.38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

Hey there....

I wanted to tell of a neat comparison that I did yesterday with a buddy of mine. We went to the local indoor range here in town to shoot off some rounds. Here's the firearms used:

Me: Taurus 85, .38sp snubby
Rented by Me: Auto-Ordinance M1911-A1 .45ACP

Buddy: Smith&Wesson 5906 9mm
Buddy: Marlin camp carbine 9mm rifle.

I started out with a standard bullseye target strung out to 10 yards. The Taurus 85 with the 2" snubby barrel couldn't hit the broadside of a barn! [:'(] I had shots all over the 9 ring. No consistency groups at all. The buddy of mine was in the next lane and we swapped. He took my Taurus 85 and I took his S&W 5906 9mm. I fell in love with the 9mm and at 10 yards I punched the bullseye repeatedly. The buddy of mine didn't care too much for the Taurus 85, because it's hard to control and get groupings. The velocity is not good at 10 yards.

So, we swapped back and put them down. Out comes the Auto-Ordinance M1911-A1 .45ACP and my buddy got out his beloved Marlin camp carbine 9mm (you can shoot it and a small .22 rifle in an indoor range). As soon as I picked up the 1911-A1, it felt like a long lost friend (I qualified on it during USCG bootcamp - my buddy remembers qualifying on it in the Marines too. Heck, everybody at one point or another has shot the 1911! ) I fell in love with that handgun! The balance, the feel, the weight, etc.... That was it. It was like my buddy's S&W 5906 9mm, but beefier. What's pretty wild is the recoil from both is about the same.

After realizing that I can control the 1911 a lot better than a .38sp snubby, I reeled in my target, tacked up a new one, and my buddy did also. We strung them back out to 10 yards. He used his S&W 5906 and I used the Auto-Ordinance M1911-A1. We both bunched out the bullseyes with them!! :D Then we swapped again. I fired his 5906 and he fired the M1911-A1 and we continued punching out the rest of the bullseye.

Then, I still wanted to go back to my Taurus 85 .38sp snubby, so I strung up another target. But this time, I strung it out to only 5 yards away. It was so close I could have spit at the target. But sure enough. BAM! I had nice groups in the 10 ring.

The snubby is not accurate at all past 5 yards. It is most likely meant for close up concealed carry, personal protection, where someone is right up in your face.

The S&W 9mm is a heck of a nice 9mm. Nice balance, nice feel, and for me, it's got ambidextrous safeties (I'm a southpaw). It's an excellent 9mm! Never ever heard of it jamming or misfiring.

The M1911-A1 is a legend. There is a certain feeling you get when you pick it up. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers/sailors have defended our great country with the 1911. It is built like a tank and has such a nice feel and balance to it. I was using CCI 230gr FMJ rounds and never had it jam or misfire at all. Being retired military, I felt a strong bond and had memories of bootcamp on the range. Shooting the M1911-A1 was excellent. It was like an old friend.


Now, as far as getting another firearm (wonder what my wife would say!), I have to weigh the differences between a 9mm and the .45ACP. My first and foremost choice would be to get a Springfield Armory WWII reproduction M1911-A1. Or, maybe look at Glock 9mm, or Ruger 9mm. I know that I have the small Taurus 85 .38sp snubby, but I now want a full sized firearm with tack driving accuracy. What do you think?

Butch

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

Hi ButchA,

Buy the one you like the best. (And do like the rest of us.......go buy the other one later!);)

Good luck with your decision.

Dave

P.S. Keep the 2" .38 Special Taurus. Either as a backup.....or for when you need something more concealable.

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

The 9mm is a good cartridge, and I'd certainly rely on it, but I'm another sucker for a good .45.

I love my Glock, but I've long had an itch to get a nice semi-custom 1911. After looking around I've set my sights on one of the following two pistols (or, like akbound said, maybe someday both!)...

Kimber Eclipse Target II


And if Iowa ever passes a CCW law, the Kimber Eclipse Ultra II


Not only are both pistols tricked out with great features, but they also look so good that they'd make the wife jealous!;):D

Mike

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

It takes a lot of practice to shoot a snub nose revolver they are just accurate as a longer barrel revolver but not as shootable. Were you to put both a long barreled and short barreled revolver in a solid rest you will find that they are both about the same for accuracy. It gets even worse when you go up a step to the snub nose 357 magnum. With the small grips they become a handful. I shot combat pistol matches for quite a few years. I think I tried about all the guns out there. I had all of the Glocks and six or so 1911's I had several Sigs and HK's and all of the Rugers both revolvers and autos. The 1911 is awful hard to beat for defense or target shooting. I had an Auto Ordanance to start with but the barrel lug cracked so I put a Springfield Armories barrel in it and customized it with the help of a gunsmith friend of mine. That pistol became the most reliable auto I ever shot. I once fired over 5000 rounds through it over a couple months with no malfunction of any kind I quess I put about 30000 rounds through it while I had it. We tightened up the slide a couple times and changed the recoil springs several times. I think I had three different barrels on it. I finally got so burned out on reloading that I sold all the competition guns and gave it up. I was reloading 700-850 rounds per week and even with a progressive reloader it just got to be to much. I shot steel silhouettes and bowling pinns and all sorts of combat matches. We shot with the police dept and FBI and Federal Marshals in Pierre SD. If I could afford it I would go with the Kimber if not the Springfield would be my choice in 1911's The Ruger 45 auto is a very good shooter as is the Sig 220.

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

Thanks guys.... ;)

My brother-in-law is coming down to visit from upstate NY, and is bringing his CZ-75 9mm with him, so we'll take that to the range too. When I do choose my new handgun, I'll hold onto the Taurus 85 .38sp snubnose, because even though it's not really accurate, it's the ultimate concealed carry weapon. Yes, I hold a Virginia CWP and can hide the Taurus anywhere on me. But then, 90% of the time, I don't bother to carry.

James B, wow it sounds like you have shot darn near every firearm imaginable! [8D] What would you recommend for a guy who has hands like a basketball player?!? (i.e. large hands...) When I first got my Taurus .38sp, it had the wooden grips on it. I hated the grips and the gun would almost flip backwards in my hand! My pinky completely hung off the grip, so I had to live with a 3 fingered grip! Thank God for Hogue and the rubber grips with finger grooves. Once I had them put on, the Taurus became 100% more managable and I can hold onto it better.

Butch

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

I would suggest that you look at a Glock 21. I have very large hands, too, and I found that the Glock 21 is an excellent fit for me. The grip is wider and longer than most semi-autos and is very ergonomically shaped. It fits me like it was an extension of my oun hands.

Mike

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

The 21 would be a good choice. I can't remember the number of the 10MM but it is the sames size and packs a good punch. It was the most accurate of all of my Glocks. Yea to say I was into handgunning big time is an understatement. I was selling guns at that time as well. I would give my left arm to have that first Auto Ord 1911 back. I loved that gun. It was getting a little loose but thats what made it so dependable. It was not super accurate but for what it was for it worked great. It would shoot 2 1/2 inch groups at 25 yards so it was not a Bullseye candidate.

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

I believe the 10mm is the Glock 20. It's exactly the same as the 21 dimension-wise, just chambered in 10mm. I rented and shot one when I still lived in North Carolina, and found the full throttle 10mm loads to be just a little too hot for my taste in a defensive handgun, while the .45ACP is still plenty powerful enough, and is far more controllable and pleasant to shoot.

Both are great guns though. One can't go wrong with a Glock, IMHO.

Mike

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

One other thing to consider about the Glock 20/21 is that they are large, full frame service pistols. If you want a gun for CCW, the 20/21 probably isn't it. But as a nightstand gun they are great. I would really like to get a tactical light/LAM for mine. It also needs a set of night sights.

Mike

RE: .38sp vs 9mm vs .45ACP
 

I agree with James B, the snubby is not inaccurate, it is just tougher to shoot accurately due to human factors. What ammunition are you shooting thru it? Find the right load, and it will likely shoot better than you can.