twister Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I want to buy a new gun for single stack, and wondered which would be best? Is there any advantage to the 40 over 45? Some say it's harder to get a 40 to run reliably. Thanks for your help, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 .40 will be harder than the .45 to run reliably. If you shoot limited though and already have a .40 load it might be worth it. I like the recoil impulse of the .40 better than the .45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue edge Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I like the 40 impulse better also. When you get a 1911 40 cal to run 100% (its not real hard to do)it will stay 100% 40 cal bullets are cheaper--- If you shoot limited you probly already reload 40 you should be able to use the same ammo Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 You can shoot a .45 in IDPA CDP also..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bofe954 Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Brass is what made me want to go .40. Bullet cost too, but 45 brass is getting harder to find and more expensive. 40 is cheap and there is a ton of it around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Hello: I like the 45 but I use 200 grain bullets. I also like the 9mm. Then last I like my 40 with 185 grain bullets. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Currently shoot a 45 here because thats just what I had. I think my next one is going to be a 9mm with the 10+1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Brass Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I've been shooting nothing but single stack for the past two years. I like the 45 for it's simplicity to run. I also like it with the 200grn LSWC bullets that leave mighty big holes in cardboard. That being said, if I was already set up for 40 and had the time to invest in making it run reliably. I might consider going 40. Like the man says I think once you can get it to run it's golden. Especially if you are already use to shooting mostly 40. Pro's and con's with each. Get the one that suits you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I shoot a 45 in SS for the simple reason that its a caliber i enjoy and it happened to be the gun i owned when i started USPSA. If you are currently set up for 40, then a 40 single stack may be the way to go. if not, your choice. just remember....all the cool kids are shooting a 45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Brass Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 just remember....all the cool kids are shooting a 45 What he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperman Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I went with .40 mainly because of Ammo. Large primers are banned from my house. Changing tool heads on my 650 isn't a big deal. Changing the primer assembly was a PITA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 just remember....all the cool kids are shooting a 45 What he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Brian Enos has said in that his experience, taking into account both the cartridge (.40 or .45) and magazine configuration (single or double stack), in order of how easy it is to get the gun to run reliably (descending from easiest to hardest), it goes: .45 single stack .40 double stack .40 single stack .45 double stack. I've known a number of people who've gone the .40 single stack route. Invariably it took them a year or two of experimentation to get the gun to run reliably. Of course, once they made it through that process they had a very nice gun. (Not particularly nicer than the same gun in .45, mind you....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperman Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 It took me about 1 week to get my .40 single stack to run reliably. I started out trying to use my MCM .45 mags. Once I switched to Tripp Research 10mm mags I had no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 It certainly didn't take me a year or two to get my .40 SS to run reliably. The only thing I really had to do was sort out what OAL and mags it liked so that it fed 100% from slide lock. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMoore Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I picked a .40 because I don't reload. Factory .40 is easier to find closer down to 165pf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RufDog Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Maybe I got "lucky" but I had my smith take a delta elite & put a .40 barrel in it. He did whatever it is he does & it runs. I had 2 issues, loading factory length ammo in Tripp 10mm mags & once I went wild with heavy slide glide in freezing temps. Thats it. Outside of that its been sheer pleasure to work with. Interestingly I had a factory colt SS single stack in .4o that ran good & I couldnt hardly give it away. I guess it was too plain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Tompkins Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 1st consideration - what game you expect to play 2nd consideration - ammo / reloading and gun logistics issues 1. If ever want to shoot IDPA CDP, you need a 45 ACP. 40S&W will move you to ESP where you may feel a disadvantage with a lesser ammo capacity and will be competing with major PF ammo against mostly minor PF ammo (Atlanta Arms & Ammo does offer minor PF 40S&W) In USPSA, SS Major is limited to 8 rnds so there is no capacity advantage to 40S&W as compared to 45ACP there. True, most 230gr 45ACP ball ammo is ~10-15 PF higher then most factory 40S&W but muzzle energy will be ~10-15% LESS with the 45ACP. In both games, then bigger hole can be an advantage. Its surprising how many points are lost by not quite touching the line! Bottom line: IMHO a 1911 in 40S&W is slight or modest disadvantage in IDPA and no significant advantage in USPSA. Slight - modest advantage to 45ACP. 2. Factory 40S&W will be no more and probably cheaper than 45ACP. Depending on brand and source it might be 1-2 cents or 8-10 cents per round difference. Reloading components will be cheaper, ~3-5 cents, maybe more. 40cal mags might be harder to find or you may find a less diversity of brands to pick from. Costs may be slightly more but you only have to buy them once so I look at it as part of the price of the gun. Slight - modest advantage to 40S&W. If you reload for one but not the other you might consider tool costs but that is a one time only thing. It all depends on what is important to you. From a USPSA SS or IDPA CDP game stand point, 45 ACP is "it", the standard all are compared to. For every 1000 rnds you shoot, you'll save at most $100 (more likely only ~$30) with 40S&W. So.... What's it going to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Nope not a year here either. A little magazine R&D, a feed ramp tune and I'm off to the races. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 To me it can be pretty simple: If you shoot IDPA also, 45. If you shoot Limited in USPSA and already have a 40 load worked up, then 40. If neither of these is true, it's probably a toss up. I'd lean 45 because it's easier to find mags and you can start with a relatively inexpensive factory gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Nope not a year here either. A little magazine R&D, a feed ramp tune and I'm off to the races. we're going to the race. We're gonna win first place.... From everything ive seen, it seem that if you can figure out the ammo length and potential magazine issues, it would seem that 40 single stacks run pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 [in both games, then bigger hole can be an advantage. Its surprising how many points are lost by not quite touching the line! It can also be a disadvantage. Lots of times holes don't quite touch a no-shoot, but a bigger hole would have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Tompkins Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 [in both games, then bigger hole can be an advantage. Its surprising how many points are lost by not quite touching the line! It can also be a disadvantage. Lots of times holes don't quite touch a no-shoot, but a bigger hole would have! Touché! So true, so true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvhendrix Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 (edited) I want to buy a new gun for single stack, and wondered which would be best? Is there any advantage to the 40 over 45? Some say it's harder to get a 40 to run reliably. Thanks for your help, Dave If you haven't...I would shoot both and make a decision. I find the muzzel flip of the .40 suits me. I find the .45 has more of a push. I still own and shoot both but prefer the .40 cal. Magazines are not a problem. Once you decide on a load, if you go .40 then mags are available from varied vendors. I personally use the Cobra's both in .40 and 10 mm for .40 loaded long, also .45acp. I've had nothing but great performance from the Cobra mags and SUPER service from Virgil Tripp. I've used and still own McCormick, Wilson, Megar, Metelform, and almost every other vendors single stack mags in .45, 9mm, .40, .38 super, and 10mm, some have ran great, but some have not from all of the vendors. I'll never buy another single stack magazine except Cobra's until Virgil quits making them available. But please try various guns and mags to make your decision. Edited August 16, 2010 by pvhendrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broadus123 Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 I use a kimber 45 for IDPA never have any problems and the holes are larger depending on type of bullets used Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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