I have enjoyed shooting both rounds, but my question is this if all the feedback that I have gotten about using a 45 1911 or simular 45 type pistol that they have feeding problems with a 230 grain hollow point, what would the advantage be over the 357 mag. I know that you have more rounds to fire, but I usually hit what I shoot at either way. I like both the revolver and the semi-auto. Or do I just get both? They would be used for both plinking and protection. And yes I do own a 22 for the majority of my plinking.
45 acp vs 357 mag
- Thread starter azborn
- Start date
Not sure where you got your info on the .45 1911 being unreliable, but a percentage of all guns have problems, doesn't mean they're all bad. Especially one with so many variations as the 1911. I personally own three 1911's and don't have any problems with any of them. Of course I properly maintain them, like all guns should be. Then again, a revolver will always be more reliable then a semi in adverse conditions, but they too can have problems. No type of gun is absolutely perfect, they're machines, they require care and maintenance to perform properly.
By the way I shoot hardball and hollowpoint through all three, and while accuracy varies a little, they eat both equally well.
It really comes down to personal preference either way, just make sure you buy quality in either choice.
P.S. in a personal protection situation you can Never have enough ammo on hand!
By the way I shoot hardball and hollowpoint through all three, and while accuracy varies a little, they eat both equally well.
It really comes down to personal preference either way, just make sure you buy quality in either choice.
P.S. in a personal protection situation you can Never have enough ammo on hand!
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blammer
New member
SOME 45's MAY be particular about what type of ammo they can shoot reliably.
Most that I have experienced shoot any 230 gr bullet in 45 just fine, it's the lighter wt ones possibly Keith style bullets or target loads that may or may not feed reliably.
Don't forget you can get an 8 shot 357 mag now... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Most that I have experienced shoot any 230 gr bullet in 45 just fine, it's the lighter wt ones possibly Keith style bullets or target loads that may or may not feed reliably.
Don't forget you can get an 8 shot 357 mag now... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
OldTurtle
Moderator - Deceased
Both deliver reliability, in general. If you want "blunt force trauma" then choose the .45acp. If you want "hydrostatic impact trauma" then choose the .357mag. One of the problems you are likely to encounter with the .357 is over penetration in a personal defense situation.
We had some officers qualified to carry the .357 when I was a rookie on the KCPD ('63)and one shot a 'fleeing' robbery suspect and the bullet entered the buttock, exited the ribcage and struck a woman several yards down the street in the ankle. For a hunting round, or wide open areas, I think it's a great round. And yes, I'm aware that there is better, non-ricocheting ammo available today.
The department from which I retired, went to the .357mag back in the mid '70s and after about a year changed to the .38spl +P rounds due to a couple of unfortunate incidents.
All that being said, I keep a .357 next to my bed.. loaded with some highly frangible ammo. I also have a .45acp hidden in another room, near a doorway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
We had some officers qualified to carry the .357 when I was a rookie on the KCPD ('63)and one shot a 'fleeing' robbery suspect and the bullet entered the buttock, exited the ribcage and struck a woman several yards down the street in the ankle. For a hunting round, or wide open areas, I think it's a great round. And yes, I'm aware that there is better, non-ricocheting ammo available today.
The department from which I retired, went to the .357mag back in the mid '70s and after about a year changed to the .38spl +P rounds due to a couple of unfortunate incidents.
All that being said, I keep a .357 next to my bed.. loaded with some highly frangible ammo. I also have a .45acp hidden in another room, near a doorway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
GC
Well-known member
For protection or target shooting I like the single action trigger of the 1911 over the long, heavier, double action trigger pull of a revolver. A good 1911 .45 ACP is as reliable as anything mechanical can be made to be. On the terminal end of things 230 grains of .45 hollowpoint at 990 fps delivers a definate message to the target. I will say this, the single action semi-auto is not for duffers. If a person is not willing to take some time to learn the manual of arms and characteristics of the 1911 design, then they're better off with a double action revolver. The revolver is more "foolproof" regarding the mechanics of handling than the 1911 design. That is a training issue and not a design problem with the handgun.
Az - the old military 1911s and some mil-spec guns DO have trouble feeding hollow points. Any gunsmith worth his beans should be able to correct that. Most modern 1911s, such as Kimber, Springfield Loaded, Colt, Wilson, Nighthawk, Dan Wesson, etc., should do just fine with Hollow Points. Most come from the factory with the barrel throated for HPs.
As a field round, I think that Turtle is right - the .357 has the advantage. The .45 is a close range personal protection round. At that it excels like nothing else. The .357 can do protection well, and hunt or back up a rifle on close shots (50 yards or so).
As for the 1911, consider this: As a design, it has outlasted even many of the revolovers that came after it. As a fighting handgun, it is probably without peer. There's a reason its still around, and it isn't just nostalgia!
You could always pick a 10mm, like a Kimber or Dan Wesson Razorback. It gives you the variety of a .357 in a 1911 format.
As a field round, I think that Turtle is right - the .357 has the advantage. The .45 is a close range personal protection round. At that it excels like nothing else. The .357 can do protection well, and hunt or back up a rifle on close shots (50 yards or so).
As for the 1911, consider this: As a design, it has outlasted even many of the revolovers that came after it. As a fighting handgun, it is probably without peer. There's a reason its still around, and it isn't just nostalgia!
You could always pick a 10mm, like a Kimber or Dan Wesson Razorback. It gives you the variety of a .357 in a 1911 format.
blinddog
New member
Old Turtle the overpenitration you mention with the 357 is very real that is why many dept.s chose the 125 Gr Hollow point it usually expands fast so don't over penitrate. The can by my observation Jam or have other feeding problems with any Hollowpoint unless it has been set up to feed them. That is the original 1911 Browning design pistol but that issue was addressed way back when i started everyday carry of the 1911 and slight tweeking of the feed ramps will smooth that problem out, or you can go to a modern design like the GLOCK 21 it will feed anything plus holds thirteen rounds or the Thirty or Thirty six 10 and 7 Respectivly.
BTW I enjoyed uour referance to the old fleeing felon rule, it was in force when I started in Law Enforcment but was stopped soon after.
For any who wonder what that was, back in the day, a punk who had commited/ or was suspected commiting a felony and ran from an arresting officer, could/usually would get shot, "escaping" The practice was stopped in the early seventies.Or about the time general carry for police went from the 38 SPL to the 357 Mag.Although some depts. still retained the 38 SPL for a decade longer.
BTW I enjoyed uour referance to the old fleeing felon rule, it was in force when I started in Law Enforcment but was stopped soon after.
For any who wonder what that was, back in the day, a punk who had commited/ or was suspected commiting a felony and ran from an arresting officer, could/usually would get shot, "escaping" The practice was stopped in the early seventies.Or about the time general carry for police went from the 38 SPL to the 357 Mag.Although some depts. still retained the 38 SPL for a decade longer.
One other thought -
If you go with the .45, there are a few companies out there that make custom .45 loads that would turn it into a very adequate field gun (i.e. double for hunting as well as personal defense). Cor-Bon's 165 grainers are one, but I would go with Doubletap Ammunition's loads. Check out their website for a truly versatile .45:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php
If you go with the .45, there are a few companies out there that make custom .45 loads that would turn it into a very adequate field gun (i.e. double for hunting as well as personal defense). Cor-Bon's 165 grainers are one, but I would go with Doubletap Ammunition's loads. Check out their website for a truly versatile .45:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php
Quote:
I know that you have more rounds to fire, but I usually hit what I shoot at either way. I like both the revolver and the semi-auto. Or do I just get both?
i don't think the 1911 is very far ahead in the more rounds category - they're mostly 7+1 configurations, aren't they? i have a 357, but i'm looking at getting a 45 sometime here, and i have no intention of letting my 357 go. my vote is to get both. my plan is for both, and then (hopefully) a 44mag, and 454 or a 480.
get both.
I know that you have more rounds to fire, but I usually hit what I shoot at either way. I like both the revolver and the semi-auto. Or do I just get both?
i don't think the 1911 is very far ahead in the more rounds category - they're mostly 7+1 configurations, aren't they? i have a 357, but i'm looking at getting a 45 sometime here, and i have no intention of letting my 357 go. my vote is to get both. my plan is for both, and then (hopefully) a 44mag, and 454 or a 480.
get both.
Quote:
Old Turtle the overpenitration you mention with the 357 is very real that is why many dept.s chose the 125 Gr Hollow point it usually expands fast so don't over penitrate. The can by my observation Jam or have other feeding problems with any Hollowpoint unless it has been set up to feed them. That is the original 1911 Browning design pistol but that issue was addressed way back when i started everyday carry of the 1911 and slight tweeking of the feed ramps will smooth that problem out, or you can go to a modern design like the GLOCK 21 it will feed anything plus holds thirteen rounds or the Thirty or Thirty six 10 and 7 Respectivly.
BTW I enjoyed uour referance to the old fleeing felon rule, it was in force when I started in Law Enforcment but was stopped soon after.
For any who wonder what that was, back in the day, a punk who had commited/ or was suspected commiting a felony and ran from an arresting officer, could/usually would get shot, "escaping" The practice was stopped in the early seventies.Or about the time general carry for police went from the 38 SPL to the 357 Mag.Although some depts. still retained the 38 SPL for a decade longer.
Just a little side note. The Glock 30 will also use the high capacity mags of the Glock 21, it sticks out just a tad. But as a back up Mag to carry extra rounds never hurt. (Both are double stack) The Glock 36 is a single stack and is limited to the Mag that was built for it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Old Turtle the overpenitration you mention with the 357 is very real that is why many dept.s chose the 125 Gr Hollow point it usually expands fast so don't over penitrate. The can by my observation Jam or have other feeding problems with any Hollowpoint unless it has been set up to feed them. That is the original 1911 Browning design pistol but that issue was addressed way back when i started everyday carry of the 1911 and slight tweeking of the feed ramps will smooth that problem out, or you can go to a modern design like the GLOCK 21 it will feed anything plus holds thirteen rounds or the Thirty or Thirty six 10 and 7 Respectivly.
BTW I enjoyed uour referance to the old fleeing felon rule, it was in force when I started in Law Enforcment but was stopped soon after.
For any who wonder what that was, back in the day, a punk who had commited/ or was suspected commiting a felony and ran from an arresting officer, could/usually would get shot, "escaping" The practice was stopped in the early seventies.Or about the time general carry for police went from the 38 SPL to the 357 Mag.Although some depts. still retained the 38 SPL for a decade longer.
Just a little side note. The Glock 30 will also use the high capacity mags of the Glock 21, it sticks out just a tad. But as a back up Mag to carry extra rounds never hurt. (Both are double stack) The Glock 36 is a single stack and is limited to the Mag that was built for it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Frankie B.
New member
My Gold Cup never jams. My Taurus PT145 feeds hollow point with no complaint. But it doesn't like SWC's.
If the 1911 jams with hp's, suggest a good gunsmith to work on the feed ramp. One other often overlooked problem can be the magazine spring. They do get weak and also the recoil spring should be replaced. The recoil and magazine springs could wear. This will change the timing if a weak spring is causing the problem.
Frankie B.
If the 1911 jams with hp's, suggest a good gunsmith to work on the feed ramp. One other often overlooked problem can be the magazine spring. They do get weak and also the recoil spring should be replaced. The recoil and magazine springs could wear. This will change the timing if a weak spring is causing the problem.
Frankie B.
bea175
New member
I have a number of handguns in both cal's . If i had to make the choice it would be one of my 45 ACP 1911. I like the 357 Mag and think it is one of the best defense round ever chambered in a handgun, but there is just something about the big 1911 in 45 acp that i like, not counting it's record of being the best fighting handgun ever produced. I like them both but give me the 1911 if i can only own one pistol. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
I like 45, 357 is a good caliber but for me is too LOUD. Years ago I read a test of two pistols and two revolvers being frozen, wet, sandy and muddy "tests"in every instance the revolver failed first, makes sense, more room for crap to get in and the revolver depends on rotating a large cyclinder with tiny parts.
CD
CD
Quote:
For home defense where my wife, daughter, or son might be caught in a bad situation, the .357 revolver is the choice.
Hopefully none of the above named people are on the other side of the wall, or two, or... when that .357 bullet passes through the badguy, and any wall behind him
For home defense where my wife, daughter, or son might be caught in a bad situation, the .357 revolver is the choice.
Hopefully none of the above named people are on the other side of the wall, or two, or... when that .357 bullet passes through the badguy, and any wall behind him
claimbuster
New member
Now this a a "is it a dime or 10 cents" question. Going back and forth to the office, a S&W M640 357 rides in my brief case. If I am out and about, camping, walking, etc. I have a S&W 3" M13 357 in a bag over my shoulder. If I am out to dinner with my wife or a movie, a Les Baer Commander length 1911 is in a high ride holster under my jacket.
Once broken in, a good 1911 just will not jam when loaded with the appropriate ammo. I handload a 185 gr. Remington Golden Sabre in my 45ACP's and they just don't cause any problems.
I guess I would say, I don't have a preference.
Once broken in, a good 1911 just will not jam when loaded with the appropriate ammo. I handload a 185 gr. Remington Golden Sabre in my 45ACP's and they just don't cause any problems.
I guess I would say, I don't have a preference.
White Eagle
New member
Being relatively new to the so called defense handgun scene(I have had hunting handguns for a long time contenders Rugers SRH's,ect...) I would have to go with the 45 acp in a 1911 platform for me the feel of it in my hand the rate of fire is hard to beat