A .45 caliber question?

Question

To hear handgun enthusiasts, you would think the .45 acp is ultimate in offensive handgun rounds. But what about it's use in WW2 submachine guns? Did it really give any advantage over 9 mm types. It sure resulted in less rounds in the clip.

Answer 1

.45 is a large, slow hunk of metal. Ideal for man-stopping. In fact, the .45 ACP is back among Special Operators; they have pretty much dropped the 9mm M9, and carry Kimbers. True, it was, and still is, a popular round in Europe, but just doesn't have knockdown power over say 50m.
I think maybe you are referring to the 20 round box magazine of the M1/M2 Thompson. That was more a designer decision, than a limfac of the cartridge itself. In fact, its replacement, the M3 "Grease Gun" had 30 round magazines issued with it.
The FBI has also moved away from 9mm, moving to 10mm/.40 caliber weapons. The 10mm is a good compromise between the high muzzle velocity of the 9mm, and hitting power of .45 ACP.

Answer 2

The reason the army went back to the.45 cal round was stopping power. In the Philippine Intersection it was found that the issued .38 pistol round did not have the stopping power of the .45.

In Sub-machine guns the idea is to get a whole lot of metal downrange as fast as possible and they are only good at close range. So the American Thompson and the Grease Gun of WWII Fame used .45 acp rounds. These have a hell of a kick and put a big hole in those that are on the receiving end.

In the 1970's the US and it's NATO Allies standardize ammunition for the armies of the alliance NATO Allies adopted the 5.56mm, .23 caliber,Round for their Assault rifles, the 7.62mm..30 caliber round for the light machine gun and the 9mm. parabellum ,.44 Caliber round for the hand guns and sub machine gun rounds. The US Still uses the M1911 .45 Pistol for Special operations.

Answer 3

owning a 45 sw 1911, its a great handgun, i have also fired the thompson 45. submachine gun, on the less rounds in the clip. the one i used had a 20 round straight clip, could have paid more at the rental place for the hundred round drum clip. i believe they were figuring throwing that many round down range that quick it was bound to do some damage.

Answer 4

Truly, the .38 standard issue revolver (long Colt) did not have the power to stop a strapped-up Moro charging with a bolo, but really neither did the .45, whether in single-action form or in acp.

It became sop during our Philippine campaign to post guards with three weapons: one with a Krag for accuracy, one with a Springfield trapdoor for power, and one with a '97 Winchester shotgun, which was the only thing that would actually stop them at close range.

In mho there was no need for the US armed forces to switch from .45 acp to 9mm. In combat, when you need a handgun it is already too late. Picture Tom Hanks throwing .45 rounds at a tank. If he'd had a 9mm Browning he might have gotten off a couple of extra shots.