markm59

Just an update and a thank you for those that have responded. Ordered 2- 9mm this weekend. I ran a bunch of felt recoil calculations and also bullet energy calculation to see if the math would help me. The recoil impulse and felt recoil is mathematically greater with the 9mm at Minor than the 40 at minor, but the difference was so small to be insignificant. I also ran energy calculations to determine hits on a popper and the 9mm has more energy at Minor than the 40 or 45. Now I know momentum is a critical factor in knocking down steel and that edge would go to the 40 and 45. As you see, over thinking. Anyway, thanks again. This is an awesome forum .

Ok some more info, my wife and I already shoot single stack, 45acp, and we have open guns in 38sc. The thought behind Production class and the 40SW was it rounds out my collection, I can shoot everything except revolver class. But since I have the equipment to reload 45 why not get the XDM in 45acp, I'm limited to 10- rounds anyway in Production, and I currently shoot 180gr bullets. Both the 40SW and 9mm will require conversion kits for my Dillon, no big deal, justanother factor. So, can anyone tell me why the 40SW at a 135PF would be a better choice than a 45acp at 135PF shooting the same bullet weight (180gr) I sure appreciate everyone's comments and like I said I tend to overthink things.

I'm about to purchase 2- 5.25 XDM, one for me and my wife, to shoot Production class. I have read all the posts about caliber, and there seems to be justification for getting a 40SW. But if 40 is justified becuase the load is soft, then 45acp should be justified at the same bullet weight as the 40SW, for instance 180 gr. If I load 45 to 135PF, or about 750fps, I should be in the realm of 40SW. The big deal here is I already have a Dillon set up to do 45 acp, and a bunch of compnents. So give me a reason that I haven't thought about to go 9mm or 40SW. I know I can save money reloading 9mm, I reload 38SC so I already have the bullets. I tend to overthink this stuff so this is a sanity check. I need you help. Thanks