9mm vs .45 for a first gun — does it matter?
I know this is probably asked daily but as a new shooter should I go 45 ACP? The 9mm has more capacity but I keep hearing .45 is more proven.
Just want the honest answer, not the caliber war.
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I went through this exact decision 6 months ago! Ended up with a Glock 19 in 9mm and I'm glad I did. The recoil is manageable and I can afford to practice regularly. Shot a friend's .45 recently and wow... that's a whole different animal. Start with 9mm, you can always add a .45 later.
Honestly? Go 9mm. I've sold thousands of guns over the years and new shooters do better with 9mm every time. Less recoil, cheaper ammo to practice with, and modern defensive ammo is plenty effective. Save the .45 debate for when you've got more experience under your belt.
For a first gun, 9mm all the way. I've helped dozens of new shooters and they progress faster with 9mm because they can practice more (cheaper ammo) and aren't fighting heavy recoil. The capacity advantage is real too - 15-17 rounds vs 7-8 in most .45s. Modern 9mm defensive loads like Federal HST or Hornady Critical Defense are proven performers.
This is exactly what I'm wondering about too! Saw both at the last show I went to. The vendor basically said what everyone else is saying - 9mm for first time buyers. Said I could always trade up later if I wanted something different.
Following this thread. Interested to see what others think.
I run a similar setup and it's been flawless. Good choice.