.40 vs.45. for carry.

[ap3572001]

How does .40 compare to. 45? Here are the rules for this one: No magazine restrictons, Only 180 jhp for. 40 and only 230jhp for 45. Stock guns ONLY and NO 1911's. Also ammo is not an issue.

[mif_slim]

Caliber doesn't matter. What matters is shot placement...which one can you shoot more accurate with? When that question is answered, the next is: is the profile of the gun concealable. Thinner the better, but it also depends on the way you dress.

[SIGman Freud]

I actually like .40 over .45 (one of the few who will care to admit it, anyway). It's a fun, snappy little round to shoot and it has more than proven itself in the field.

[InGrAM]

For a ccw gun. I wouldn't choose either .40 or .45. The point of ccw is a small compact gun that you wear ALL THE TIME. If you have a big, heavy gun, you will not wear it every day.

And like mif_slim said it is all about shot placement.

But I have been interested in the kahr p45.

[Oceanbob]

Caliber doesn't matter. What matters is shot placement...which one can you shoot more accurate with? When that question is answered, the next is: is the profile of the gun concealable. Thinner the better, but it also depends on the way you dress.

Yes..THIS...^^^^^

Good point and probably the most valuable advice around. What's the use of a big bore if you can't shoot..?..lol.

Carry something that you can shoot well and feel comfortable (with your body shape) when you carry it.

For me, I carry a GLOCK 29 (same frame and size as a GLOCK 30 .45 auto)

Once in a while I switch to my GLOCK 23..which I love to shoot and can shoot with ease.

[Iggy]

Whichever you can shoot well and conceal. Most compact 45's have a wicked snap.

[ZombieTactics]

In the grand scheme of things, caliber is of minor importance. The order goes something like this:

• Mindset - Do you recognize a threat in time to do something about it?
• Tactics - What's your overall plan?
• Skills - Can you shoot and move and fix things that go wrong while moving and shooting quickly and accurately?
• Equipment - Choice of gun ... and choice of caliber is a subset. Specific round choice is almost splitting hairs.

Where are you spending your time?

[Turo]

For a ccw gun. I wouldn't choose either .40 or .45. The point of ccw is a small compact gun that you wear ALL THE TIME. If you have a big, heavy gun, you will not wear it every day.

I understand about the 45, as there aren't too many small guns in the caliber, but 40? Nearly any subcompact that shoots 9mm is made in a 40S&W caliber, and I've yet to see a subcompact that wouldn't be easy to carry every day. Hell, I carry a Glock 27 every day. No issues here.

[Rivers]

As said earlier, shot placement is everything. By the OP's qualifications of a single stack magazine, .40 would have the advantage being slightly smaller, maybe one more round would fit. That might also allow for a slightly thinner gun design than the .45 would.

Another advantage for .40 is that with less costly ammo, the user would be able to PRACTICE more and possibly become a more proficient shot within the same budget. (Assuming that the user enjoys shooting the .40 equally or more than the .45 from a concealable handgun.) And since AIM is everything, that would make for the more effective CCW handgun.

Personally, I thing the HK P2000sk .40 with the light LEM trigger and night sights is as good as it gets. Accurate as can be, amazingly reliable and fun to shoot.

[advocatusdiaboli]

When carry size and weight matter, I would not worry about caliber but rather, as others have said, what are you most accurate and fast with and what you can, given that, pack the most rounds in comfort and concealment. I prefer .40 over .45 having carried the latter in the military but I prefer 9mm for sub-compact. It has the right power-to-weight ratio for me. For even smaller carry, I would not hesitate to carry .380 ACP for defense and to buy time to get clear. Reserve the ridicule about the .380 until, in CQ self defense, you are shot in center of mass or head with one with one and then laugh to me about it.

[NorCalAthlete]

G26 (9mm) most of the time when I'm carrying. Sometimes I've carried my .45 G30 SF as well. Minimal difference in profile, and with a crossbreed supertuck neither prints with a slightly baggy T shirt or sweatshirt.

[RollingCode3]

For a ccw gun. I wouldn't choose either .40 or .45. The point of ccw is a small compact gun that you wear ALL THE TIME. If you have a big, heavy gun, you will not wear it every day.

And like mif_slim said it is all about shot placement.

But I have been interested in the kahr p45.

+1. i started out with the 45.. too big and too heavy. I left it at home most of the time. Changed it to the Glock 26.. still too big and bulky... Now i stick with the Kahr Cw9 and Ruger LCP.

[626Tony]

HK USP 45C would do the trick or a glock 30 SF

[RedFord150]

...For even smaller carry, I would not hesitate to carry .380 ACP for defense and to buy time to get clear. Reserve the ridicule about the .380 until, in CQ self defense, you are shot in center of mass or head with one with one and then laugh to me about it.

Agreed.
I keep a Bersa Thunder as my travel gun and feel the same way. I would just encourage anyone using .380 for HD to spend the $ on Cor-Bon DPX or Buffalo Bore ammo.

[Curley Red]

For a ccw gun. I wouldn't choose either .40 or .45. The point of ccw is a small compact gun that you wear ALL THE TIME. If you have a big, heavy gun, you will not wear it every day.

Check out the new Ruger SR40C, it is the same size as the SR9C. And I think the weight is almost identical.