Afghanistan vets criticize M-9 reliability, lethality

The 9mm is no mouse gun, but it IS a .38. My Browning feeds everything I give it, shoots flat, and is absurdly accurate at long (80 yds.?) range. I started using it when I felt my .45 lacked the penetration against barriers which my work at the time required, potentially. I also couldn't hit my foot with the Officers ACP I had, and after a particularly hairy incident, which ended well...sold it in disgust, and went to my High Power, the twin of the one my Dad, an OSS vet. was using. Other than a .38 snub (prefer .357!), a .380 Mustang and a .44 Mag, all of which I sometimes use...the 9mm is what I would grab and run with...for re-feeding. The .45ACP is a wonderful and comfortable round for me in a 1911...but these days...

Clearly a 9mm particularly in say a Browning high power has some advantages over the .45acp. The bullet is moving faster than a .45acp bullet. That speed is spread over a smaller area thus giving greater penetration of intervening material. Absolutely every cartridge is a compromise. Unless and until they deveop a .17cal that hits like a 16 inch naval rifle that takes a battleship to carry it there will be no one that is right for everyone.

I appreciate your comments on league but I have a great deal of respect for your opinion also.

I happen to agree on the ergonomics of the high power. My most usual carry piece right now is a .45acp based upon the CZ-75 design that has an outstanding trigger DA capability 10 round magazine and some other features I like. The CZ-75 design is based upon the Browning High-Power design but also incorporates a DA trigger. However, different hands favor different guns.

Please understand my preference for the .45 acp does not mean I have totally rejected the 9mm. I have several including a CZ-75 that shoots like a dream and an older 9mm that once did the job for me.

I know people who prefer Glocks, and wheel-guns. I certainly do not think they are necesarily under armed. I also know some who carry .25acp and .22LR sidearms because that is what they can carry. Those calibers sure beat being unarmed. I have at times carried both calibers. Thankfully, I have not had to rely on those for self defense but it was a whole lot better than nothing.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

Regarding having to take to the hills. Again we have some questions as to which would be the best single sidearm to have available. The 9mm allows one to carry more ammunition for the same weight. The 9mm is the current standard issue US military sidearm. Many state police agencies carry the 9mm. There are a whole bunch of government caches of 9mm.

The .45acp is the former US military issue sidearm. The .45acp hardball round seems to over the years have a better record of one shot stops than 9mm ball. The .45acp is probably the most reloaded cartidge in nation (ie. more handloaders have dies and molds for .45acp than for any other single handgun cartridge). There are many government caches of .45acp. There are numerous civilian caches of .45acp. The reload picture might make .45acp fodder more plentiful than 9mm fodder but no one can know for certain in advance. Maybe the .38spl will be the most common cartridge available in such a situation.

As for me I would hope to have enough of all three calibers to provide for myself and mine and a few others. I will hopefully also have the capability of manufacuting reloads in all three calibers but no one knows. Given that I do not live in what would be a high priority target for a WMD I am hoping I could get to my escape pod or an alternate base site for living. I would also hope to have one or more long guns available. I certainly can not criticize your choice of a Browning High-Power. It is truly one of the all time great handguns.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

Thanks for your lengthy reply! I learn a lot from you, and I hope others do too...but that the nasty sort do it wrong !!!

I am now more positive about the .45ACP, and am relieved somewhat. Whereas the 9mm has the range and penetration, the ACP has the STOP. This is, as always, highly useful and significant (!). For true "survival" use, either are of benefit, and I shall bear that in mind. It would also seem that even a Derringer in .45 would be of utility, if one could HIT with it. The flat-shooting range of the 9mm, especially with the longer barrel may put it in the pot-shooting category too...and of course, being injured by anything could spell disaster in the wilds, with no medical services...so perhaps just wounding one's opponent would eventually remove the threat permanently. Hmmm.

A .45 automatic with a 9mm conversion kit seems to rule in my little scenario. I'll have to discuss it with Santa.

-Yorktown, indeed

-PM

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