The argument over which handgun caliber is the most effective has been hotly debated by firearms enthusiasts and professionals alike for as long as the arguments can be remembered. One of the classic debates, 9mm versus .45 ACP, is just one example that has resulted in so many varied opinions and studies; recent insight from the US Army Medical Department and the FBI clarifies this a bit more succinctly.
Even though it is of larger diameter, the .45 caliber bullet tends not to penetrate or fracture bone effectively, according to the US Army Medical Department. “The Japanese and German sidearms with muzzle velocities of approximately 1,100 f.p.s. were much more effective as antipersonnel weapons than the .45 caliber weapon,” according to the department. This observation underlines the shortcomings of the .45 ACP against higher-velocity rounds.
Further supporting the effectiveness of the 9mm round is some extensive testing performed by the FBI. They found that the ballistics and penetration power of the newer, powerful 9mm Luger ammunition had retained much of the ballistic characteristics and penetration of its larger-caliber brethren while being easier to control, resulting in more accurate shots. According to the FBI, the truth of the matter is that “handgun stopping power is simply a myth,” citing that there has been little to no appreciable difference in wound tracks between premium line law enforcement projectiles from 9mm Luger through the .45 Auto.
Equipped with this information, many law enforcement agencies have returned to 9mm due to its higher capacity magazine, less recoil, and similar terminal performance. A good example of this trend is the adoption of the Glock 45 9mm pistol by numerous police departments.
For decades, American police forces have used Glock pistols because of their reliability, simplicity, and affordability. Richard Nance, a veteran law enforcement officer and gun scribe, provides details about the advantages of the Glock 45, a hybrid between the Glock 17 and Glock 19. The G45 features a full-length grip like that of the G17 but sports a shorter barrel like that of the G19; thus, the result will be a very balanced pistol—a gun that is easy to handle and fast to draw.
The Glock 45 comes with some features that render it an extremely versatile and highly reliable duty weapon, such as the Glock Marksman barrel for improved accuracy, front serrations on the slide, and a loaded-chamber indicator. This modular design includes changeable grip options and an ambidextrous slide-stop lever to guarantee an adjustment for any shooter.
After rigorous testing, 95 percent of Nance’s officers preferred the Glock 45 above all else. The ergonomics, magazine capacity, and controllability of the 9mm round made it impossible for officers not to fall in love with the pistol—even the most skeptical ones. “The overwhelming sentiment was that the Glock 45 was the most well-balanced gun the officers had ever shot,” says Nance.
The Glock 45’s success does not end with the police. Indeed, the Glock 19—the compact version of the Glock 17—has recently been adopted as the official sidearm of many elite forces, from the Army Special Forces and Delta Force to the Navy SEALs. It achieves this vaunted position from its reliability, modularity, and compact size, making it effective in so many different mission sets.
Glock pistols simply are known for being simple and resilient, easy to service and maintain, and can be tuned to any user’s wish. In the Glock Safe Action, there are three safety devices. There’s no need for manual safety with this high level of security already provided.
In the final analysis, the Glock 45 and its 9mm chambering do bring a quite high level of expectation to law enforcement firearms. With its singular blend of reliability, accuracy, and ease of use, it is simply the handgun that works perfectly for both police officers and elite military units. Among all of the arguing over which handgun caliber reigns supreme, the Glock 45 stands all alone as a shining example of just how great modern 9mm ammunition is, and why, through it all, Glock seems to remain at or near the top in pistol innovation.