Today I wanted to highlight a Youtube video on the Wilson Combat channel in which Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn discuss why they now shoot mostly 9mm instead of .45 Auto. You can find the video at .45 ACP vs 9mm - Gun Guys Ep. 08. Wilson is the founder and owner of Wilson Combat, a maker of high end M1911 style pistols. The Wilson CQB (for Close Quarters Battle) features in Kurt Schlicter's People's Republic series. Ken Hackathorn is known as "Mr. 45" in the gun community.
I have been following both men for many years as they competed in matches and especially as Wilson built his business. Both are getting up there in years. Both now mostly shoot M1911 style pistols in 9mm and the reasons are old age. Hackathorn in particular has arthritis in his hands and can take only so much abuse. Wilson doesn't have arthritis but likes the gentler recoil of the 9mm in a steel framed weapon. And, honestly, the higher round count of the 9mm, and the advent of hollow point bullets means there isn't a lot of difference between the two rounds most of the time. You would not feel under gunned with 9mm.
I too am getting old, and while I can still shoot a .45 Auto M1911 pistol, I now prefer the .38 Super Auto in an M1911 pistol. .38 Super loads a 9mm bullet into a somewhat larger casing but propels the bullet at similar velocity. When the .38 Super was developed, the 9mm Luger was a rather anemic round, so that at that time .38 Super was the most powerful handgun cartridge and remained so until the .357 Magnum came along. Also, the .38 Super is historically correct for the M1911 pistol, having been developed with that pistol in mind.
Gentle readers can rest their eyes, and listen as two old shooters talk about their now favorite round.
