Thread: .45 ACP vs. 10mm in Dan Wesson 1911 Commander?

I love and recommend .45s , but my skinny butt cant hide one, one of these days I may have to break down and get something smaller. But with the versatility and parts availability of the 1911, theres nothing better!

As an old firearms instructor that have used and carried both 10mm and .45acp I would go with the .45acp. The 10mm wears out the gun faster, whit the reliability problems following from this. Also the 1911 was designed to handle the .45acp.

If I were to bet my life on one it would be the .45acp.


EDIT: ALSO remember to run about 500 rounds through the gun to test it before starting to carry. Reliability test.

I see that your location is Seattle. I lived there for about 10 years. I have a lot of friends in the "firearms training business" there. Feel free to PM me.

Another buddy of mine always likes to point out that when god gave John Moses Browning the design for the 1911, it was in .45 ACP. Hard to argue with that.

Good choice of pistols.

I'd have to go with the .45 ACP.

Not owning a gun yet I refer to a quote from something that I heard a local range master say to me when we were discussing conceal and carry.

He said, bullets, no matter the size do not work, you have to keep firing until you find one that works.

In other words, if you fire a .50 cal then you might find that it is the second or third bullet that works, a .45 well you might find the 4th or 5th bullet and so on down the line.

Point is, find a caliber that you are happy with, and then hope and pray you never have to find a bullet that works. Which is why I will probably go with a 40 cause I am little and will have a hard time concealing much else.

I am now 63 years old. I fired my first Colt 1911 .45 acp when I was 15 years old. Since that time I have never been very far out of reach of a 1911.

When the Colt Delta 10 MM came out a Colt rep. came out to our range.
I shot it all day.

My conclusion is that it had one advantage over the .45 - flatter
trajectory. This was with the origional hot 10 load.

I would go with the .45 acp.

As my Grandfather use to say, "Hold it level and it will kill the Devil"..

Originally Posted by captainboog

Another buddy of mine always likes to point out that when god gave John Moses Browning the design for the 1911, it was in .45 ACP. Hard to argue with that.

Haha....amen! I think this argument alone pretty much settles the issue.... .45 ACP it is!!!

Thanks for all the awesome replies! I guess the only reason I was considering the 10mm is because it seems to be a very versatile, accurate and powerful round....but on the other hand, like many of you mention, the .45 ACP has arguably better stopping power against "humans" (criminals), makes a bigger hole, is less succeptible to over-penetration in an urban environment (ie. Seattle, WA), is a VERY FUN caliber to shoot, arguably has cheaper/more available ammo and is easier to control (recoil-wise) with less muzzleblast....and then of course, the argument that really settles the issue: It is God's will that the 1911 be chambered in .45 ACP!!!! =)

Sounds like the 10mm would be a better round for someone who can actually UTILIZE the versatility, accuracy and penetration of the round....perhaps someone like gsixgun who lives in a more rural environment with less human population and more big scary animal population...btw, Seattle (especially the rural outskirts) has been overwhelmed with tweakers and meth labs...I'm quite certain if I ever have to use my pistol for defense (God forbid) it will be a tweaker or crackhead on the recieving end of a shiny .45 HST round.

Anyway, thanks again for helping me decide!!!

Good choice. Man, this thread makes me miss my Kimber.

Is this the weapon in question? I like all the 1911's

Originally Posted by icedog

Is this the weapon in question? I like all the 1911's

Yep! That's her exactly! Just google Dan Wesson Commander 1911 (lookslike you already did)...tons of reviews pop up (way more than with most guns I google) and they ALL give this gun very high marks, especially when price is factored in. Youtube has a good video review and there is a killer review on gunblast.com too....anyway, very nice pistol. Unfortunately I'll have to sell my Para Ordnance P12 to be able to afford it =(

O well, at least I'll still have a 1911 .45 =)