First Gun - Should I get the XD 45ACP?

[Boma]

I see XD's 45 ACP for around $450-550. How much are XD9's and XD40's?

[.45shooter]

My friend (ephyra) paid about $530 out the door for his XD40 a few months ago, I paid the same for my XD45 a few days ago. The price gap isn't really a factor if you shop around.

As for .45 vs. 9mm, you say you are using it for self-defense. I would get the .45 for sure if you can handle it well and shoot where you aim. The first pistol I ever bought for myself was a .45 caliber 1911. Most average sized guys can handle a .45 fairly easily.

Edit: I should add that I believe all shooters should own at least one .22 caliber firearm though. I wouldn't carry it for self defense, but I can buy a box of 550 rounds from Wal-Mart for $8.50 and shoot all day long. I can go through $20-40 worth of ammo in less than an hour easily with the .45. The price difference is huge, but each gun has it's own purpose. Slugs for my 12 gauge cost even more than .45 ammo, but it's amazing what they do to a milk jug full of water

[Solus]

Originally Posted by Boma

I see XD's 45 ACP for around $450-550. How much are XD9's and XD40's?

The same.

Do you like the 45 Caliber? Do you like the 9mm? It's not just the size. It's the velocity, it's the recoil, it's the capacity. The 45 ACP is a little bigger than the XD-40 or XD-357. This means it'll be harder to conceal. Also, it'll be heavier. Given yes, the XD45ACP has 14 rounds in the XD, if you could deal with the weight.

The caliber of the bullet also changes your ability to provide accurate rapid fire. Obviously the 9mm will be easier to control under rapid fire. But also concider that the 9mm, being a lighter wieght bullet, is higher velocity and able to "over pentitrate" a target. In other words 9mm's have a rep for going straight through that mugger you were talking about and maybe hitting somebody or something on the other side. On the other token, the 45ACP is a very slow, heavy bullet. You may be able to only rack off one shot, which had better be a good one.

Also if your planning on shooting through anything potentially (like a car) the 45ACP may not be able to produce the proper velocity to clear the obstical or be able to clear it only for you to find out that it was "redirected" during transit. America has this notion that the 45ACP is the ultimate carry bullet. Somehow I'm not too sure. I'm not against it, it just has some drawbacks that nobody seems to care about.

45ACP (or GAP for that matter) to me feels....strange. The larger bullet makes me feel uncomfortable in that it may be a false sense of security? But it has always made me wonder. If the .45 is so glorious, as do most Americans seem to believe, then why do we have 9mm, .357, .40, 10mm, 38 super, .44, .50, 500, .25auto, .22 as well as others?

Most of Europe uses the 9mm as their main police and military caliber. The second being the .40s&w remarkably, being why I picked .40. On any note .45 over there is unheard of. As to why they (as in the rest of the world) haven't picked up this glorious caliber as their main boggles my mind. And it's not because of cost. As far as prosperity goes the American Dollar is third in line with the Euro and the Pound taking dominance. As another note, China decided recently to SWITCH to the 9mm favoring it's ability to penitrate soft body armor. Also, the Russian service caliber just changed to the 9x19 (9mm) after 50 years

In defence of the .45ACP I will note that the US is dropping the 9x19 NATO round (9mm) in favor of the .45ACP...they don't know what will be the new service pistol yet but they do know it will be chambered in .45ACP. Of course that'd be one country. Of course, as stated the only reason the 9mm is being replaced in the US forces with the 45ACP is because the "big, slow...fat, old .45ACP...instilled confidence and respect". That's the only given reason. Don't believe me? Check out Shotgun News Combat Cartridge Trends article.




So it all boils down to....which caliber do you TRUST to save your life?

To be honest for me at least I'm not too sure between the .40, or the 9mm. But I do know that I do not trust the 45ACP. That's me though. Everybody is different. If I could get the .40 to achieve velocities the 9mm achieves I would be much more confident in it. But the larger capacity, higher velocity 9mm intrigues me much more than it should.

['Card]

Originally Posted by Boma

Am I making the right decision?

I think so. Anytime I've ever gone smaller or cheaper than the model I really wanted (talking cars, guns, motorcycles, whatever here) I've ended up being unhappy. That doesn't mean there was anything wrong with what I got, just that it wasn't what I wanted, and that will always be in the back of your mind and make you focus on every little flaw in the one you settle for.

Originally Posted by Solus

America has this notion that the 45ACP is the ultimate carry bullet.

I think the American preference for the .45 over the 9mm is perfectly understandable.

We just like things that hit really hard, and the .45 hits harder.

Pretty much any ballistics chart will confirm the difference. I'm a fan of Federal Ammo, so I checked out their tables and compared their PPD (Premium Personal Defense) Hydra-Shok jacketed hollow points. The .45 has a 230 grain bullet, and delivers 374 foot-pounds of energy to the target at 50 yards. The 9mm has a 135 grain bullet, and delivers 297 foot-pounds to the target at 50 yards. Over the same distance, the .45's bullet will drop 2 inches, while the 9mm's bullet will drop 1.5 inches. Under combat conditions, that half an inch of difference at 50 yards is insignificant, but the .45's extra 77 foot-pounds of energy may be a pretty big deal.

I own both. I've carried both. I like both. But all other things being equal? When the fur starts flying give me the round that hits harder and makes a bigger hole.

[Boma]

how much does a quality 22 pistol run?

[Solus]

Originally Posted by Boma

how much does a quality 22 pistol run?

Anywhere between $250 and $400

Card, where did you get your info? Did you calculate velocity into this too? I'd like to see. The speed of the bullet, as well as the wieght impact the lb/ft. A normal hammer hitting you at 65 mph as compared to a sledge hammer at 10 mph is basically the same difference. Both are going to hurt, one is going to do more damage though and cause a greater shock to your system. I've been hit with a sledge hammer before (don't ask). It hurts, but at a lower speed I can get over it. I've also managed to hit my thumb with a regular hammer on several occations. If I'm swinging hard enough to drive a nail and I hit my thumb my whole body could be in pain the rest of the day. It's the same concept (though a needle hitting you at breakneck speeds won't do any damage). If both were to be able to achieve the same speed, like a sledge at 65 mph, that's where I would understand.

[.45shooter]

You can get a decent quality .22 handgun for around $200, or a .22 rifle for about $150.

To Solus, I don't want to turn this into a 9mm vs. .45acp debate... but if you think a significantly smaller bullet going faster is the way to go, why wouldn't you just pack a .22 magnum rimfire pistol? Those bullets travel around 2,000+fps. If you remember how the .45acp came about, it was because the .38 caliber (same size as 9mm) cartridge wasn't stopping the enemy like it should in war, enter the .45acp. Even if you wanted the velocity of a 9mm you can use lighter weight .45 rounds (such as 185 grains) or +P rounds that travel at 9mm speeds, but make a bigger hole.

[Solus]

I understand the need to not turn this into a 9mm Vs. 45ACP debate. That could get pretty ugly.

.22 at that size and speed will only manage to go through the target, not transfer any energy into it. That's why you don't use it.

185 grn +p .45ACP load will achieve a muzzle velocity of aprox. 1140 fps SAAMI measured
115 grn standard 9mm load will achieve a muzzle velocity of aprox. 1220 fps SAAMI measured
125 grn +p+ .38 special load will achieve a muzzle velocity of aprox. 1000 fps SAAMI measured
Edit: My 135 grn standard load Federal Hydro-Shocks .40sw achieve a muzzle velocity of 1190 as slated.
And my 155 grn standard load Hornady TAP .40sw have a muzzle velocity of 1180 fps.


The +p 185 grn .45ACP achieves a harder recoil and a slightly faster bullet than the .38 special. But because of recoil your accuracy and rapid fire ability is hindered. But true, a smaller bullet...the 9mm would have to expand in order to make a larger hole. Which with the "new technology" they are able to achieve stopping powers of the .45 with the expansion. I'll find the article when I come back from work.

I personally like to be right in between. After some research I dethroned my concept of getting a 9mm as "my gun" and ran to the .40s&w after seeing my friend, five year marine, prefer the .40 over the .45 of the marines due to accuracy, recoil, and capacity. And this helped a little too....

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topi...OPIC_ID=139310

But again, I'm not a firm believer that 9mm, 40sw or .45ACP is the best. I only know I don't like the .45ACP for myself. *late for work, runs out the door*

PS My father uses a .25auto for conceal carry 24/7. Given, no I don't care too much for my father at all, and he doesn't really like me much, but in his line of business, which I won't divulge, I would think he should know about calibers. That's partially where my mixed feelings come in on caliber size.

[[TASF]Maverick]

Originally Posted by Boma

I see XD's 45 ACP for around $450-550. How much are XD9's and XD40's?

I haven't seen a new .45 ACP for less than $475 yet. But XD9s and XD40s can still be had for $400 brand new unless you're looking to get an SC, and those tend to be a little more expensive.

Originally Posted by .45shooter

My friend (ephyra) paid about $530 out the door for his XD40 a few months ago, I paid the same for my XD45 a few days ago. The price gap isn't really a factor if you shop around.

Your friend got severely ripped off. I think you got ripped off as well, but not as bad as the friend.

[Elmer]

In my case I started with a XD-9 service and picked up the XD-45acp a couple weeks ago. I shoot my 45 better than my 9 but boy there are some days when the 9 is a blast. Bottom line IMHO get what works for you don't get hung up on caliber. Size isn't everything accuracy is. As you improve with your first gun and when funds allow it expand to a different frame size/caliber ...... XD's seem to be like potato chips one is never enough.