.40 or .45

[Vectrexer]

Already chose and a Steyr .40 was it.

[draconianruler]

.45 since you didn't include 10mm in your original choices Just don't plan on shooting at 100 yards or so with the .45. You'll have to be good at firing artillery to get the bullet that far down range.

[yellowfin]

.45 would be my choice as well. Only reason I own a .40 is because of the package size it came in.

[Wild Squid]

I am extremely partial to the 1911's, so I say .45.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

See, I told you at least one of the two 10mm people would show up. It's a cult I tell you, a cult. Get thee behind me, oh blasphemer of the ballistics tables! [ties a box of .40 S&W around his neck to ward off evil] You shall not corrupt me with your pseudomagnum ways! I shall never succumb to your... Hey, you mean I can still get Blacktalons in 10mm? NO!!! You will not tempt me with black-tipped ammunition! No matter how cool it looks! [runs away with his hands over his ears singing "la la la la" at the top of his voice]

[dgey]

I'd go with the 1911, but then I'm partial to the platform. as to what's more powerful, it's all about shot placement. get the gun then get some training. just shooting it well on the range means absolutely nothing... it means that you can shoot paper well.

[battlehatch]

Just like you've read above, it depends on what you are using it for. I have shot thousands of rounds through my XD45 and XD9, I am just extremely comfortable and trusting of them. I keep an XD40SC in the home for SD. I would definately add 1911 to my list of weapons, but if I had to bet my life on it, I bet on the XD.

EDIT: The only answer here is to figure out a way to buy both!!!

[11Z50]

I personally see no need for the .40. Especially since we can only have 10-rd mags in the PRK. If you can only have 10, take 10 big ones. I favor the SW M&P .45 and it gives me 10 rd capacity in a very modern and ergonomic package, all at a very reasonable cost. To me the "For-tay" is a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. The .45 is far superior, and the only thing the .40 gets you is a higher mag capacity, which in the PRK is moot.

Even if I had full caps for a .40, I'd go to the 9mm since you get even more capacity, and there's only 1 mm of difference. 9mm can be had for much less than .40 and is available everywhere.

To answer the OP, I'd say go with the .45, but in a 10-rd capacity. There are many platforms out there. If you gotta have a 1911, that's cool, it's still superior to any .40, IMHO.

[Pryde]

The 40 because of Springfields warranty. Had my finish on my XD redone about 3 times and they also replaced a tritium site for me because it fell off. They have great service.

This doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the weapon system.
I'd rather have a gun that worked to begin with, QC> CS.

[fullspeed1]

It is going to come down to what you feel comfortable with. Opinions are like *****holes, everyone's got one. It's not about what everyone says....Hold each one, and shoot them at your local range if available, and make up your own mind. Let's be honest here...The .40 vs .45 debate will never be resolved. I will tell you one thing, I wouldn't even want to get shot with a pellet gun if that makes your decision making any easier.

[fed20]

I have the same problem as the op. my solution is to now get a 40 cal since i already have a 45. then I can decide whats best for me. your own opinion is what matters most. btw, I have absolutly no problems with my 1911 and doubt I ever will.

[trinydex]

People talk about .40 vs .45 and make it sound like the .45's higher recoil is a good thing, as if its badass to have more recoil. When you need the second shot to count, I don't know how badass it looks to be dead because you couldn't get your second shot on target fast enough.

Don't get me wrong, I love 1911s, and enjoy shooting large caliber weapons (its fun!), but how 'manly' a gun is should never be a consideration when talking about something your life depends on.

have you ever shot .40 in a defensive load? i think the recoil is much more harsh than .45 in defensive load.

[bombadillo]

Look on ammo wholesalers like ammoman.com, aimsurplus, ammunitiontogo, and others and you'll find a whole lot of 9mm and .45, but not lots of bulk .40 cal. I wish that there were more ammo options at lower prices, but I have both a 9mm xd and a .45acp ruger that work great for its purposes. Both are defense guns that are in strategic places in the house. I got the springfield 3" as a carry gun but it doubles as a good living room gun too! Anyway, there's just so many more ammo options for the .45 than the .40 too. I can get all the way down to 165-170 grain factory bullets up to 230 and possibly higher depending on what you want. Hot loaded, they are pretty smoking fast in the 180 grain JHP. and a ton more energy than a .40 Use your own judgement I guess.