Pros and Cons of .45 Vs .32 - Please help me choose

[AndyK]

Timmy and other forum Friends, Very interesting read and valuable suggestions from you all. Thank you again. I have received my license finally (valid state wide) and have also ordered a Kiehberg 1911. Waiting to receive it any day from the dealer now. I will put out my review here after shooting a few rounds. I even have received 2 grip options from my friend who came down to India recently. Beautiful looking real wood grips. I also received a 1791 leather holster, but i find it to have very thick and very stiff leather. So, I am going to get some other holster from the US when I travel there in March. I am eyeing hybrid ones - the ones with Kydex on one side and leather on the other - offering flexibility and a thin profile for IWB carry.

[Saksham]

Timmy and other forum Friends, Very interesting read and valuable suggestions from you all. Thank you again. I have received my license finally (valid state wide) and have also ordered a Kiehberg 1911. Waiting to receive it any day from the dealer now. I will put out my review here after shooting a few rounds. I even have received 2 grip options from my friend who came down to India recently. Beautiful looking real wood grips. I also received a 1791 leather holster, but i find it to have very thick and very stiff leather. So, I am going to get some other holster from the US when I travel there in March. I am eyeing hybrid ones - the ones with Kydex on one side and leather on the other - offering flexibility and a thin profile for IWB carry.

Nice one Andy. Looking forward to hearing your experience too. Keihberg 1911 is a lovely piece of kit which I am sure you will enjoy to carry and shoot.

[shooter50]

Very Interesting thread. I would look at the question from a totally different perspective.
The answer depends on few variables:

• Where are you located, I am presuming India

• The level of proficiency you have with firearms

• Are you going to carry the handgun with you all the time.

• What is the actual purpose of acquiring an handgun.Is it really self defence or is it the desire to be an handgun owner

• The quota of ammunition you have and the facility available to you for practice

With the above in mind theoretical answers and reality become different.

1.Let me at the outset confess that I am no handgun expert, I prefer rifles. However after firing thousands of rounds of handgun ammo in Glocks, Brownings, Berettas, Hecklar Koch, Colts, Smith and Wessons, Rugers, Old Webleys (love the 455)and even IOF revolvers my recommendation for you would be a .32 pistol any day over a .45ACP. I shall endeavour to explain why.
2.Since I am assuming you are in India and not in Police/Para Military/Military your ammunition quota is going to be limited and so will be your facility and opportunity to practice. Since you are not a shooter (my assumption again ) you will not do regular dry practice either. Under these circumstances a .32 is much easier to handle than a .45
3.There is no substitute for training and practice when it comes to handling firearms, more so with handguns. If you have access to ammo, a choice of guns and firing ranges as in the US the answer is different. With good training and practice you can master the .45 and it does have greater stopping power than a .32 and so greater margin of error and would be the preferred weapon for home defence. But even in the US only so for the experienced shooters, definately not in India.
4. I personally do not like short barelled pistols especially in calibers 9mm and up. A short barell reduces the sight radius hence impacting accuracy. It increases muzzle jump making the double tap (The follow up second shot) difficult. Short barells need faster burning powders and that increases pressures. In a recoil operated pistol this sometimes causes feeding issues. If you need a short barrel for concealed carry and quick draw nothing to beat a Revolver with a recessed hammer.
5.Choices for handguns are limited in India. A 32 Pistol in Taurus as Vineet says would be an excellent choice and so would be a Webley. If you are hell bent on the .45ACP please go for the MSD Guardian. Contrary to what you have heard it is an excellent weapon. This Girsan is Turkish made and a short barell would be difficult to shoot. I would not vouch for its quality too. Turkish made weaponry is usually low quality.
6. About the 45 MSD: I had a Llama .32 Revolver given to me as a reward by the State. After I retired I let go of it and purchased a MSD Guardian in .45 ACP. It is a clone of the Colt 1911 and a very very good copy. Beautifully balanced with a finish and workmanship comparable to any factory pistol. I fired almost a 100 rounds of Selier Bellot FMJs. No malfunction at all. Great accuracy. Found the double tap to be as easy as with a Glock in 9mm. The trigger needs work though
Ultimately it is your personal choice. Whatever you buy please shoot it and do dry practice preferably under proper guidance.
Happy shooting

[timmy]

It is hard to deny the logic shooter50 presents in his post above.