.45 ACP vs 9mm vs .38 Special

I agree that Glocks should not be dismissed. They are dirt simple, (relatively) inexpensive, functional, and reliable. However, I don't think they deserve the deification that some folks (fan-boys and girls) heap on them. They work, but the arguement that they are the "best" because they own most of the law enforcement market doesn't fly. If that were the case then the Ford Crown Vic is the "best" car.

I enjoy shooting revolvers, though I do prefer autos. My wife has a 4" S&W 66 that is fantastic. It's about as close to a "do it all" handgun as there is. It's small enough to carry, large enough to shoot easily, and versatile, with .38 spl & .357, to handle most shooting chores. I'm also a fan of Ruger single action revolvers. I've currently got a Single Six 22lr/22mag and a Bisley Hunter in .45Colt.
 
I would love to own a revolver but the cost to value just isn't there for 70% of the market for me. Armscor makes a .38 that I have been seriously eyeing but I just can't make that jump quite yet. The major companies that make revolvers just price them to high in my opinion or the value has gone down and they still try and charge the same. I am sure I will start a brand war but I think I have said it here before Glocks are the AK-47 of the handgun world. They come with $3 plastic sights because Glock knows the majority of people are going to put new ones on within the first month of ownership. They have lots of parts tolerance and the gap between slide and frame to allow water and dirt to drain and parts to move with grit inside them. Regarding Glock and quality one of the hallmark of revolver makers S&W lost a lawsuit back in the late 90's due to the sigma line being so similar to a Glock. Last but not least for the most part I hate Glocks but dammit they have a job and they do it.
 
Itchinesu said:
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CZ P07, my department of bedside defense
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I have one of these and L-O-V-E it. Best gun straight out of the box I have ever owned. Don't know why they aren't more popular. Great ergos, hits what I'm pointing at, and goes boom every time I pull the trigger. I also love the DA/SA trigger.
 
I was selling a Beretta Nano & someone offered me the P07 in trade. Unfortunately the seller was on the other side of the state & it didn't work out but it did open my eyes up to CZs. As luck would have it, I was checking Gunbroker & came across a listing for a P07 trade in by my local shop. I went to check it out on my lunch break & it wound up coming home with me the same day =) Mags are expensive & you don't have tons of aftermarket options so most people just get a G17 or an M&P for the same price. Personally. if I were to buy any striker fired duty size polymer 9mm, it would be a Steyer M9-A1. Thankfully Steyer blesses them with great sights & an amazing trigger right out of the box so you don't need to dump money into them like Glock, M&P, etc
 
rdrogers said:
How do you like the Kahr? I just picked one up a little while ago. I'm liking it, so far. Haven't had much time to break it in, yet.
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It is a great shooter, with very low recoil. Accurate as all heck. Have put over 300 rounds through it and not one miss-fire. My wife likes it too since it has the same DA trigger pull as her Sig P250 though it is indeed striker fired.
I really wanted the P9 but couldn't justify the price.
 
Anyone have a Rock Island CS 1911? I have been wanting another .45, and like the 1911 pistol. The price of these guns is very attractive and people seem to be happy with them. There are not many retailers near me with them in stock.
 
I have the full size with the full length dust cover? As I said earlier they are awesome guns for the money.
 
Does anybody have any experience with the Springfield Mil Spec basic model? I had a Springfield Loaded a few years back, and liked it, and was just wondering about the basic model.
 
JK Knives said:
Does anybody have any experience with the Springfield Mil Spec basic model? I had a Springfield Loaded a few years back, and liked it, and was just wondering about the basic model.
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I have experience with the Mil-Spec, Range Officer, & Loaded models.

It's worth the extra money to buy the Range Officer over the Mil-Spec. While the Mil-Spec ran as well as the other two, it was the least comfortable to shoot.
 
JK Knives said:
Does anybody have any experience with the Springfield Mil Spec basic model? I had a Springfield Loaded a few years back, and liked it, and was just wondering about the basic model.
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I have no experience with the other models, but no complaints about the Mil Spec.

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Jeff
 
My Mil Spec has been perfect. I am very happy with it, glad I didn't spend the extra $ on a different model.
 
I've carried all of the calibers in the OP as well as .357, and I've settled on .45 Glock for my carry. My wife has grown fond of her S&W J-frame .38. I had a couple of 9mm Glocks for a while, but I've always been partial to larger handgun rounds and just didn't like the "feel" of the 9mm (the round, not the gun ergos) as much as the .45. Ballistics and the experiences of others seem to indicate that all 3 rounds are capable of doing their intended jobs pretty well, but since I'm old and set in my ways, and I grew up with ex-WW2 military parents and their friends, I've got .45 in my blood and nothing else measures up to that in my hand. I will say that I've shot plenty of 1911-style .45s and I really prefer the ergos of the Glocks that I've had.

I shoot about equally well with any of the three rounds, but my personal preference is for my G33, even for carry, unless I just want something stuck in my pocket. Then I'll take my wife's S&W Airweight with me.
 
The 1911 is easy to shoot well, in whatever caliber it is chambered for. However, most people who own and defend the 1911 as the best pistol to carry, actually do not carry them. In modern society, light weight is better and is demanded by our lighter weight clothing. You must adapt your wardrobe in order to carry the weight. Also, those who back pack into the wilderness must save weight and carrying a 40 oz. (much more when loaded down with 3 magazines of 230 gr. 45 ACP) handgun is not optimal. Polymer handguns chambered in lighter, faster cartridges simply make more sense.

I carried the 1911 in the Army and for many years afterwards. But, when the Glock rep showed up at our store dragging a pistol behind his car on the pavement, got out, dunked it in the gooiest mud you can imaging, and then fired a full magazine with no hitches, I was sold. The weight difference meant I no longer left my pistol in the car, where it did me little good.

Another issue is stopping power. As much as it pains me to say this, the heavy 45 ACP has never been shown to be better than other modern defensive calibers. In fact, if anyone is interested in real world testing they should read Fairbairn and Sykes, who actually had experience shooting and being shot at.
 
I own and shoot all the calibers listed. Personally, I always drift towards the 9mm, specifically my Glock Gen 2 G19 and H&K P7M8.
 
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