Thanks for all the replies Gentlemen.
I didn't really want to start a caliber debate, .45acp will certainly get the job done in a SD situation. And 1911's are cool, no doubt!
I have just noticed the past couple of years people selling off their .45's, it seemed to me with more frequency.
Maybe just my perception?
Maybe they had multiples? Maybe they only had one or two and decided to "move" them in the name of caliber commonality?
Me personally, I carry a .40 right now. I have carried over the years, 9mm, .40 and .45.
I like to carry higher capacity weapons because I want more rounds on board. I have never been in a self defense situation where a firearm was needed, and not sure how I would really act in a real world encounter.
I hope I never have to find out either.
And in today's world most likely there would be more than one assailant. From what I have read about 9mm as a carry round, we should carry "heavy" for caliber and use +P ammo as well, to achieve similar wound channels as .40 and .45.
I don't know how true that is, but to me it makes sense, which is one reason I have chosen the .40 as my carry caliber.
It seems the "typical" .40 caliber offerings are only one or two rounds less in a magazine as 9mm offerings.
Beware of the shooter that shoots thousands of rounds of mild 9mm and half a box of +P carry ammo. They may throw rounds all over the place in a stressful situation because they just are not used to the recoil impulse.
I am a one gun wonder. I love my 1911A1. I love 4.5 ACP. I love my Marlin Camp 45.
I recommend new shooters get a 9mm. I hate to say that I have been telling people to go with a Glock and a Ruger PC carbine.
Because 9 is cheaper to keep up your proficiency.
My 1911s are not going anywhere. . The plastic stuff, maybe but it’s not limited to .45. There may be a 9mm or two finding new homes to fund a new addiction.
I've been a .45 guy most of my life. I've been legally carrying a 1911 or some variant for 30+ years, including in the military and as LE. I'm perfectly comfortable with it under most situations, and have been in DGU situations. I learned to shoot handgun with a 1911, I've shot IPSC and bullseye with the 1911. BUT. Earlier this year, a friend brought out a P365 for me to play with, and I HATE to admit it, but I fell in love. Easy to shoot accurately, easy to carry, AND I now have 12+1 on-board with modern 9mm ammo. Does it have the power my .45 did? No. Do I FEEL as confident with it as I do my 1911's? Of course. My pistol is nothing more than something to get me OUT of a bad situation or TO my rifle. But I have to admit my comfort level is much higher when I'm in the city with a 12+1 and two 12 round backups as opposed to 8(or 7)+1 with 2 8(or 7) +1 with a .45. I'm a decent shot, and still believe accuracy is more important than caliber -or capacity, but getting gas in an inner-city gas station makes me really wonder if capacity isn't a concern - in that situation. In the winter, around the rural areas, I still carry my 1911's. I practice weekly with both platforms; and I am comfortable, confident, and proficient with both. I do admit that I'm a little more COMFORTABLE with the P365, and it takes a LOT for an old 1911 guy to say that!!!-
Classifieds seem to be full of .45's.
That's like saying there are more Chevys in the classifieds than Teslas.
Because they have been around longer and more people bought them to begin with. ;-)
I would bet that there are about twice as many 9 mm pistols in circulation in the US than 45 ACP pistols. In fact, three times as many might be a safe bet.