Everyone argues that with modern 9 mm rounds you don’t need a 45. I would argue that same technology has been brought to the 45 making it even better LOL
@@navyman8903 I agree, I’ve just always never understood how the technology argument only applied to the 9mm lol I primarily carry a 9, but the 45 will always hold a special place in my heart. Besides throwing bowling balls at stuff is always fun, especially in 450 smc 😂
I only own 9mm pistols at the moment. Main reason is because the 45 is so much more expensive. I go to the range about ever 2 weeks and cringe going to the range blowing through 200 rounds of 9mm, so can’t imagine doing that amount with 45. I do eventually plan on buying a 45 or two just to have one. But won’t shoot it near as much
NAVYMAN8903 hate to be blasphemous. But I'm an AK guy too. I've got pre ban 30s for days. Can't find AR 30s pre ban anywhere. Love AK's anyway so it fits me like a glove.
@@noway6633 the fascists who run this state do not care. The police here WILL find a reason to storm your house and they WILL shoot you through your drywall to appease carrion lord Maura Healey on her golden throne
Anybody who even vaguely equivocates the 9mm with the .45 hasn’t tried to kill something with both cartridges and noted the differences in results. From raccoons to whitetail deer, there’s absolutely no question that the .45 produces significantly faster kills and much more consistent results than the 9mm. Even on the small animals.
I think it became even more clear with the 5.56 that the most used and popular caliber (9mm)doesnt mean it is the best or as good. Nobody would disagree with you that 5.56 isnt by far the ideal caliber for an assault rifle and that there are much better out there.
Your conclusion at 25 minutes is why I like 45. Even though I carry hollowpoints I know that I might not always be able to get more. I personally trust 45 ball much more than 9mm ball and as such I don't feel like I have to worry about finding the right type of ammo. I think this pandemic has shown how being able to rely on ball might come in handy
i dont think so tim sign AL.......... 185grain double tap 450 smc 1350fps 749lb out of a 6in barrel.... G20 4.6 barrel 180grain underwood 1300fps 676lb with a 6in kkm barrel it adds 100fps 100lb so thats 1400fps 776lb.
I have shot 185 450smc out my g21 got 1220fps thats 14.5 tko factor. The 10mm is 13.9 with 180s at 1350... damn close i say. But The 255 hard cast 45 is 16.4 @1000 fps 600 ft
Great content! Very valid info on why 45 is still a great round. I’m a 1911 guy and shoot both 9 and 45 and enjoy them both. Tell the Joe and crew over at Shootsmart Rick said hey.
this pandemic has taught me that casting is absolutely a required skill. people used to try to talk me out of reloading for 223 and 9mm. I'm glad I ignored them is all I can say.
I’m a 9mm guy but I like 45! My home defense gun is the FNX 45 Tactical and I also carry my Dan Wesson TCP in 45 from time to time…it’s something about that fat round
We might be in the minority now but I'll still carry 45. Growing up all my father shot was 45 ACP and 40 S&W. He taught me how to shoot using those two rounds and I'm just comfortable with them. Those two rounds really forces you to have a proper grip and technique. First time I ever shot using a silencer was with 45 and it's so quiet. I didn't even get my first 9mm until S&W was running those Shield rebates that came out to $250. 9mm might be more popular and have a few advantages over 45, but that still won't stop me from using or carrying 45. Happy 4th of July man
Adding to the availability arguement during the pandemic, large pistol primers are a lot easier to find than small pistol primers. I've picked up a USP45 Tactical this year and have shot it a lot more than my 9s. I have that, 2 spare mags and another spare mag with a +12 round extension loaded with .45 super hollowpoints in my backpack in case things get really bad.
I’m so jelly of you for having all those H&K .45’s.I was hoping to get a 45CT or full-size Tactical but the pandemic came and gun panic buying happened and now I’m a sad panda.Keep up the good work.I dig your enthusiasm and mindset for firearms.
Clint Smith reminds us that, “Pistols put rounds in people, Rifles put rounds through people...” There’s a great deal of truth in that statement. The “9MM versus .45 ACP” argument has been been covered ad nauseam in print and electronic media. Just because something is new, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better, old things work very well. I’ve carried 9MM Sigs and Glocks for work and personal defense without thinking I was “under gunned.” I used a Springfield Armory 1911 .45 ACP, for USPSA/IPSC and Steel Challenge matches without complaint, and the caliber is a breeze to reload. I prefer Springfield Armory 1911’s as they fit my hand - TRPs are the shit! It’s what works best for the individual, and their specific requirements. Thanks for putting the video up.
I've got 9mm next on the chopping floor. After I get the barrel length videos, P226 update, HK45c HKpro, and I've gotta get some footage for the P4XI video. Lots to do. While I do agree the vs argument is tired and old. There are things to consider when selecting a platform and caliber for carry. Also there's a bunch of self entitled people stating opinions as facts about certain round's demise which is in accurate.
My experience working the trauma unit goes to show that most people on the street (especially the ghetto) carry pistols loaded with FMJs that pencil through. I’ve seen a few shotgun and rifle wounds. Shotguns, especially with bird shot, don’t penetrate far. Rifles put huge holes where they usually don’t live long enough to make it to the trauma unit.
Thanks. I was able to secure an HK45 last April. I plan to get a threaded barrel for it and a suppressor. All rounds are hard to come by now - even 45 acp.
I had started the transition out of .45 at the beginning of the year. I actually had no firearms chambered in .45 for a few months. But with all the craziness of 2020 and the second run on ammo, having a secondary caliber on hand (still have plenty of 45 ammo) is a no brainer. I went back to my old stand by and picked up a blue label Gen 4 Glock 30. It’s a wee fat, but can easily carry like a 19. So that is my primary argument for .45. I still primarily employ 9mm on the daily, but rocking the 30 on the weekends is still a bit fun with a 13 round or 17 round back up...
I worked at a gun shop during that time and the ammo that we got in somewhat more regularly and kept on the shelves was .45 Auto. The first ammo run in 2012/2013. The ammo i saw the most of was .357 sig and 10mm. But in 2020 those were swooped up.
Good video; the technological advancements for the 9mm are the same for the .45acp. Let me ask all of you - do you have 1k+ rounds of of your preferred hollow-point (X) ammo? I ask that because in our current climate, ball ammo is what is selling. In a protracted engagement, ball ammo becomes the go-to round. If things keeping ramping up (I pray things calm down), your stock piles will probably be ball ammo. So yes, .45acp is very practical.
I do have a lot of HP rounds and good rounds for the rifles. But I also get what you're driving at. And with that consideration the 45 is where it's at.
You touched on it... 10-round-magazine state, so I carry a Sig P-320 Compact in .45 ACP most of the time. We can OWN higher capacity mags, we just can't buy a gun with them or have them shipped here, so my other two carry guns are a CZ P-01 and a M&P 2.0C, both 15+1 capacity. The lower capacity of the .45 doesn't bother me. I carried a Colt Officers model in .45 ACP for a decade with 8 in the gun and 2 spare 8s, so I'm used to that. The Sig being 9+1 is still a couple rounds more than the Colt and it shoots so nice. Honestly, I feel well-armed with either 16 9mm mind-changers or 10 .45 ACP mind-changers in my carry gun... but I tend to grab the .45... not sure why... I just prefer those big slugs.
Nice video that you’ve provided. I have some nerve damage in my dominant hand and thought I couldn’t enjoy a 45 but I bought a 10mm and can run 50 rounds through it without too much tingling. A 45 is next on my must-have list.
Great video. My favorite weights are 230 and 255! I'm not a fan of lightweight .45 rounds, in my opinion it defeats the purpose of the caliber that excels at slinging huge chunks of heavy lead. And I love the versatility, not only are standard pressure rounds great, but +P, super, and SMC are wonderful too all with their ideal applications. I love being able to load standard ball in my USP at the range, +P hollow points for urban carry, and hard cast lead super for the woods, all in the same fantastic pistol. If pistols just poke holes, I want my first hit to poke the biggest hole I can and be as debilitating to the aggressor as possible. But that's just me, to each their own, I'm very happy with my setup. I'm no caliber warrior, I'm a polyamorous ammo sexual when it comes to bullets. 9mm is great too, I own it and it's objectively very well suited for conceal carry in particular, if premium ammo is available.
I was lucky to stock up on the premium ammo when I did. Especially when it was on sale. But times have changed for sure. IT's going to be years before we see prices like that again. Going to be a lot of hard decisions coming.
@@HalfCrazy520 it will likely do the job, but especially in JHPs it does have a reputation for under penetration. To each their own tho. If I want speed I'll either go +P or super, or just another caliber all together. Going to lighter weight just doesn't make a lot a sense to me when part of the advantage of a big bore is the mass it allows you to launch.
My buddy had an Hk Usp 45 tactical that blew up in his hand from reloads. I think you can only reload the casings so many times until they start getting micro cracks. It was probably a combination of that and maybe the way he loaded the powder. He told me he reloaded some of the casings more then 4x. The polymer exploded, injuring his hand, thankfully he was wearing gloves. He still has the the slide, the barrel and recoil spring, those parts didn't get damaged. Im trying to see if he'll give me the upper since it fits perfectly on my USP 45. But he's not letting it go for sentimental reasons. Im gonna still try and talk him to giving it to me.
I've shot USPSA and IDPA competitions for 25+ years and a ton of that was with .45 ACP. I reloaded for years and .45 ACP is the most forgiving pistol round to reload. I've re-used cases over 10 times at least. Depending upon the platform (quality 1911s mostly in my experience) I have shot reloaded .45s until the cases actually split and still didn't have problems with function. Your friend most likely double-charged his reload which caused the gun to explode. I did that exact thing to a Glock 23 in .40 S&W.
9 and 45 is great but I do love my 40. I’ve got all 3 calibers and love them all equally! Great video. Just get what works for you and don’t worry about others, just help educate them if they are new…
I know .45 acp has a lower magazine capacity, but I still like to carry it, I’ve carried a .45 as long as I’ve been able to carry. I carried a USP9 for a few months and then went back to the HK45c tactical. I think the 45ct handles the cartridge well. Before the pandemic I got a few of my friends into shooting and I told them both to get 9mm bc it’s cheap and a bit easier to handle for new shooters. We went to the range, I let them all shoot my USP9 and Hk45ct and they immediately fell in love with the recoil impulse. One of them went out and bought a hk45ct with a LEM and the other bought an USP45ct, and they prefer to shoot the 45s over their 509 tacticals with RMRs.
You'll like the USP 45, very very smooth shooter. The HK45c is my favorite compact 45 out there. But the holster/light support is tough. Not completely dry, but definitely not as many options.
It still has its place..like you said in some states or county's you can't use hollow points. Compound that with a 10 round limit! .And there's no replacement for displacement. The 45 tko factor is 15 and 9mm is 7. And in a pinch 255 hard cast is beter then a 9 for bear or moose charge.. all that said get a 10mm 💪
Don’t bother. Anything shorter than 4 inch barrels on 45 is practically useless for that caliber and you are blowing your money. That’s the equivalent of building a 6 inch ar in 556. Sure it does the job but why waste money when a 9mm is going to have better ballistics than a shorty 45. 45 already has a hard time expanding hollow points. Why make it have even worse ballistics. Speed is what you need. If your going to go shorter, save yourself some time and buy 9mm or go full-size with the 45
I need a duplicate of my USP and an HK45 without the tactical setup, mainly because the sights limit my holster options....an HK45C or 2 would be a nice addition too.
The 9mm/ 45 debate will never end. I carry both. But what I am doing or wearing will dictate 9 or 45. Usually I will carry 9 in the spring-fall for CCW. Simply I am wearing fewer clothes, and I like compact/ sub compact like the HK VP9SK w/ 15rnd or USP 9C extended mag and with fewer cloths it is easier for me to put away. Winter when I am wearing more clothes, I like compact and full size 45. At the end of the day for me its the platformer that I can Conceal carry with the best round count. MK23 is just to damn big. I'm an HK guy all day, and one Glock. But I'm a USP guy.
I own both 9mm & a Glock 21 45ACP, I enjoy shooting both. ETS makes a 30 round mag for the Glock 21 that surprisingly works which ETS mags do not have a reputation for
P30, USP and HK45 are some of the greatest pistols ever made. I own variations of them all. When I am in the woods I carry 45ACP. When I am in the concrete jungle 9mm is my choice, preferably my P30 with the 17rd mags. I don’t like mag extensions. Got a bunch of factory extended mags for my P30SK and I don’t like the feeling of the wiggle in the mag as I grip the gun. Got to dress around the gun but sometimes a G43 is all you can pull off. It’s better than nothing.
Do we really know that .45 doesn't make a slightly bigger hole and doesn't cause slightly more bleeding? I know stopping power the way we think about it is a myth. But the actual hole size with GOOD .45 hollow points seems like it would be twice the size of the 9mm
I’ll tell ya what….I watched your t rex video yesterday….and I subbed right away… your rant was legit and spot on…and your style of videos is refreshing…
If I was going to run 40 it would be a USP full size or a P30L. They're great guns for that and the USP 40 and USPc 40 I shot were both smooth shooters.
Just found your site and have watched a number of vids tonight. Very informative. Am an A.R. fan but do have a Glock 17 and am looking at a H&K P30 SK for carry. Also watched and enjoyed your take on it. Do like the 45 though and who knows!
Thanks for dropping a comment and watching all of the videos. I appreciate it. The P30sk is a solid sub compact. I have a lot of issues with sub compacts but the P30sk and the VP9sk have been hands down my favorites. Not only reliable, but pleasant to shoot. Let me know what you end up with if you don't mind.
Finally a pro-45 video. Too many enthusiasts poo poo 45. I bought a HK45C but after buying a HK45 full size, I think I like it better. Tempted to get an FNX or USP, but the grip on the HK45 is better. 10 round capacity is disappointing, but carry extra mags and like you said, under stress everyone usually empties magazines. Having to reload after spending 11 rounds, could put a needed pause in, with a magazine reload. And I'm shocked, the Mark 23 doesn't look too much bigger than the HK45.
The MARK 23 is only slightly larger than a Glock 34. IT is thick though. I will tell you it's a pussy cat with a suppressor on it. The HK45 13 rounders have been working well for me, but they don't stay in stock that long. I've had mine since they came out. Very happy with that magazine. I have to pick up some more here soon. And people who talk down on the 45acp either won't take the time to shoot it, learn it, or want anything bigger than a Glock 43. IT's a hard pill for them to swallow. But when they suppress their 9mm, if they don't have 147 subs, it's harder for them to enjoy the benefits of having the can. Meanwhile your 230gr stash of 45acp is already subsonic. You're off to the races immediately.
I enjoy and carry both 9mm and 45. My rule of thumb is 9mm for double stacks and 45 for single stacks. I do enjoy reading the arguments between the 9mm only and 45 only crowds, though. It’s almost as entertaining as the Glock vs 1911 war. I agree with you about the P225. I had one and loved it but the weight vs capacity didn’t make sense to me. You’re not going much wider to get into a P229 with almost double the rounds on deck. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for putting out interesting content!
I may end up with a P225 despite my best efforts, same with the HK P7M8, but they'll never be more than hobby guns. Which is a shame because I love them. I really do. But my minimum capacity is 10 rounds. They don't make 10s for the P7 and the P225.....good luck finding them. As for your rule, I think that's a good one. I like the HK45 because it's a stack and a half. Even the 13 rounders. So the mags fit in 9mm double stack mag pouches, and are not that much longer. They are larger/longer though, so I'm not saying that. It's just liveable. I'm also eyeballing a Legion P229 9mm, and a Legion P220 10mm we shall see. Thanks for the comment and taking the time to watch, I appreciate it.
@@TheLegoJoker Thanx, I intend to. It was a joke... humor... I was kidding. It took me a while to warm up to striker-fired pistols and lately I have discovered DA/SA pistols, specifically, CZ pistols. Hell, I bought my first Sig Sauer pistol not long ago. After being a 1911 snob most of my life, I'm trying to expand my horizons... but I still don't like Glocks...
@@HalfCrazy520 Oh I didn’t take your post in a negative way and my reply wasn’t meant to be negative either. My apologies if you took it that way. I’m not one of those people who is married to a particular brand or platform. I always say, “if one gun worked for everybody, there would be no other brands out there.” I tried DA/SA for a while and thought I was good at it until I took an advanced class and found that I drop the DA shot EVERY time when I’m under pressure. SAO works best for me, so I stick with that and the love-it-or-hate-it HK LEM trigger system. I keep a Glock for SHTF just because of the ridiculous aftermarket support. I figure that would be the easiest gun to keep running in that (highly unlikely) scenario.
Why the .45? Cause the bad guy isn't going to ask; "Hey! Is that a 9mm or .45 that you are about to shoot me with when I try to rob or injure you?" Lol! Seriously though, while I have 9mm's as well the .45 is my thing because it is what I shoot the best hands down. Plus, like you, I am a lover of the HK pistol brand. I carry my HK 45c and USP Compact .45's the most with 2 extra 12 rd mags. I never feel limited in capacity due to my accuracy. 😎Nice video bro!
I have a FNX45T. its a cool range/suppressor host and the round count is great. It is cumbersome but not as bad as people make it out to be. Now I inherited my uncles HK45C and bought a threaded barrel for it and it’s one of my favorite pistols to shoot suppressed. it’s something I’ll nvr get rid of. It comes in handy too cuz I I’m surrounded by states that can only have 10rds so it makes a nice travel gun for me and I agree that if I had to use ball ammo, I’m using 45✌🏼🍻
I have had a .45 since I was 14 years old. Given to me by my Grandfather. If it works why change now. Some people say it only holds 8 rounds ! How many times do you plan on missing? After 54 years of shooting the same 1911 not much!
I carry an old school Smith and Wesson 457. If I’m feeling strong I’ll carry my heavier 4566. Love 3rd generation Smiths and 45 ACP! Thanks for the video.
biggest pro is in non freestates like cali you cant have more than 10 rounds. so might as well have 10 rounds of the biggest caliber rather than a fullsize handgun with a magazine limiter
The Underwood 45 Super Xtreme Defenders are appealing. After seeing gel tests of 45 Super JHP it over expands and under penetrates. Since the XD's don't rely on expansion they still cause a consistent wound track and don't over expand and under penetrate.
My initial CCW purchase over 12 years ago was my beloved G30, even though it's a non SF and like gripping a 2x4, and a fat little dog to boot, is accurate as hell! While I do not yet own any 1911 or HK in .45 goodness, I do also have two 21s.. a gen 3 and a gen 4 that never ever fail to put a big ol grin on my face! Those 21s are among my forever guns to never sell. Love .45!
Great video and what an awesome collection of hk's i have the hk 45 an hk 45c usp 40 and p30l and love them all! Also have 4 sig p320's anong others but you have to give the 45 acp its due.the lords caliber
Dude I cut my teeth on my dad's 1991 Colt Combat Elite when I was 9 years old. I loved 45 acp ever since. My very first handgun purchase was a USP 45 with od green frame. When I was in college I sold it, and that is still to this day the most regretted gun sell. Just a few years later I decided to regain the favor of the HK gods and bought a maritime finished Mark 23. Still miss that usp tho.
My first handgun purchase was a USP 45 as well. A compact with stainless slide. Sold it after buying a 1911 when I had some tough times and needed money.
10:20 This point makes a lot of sense. I shot my friends sig 1911 and it was okay compared to my usp45T but when I shot my friends SA xd45C, that gun has so much recoil for a 45.
Great vids! Can you talk me out of getting 12 round HK Parts Mags for th 45C? Would you bet your life to one? The 10 round elephant foot is fugly but I know the thing will run.
My 13 round full size has been solid for years so far. You would always buy the wolf extra power springs if you needed some extra reliability or piece of mind.
I like the 45 caliber whether it is 45 acp or 45 colt. I just recently started loading 45 short (cowboy action round). But weather has kept me from testing my rounds. I wish I had one small enough and light enough for EDC. But all my 45 caliber pistols are better suited for home defense, hunting and open carry ( I don't open carry anymore). So my EDC is a 380 or occasionally a 9mm. A good EDC needs to be as much under 32 ounces loaded as possible. Anything more and you'll find it being left behind more often than carried and a 380 in the pocket beats a 45 in the safe when needed.
Had to get another usp45 lem looking to get a lighter main spring does this change it to the light lem also still love my mk23 best 45 ever but the usp for carry cause reasons
Holy forward thumbs batman! But in all seriousness I love HK's, and believe they were meant for (and shine) in 45ACP. I have the USP45Tac, the HK45C, the USP9C, and the USP 9 Match.
While I like shooting .45 I prefer 9mm because it's generally cheaper in my area and most .45s are a little too large for my hands to keep full control over it like 9s and 40s.
If you ever come across a springfield xds 45 you should try that one on for size...its compact..a 3.3 inch barrel and surprisingly a great shooter for smaller hands
Left out the biggest advantage, 45 super. Yeah tell those 9 guys to compare the expanded bullets then. Personally I believe the 45 +p smokes the 9mm but 45 super, a .452 185 grain bullet traveling at 9mm velocities.
The Underwood 45 Super Xtreme Defenders are appealing. After seeing gel tests of 45 Super JHP it over expands and under penetrates. Since the XD's don't rely on expansion they still cause a consistent wound track and don't over expand and under penetrate.
I don't have any experience with the M&P 2.0 series honestly. I shot the tan competition model, but not enough to offer a valid opinion. I've fired the most rounds through the 1st gen which ran well and I got a 1st gen sample with the new barrels.
Wear an undershirt you don’t care about. The grip is very rough to carry and will rub your skin off through the day quite literally and will rub a hole into your shirt. When I say the grip is rough. It’s rooouuggghhhh.
I gotta say one of my first pistols I remember shooting as a kid was a 1911....then when I was 20 ish I got the chance to shoot a suppressed .45 HK...mannnnnn it was easy to put all rounds in the X on a silhouette target.
Yes the recoil impulse of the 45 is nicer. And why not having fun and enjoy shooting. Everything had become so rational, heavy headed and unemotional. To capacity I think most gunfights end up with a high round count just because they have this high capacity not because they need it. What many dont consider is in a real gun fight you will have to shoot without ear protection. They dont think about blast trauma or hearing loss. I think here the 45 with a much lower pressure than 9mm and being subsonic has big plus.
Most guns are very difficult to find in CA, or they try to charge you a lot more for it. Ironically, the HK USP is one of the few guns that is selling at pre-covid prices in CA.
I’m so glad the USP is still on the roster. Unfortunately lots of people I’ve met here in CA have weak wrists and small hands so the Glock is more popular.
I finally got out of .45 ACP a few years ago. Sold my USP45 Tactical and HK USC, got out of .40, too. I don't really have any "religious" belief about handgun calibers; they all suck compared to rifles. My personal preference is to have more rounds and just one caliber to stock. Overall I'm satisfied with my choice especially now that virtually all ammo is hard to find. Since I only need to worry about 9mm, 5.56 & 12ga (well, technically .22LR) I am set pretty well. Of course I love all HKs in any caliber! I wouldn't totally rule out ever getting another .45 but my next purchase might be a .40 S&W unless I stumble upon a 10mm. Here in Montana I want a heavier caliber woods gun. A .44 Mag would be fine and maybe the best option (next to a .454). 10mm would be great but 1) much of the ammo is no hotter than .40 S&W and 2) HK doesn't make one. A .40S&W loaded with 180gr +P hard cast would be a plausible bear defense loading although not ideal.
That's honestly a smart way of doing business. I'm sticking to 9mm, 45acp, 5.56 and .308 for now. I have 3k rounds of .22lr with no gun to feed them to, I have 12ga also. Looking at 6.5CM down the line, maybe 300blk too....but idk. Might skip having all that craziness. I am eyeballing the SIG 220 Legion in 10mm. We'll see what happens. But I think your approach is solid. IDK if I can bring myself back to 40 now after getting out of it.
Rob, like me it sounds like you would be well served with .45 super or SMC out of a USP. I love my USP tactical and it eats super all day in stock configuration. .45 super is at least equivalent to 10mm, although giving up a little capacity it makes a bigger hole and has more momentum. 255 grain hard cast at 1100 fps should be good enough for anything in the lower 48. Then you can seamless throw in some +P hollow points for around town or home defense, or standard ball for plinking at the range.
I have to honestly say that I eat sleep & breath the .45 I own 3 .45 pistols & carry them a lot. I have to admit I have taken a good deep love for the .357 magnum!!
Weight: Two identical pistols, one in 9mm and one in .45, usually the .45 is lighter because the walls of the barrel are so much thinner. 1911 in 9mm is heavier than a 1911 in .45... Capacity: There are many who still concealed carry a 5 or 6 shot revolver and feel well armed. The chances of an ordinary civilian facing multiple armed attackers is slim... and if you drop a couple of them, the rest will usually run away.
Came across your channel a few months ago when it was still called devildolphin. I think I have pretty much seen them all going back several years ago. I have been returning to your videos for reliable information with all things "H&K". I can't blame you, but, i have now started my own HK collection. I bought the usp fullsize in .40sw, and the p30 in 9mm. Been eying a couple of 9mm tacticals over on gun broker in the past week. Just hard to talk myself into throwing down 1400 bones for one of those. So, i have been spending the afternoon watching some videos of the 9mm tactical, and seeing if they are special enough to justify spending that much. What are your thoughts on the tactical versions? Are they worth the cost in your opinion? I mean, the p30 shoots good. Is the tactical in 9mm that much better? How about a .40 tactical? Thanks for keeping the good info on here over the years. You've been a great source of information.
Thanks man, that means a lot. As for the tactical question. I have a USP9 SD and the new gen HK pistols (P30, HK 45 series.) The old guns the tacticals are required to run suppressed. They have a different RSA key and spring rates to support the suppressor. I'm working on the USP9SD review, hoping to have it out soon. I need more shooting footage. But the new gen HK pistols don't need special RSA's for some reason. I know Richard Yi is running his P30L with just a threaded barrel, I know the P30 does it also as well as the HK45T's. I'm planning to get some pistol cans in the future and some threaded barrels for the P30's. I would recommend just the barrel, ammo and the can instead of the $1K for the Tactical model. But if you want a USP9 Tactical it's a solid gun.
I just purchased a 2020 production HK Mark 23 and all the 45 Super (700 ft/lb 185gr and 630 ft/lb 230gr) from Buffalo Bore, all the 45acp +P+ from DoubleTap too. Have lots of 45acp standard pressure on hand. Shopping for a suppressor now. The local Cabalas has had 50rd boxes of 230gr JHP for $26. This in Jan 2021. Hahahaha, keep buying all those 9mm handguns people.
@@FM-xr5nj The availability of 45acp has been much better then 9mm, both online and in Texas (D/FW) stores. Less then 1 month ago the Federal Premium website had both defense and range 45acp available, at regular prices. I purchased a 200rd case of SJHP Syntech Defense, and 500 rds of the Syntech range. Ammo deals have been out there, just need to be found. SG ammo had 1k round cases of 7.65Para (30 Luger) back in Dec, grabbed a few cases. Max Arms had crates of Austrian 7.65 NATO (308Win) for $530 plus shipping a few weeks ago, sold out in under 24 hours. I got 2 crates FedExed to my door. I find it and BUY it ASAP. This ammo situation will get much worse before it gets better.
@@jamescampbell4334 yeah I'm with you on things getting worse before they get better. Just got an email today from some store selling 9mm for $1 a round, it's insane. Thankfully I'm okay on 9mm, but I could def use some more .45. If you're feeling generous, you can ship some out to me in Michigan lol. I've never thought to look at Federal's website, gonna look into that. Good luck to you!
@@FM-xr5nj Hahahaha, I'm keeping a good ammo supply for my 2 sons and myself. Want to keep enough on hand so we can continue shooting over the next few years. We've had quite a bit of 50AE ammo in the local gun stores too. 20 rd boxes of Hornady 300gr XTP for $35 per box. That price has not changed in the past 3 years. I grab the 3 box limit about 4 days each week when it's on the shelves. Best of luck on the ammo hunt, stay safe.
Why 45? Because there's two types of countries in this world. Those that put a man on the moon and those that use the metric system.
*using the metric system* There fixed it for you bubba
NASA scientists use the metric system.
@@nerychristian they use both.
Or did we put a man on the moon ?
@Tacticool talk like that sounds like a communist plot. Probably to move us to the evil metric system
Everyone argues that with modern 9 mm rounds you don’t need a 45. I would argue that same technology has been brought to the 45 making it even better LOL
45 has also improved and while it hasn't been the leaps the 9mm has. It has only gotten MORE effective.
@@navyman8903 I agree, I’ve just always never understood how the technology argument only applied to the 9mm lol I primarily carry a 9, but the 45 will always hold a special place in my heart. Besides throwing bowling balls at stuff is always fun, especially in 450 smc 😂
@@navyman8903 check HKpro right now. Thank me later if you decide to jump on it.
I only own 9mm pistols at the moment. Main reason is because the 45 is so much more expensive. I go to the range about ever 2 weeks and cringe going to the range blowing through 200 rounds of 9mm, so can’t imagine doing that amount with 45. I do eventually plan on buying a 45 or two just to have one. But won’t shoot it near as much
@traplordghost it’s almost double the price
I only carry .45. I live in MA. We can only have ten rounds. So why not? Glock G30 and S&W M&P .45 full size. W a light.
Good call.
NAVYMAN8903 hate to be blasphemous. But I'm an AK guy too. I've got pre ban 30s for days. Can't find AR 30s pre ban anywhere. Love AK's anyway so it fits me like a glove.
@@justinbjork5682 You can have more than 10 rounds. Stop bowing down to Unconstitutional laws. Shelter in the Supremacy Clause
@@noway6633 the fascists who run this state do not care. The police here WILL find a reason to storm your house and they WILL shoot you through your drywall to appease carrion lord Maura Healey on her golden throne
Anybody who even vaguely equivocates the 9mm with the .45 hasn’t tried to kill something with both cartridges and noted the differences in results.
From raccoons to whitetail deer, there’s absolutely no question that the .45 produces significantly faster kills and much more consistent results than the 9mm. Even on the small animals.
I think it became even more clear with the 5.56 that the most used and popular caliber (9mm)doesnt mean it is the best or as good. Nobody would disagree with you that 5.56 isnt by far the ideal caliber for an assault rifle and that there are much better out there.
oh come on, tone it down with those commie Vietnamese... Charly is gone. For the love of god - RELAX
Equivocate: use of ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid commiting oneself.
I love Americans
What? I don’t know what you’re getting at.
@@Gieszkanneand what exactly would you consider the best for an “assault rifle”?
Your conclusion at 25 minutes is why I like 45. Even though I carry hollowpoints I know that I might not always be able to get more. I personally trust 45 ball much more than 9mm ball and as such I don't feel like I have to worry about finding the right type of ammo. I think this pandemic has shown how being able to rely on ball might come in handy
Well stated and I agree. If it has to be ball rounds I'm carrying, it has to be 45acp.
One nice this during the rona-age is that defensive rounds are largely unchanged and also available from the manufacturer direct.
I shoot 450 SMC from my USP45 and now I can say im better then a 10mm owner.
255grain 450smc😁
Just shooting moons at stuff.
i dont think so tim sign AL.......... 185grain double tap 450 smc 1350fps 749lb out of a 6in barrel.... G20 4.6 barrel 180grain underwood 1300fps 676lb with a 6in kkm barrel it adds 100fps 100lb so thats 1400fps 776lb.
I have shot 185 450smc out my g21 got 1220fps thats 14.5 tko factor. The 10mm is 13.9 with 180s at 1350... damn close i say. But The 255 hard cast 45 is 16.4 @1000 fps 600 ft
LOL. I'll stick with my 10MM. Love that round.
Great content! Very valid info on why 45 is still a great round. I’m a 1911 guy and shoot both 9 and 45 and enjoy them both. Tell the Joe and crew over at Shootsmart Rick said hey.
Will do. Thanks.
.45 because when there is no ammo and you have to cast your own bullets, 45 ball is better than 9mm ball and you can use softer lead.
this pandemic has taught me that casting is absolutely a required skill. people used to try to talk me out of reloading for 223 and 9mm. I'm glad I ignored them is all I can say.
I’m a 9mm guy but I like 45! My home defense gun is the FNX 45 Tactical and I also carry my Dan Wesson TCP in 45 from time to time…it’s something about that fat round
I carry a Walther PPQ in .45ACP every day. My favorite caliber of all time other than the .380ACP.
We might be in the minority now but I'll still carry 45. Growing up all my father shot was 45 ACP and 40 S&W. He taught me how to shoot using those two rounds and I'm just comfortable with them. Those two rounds really forces you to have a proper grip and technique. First time I ever shot using a silencer was with 45 and it's so quiet. I didn't even get my first 9mm until S&W was running those Shield rebates that came out to $250. 9mm might be more popular and have a few advantages over 45, but that still won't stop me from using or carrying 45. Happy 4th of July man
Adding to the availability arguement during the pandemic, large pistol primers are a lot easier to find than small pistol primers. I've picked up a USP45 Tactical this year and have shot it a lot more than my 9s. I have that, 2 spare mags and another spare mag with a +12 round extension loaded with .45 super hollowpoints in my backpack in case things get really bad.
That's a really good point and I'm glad you let me know.
This is so huge. I’m not even shooting my 9’s in 2021 because of this reason. 22 and 45 for 2021 for me.
Another great video. I like 9mm, but I still prefer .45 ACP (I'm 60 years old and probably a little old school)
I’m so jelly of you for having all those H&K .45’s.I was hoping to get a 45CT or full-size Tactical but the pandemic came and gun panic buying happened and now I’m a sad panda.Keep up the good work.I dig your enthusiasm and mindset for firearms.
You'll find one some day.
I hope your dream eventually came true.
Clint Smith reminds us that, “Pistols put rounds in people, Rifles put rounds through people...” There’s a great deal of truth in that statement.
The “9MM versus .45 ACP” argument has been been covered ad nauseam in print and electronic media. Just because something is new, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better, old things work very well.
I’ve carried 9MM Sigs and Glocks for work and personal defense without thinking I was “under gunned.” I used a Springfield Armory 1911 .45 ACP, for USPSA/IPSC and Steel Challenge matches without complaint, and the caliber is a breeze to reload. I prefer Springfield Armory 1911’s as they fit my hand - TRPs are the shit!
It’s what works best for the individual, and their specific requirements.
Thanks for putting the video up.
I've got 9mm next on the chopping floor. After I get the barrel length videos, P226 update, HK45c HKpro, and I've gotta get some footage for the P4XI video. Lots to do.
While I do agree the vs argument is tired and old. There are things to consider when selecting a platform and caliber for carry. Also there's a bunch of self entitled people stating opinions as facts about certain round's demise which is in accurate.
Because "Pistols put holes in people" I'd rather that hole be as large as possible and thus 45.
My experience working the trauma unit goes to show that most people on the street (especially the ghetto) carry pistols loaded with FMJs that pencil through.
I’ve seen a few shotgun and rifle wounds. Shotguns, especially with bird shot, don’t penetrate far. Rifles put huge holes where they usually don’t live long enough to make it to the trauma unit.
Thanks. I was able to secure an HK45 last April. I plan to get a threaded barrel for it and a suppressor. All rounds are hard to come by now - even 45 acp.
I had started the transition out of .45 at the beginning of the year. I actually had no firearms chambered in .45 for a few months. But with all the craziness of 2020 and the second run on ammo, having a secondary caliber on hand (still have plenty of 45 ammo) is a no brainer. I went back to my old stand by and picked up a blue label Gen 4 Glock 30. It’s a wee fat, but can easily carry like a 19. So that is my primary argument for .45. I still primarily employ 9mm on the daily, but rocking the 30 on the weekends is still a bit fun with a 13 round or 17 round back up...
I worked at a gun shop during that time and the ammo that we got in somewhat more regularly and kept on the shelves was .45 Auto. The first ammo run in 2012/2013. The ammo i saw the most of was .357 sig and 10mm. But in 2020 those were swooped up.
Honestly the best video I've heard covering the subject matter! Cheers!
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Very entertaining and informative vid, thanks. Switching to denim and .45 ACP.
Good video; the technological advancements for the 9mm are the same for the .45acp. Let me ask all of you - do you have 1k+ rounds of of your preferred hollow-point (X) ammo? I ask that because in our current climate, ball ammo is what is selling. In a protracted engagement, ball ammo becomes the go-to round. If things keeping ramping up (I pray things calm down), your stock piles will probably be ball ammo. So yes, .45acp is very practical.
I do have a lot of HP rounds and good rounds for the rifles. But I also get what you're driving at. And with that consideration the 45 is where it's at.
You touched on it... 10-round-magazine state, so I carry a Sig P-320 Compact in .45 ACP most of the time. We can OWN higher capacity mags, we just can't buy a gun with them or have them shipped here, so my other two carry guns are a CZ P-01 and a M&P 2.0C, both 15+1 capacity.
The lower capacity of the .45 doesn't bother me. I carried a Colt Officers model in .45 ACP for a decade with 8 in the gun and 2 spare 8s, so I'm used to that. The Sig being 9+1 is still a couple rounds more than the Colt and it shoots so nice.
Honestly, I feel well-armed with either 16 9mm mind-changers or 10 .45 ACP mind-changers in my carry gun... but I tend to grab the .45... not sure why... I just prefer those big slugs.
Nice video that you’ve provided. I have some nerve damage in my dominant hand and thought I couldn’t enjoy a 45 but I bought a 10mm and can run 50 rounds through it without too much tingling. A 45 is next on my must-have list.
Great video. My favorite weights are 230 and 255! I'm not a fan of lightweight .45 rounds, in my opinion it defeats the purpose of the caliber that excels at slinging huge chunks of heavy lead. And I love the versatility, not only are standard pressure rounds great, but +P, super, and SMC are wonderful too all with their ideal applications. I love being able to load standard ball in my USP at the range, +P hollow points for urban carry, and hard cast lead super for the woods, all in the same fantastic pistol. If pistols just poke holes, I want my first hit to poke the biggest hole I can and be as debilitating to the aggressor as possible.
But that's just me, to each their own, I'm very happy with my setup. I'm no caliber warrior, I'm a polyamorous ammo sexual when it comes to bullets. 9mm is great too, I own it and it's objectively very well suited for conceal carry in particular, if premium ammo is available.
I was lucky to stock up on the premium ammo when I did. Especially when it was on sale. But times have changed for sure. IT's going to be years before we see prices like that again. Going to be a lot of hard decisions coming.
@quitus13 I am going to steal 'polyamorous ammosexual' for use in my presentations. I'm a 45 guy but I'm also flexible depending on the context.😁
There's something to be said for a 185 grain hollowpoint .45 at 1050 fps...Getting in the way of one of those would make for a really bad day.
@@HalfCrazy520 it will likely do the job, but especially in JHPs it does have a reputation for under penetration. To each their own tho. If I want speed I'll either go +P or super, or just another caliber all together. Going to lighter weight just doesn't make a lot a sense to me when part of the advantage of a big bore is the mass it allows you to launch.
@@quietus13 Compared to other handgun calibers, wouldn't 185 grains and .45 caliber be considered a relatively big, heavy bullet?
The only pistol caliber that really matters = .45 ACP your grayguns install videos were helpful too, Thanx
Happy to help.
My buddy had an Hk Usp 45 tactical that blew up in his hand from reloads. I think you can only reload the casings so many times until they start getting micro cracks. It was probably a combination of that and maybe the way he loaded the powder. He told me he reloaded some of the casings more then 4x. The polymer exploded, injuring his hand, thankfully he was wearing gloves. He still has the the slide, the barrel and recoil spring, those parts didn't get damaged. Im trying to see if he'll give me the upper since it fits perfectly on my USP 45. But he's not letting it go for sentimental reasons. Im gonna still try and talk him to giving it to me.
That's good info thanks.
I've shot USPSA and IDPA competitions for 25+ years and a ton of that was with .45 ACP. I reloaded for years and .45 ACP is the most forgiving pistol round to reload. I've re-used cases over 10 times at least. Depending upon the platform (quality 1911s mostly in my experience) I have shot reloaded .45s until the cases actually split and still didn't have problems with function. Your friend most likely double-charged his reload which caused the gun to explode. I did that exact thing to a Glock 23 in .40 S&W.
@@jng1226 its possible he packed a little too much gun powder in the casing.
9 and 45 is great but I do love my 40. I’ve got all 3 calibers and love them all equally! Great video. Just get what works for you and don’t worry about others, just help educate them if they are new…
Good one. I still love the 45. Thanks for the info. Stay safe and prepared sir
Thanks, and me too. Great round. You stay safe and ready out there too.
I know .45 acp has a lower magazine capacity, but I still like to carry it, I’ve carried a .45 as long as I’ve been able to carry. I carried a USP9 for a few months and then went back to the HK45c tactical. I think the 45ct handles the cartridge well. Before the pandemic I got a few of my friends into shooting and I told them both to get 9mm bc it’s cheap and a bit easier to handle for new shooters. We went to the range, I let them all shoot my USP9 and Hk45ct and they immediately fell in love with the recoil impulse. One of them went out and bought a hk45ct with a LEM and the other bought an USP45ct, and they prefer to shoot the 45s over their 509 tacticals with RMRs.
I used to carry both an HK45 full size and the HK45c. I never felt out gunned with it, but I did carry two spare mags.
💯 on this! For 2021 I ended up mainly carrying my HK45ct LEM, loaded with flush fit mag, elephant on the hip. Very comfortable with this setup,
Yes the recoil impulse of the 45 is nicer. And why not having fun and enjoy shooting. Everything had become so rational, heavy headed and unemotional.
Great insight my man, I still want to pick up a USP 45. The HK45c would be a nice adition too.
You'll like the USP 45, very very smooth shooter. The HK45c is my favorite compact 45 out there. But the holster/light support is tough. Not completely dry, but definitely not as many options.
It still has its place..like you said in some states or county's you can't use hollow points. Compound that with a 10 round limit! .And there's no replacement for displacement. The 45 tko factor is 15 and 9mm is 7. And in a pinch 255 hard cast is beter then a 9 for bear or moose charge.. all that said get a 10mm 💪
I'm eyeballing that Sig Legion P220 10mm......we'll see.
I bought a p2000sk. Been thinking about trading it and getting a P30SK but this vid makes me wanna get a USP compact in 45
Usp by far the funnestguns I own. I own the.full size, tact, compact and 9 version
Don’t bother. Anything shorter than 4 inch barrels on 45 is practically useless for that caliber and you are blowing your money. That’s the equivalent of building a 6 inch ar in 556. Sure it does the job but why waste money when a 9mm is going to have better ballistics than a shorty 45. 45 already has a hard time expanding hollow points. Why make it have even worse ballistics. Speed is what you need. If your going to go shorter, save yourself some time and buy 9mm or go full-size with the 45
@@HatsuneM1ku01 because I have fuck it money?
I need a duplicate of my USP and an HK45 without the tactical setup, mainly because the sights limit my holster options....an HK45C or 2 would be a nice addition too.
I support these life choices. The USP and HK45 both have good after market support. The 45c though.....much tougher.
45 is just fun to shoot love to shoot it. Nice collection by the way.
45 is always going to have a place with me. And thanks, it took years to put together.
The 9mm/ 45 debate will never end. I carry both. But what I am doing or wearing will dictate 9 or 45. Usually I will carry 9 in the spring-fall for CCW. Simply I am wearing fewer clothes, and I like compact/ sub compact like the HK VP9SK w/ 15rnd or USP 9C extended mag and with fewer cloths it is easier for me to put away. Winter when I am wearing more clothes, I like compact and full size 45. At the end of the day for me its the platformer that I can Conceal carry with the best round count. MK23 is just to damn big. I'm an HK guy all day, and one Glock. But I'm a USP guy.
Agree wholeheartedly.
I own both 9mm & a Glock 21 45ACP, I enjoy shooting both. ETS makes a 30 round mag for the Glock 21 that surprisingly works which ETS mags do not have a reputation for
I have the CZ97 and H&K USP Compact. Super reliable. Fun at the range. Subsonic mitigates over-penetration in home defense scenarios. Perfect.
My 97 is so smooth. Love that thing.
P30, USP and HK45 are some of the greatest pistols ever made. I own variations of them all. When I am in the woods I carry 45ACP. When I am in the concrete jungle 9mm is my choice, preferably my P30 with the 17rd mags. I don’t like mag extensions. Got a bunch of factory extended mags for my P30SK and I don’t like the feeling of the wiggle in the mag as I grip the gun. Got to dress around the gun but sometimes a G43 is all you can pull off. It’s better than nothing.
Just bought a new 2020 USP45 and looking for another.
I still need to get a USP45T. I'm almost done buying handguns for life.
@@navyman8903 ya right I say that about every 4 years it never works .
I bought a 45 USP elite and a USP 45 compact. Buying another compact.
@@nerychristian Jesus lol if I get a 6” H&k it’ll be the mk23
@@vpenkov4908 gunbroker.
Do we really know that .45 doesn't make a slightly bigger hole and doesn't cause slightly more bleeding? I know stopping power the way we think about it is a myth. But the actual hole size with GOOD .45 hollow points seems like it would be twice the size of the 9mm
That's always been my thought also. If it bleeds you can kill it. Why not make sure it bleeds faster?
@@TubeOfLaughes yeah. It’s at least a viable niche handgun caliber. My HK45T is my home defense handgun.
The only thing gripe I have with .45 for my purposes with it is simply the lesser capacity and that's it.
Same.
I’ll tell ya what….I watched your t rex video yesterday….and I subbed right away… your rant was legit and spot on…and your style of videos is refreshing…
Ordered a HK45 - looking forward to it.
Gonna get an USP in .40 later on, bc thats what they were build for.
If I was going to run 40 it would be a USP full size or a P30L. They're great guns for that and the USP 40 and USPc 40 I shot were both smooth shooters.
Just found your site and have watched a number of vids tonight. Very informative. Am an A.R. fan but do have a Glock 17 and am looking at a H&K P30 SK for carry. Also watched and enjoyed your take on it. Do like the 45 though and who knows!
Thanks for dropping a comment and watching all of the videos. I appreciate it. The P30sk is a solid sub compact. I have a lot of issues with sub compacts but the P30sk and the VP9sk have been hands down my favorites. Not only reliable, but pleasant to shoot. Let me know what you end up with if you don't mind.
Because of price and capacity in my carry guns I use 9mm the most, but 45 is the most enjoyable round for me to shoot regarding pistols.
Selling my Kimber Ultra Ten ll because I cannot get a suppressed barrel for it.. Just bought a 45C tactical.. Looking for one w/ the LEM trigger...
I think you'll be very happy with it, and it's a great shooter for a compact 45.
Finally a pro-45 video. Too many enthusiasts poo poo 45. I bought a HK45C but after buying a HK45 full size, I think I like it better. Tempted to get an FNX or USP, but the grip on the HK45 is better. 10 round capacity is disappointing, but carry extra mags and like you said, under stress everyone usually empties magazines. Having to reload after spending 11 rounds, could put a needed pause in, with a magazine reload.
And I'm shocked, the Mark 23 doesn't look too much bigger than the HK45.
The MARK 23 is only slightly larger than a Glock 34. IT is thick though. I will tell you it's a pussy cat with a suppressor on it. The HK45 13 rounders have been working well for me, but they don't stay in stock that long. I've had mine since they came out. Very happy with that magazine. I have to pick up some more here soon.
And people who talk down on the 45acp either won't take the time to shoot it, learn it, or want anything bigger than a Glock 43. IT's a hard pill for them to swallow. But when they suppress their 9mm, if they don't have 147 subs, it's harder for them to enjoy the benefits of having the can. Meanwhile your 230gr stash of 45acp is already subsonic. You're off to the races immediately.
I enjoy and carry both 9mm and 45. My rule of thumb is 9mm for double stacks and 45 for single stacks. I do enjoy reading the arguments between the 9mm only and 45 only crowds, though. It’s almost as entertaining as the Glock vs 1911 war.
I agree with you about the P225. I had one and loved it but the weight vs capacity didn’t make sense to me. You’re not going much wider to get into a P229 with almost double the rounds on deck.
Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for putting out interesting content!
I may end up with a P225 despite my best efforts, same with the HK P7M8, but they'll never be more than hobby guns. Which is a shame because I love them. I really do. But my minimum capacity is 10 rounds. They don't make 10s for the P7 and the P225.....good luck finding them. As for your rule, I think that's a good one. I like the HK45 because it's a stack and a half. Even the 13 rounders. So the mags fit in 9mm double stack mag pouches, and are not that much longer. They are larger/longer though, so I'm not saying that. It's just liveable.
I'm also eyeballing a Legion P229 9mm, and a Legion P220 10mm we shall see. Thanks for the comment and taking the time to watch, I appreciate it.
The answer to "Glock or 1911?" is NIETHER.
The answer to "9mm or .45?" is FORTY FIVE.
There ya have it... LOL
@@HalfCrazy520 Run whatever works for you, brother. 👍
@@TheLegoJoker Thanx, I intend to.
It was a joke... humor... I was kidding.
It took me a while to warm up to striker-fired pistols and lately I have discovered DA/SA pistols, specifically, CZ pistols. Hell, I bought my first Sig Sauer pistol not long ago. After being a 1911 snob most of my life, I'm trying to expand my horizons... but I still don't like Glocks...
@@HalfCrazy520 Oh I didn’t take your post in a negative way and my reply wasn’t meant to be negative either. My apologies if you took it that way. I’m not one of those people who is married to a particular brand or platform. I always say, “if one gun worked for
everybody, there would be no other brands out there.”
I tried DA/SA for a while and thought I was good at it until I took an advanced class and found that I drop the DA shot EVERY time when I’m under pressure. SAO works best for me, so I stick with that and the love-it-or-hate-it HK LEM trigger system. I keep a Glock for SHTF just because of the ridiculous aftermarket support. I figure that would be the easiest gun to keep running in that (highly unlikely) scenario.
Why the .45? Cause the bad guy isn't going to ask; "Hey! Is that a 9mm or .45 that you are about to shoot me with when I try to rob or injure you?" Lol! Seriously though, while I have 9mm's as well the .45 is my thing because it is what I shoot the best hands down. Plus, like you, I am a lover of the HK pistol brand. I carry my HK 45c and USP Compact .45's the most with 2 extra 12 rd mags. I never feel limited in capacity due to my accuracy. 😎Nice video bro!
Thanks for watching, I appreciate it.
I reload my father's. 45 brass from the 70s using his old bowling pin load.Its a light sprinkle of U Clays shot gun powder.
I have a FNX45T. its a cool range/suppressor host and the round count is great. It is cumbersome but not as bad as people make it out to be. Now I inherited my uncles HK45C and bought a threaded barrel for it and it’s one of my favorite pistols to shoot suppressed. it’s something I’ll nvr get rid of. It comes in handy too cuz I I’m surrounded by states that can only have 10rds so it makes a nice travel gun for me and I agree that if I had to use ball ammo, I’m using 45✌🏼🍻
9mm for CCW, 45 for home defense. Or better yet, 10mm.
I wish I could get into 10mm but not on my to do list for a long long time.
NAVYMAN8903 that’s too bad, the reloading options are almost endless. Weaker rounds for the range for fun and hotter rounds ready to go if the SHTF.
I have a Glock 20 and Glock 29. I bought them after I saw someone on UA-cam shoot Underwood 10mm Xtreme Penetrator through bulletproof glass.
I converted my USP to 10mm. So much damn fun
When the SHTF, you want a gun that uses ammo that is more common, like 9mm or 45.
I’ve never had good luck with extended magazines for my Glock 21. I just stick with factory 13 round mags.
I like 9x19 for utility. But .45 is my personal favorite, it's fun to shoot in different weights and guns. The hk45T is my favorite poly .45.
ToddG from Pistol Training is why i own a HK45
Same.
I have had a .45 since I was 14 years old. Given to me by my Grandfather. If it works why change now.
Some people say it only holds 8 rounds ! How many times do you plan on missing? After 54 years of shooting the same 1911 not much!
I carry an old school Smith and Wesson 457. If I’m feeling strong I’ll carry my heavier 4566. Love 3rd generation Smiths and 45 ACP! Thanks for the video.
biggest pro is in non freestates like cali you cant have more than 10 rounds. so might as well have 10 rounds of the biggest caliber rather than a fullsize handgun with a magazine limiter
I feel like West Virginia has malls full of denim jackets. Just hop in the IROC and go get you one…
But solid video. Good points made.
Because momentum does matter. Good video.
The Underwood 45 Super Xtreme Defenders are appealing. After seeing gel tests of 45 Super JHP it over expands and under penetrates. Since the XD's don't rely on expansion they still cause a consistent wound track and don't over expand and under penetrate.
0:39 what can is that?
My initial CCW purchase over 12 years ago was my beloved G30, even though it's a non SF and like gripping a 2x4, and a fat little dog to boot, is accurate as hell!
While I do not yet own any 1911 or HK in .45 goodness, I do also have two 21s.. a gen 3 and a gen 4 that never ever fail to put a big ol grin on my face!
Those 21s are among my forever guns to never sell.
Love .45!
😮 like your collection of hks very much!!! 👍 unfortunately I have only 4 hks. All in 9. 😢 want a hk45 full size.
Great video and what an awesome collection of hk's i have the hk 45 an hk 45c usp 40 and p30l and love them all! Also have 4 sig p320's anong others but you have to give the 45 acp its due.the lords caliber
Dude I cut my teeth on my dad's 1991 Colt Combat Elite when I was 9 years old. I loved 45 acp ever since. My very first handgun purchase was a USP 45 with od green frame. When I was in college I sold it, and that is still to this day the most regretted gun sell. Just a few years later I decided to regain the favor of the HK gods and bought a maritime finished Mark 23. Still miss that usp tho.
I would miss that OD green USP also. I've been hunting one myself.
My first handgun purchase was a USP 45 as well. A compact with stainless slide. Sold it after buying a 1911 when I had some tough times and needed money.
All my old school CAG buds that wore their pistol holsters out in Afghanistan used .45
As shown by Paul Harrell jhps don't always expand in his meat targets. The 45 is a large bullet even if it doesn't expand.
Damn I’m envying that collection of pistols. A Mk23 is a grail imo.
Have you ever shot the USP45C ?
10:20 This point makes a lot of sense. I shot my friends sig 1911 and it was okay compared to my usp45T but when I shot my friends SA xd45C, that gun has so much recoil for a 45.
14:45 you and your buddy tag teamin that target had me laughing 😂
Great vids! Can you talk me out of getting 12 round HK Parts Mags for th 45C? Would you bet your life to one? The 10 round elephant foot is fugly but I know the thing will run.
My 13 round full size has been solid for years so far. You would always buy the wolf extra power springs if you needed some extra reliability or piece of mind.
I like the 45 caliber whether it is 45 acp or 45 colt. I just recently started loading 45 short (cowboy action round). But weather has kept me from testing my rounds. I wish I had one small enough and light enough for EDC. But all my 45 caliber pistols are better suited for home defense, hunting and open carry ( I don't open carry anymore). So my EDC is a 380 or occasionally a 9mm. A good EDC needs to be as much under 32 ounces loaded as possible. Anything more and you'll find it being left behind more often than carried and a 380 in the pocket beats a 45 in the safe when needed.
I had a glock 21 but sold it a few years back. I still regret that. A 45 would be nice to have. Maybe a Christmas present to myself.
Always nice to have one, especially if you have a suppressor.
Had to get another usp45 lem looking to get a lighter main spring does this change it to the light lem also still love my mk23 best 45 ever but the usp for carry cause reasons
Light LEM in the USP or HK45 is the best LEM in my experience.
45 super, gives you a wide range of power which is another significant advantage over the 9mm and 40s&w.
Holy forward thumbs batman! But in all seriousness I love HK's, and believe they were meant for (and shine) in 45ACP. I have the USP45Tac, the HK45C, the USP9C, and the USP 9 Match.
I agree, and I was definitely built different.
While I like shooting .45 I prefer 9mm because it's generally cheaper in my area and most .45s are a little too large for my hands to keep full control over it like 9s and 40s.
If you ever come across a springfield xds 45 you should try that one on for size...its compact..a 3.3 inch barrel and surprisingly a great shooter for smaller hands
Left out the biggest advantage, 45 super. Yeah tell those 9 guys to compare the expanded bullets then. Personally I believe the 45 +p smokes the 9mm but 45 super, a .452 185 grain bullet traveling at 9mm velocities.
The Underwood 45 Super Xtreme Defenders are appealing. After seeing gel tests of 45 Super JHP it over expands and under penetrates. Since the XD's don't rely on expansion they still cause a consistent wound track and don't over expand and under penetrate.
love my HKs....what are your thoughts on M&P 2.0 series? their .45s are solid
I don't have any experience with the M&P 2.0 series honestly. I shot the tan competition model, but not enough to offer a valid opinion. I've fired the most rounds through the 1st gen which ran well and I got a 1st gen sample with the new barrels.
Wear an undershirt you don’t care about. The grip is very rough to carry and will rub your skin off through the day quite literally and will rub a hole into your shirt. When I say the grip is rough. It’s rooouuggghhhh.
I gotta say one of my first pistols I remember shooting as a kid was a 1911....then when I was 20 ish I got the chance to shoot a suppressed .45 HK...mannnnnn it was easy to put all rounds in the X on a silhouette target.
Yes the recoil impulse of the 45 is nicer. And why not having fun and enjoy shooting. Everything had become so rational, heavy headed and unemotional. To capacity I think most gunfights end up with a high round count just because they have this high capacity not because they need it. What many dont consider is in a real gun fight you will have to shoot without ear protection. They dont think about blast trauma or hearing loss. I think here the 45 with a much lower pressure than 9mm and being subsonic has big plus.
Because the pre-expanded circumference of a .45 hollowpoint projectile is what the 9mm hollowpoint seeks to become at full expansion.
which is the proper finger to use for the mag release? trigger finger?
User preference I use my middle finger as to not sacrifice my grip that much.
I use my trigger finger on every pistol. Mostly because I’m left handed. But with the USP 45 T, it’s because I can’t reach it with my thumb.
I use my middle finger on my shooting hand. Didn't think that was weird until typing and having to double check that it WAS the way I operate it. Lol
This was a very good informational video on the .45. I learned alot from your video. Thank You man.
-U.S. ARMY Veteran 🇺🇸
Thanks, glad to help. I appreciate you watching.
Most guns are very difficult to find in CA, or they try to charge you a lot more for it. Ironically, the HK USP is one of the few guns that is selling at pre-covid prices in CA.
That's good news, and a solid pistol.
I’m so glad the USP is still on the roster. Unfortunately lots of people I’ve met here in CA have weak wrists and small hands so the Glock is more popular.
@@romeo_alpha0176 Limp wrist is very common in California.
@@nerychristian USP Testicle 69, approved for the CA DOJ roster, lol
I'm sorry that my Californian friends lost the USP recently. Looks like the HK45 was never even on the roster.
.45 AARP for the win! I'm officially over 50 now, so it's all good! 🦆😎🤷♂️ My USP Custom Sport eats it up like candy.
1st, I'm an HK and .45ACP man as well! Love HK 45c, USP's and HK45! 2nd, why the .45ACP? Well, that's because it will snatch your soul! 🤣🤣🤣😎
Great review and info
Consistently good content shipmate. Sub.
Man’s flexing his HK stash, feelsbadman
I’m so POOOOOR
Lol. If it makes you feel better it took years to put it together.
Always will love 45acp. Have a P220, P227, HK 45 along with 1911s, they ain't going no where!
How do you like your P227?
@@navyman8903 I like it a great deal. Shoots well, it's in FDE. Plan to get a treaded barrel, waiting for my suppressor to get out of jail.
@@navyman8903 There are still some floating around, grab one.
I finally got out of .45 ACP a few years ago. Sold my USP45 Tactical and HK USC, got out of .40, too. I don't really have any "religious" belief about handgun calibers; they all suck compared to rifles. My personal preference is to have more rounds and just one caliber to stock. Overall I'm satisfied with my choice especially now that virtually all ammo is hard to find. Since I only need to worry about 9mm, 5.56 & 12ga (well, technically .22LR) I am set pretty well. Of course I love all HKs in any caliber! I wouldn't totally rule out ever getting another .45 but my next purchase might be a .40 S&W unless I stumble upon a 10mm. Here in Montana I want a heavier caliber woods gun. A .44 Mag would be fine and maybe the best option (next to a .454). 10mm would be great but 1) much of the ammo is no hotter than .40 S&W and 2) HK doesn't make one. A .40S&W loaded with 180gr +P hard cast would be a plausible bear defense loading although not ideal.
That's honestly a smart way of doing business. I'm sticking to 9mm, 45acp, 5.56 and .308 for now. I have 3k rounds of .22lr with no gun to feed them to, I have 12ga also. Looking at 6.5CM down the line, maybe 300blk too....but idk. Might skip having all that craziness. I am eyeballing the SIG 220 Legion in 10mm. We'll see what happens. But I think your approach is solid. IDK if I can bring myself back to 40 now after getting out of it.
Rob, like me it sounds like you would be well served with .45 super or SMC out of a USP. I love my USP tactical and it eats super all day in stock configuration. .45 super is at least equivalent to 10mm, although giving up a little capacity it makes a bigger hole and has more momentum. 255 grain hard cast at 1100 fps should be good enough for anything in the lower 48. Then you can seamless throw in some +P hollow points for around town or home defense, or standard ball for plinking at the range.
Damn, how much did you pay for that Mk23?
I have to honestly say that I eat sleep & breath the .45 I own 3 .45 pistols & carry them a lot. I have to admit I have taken a good deep love for the .357 magnum!!
Weight: Two identical pistols, one in 9mm and one in .45, usually the .45 is lighter because the walls of the barrel are so much thinner. 1911 in 9mm is heavier than a 1911 in .45...
Capacity: There are many who still concealed carry a 5 or 6 shot revolver and feel well armed. The chances of an ordinary civilian facing multiple armed attackers is slim... and if you drop a couple of them, the rest will usually run away.
Came across your channel a few months ago when it was still called devildolphin. I think I have pretty much seen them all going back several years ago. I have been returning to your videos for reliable information with all things "H&K". I can't blame you, but, i have now started my own HK collection. I bought the usp fullsize in .40sw, and the p30 in 9mm. Been eying a couple of 9mm tacticals over on gun broker in the past week. Just hard to talk myself into throwing down 1400 bones for one of those. So, i have been spending the afternoon watching some videos of the 9mm tactical, and seeing if they are special enough to justify spending that much. What are your thoughts on the tactical versions? Are they worth the cost in your opinion? I mean, the p30 shoots good. Is the tactical in 9mm that much better? How about a .40 tactical? Thanks for keeping the good info on here over the years. You've been a great source of information.
Thanks man, that means a lot. As for the tactical question. I have a USP9 SD and the new gen HK pistols (P30, HK 45 series.) The old guns the tacticals are required to run suppressed. They have a different RSA key and spring rates to support the suppressor. I'm working on the USP9SD review, hoping to have it out soon. I need more shooting footage. But the new gen HK pistols don't need special RSA's for some reason. I know Richard Yi is running his P30L with just a threaded barrel, I know the P30 does it also as well as the HK45T's. I'm planning to get some pistol cans in the future and some threaded barrels for the P30's. I would recommend just the barrel, ammo and the can instead of the $1K for the Tactical model. But if you want a USP9 Tactical it's a solid gun.
45 dont shrink! lol
i have to make myself carry it every once in a while. my usp-c 45 will be the last to go if i ever do get out of it
Also a good way to look at it.
I just purchased a 2020 production HK Mark 23 and all the 45 Super (700 ft/lb 185gr and 630 ft/lb 230gr) from Buffalo Bore, all the 45acp +P+ from DoubleTap too. Have lots of 45acp standard pressure on hand.
Shopping for a suppressor now.
The local Cabalas has had 50rd boxes of 230gr JHP for $26. This in Jan 2021. Hahahaha, keep buying all those 9mm handguns people.
Lol you're making it sound like .45 is falling from the sky. I haven't seen 45, 40, or 9 at any stores since the pandemic.
@@FM-xr5nj
The availability of 45acp has been much better then 9mm, both online and in Texas (D/FW) stores.
Less then 1 month ago the Federal Premium website had both defense and range 45acp available, at regular prices. I purchased a 200rd case of SJHP Syntech Defense, and 500 rds of the Syntech range. Ammo deals have been out there, just need to be found.
SG ammo had 1k round cases of 7.65Para (30 Luger) back in Dec, grabbed a few cases.
Max Arms had crates of Austrian 7.65 NATO (308Win) for $530 plus shipping a few weeks ago, sold out in under 24 hours. I got 2 crates FedExed to my door.
I find it and BUY it ASAP.
This ammo situation will get much worse before it gets better.
@@jamescampbell4334 yeah I'm with you on things getting worse before they get better. Just got an email today from some store selling 9mm for $1 a round, it's insane. Thankfully I'm okay on 9mm, but I could def use some more .45. If you're feeling generous, you can ship some out to me in Michigan lol. I've never thought to look at Federal's website, gonna look into that. Good luck to you!
@@FM-xr5nj
Hahahaha, I'm keeping a good ammo supply for my 2 sons and myself. Want to keep enough on hand so we can continue shooting over the next few years.
We've had quite a bit of 50AE ammo in the local gun stores too. 20 rd boxes of Hornady 300gr XTP for $35 per box. That price has not changed in the past 3 years. I grab the 3 box limit about 4 days each week when it's on the shelves.
Best of luck on the ammo hunt, stay safe.
Your range looks like it’s in paradise.