Carry Gun Paradigm Shift

[doc540]

cliffs:
XDS in .45 ACP sold after getting it back from the recall (serious trigger issues)

carried the custom Colt CCO for two months - 8 rounds of .45 ACP

One of my firearm mentors convinced me that shot placement trumps caliber. (And I've been a .45 ACP guy.)

Now I am carrying an ugly, sunrise-dependable Gen3, Glock 19.

16 rounds of Barnes all-copper 9mm.

25 cent trigger job = smooth, 5 lb trigger

finis

[Shoot_First]

doc,
As a die-hard 1911 guy, it's hard for me to give up my compact .45ACP for my Glock 19 Gen 3s, one with a Trijicon red dot sight and the other with an XS big dot, even though the COM hits are better (more + better group) than with the 1911. Practice ammo cost is lower with G19s too, so what's not to like. You may have convinced me... will try it when I return home to Orange after my month plus in The Villages, Florida.
Dave

[jmra]

I would love to do a side by side comparison between the XDs .45 and the XDs 9mm. Three rapid torso shots and compare the groupings. Need to get out to some private property to try this with my XDs (ranges get upset with the whole rapid fire thing).
Would also like to do the same thing with my G23 and the XDs 9mm. Thinking the results could cost me some money.

[C-dub]

I have just recently been considering a similar switch. Well, not really a switch, but rather an addition. I carry a Glock 30SF and compete with a 21SF. Just this past week I've been considering getting a 34 just to compete with. I figure that when my daughter starts shooting something other than her Colt 1911-22 it would be a good gun for her. And maybe my wife would also like to shot it. She has yet to shoot my .45's, but did the .40's okay and liked them. I keep telling her she'll like the .45's better.

[remington79]

I carry a G30 but after using my wife's G19 for GSSF matches I'm going to start carrying a G19. I'll go from an initial 10 round mag with a 13 round mag reload to a steady 15. the longer you can stay in the, the better your chances. Plus the really important reason to switching is the G19 is easier to fire one handed and with my support hand.

[C-dub]

That's kinda why I'm considering the 34. I liked my .40's until TAM let me shoot one of his .45's. Now, I like my .45's and even if I do like the 9mm I'll keep the .45's. I can't say yet if I'd make the true carry switch like doc540 or not. That's why I'm thinking about the 34. I doubt I'd carry that, so it would require yet another purchase. I'm thinking I'd consider the 34 a little like a practice gun and still carry the 30SF. Still gotta save for the 34, though.

[gfmun]

I have been a 1911 guy all of my adult life, but I have been convinced that 16 rounds of 9mm HP is superior to 8 rounds of .45 ACP. Plus my wife can shoot the 9mm very well, so we both now carry 9 mm striker fired high capacity pistols. Times change.

Thanks,
George

[Jason K]

Question: While you may have the capacity to fire all these double-digit amount of rounds, are you sure you'll have the time to fire them? Is trading down to a less-powerful round for the sake of capacity a good trade if you only get time enough for one or two shots? If you only get one punch, shouldn't be your strongest one?

Just asking.....

[The Annoyed Man]

The XD(M) 3.8 Compact .45ACP is roughly the same size as a G30, although a little narrower across the top of the slide, and weight and capacity are about the same. Mine has become one of my two EDCs, the other being the XDS-45 which is still out for warranty repair. Like several others, my first love is a 1911, but I no longer own a lightweight example, and so I rarely carry the full-sized ones that I still have.

I have carried my wife's G19 a few times over the years, and it is a good pistol. I just can't seem to fall in love with the ergonomics, and it tends to give me slide-bite across the web of my shooting hand when I shoot it. It's too bad, because it isn't very heavy, and it conceals fairly well.

[LAYGO]

Question: While you may have the capacity to fire all these double-digit amount of rounds, are you sure you'll have the time to fire them? Is trading down to a less-powerful round for the sake of capacity a good trade if you only get time enough for one or two shots? If you only get one punch, shouldn't be your strongest one?

Just asking.....

Then you don't understand the ballistics of pistol calibers. Differences between 9 vs .45 ballistics is negligible & there is research out there that validates it as far as "punch" goes.

[MoJo]

Question: While you may have the capacity to fire all these double-digit amount of rounds, are you sure you'll have the time to fire them? Is trading down to a less-powerful round for the sake of capacity a good trade if you only get time enough for one or two shots? If you only get one punch, shouldn't be your strongest one?

Just asking.....

So we are comparing apples to apples here's a comparison of the ammo Doc is loading his G19 with and the .45 ACP version of the same ammo. There's little difference between the two. The 9mm is a friendlier round to shoot and a lot easier to get second and third hits with.

COMPARE

[Seabear]

Well....I have been and always will be a 1911 fan. That being said, after careful consideration, research, and competition, I am now a HUGE M&P 9mm fan. I love the CORE (wich is milled for optics)so much that I now own two. I can carry either the CORE with a Leupold Delta or the CORE with iron sights. I have competed with both, and love both. The more I shoot the M&P the more I love it. The grip angle is closer to the 1911, and the capacity is like the Glock, so it is the best of both worlds. Sooo, M&P CORE with 17+1 of 9mm gives me much more fuzzies than my Kimber Ultra with 7+1 of .45. In addition, competing with what I carry gives me a HUGE advantage in my opinion.

[silverbear]

I did a lot of research when I was choosing my first carry piece many years ago. My instructor, my trainer and many other instructors with an online presence recommended the g19. I went with a g19 3rd gen, put on some Amerglo sights and loaded it with Speer gold dots. Over the years of shooting and training I've never had a reason to think I should have chosen a different set up.

[doc540]

first time to shoot it

ran 4 to 6 shot strings, very rapid fire just pointing (not aiming) at 10 yds

with practice this is gonna work just fine

Got the Dillon fired up after feasting today.

[remington79]

I saw an article on the news where at 530 in the evening a guy was home and was the victim of a home invasion. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... e-Invasion" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Personally in my area a lot of the robberies and burlaries involve more than one person. When I used to work at the county jail a lot of the burglary and robbery bookings involved more than one person in the incident. One booking I did the kid (early 20s) broke into an elderly gentleman's house with two others for pain meds. Fortunately the homeowner was able to protect himself and shot one of the kids. I booked that kid in. The 9mm entered through the elbow and excited by the hand (or vice versa it was a couple of years ago). Needless to say the threat was stopped and the kid was not comfortable when I talked to him. I talked to him a few days after the shooting after he left the hospital.

I would feel a lot better with 15+1 of 9mm over 7 or 8+1 of 45. In this day and age crimes have an increased probability of being more violent and with more than 1 or 2 aggressors. I prefer to assume the worse, I figure at least 2 to 3 rounds per person if they all hit. You shoot to stop. Then you add in the fact that it is a dynamic situation where you have adrenaline dump, your movement, and the aggressor's movement you can see how having more rounds ready to go is a life saver and may be needed. And then you can add in the loss of motor skills because of this and one can see where doing a reload even with a mag (especially with a speed clip lining up holes and rounds on revolvers) may be difficult.

At least for me I can shoot my wife's G19 better one handed and with just my support hand than I can my G30 or XD45C. I also have quicker and more accurate follow up shots. I'm an optimist when it comes to having to use lethal force hoping I never have to use it. I'm a pessimist if it comes to having to use it. In that case I want to be prepared as best as I can.