Why Do You Carry A 45 ACP?

[40packin]

Originally Posted by robinsre

I don't think there are a whole lot of head shots in active firefights, at least not with a pistol. Matter of fact almost every trainer I've spoken to has always advised to shoot COM. Easier to hit and less bone to penetrate.

Aim small, miss small.

I would assume with the adrenaline going full throttle in your body that would more than likely be the case, however MOST gunfights are usually only a few feet away from your assailant. I would say 10 yards max in most cases, and providing how much you train (because you're only 50% as good in real life as your best day on the range) that a head shot or a chest shot wouldn't entirely be unheard of.

And just from working at the hospital I work at, I've seen gunshot victims come in with head wounds from 9mm, .38, .40, and .45.......all were dead on arrival. The fact there were in the ER was just circumstantial.

[Bree]

Originally Posted by 40packin

I would assume with the adrenaline going full throttle in your body that would more than likely be the case, however MOST gunfights are usually only a few feet away from your assailant. I would say 10 yards max in most cases, and providing how much you train (because you're only 50% as good in real life as your best day on the range) that a head shot or a chest shot wouldn't entirely be unheard of.

And just from working at the hospital I work at, I've seen gunshot victims come in with head wounds from 9mm, .38, .40, and .45.......all were dead on arrival. The fact there were in the ER was just circumstantial.

You must assume that your adversary is moving. That makes a head shot a much much more difficult proposition. With a moving target it is hard enough to hit COM. Look at police hit stats in gunfights. They don't inspire a lot of confidence. Robinsre has it right... shoot for COM.

[robinsre]

Originally Posted by 40packin

And just from working at the hospital I work at, I've seen gunshot victims come in with head wounds from 9mm, .38, .40, and .45.......all were dead on arrival. The fact there were in the ER was just circumstantial.

I can't say for sure but I'd wager a majority of the people hit in the head with pistol calibers were :

A) Unaware, never saw it coming.
B) Paralyzed with fear, not moving around very much.
C) Shot execution style in some sort of gang shooting.

Edit:

D) Bystanders victims of bullets just flying randomly.

Even a trained individual will tell you that the head is a near impossible shot with a pistol caliber, in an active, moving gunfight. Thats why police are trained to shoot COM.

[IndyMatt]

I was told by a relative that his department is not training two in the chest one in the head anymore. They are training two in the chest and one in the hip joint. Hitting them in the hip joint will make them virtually unable to walk. Coincidentally, the department issues .45 Sigs.

[turbosupra1313]

I carry .45 when i can do so easily. I cary a .380 when i cant easily carry a .45. the sawed off double barrel ony works when i wear bagy pants. (ok, that last one was a joke.... or was it??? watch out for my roundhouse,,, its Killer!)

[ichy_trigger]

Originally Posted by IndyMatt

I was told by a relative that his department is not training two in the chest one in the head anymore. They are training two in the chest and one in the hip joint. Hitting them in the hip joint will make them virtually unable to walk. Coincidentally, the department issues .45 Sigs.

might as well put 3 in the chest, screw changing your aim if you can hit a guy 3 times that fast. I plan to shoot, IF and i hope I never do, till he goes down. Where i shoot will be CM.

[LUVMYSIGP225]

Originally Posted by Alaskapopo

The 45 only drops about 6 inches at 100 yards. Thats not going to show at 25 yards.
Here is a target fired with my Wilson Combat at 25 yards off hand.


That is 2.25 inches for 5 shots.

Here is the gun.

That Wilson gets me all excited!!! I am wanting a 1911 again.

[Archer1945]

I believe I saw a post earlier in which someone said something about why didn't LEOs carry .45s in the past if they are so good, or something to that effect. The reason they didn't is the same reason some won't carry it today, it is felt it has too much recoil and a small statured person can't handle it. The funny thing is these same departments thought nothing of issuing S&W Model 19 or the Model 13 to their officers and loading them with either full-powered .357 magnums or, when they came out .38+P. Both of these have a recoil at least as hard as a .45 and usually harder because the line of the bore is much higher than the hand which causes the gun to flip much more violently.

I am just finishing up the p/w for my Utah CCW and in the not-to-distant future will be choosing something to carry when either my XD45 or P220 would be difficult to conceal. Originally I'd been thinking along the lines of the Sig P232 or Bersa .380. However after shooting some small .45s I see no reason to go to the .380 or even a 9mm. The small .45s by Kimber, Springfield and Para-Ordinance are not that much larger than a good .380 or small 9mm, are not that hard to control and pack a lot more punch than either of the others.

[Bree]

Originally Posted by Archer1945

I am just finishing up the p/w for my Utah CCW and in the not-to-distant future will be choosing something to carry when either my XD45 or P220 would be difficult to conceal. Originally I'd been thinking along the lines of the Sig P232 or Bersa .380. However after shooting some small .45s I see no reason to go to the .380 or even a 9mm. The small .45s by Kimber, Springfield and Para-Ordinance are not that much larger than a good .380 or small 9mm, are not that hard to control and pack a lot more punch than either of the others.

As gun #2, the baby 45's are nice BUT they don't fit in your pocket. Even the baby 9mm's don't really fit in a jeans pocket. You can get it in but you can't effectively get it out... not enough room. So if you want to pocket the gun, you have to start coming down in caliber.

The other thing is weight. Check the weight on these baby big bores. Then compare the loaded weight of a P3AT or similar "pocket gun". The pocketgun is coming in at 12 oz. or less. The baby big bores are double that or more. Add an extra mag and the difference is even greater.

[Alaskapopo]

Originally Posted by Bree

As gun #2, the baby 45's are nice BUT they don't fit in your pocket. Even the baby 9mm's don't really fit in a jeans pocket. You can get it in but you can't effectively get it out... not enough room. So if you want to pocket the gun, you have to start coming down in caliber.

The other thing is weight. Check the weight on these baby big bores. Then compare the loaded weight of a P3AT or similar "pocket gun". The pocketgun is coming in at 12 oz. or less. The baby big bores are double that or more. Add an extra mag and the difference is even greater.

Don't carry in your pocket. Dress around the gun, don't buy a gun to fit around the way you dress.
Pat