.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.

[jec1ny]

I agree the 9mm is a glorified .38 with a lot of bullets.

[Treader]

Gotta badge?

[jec1ny]

A good point that I omitted. The spray and pray method seems to be encouraged by high capacity semis.

[R. Scott]

It also seems to be the latest approved method for police officers.

[sure_fine]

I would guess the department will suggest your side arm, but me, I would carry whatever the most popular .cal in the area is for a backup


if push comes to shove and I have to count on picking up ammo where I can find it, I want to use what is most likely to be found

IMO

[mmercier]

Welcome to the Freep bramdawg.

Go with the S&W wheel gun in .357 caliber.

Or go back to DU.

Whatever.

[G.Mason]

I've got to laugh at this post. Sorry.

Choice of caliber and type of weapon will be [should be] dictated by the department as set forth in their rules and regulations, which you are, as yet, apparently unfamiliar with.

You should have been instructed, or will be, that the probability of being over twenty feet from the subject in a gun fighting action is rare.

Whatever caliber you are issued, you must learn to hit the target at that distance. And for off duty, the gun you use will be pre-approved by the department.

Good luck in the academy, should you make it.

[riverrunner]

Having carried and shot them all. You well find out with the proper bullets ie good jacketed hollow points there is not much differants in stopping power.

With FMJ they all have a bad rep. Compare a good 9mm JHP to A FMJ 45 the 9mm wins.

You will find the 40 a good compromise in caliber size and mag cap.

I think you should read Handgun stopping power and Street Street stoppers by Marshall and Sanow. These 2 books give a very good over view of the subject.

[Treader]

Gotta Badge?

[Treader]

Not gonna reply- to anyone here, are ya? Now that a Mod is protecting you, feel free to indoctrinate at will.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***If I was on the job and given the choice,***

As "Skeeter" Skelton wrote in SHOOTING TIMES 30 years ago, if given a choice of ONE firearm he would choose a .357 mag with a 5 inch barrel.

[chadwimc]

I know for a fact that a .40 Glock doesn't work on 1900 lb steers...

[Treader]

How's that & who the hell are you bs'n.? I've killed beef & swine with a little .22 cap pistol for 45 years. Geez, the city boy crap is getting deeper by the minute

[xcamel]

"Real men say POINT*FIVE*OH"

/sarc

[Treader]

Kinda pretty, in a non- sarcasm way.

[FReepaholic]

...If you're not just trolling this political forum and are asking a serious question, go here...

I think he's a troll. I haven't seen him respond to any replies yet.

Must be a DU game: start a thread on which is the best pistol caliber, pickup truck or NASCAR driver and place bets on how many replies you'll get.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

A cop in Kalifornistan? For what do you need a weapon? I thought all your subjects were unarmed, at least intellectually. Which part of "shall not be infringed" do YOU not understand?

I carry one of three calibers, depending on how I'm dressed. A beautiful 9 mm Luger for formal occasions. My daily wear is a H&K USPc .40 Mexican style - screw the NRA wannabes. My macho occasional is a SA 1911 .45. The hall gun is an 870 with two rounds of big birdshot followed by two rounds of 00.

[BulletBobCo]

This thread has a fever....and the prescription is for more cowbell!