Hey folks, plan on getting my first pistol for home defense. I’m set on the Springfield XD Service model, and was also set on the .40 S&W, but now there’s a new XD45 ACP, so I’m considering that now, too.

I’ve shot a Glock, Beretta, and the XD all in a .40 caliber and have no problem with it. Will a .45 ACP round have much more felt recoil?

Yea little more but nothing unmanageable. Also with the light 45 ammo out now, it will feel more like a 40.

Personally, with the same basic pistol design, I never could tell much of a difference in felt recoil between the .40 and the .45. Neither caliber is really what I consider a hard recoiling caliber to begin with, unless it's chambered in a really light weight sidearm. I prefer the .45, but that's me. I've got a thing for big bullets.

I have an XD45 and it's an awesome weapon. My buddy has a SIG 229 in 40 cal. and to me it feels like it recoils more than my XD45. IMO go with the 45, it's a great weapon.

Since both calibers have pretty much the same recoil Id go for the XD45 it has a higher magazine capacity too. the XD40 is 12+1 the XD45 is 13+1. I beleive a 45 has better incapacitating capabilities then the 40 which is a big plus if you ever had to use it in self defence and since the XD45 holds one more round over the XD40 I think the XD45 is deffinately the superior choice.

I have a XD45 tactical (5 inch barrel) I love it its very accurate and practical. at 25 yards in a standing 2 handed position I can put a full magazine into a paper plate, I cannot complain one bit. the xd line is an excellent choice though many glock buffs will disagree with me. you just cant go wrong with a XD no matter what caliber you choose.

I see no point in the .40 S&W if the same gun can be bought chambered in .45ACP. The .40 S&W does have its good merits if the frame of the gun is made for 9mm and is too small for the .45, A .40 S&W will usually work in the same frame as a 9mm.

I used to love the 40, maybe the fact I had 3000 pieces of free brass I got. But now, I see the light. I am moving away from the 40 going to the 45ACP.

45 Long Colt traditional, packs a punch, will stop anyone dead in their tracks. And my favorite pistol in the world (Colt single action army 1873) shoots it

-Travis-

Man, if you need that one extra round, you are already in big trouble!
So, thats really a non-factor to me, but I'd still take the 45!

As soon as you said self defense the .45 ACP in almost any decent handgun is the right choice. It is one of the few, if not the only round specifically designed to stop a man dead in his tracks, period. You can view ballistic charts, listen to industry hype, but the full weight 230 grain .45 delivers just the right speed, bullet diameter and density in perfect combination to stop any man. The recoil is different to the .40 or the 9mm but I would not say more. The 9mm and .40 are high pressure, high velocity rounds and usually produce a very "snappy" or "jerky" recoil usually canted to the side in most handguns. The .45 is a much lower pressure round that produces more of a straight back and slightly up recoil in most handguns.