Facing Off: 357 Magnum or 45 ACP?
There’s no arguing that both the .45 ACP and the .357 Magnum are powerful and effective rounds. They are both American made, iconic, and time-tested. The .45 ACP has served our military men well while the .357 Mag had aided lawmen and hunters alike. So, which of these two titans is better than the other? Let’s take a deeper look and when we’re done you can stop by our ammo store and buy some high-quality, cheap ammo.
The .45 ACP
The legendary John Browning designed the .45ACP in 1905 specifically for the U.S. Military. The soldiers on the front line need a powerful round that could stop their enemies in their tracks. Despite being a larger and slower-moving bullet the .45ACP proved to be more effective than a high-velocity round. In fact, the Thompson submachine gun was loaded with 230-grain .45 ACP cartridges since it allowed for a friction-delayed blowback action.
Even though the .45ACP has a lot of stopping power there is only a moderate amount of recoil, making it a relatively easy round to handle. Pair with a greater wound channel and the .45 ACP becomes a great self-defense round. One of the few downsides of the round is despite being well stocked in ammo stores everywhere it can get a little pricey. Additionally, because of its size, carrying capacity becomes somewhat limited.
The .357 Magnum
The .357 Magnum was developed in the 1930s as a direct response to cars and the bulletproof vests that gangsters began using around that time. The .38 Super Automatics were no longer doing an adequate job and lawmen needed something more powerful. The .357’s early design is credited to Elmer Kieth but it wasn’t until Smith and Wesson’s improvements that the .357’s popularity soared. While the .357 Mag has less energy propelling it, it’s higher velocity and smaller size resulted in greater penetration than other revolver-based magnums.
Bonus: revolvers chambered for .357 Magnums are capable of firing the cheaper .38 Special bullets, meaning that you could practice more with your revolver of choice with a less expensive round. As with any good thing, there are a few downsides; there is heavy recoil, muzzle blast, and of course, low carry capacity.
The Winner Is
There are going to be die-hard supporters on both sides of the argument and to them, this may seem like a bit of a cop-out, but there is no clear winner between the two legendary rounds. To really answer this question, you’ll have to consider what application the round will be used for. If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly, versatile round, your winner is definitely the .357. Plus, it can be used as an effective hunting and self-defense round. If you’re looking for a solid, unbeatable self-defense round, that has the ultimate amount of stopping power than .45 ACP should have a home in your gun safe.
About LAX Ammo
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