.40 S&W vs .45 ACP

The only thing the 45 ACP has over the 45 S&W is age and reputation terminally they are very close to each other, the 40 HAs the advantage of fitting into a smaller grip area for Hi Cap pistols, But since you are compairing two pistols of the same make and dimensions the mag Cap is really not an issue. I personally have carried a Glock 21 45ACP for over fourteen years, I could have carried a HI Cap Glock in forty caliber but I chose the Forty Five.So take that for what it is worth. I knew a lot of officers who did not care for the Forty Five because the grip was larger the G21 is slightly larger in the grip than the forty even though they are basicaly the same pistol with slight differances in frame dimensions.
Catridge to catridge you have very near identical terminal ballistics
 
Probably the only area where the .40 has it over the .45 is in the penetration department. The .45 will be more effective on soft targets. The 9mm will probably out-penetrate both, but lacks the punch of the .40 and certainly of the .45.
 
I don't have a .40 or .45 but hope to someday. I have several friends that do many of which are in law enforcement. .40 over 9 seems to be a popular choice for most of them. But as you can see this has turned like many coyote caliber choice threads, "shot placement" and "what you're comfortable with". Having been unfortunately accidentally shot with a rifle, I learned some things about being shot. The first being that after the initial shock it didn't hurt for 1 minute. Second I was capable for sometime afterwards. So when you see that animal run off after a hit or hear that someone walked to the emergency room, which happens here all the time with wanna be gang members shooting 9's. The last time a couple weeks ago one shot in the head & the other shot 5 times in the torso. Both lived with the 5 shot walking into the hospital. Choose wisely and practice. Good Luck
 


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