Which is the better caliber, .45 ACP or 9mm ?
438210
It really depends on what you mean by "better".  A .45 will have more stopping power but it will be more expensive, harder to conceal and have a bit more kick.  The 9mm, being smaller, will be easier to conceal and have less kick and is generally less expensive (both the gun and the ammo) but it is considered minimal in terms of actual stopping power.  It will probably be adequate for most personal defense purposes, but there have been many police reports of criminals hit by a 9mm who go on fighting.\n\n(With regard to military use, noted above: there are many who object to the change which was made more to standardize with European allies in NATO than for any practical purposes.  The .45 was developed for fighting in the Phillipines prior to WWI where the original .38 round was not adequate to stop the suicidal Moro fighters.  The .38 has similar balistics to the 9mm.  Similar objections are made to the switch to the .223 caliber M16 from the .308 caliber M1.)
90817
The major manufacturers all make good .45's.  Try a few out in a gun store and buy the one that fits you best.
931168
I like the Glock 23 myself but i am about to purchase the Glock 17L, they are very good for target practice.
251314
First.. dont buy a cheep gun.. because thats what you'll get..A CHEEP GUN..if your going to target shoot only a smaller one is fine.. longer the barrel the more accurate it will be..Guns like "GLOCK" are lighter than others but there automatic..a little harder to learn on..So i would say a long barrel "RUGER" 22 It will hold its value also..I shoot a "Colt" 45 acp and am going to get a "GLOCK" 45..
486198
Depends on what you want it for.  \nTarget shooting I would just get a .22 Walther\nCarrying I have an Springfield XD-9mm is easy to use, easy to clean.\n\nI would NOT carry anything under a 9mm or a .38 caliber.  I have read to many stories of women unloading a .25 into a guy and it didn't stop them\n\nPersonally, I carry a .45 1911 A-1.  Once a person gets used to the recoil, even women, it's very manageable.\n\nGlocks aren't easy to tear down, and have a really weird recoil.  I had a Glock hated then I got the XD it works better for me.  The best thing to do is go to a range that rents weapons and see what you like
55533
Call the local ranges in your area and find one that rents guns. Shoot a few until you find one you like, talk to the guys there about what you'll be using it for and how often you'll shoot. They will give you a good idea as to what you should buy. Make sure you get an appropriate caliber for your purposes, shooting .357 ammo gets expensive quick but you can shoot 9mm ammo all day.
53028
It REALLY depends on cost, and if we're talking semi, or auto.  The Tippmann A-5 is about the fastest shooter you get for you money.  You also NEVER have issues with clogging with the A-5.
173496
Mini 14 is a good all around rifle and it being a .223 caliber, ammo won't be super expensive. The AKM, a variant of the AK47 is also a good shooter with cheap, powerful ammo. (both weapons are military caliber) 22. rifles such as the 10/22 are fun plinkers and dirt cheap to shoot. It just depends on how big of a boom you want at the range. A .357 is a dependable weapon and as the gentleman above mentioned you can shoot .38 rounds with no modification. Another route you can take is to buy a handgun such as a 1911 style .45 and get the .22 conversion kit with it so that you can shoot .22 at tin cans and still have a .45 for home protection etc. etc.
1126096
Try a Springfield XD in 9mm. I have one in .45 acp and love it. I have put 4000 rounds through it in a month and hasn't failed yet. I have tried every type of round I can get my hands on and have yet to have a failure to feed or a misfire. Springfield has several different combinatios, 3" subcompact, 4" inch and 5" inch barrel lenghts. Every one has a built in accesory rail. In which many other manufatures cost extra for that feature. Just a little advice. Gunbroker.com has several auctions for they many configurations for under $500.
947144
Colt 1911 is my favorite because the designs is so good its been virtually unchanged for 95 years. Its one of the most reliable guns ever. It has excellent stopping power. always gets the job done and is just fun as hell to shoot
491179
.308, 7.62x39 are ok rifle cartridges for defense, 12 gauge buckshot is a lot safer/more deadly in a home environment though.  10mm/40 S&W/45 ACP are all fine pistol cartridges, 9mmx19 is a little underwhelming in my opinion.  As far as cheap goes, go for a SKS (7.62x39) and a 12 gauge remington 870 shotgun.  You can get both of these for about $425 total.  A good handgun is gonna cost you quite a bit more, don't buy the cheap stuff like kel-tec, you will be dissapointed.  Buy a brand name like S&W, Kimber, Para Ord., ect.
296729
My preferance between the two would be the .308.  There's a great deal of ammunition for this caliber in a wide range of bullet types and weights to suit any need you might ever have.  Since it is a standard NATO chambering (7.62mm), there is a great deal of cheap, high quality ammunition to practice with avalible. It is a very accurate cartridge and is capable of taking almost any large game in North America.  You can even hunt smaller game if you like by selecting a lower bullet weight loading. You can't go wrong with a .308 anyway you look at it!
261936
A SIG is a heaver gun and cost more. I am thinking of getting a .40 or .45 in the SPRINGFIELD XD, AND ABOUT 1/2 OF the cost of a SIG. I now carry a 9mm TAURUS and it works fine for me. I just want one that is made of polymer. The XD comes in 9mm-.357SIG-.40S&W-.45GAP,and .45ACP...I hope this is some help to you, and as we say at the range KEEP IT IN THE 10 RING.......
900909
Gaston Glock is notoriously quiet about any upcoming products in the Glock line.  For some time there have been rumors of a .22 pistol in development, as has a true large bore magnum round.    \n\nMost development and resources however are focused on the military/law enforcement markets traditionally.  I suspect for the foreseeable future this is where new models will be introduced.  Pistols along the lines of the Glock 18, the "sub-lethal" compressed air guns, and others tailored to the SF communities.  \n\nAs for the .45 GAP round being adopted by the US military for any widespread use, that's very unlikely.  Contracts for current issue 92f are secured for the foreseeable future and .45 ACP models, issued primarily to SF, from various manufacturers have a very high loyalty and lobby to bring the cartridge back to replace the 9mm in general issue.  \n\nI hope my rather long reply to your question is of some help.  I am a Glock owner and have worked with police and other organizations training their members to fully utilize their issued Glocks.  I regularly have contacts with other instructors, armorers, and organizations involved with Glock products.  I'm sorry I wasn't able to more fully elaborate on non civilian models in use or in development due to restrictions in disclosure.
833139
I started shooting IDPA matches with a .45 GLOCK 36.  It was a miserable gun, jamming every 20-30 rounds.  A buddy had one as well, and his was similar.  I traded it in for a GLOCK 19 and absolutely love it.  I put about 2-3,000 rounds through it without cleaning it (!) before I had my first jam (leaning around a wall one handed, so it was maybe just limpwristing).  I love it, but it is a bit large for carry.  I'm looking to get a S&W 642 or Taurus 851 to try out.  I like shooting 1911s, but they're big and most seem to be a little finicky-- not what I want in a carry weapon.
624346
I PREFERS A BARRETT .50 CAL BOLT ACTION BECAUSE IT PACKS A MORE PUNCH THAN SEMI AUTO.
1003783
Berretta M-9 ,  1911A1 45 ACP,  and i just read a article recently that they ordered around 500 Ruger 9mms