Everything you need to know about a single cartridge. Ballistics, terminal performance, ammo selection, platform recommendations — sourced from expert testing and lab data.
.45 ACP fires a 230gr bullet at 830 fps — inherently subsonic, naturally suppressor-ready, and still the wound channel king at 1.00-inch expansion. But Bill Wilson, who built his brand on the .45 1911, now carries a 9mm. Here's what the gel data says about whether you still need it.
9mm Luger is the most carried handgun caliber on earth — and modern hollow points have closed the gap with .45 ACP to half an inch of gel penetration. The FBI switched back in 2014. Here's the data that convinced them, the 5 loads that meet the standard, and what the experts actually carry.
9mm beats .45 ACP for most shooters — cheaper to train with, higher capacity, and modern hollow points have closed the terminal performance gap to half an inch of penetration. Here's the data on where .45 still wins.