The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .40 loaded to same as .45 acp = same power?

bamaranger · September 19, 2023, 01:24 PM

OK, duly noted. I'll admit that some of my manuals are a bit dated, and I certainly don't have any of them completely memorized. The .40/200 combo is new to me and now I have been enlightened. Stuff you think you know and don't.

Even more enlightening is the chamber pressure bit. For reasons unknown, I thought that the .40 operated at a noteably higher pressure than other auto pistol ctgs, the fact that the 9mm and the .40 are similar was another eye opener. In following up on my ignorance, I note that the .45 acp operates, even at +P pressures, considerably lower than all of them, a fact of which I was certain. So...

Would not the lower operating pressures of the .45 acp create a softer shooting combo than a high pressure .40, ie, perhaps a felt recoil v. actual recoil sort of thing? I'd think certainly easier on the gun?

September 19, 2023, 01:24 PM	#15
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,742	stuff ya' don't know OK, duly noted. I'll admit that some of my manuals are a bit dated, and I certainly don't have any of them completely memorized. The .40/200 combo is new to me and now I have been enlightened. Stuff you think you know and don't. Even more enlightening is the chamber pressure bit. For reasons unknown, I thought that the .40 operated at a noteably higher pressure than other auto pistol ctgs, the fact that the 9mm and the .40 are similar was another eye opener. In following up on my ignorance, I note that the .45 acp operates, even at +P pressures, considerably lower than all of them, a fact of which I was certain. So... Would not the lower operating pressures of the .45 acp create a softer shooting combo than a high pressure .40, ie, perhaps a felt recoil v. actual recoil sort of thing? I'd think certainly easier on the gun?