.45 acp vs. .357 magnum vs. et. al. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Doomd · 05-20-2007, 09:16 PM

Hello,

I recently bought an XD tactical in .45 acp. I have shot the .45 acp before, 20 years ago in the Navy, so I never thought much about how it fits in with other calibers or gun types, nor worried if I could handle it. I had recently been working with a Ruger 22/45 (.22 for those who don't know) to sort of get the feel of the whole shooting thing down again before I bought the XD. Then I started looking around, talking at gun shops, and reading the forums and blogs.

Since I had never shot a .357 magnum before, from all that I saw, I had initially concluded it was a bigger gun. Yea, I can do calculus, but that doesn't mean I can always know other math things, even if .357 < .45, but too, guns and ammo do not always follow that exact rule, such as .308 not being a lessor to .45. Well, I will say the .45 acp is much louder though.

My question is, in real terms, how do .357 magnum, .45 acp, .44 magnum, .454 magnum, and the .460 or .500 magnums stack up as for kick, twist, maybe pain in shooting? To be absolutely honest, not a fish tail here, this .45 acp shoots little different than my 22/45 in kick or twist to me. Maybe I'm weird, different, just too big and stupid strong, or too ignorant to know the differenc, but dang it, I was expecting... I dunno, a cannon recoil after all the hype.

*scratching my head* Can someone offer real insight here?

GlockConvert · 05-20-2007, 09:26 PM

The 45 ACP really doesn't kick that hard. 357 kicks harder for me in similar weight guns. The others are really a whole different kettle of fish. 44mag is usually pretty stout, and is generally considered too hard kicking for human defensive use (to mention nothing of being over penetrative). 454 kicks hard and I could only shoot about 25 rounds a sitting out of my Freedom Arms revolver. 460 and 500's are cannons too, but usually come in rather large revolvers. Remember, its also about weight of the gun. a 44 mag being fired out of a big heavy gun will kick less then a 357 out of a 12 oz carry piece.

D

Frisco Pete · 05-20-2007, 10:25 PM

I would agree with the above. Bullet diameter of the .357 really is .357" (same as the ".38" Special). The .45 Auto uses a ,451" diameter bullet but the case holds less powder and is loaded to less pressure. Of the two defense rounds, the .357 possibly is considered to have more power, but really is no more effective at normal ranges. The .357 Magnum in an all-steel 4" rather heavy revolver with 125 to 158 grain bullets has more recoil and muzzle blast (a separate factor) than the 230 load from a lighter (28 oz.) Kimber Pro-Carry or polymer XD45. It takes a bit more practice to master the .357 "Mangle-'em" than the .45. Going to a .44 ups the ante, etc.

One advantage the .357 Mag has is that it is quite flat shooting for a handgun round and has a definite range advantage over the rather slow, arching trajectory of the .45. It carries its energy better at range because of this too. At normal 25 yds. and under ranges, both have terrific one-shot-stop records, with a quicker follow-up using the .45 IMO.
I enjoy owning and shooting handguns chambered for both rounds - for somewhat differing purposes.

ichy_trigger · 05-21-2007, 05:53 AM

I have the following handgun calibers and will list them in order of recoil felt.

.22
.380
.38
9mm
.40
.45
.357 Sig
.357 mag
.44 mag

Understand that these are MY interpretations and also understand that I list them in the order the recoil is perceived by me using full power factory ammo.

The .40 and .45 are close but the .45 tends to push while the .40 tends to be snappy. I like snappy guns and some people dont care for that so you will get some folks that say the .45 shoots softer. I think they are VERY similar but with a different recoil pulse. If you take the bullet weightx velocity / by 1000 you will get whats refered to as a hit factor. Using factory 230 grain .45 ammo and factory 180 grain .40 ammo of the same manufacture, you will get VERY close to the same hit factor with both rounds.

DanMartin · 05-21-2007, 08:23 AM

Sack up and shoot.

**MikeS.** · 05-21-2007, 02:00 PM

I find that my Coonan in .357mag kicks harder then my Colt double eagle in 10mm and both kick harder then my .45XD.

The Coonan and the Colt are both based on the 1911 frame.

Conclusion, the .357 has a harder recoil then either 10mm or .45auto.

fredj338 · 05-24-2007, 01:32 PM

Recoil is a relative thing but I know for a fact the 45acp recoils mor ethan a 22lr. The 45acp is quite managable in almost every platform. It offes significant power/controle which is why it is still popular today.

05-20-2007, 09:16 PM	#1
Doomd XDTalk Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coralville, Iowa Posts: 44	.45 acp vs. .357 magnum vs. et. al. Hello, I recently bought an XD tactical in .45 acp. I have shot the .45 acp before, 20 years ago in the Navy, so I never thought much about how it fits in with other calibers or gun types, nor worried if I could handle it. I had recently been working with a Ruger 22/45 (.22 for those who don't know) to sort of get the feel of the whole shooting thing down again before I bought the XD. Then I started looking around, talking at gun shops, and reading the forums and blogs. Since I had never shot a .357 magnum before, from all that I saw, I had initially concluded it was a bigger gun. Yea, I can do calculus, but that doesn't mean I can always know other math things, even if .357 < .45, but too, guns and ammo do not always follow that exact rule, such as .308 not being a lessor to .45. Well, I will say the .45 acp is much louder though. My question is, in real terms, how do .357 magnum, .45 acp, .44 magnum, .454 magnum, and the .460 or .500 magnums stack up as for kick, twist, maybe pain in shooting? To be absolutely honest, not a fish tail here, this .45 acp shoots little different than my 22/45 in kick or twist to me. Maybe I'm weird, different, just too big and stupid strong, or too ignorant to know the differenc, but dang it, I was expecting... I dunno, a cannon recoil after all the hype. scratching my head Can someone offer real insight here? __________________ Animis opibusque parati - Prepared in minds and resources Just an Iowa man trying to figure out his boom-stick

05-20-2007, 09:26 PM	#2
GlockConvert XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: PAC NW Posts: 387	The 45 ACP really doesn't kick that hard. 357 kicks harder for me in similar weight guns. The others are really a whole different kettle of fish. 44mag is usually pretty stout, and is generally considered too hard kicking for human defensive use (to mention nothing of being over penetrative). 454 kicks hard and I could only shoot about 25 rounds a sitting out of my Freedom Arms revolver. 460 and 500's are cannons too, but usually come in rather large revolvers. Remember, its also about weight of the gun. a 44 mag being fired out of a big heavy gun will kick less then a 357 out of a 12 oz carry piece. D __________________ Damien in Seattle I don't list my guns - I know glocks, FALs, and AKs but I'm not sure my ability to fill a gunsafe with guns make me an expert on anything. All that you can depend on from a 45 is that it will drill a .45 - .70 inch hole about 14 inches into someone. There will not be "energy dump", people will not fly backwards, and they will not necessarily fall as if they have been struck by lighting.

05-21-2007, 05:53 AM	#4
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,533	I have the following handgun calibers and will list them in order of recoil felt. .22 .380 .38 9mm .40 .45 .357 Sig .357 mag .44 mag Understand that these are MY interpretations and also understand that I list them in the order the recoil is perceived by me using full power factory ammo. The .40 and .45 are close but the .45 tends to push while the .40 tends to be snappy. I like snappy guns and some people dont care for that so you will get some folks that say the .45 shoots softer. I think they are VERY similar but with a different recoil pulse. If you take the bullet weightx velocity / by 1000 you will get whats refered to as a hit factor. Using factory 230 grain .45 ammo and factory 180 grain .40 ammo of the same manufacture, you will get VERY close to the same hit factor with both rounds. __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

05-21-2007, 02:00 PM	#6
MikeS. XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Far Eastern West Virgina Posts: 354	I find that my Coonan in .357mag kicks harder then my Colt double eagle in 10mm and both kick harder then my .45XD. The Coonan and the Colt are both based on the 1911 frame. Conclusion, the .357 has a harder recoil then either 10mm or .45auto. __________________ MikeS. Escaped from Kalifornia in 1998.

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05-20-2007, 10:25 PM	#3
Frisco Pete XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 132	I would agree with the above. Bullet diameter of the .357 really is .357" (same as the ".38" Special). The .45 Auto uses a ,451" diameter bullet but the case holds less powder and is loaded to less pressure. Of the two defense rounds, the .357 possibly is considered to have more power, but really is no more effective at normal ranges. The .357 Magnum in an all-steel 4" rather heavy revolver with 125 to 158 grain bullets has more recoil and muzzle blast (a separate factor) than the 230 load from a lighter (28 oz.) Kimber Pro-Carry or polymer XD45. It takes a bit more practice to master the .357 "Mangle-'em" than the .45. Going to a .44 ups the ante, etc. One advantage the .357 Mag has is that it is quite flat shooting for a handgun round and has a definite range advantage over the rather slow, arching trajectory of the .45. It carries its energy better at range because of this too. At normal 25 yds. and under ranges, both have terrific one-shot-stop records, with a quicker follow-up using the .45 IMO. I enjoy owning and shooting handguns chambered for both rounds - for somewhat differing purposes.

05-21-2007, 08:23 AM	#5
DanMartin XDTalk Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 83	Sack up and shoot.

05-24-2007, 01:32 PM	#7
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,230	Recoil is a relative thing but I know for a fact the 45acp recoils mor ethan a 22lr. The 45acp is quite managable in almost every platform. It offes significant power/controle which is why it is still popular today.