr Muttly I have decided to add a glock 20 to my arsenal of democracy here in Poohville.

My concern now is to go with the 20C flavor or go to magnaport for a really good porting vs the flash blindness that the factory glock "C" provides.

10MM Comments ?

I have to go do some errands and will check back later this evening....taking my G21 as it's hot outside !

[Travis McGee]

ROTFLMAO!

[Squantos]

LMAO.....Freep later...gotta go !

[Tijeras_Slim]

Don't have a 10mm. I have, however, drunk of the .41 Magnum koolaid with a nice nickle 57.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

But you hit someone with a 357 mag and promise you they will immediately desist in whatever anti-social behavior they were engaged in.

As far as hole go in bodies from handgun rounds two things are true. Bigger is better, all placement being equal, and handgun rounds are puny in general.

The idea that .357 round(s) will immediately stop a threat is a fallacy that will get you killed.

[Eaker]

LOL!!!

[pankot]

.357,.45,.40--Whatever, but use hi-velocity half-jacketed hollow points.
an ex-cop