[rescue] The fat lady. . .

[Kurt Huhn]

> Toss in 9mm and similar.  .45 packs *PUNCH* not speed.  big difference.
> Nick
>

If memory serves, the .45 ACP was chosen by the government for it's large
bullet size, and minimal penetration.  The reasoning was that you wanted a
bullet that would penetrate into flesh, expand, and stop.  You never want a
clean hole in someone in a war - they can recover from clean holes.  But a
bullet like the .45 ACP (and even +P) enter, expand quite a bit, and leave a
nasty dirty wound.  The .45 is a "one shot, one kill" load against unarmored
targets

The 9mm is slightly different, carrying more velocity.  The 9mm was designed
to be slightly higher velocity, with a slightly smaller presentation
diameter on target.  This allows it to penetrate deeper into a target, and
do most of its damage internally - with the common hollow point rounds.
This was the successor to the .45, as far as the armed forces sidearms are
concerned.  The 9mm, due to its higher velocity, makes a better caliber for
"hot" rounds - such as armor piercing and explosive tip rounds.

The 44 Mag, which isn't in too widespread of use, is a "very freaking
impressive" caliber.  Same weight as  .45 ACP (~200 grains) but 30 to 40
percent more velocity.  Weapons that use this caliber are expensive, and it
takes serious training to handle one - due to the recoil.

Kurt