Actual range of a .45ACP round?

Question

Watching a show like Band of Brothers, you see many instances where various soldiers are using a Thompson submachinegun to fire at the enemy across fields and such where it's very long ranges, over a hundred meters or more.

I was thinking that isn't this unrealistic? The .45ACP round is known as having very good stopping power in self-defence type circumstances where the range is short. But isn't it rather low in velocity and would have a very arced trajectory and lose it's power pretty fast with range?

Answer 1

Having fired 2 Thompsons, I can tell you that 50 yards is perfect for these carbines. My range uses steel plates at 25 thru 200 yards, we hit the 50 yard plates no problem, the rear sight does adjust, I forget what the max is, but 100 yard was over half the adjustment, it's not as accurate at 100, but it can still be done, 200 yards was pushing it, we missed more than we hit. Using standard 230gr round ball ammo, exactly what the carbine was designed to shoot, we got our best reults at 50 yards, 25 yards was not only too easy, but a little dangerous using the auto position.Shooting in short bursts, 3-4 rounds at a time, the Thompson is a very controllable firearm, someone used to that weapon could be devastating on a battlefield, especially when their life depended on it. Hollywood exagerates everything for the sake of drama, but I feel certain in the right hands, in the right circumstances, a soldier of WW2 using the Tommy could do very close to what one see's hollywood portray.

Answer 2

Bound's hubby here:

First, as was mentioned earlier ... the Thompson was used in a suppressive fire mode! This means throwing "lead" toward the target. Just because a round has an effective range of perhaps 75 yards does not mean it can not be lethal well beyond that distance ... all you need do is "hold high" so you can "reach" the target. I remember reading an article many years ago about Elmer Keith firing (successfully) a M1911A1 using hardball ammo at targets well over 200 yards I believe ... this was during the development of the 44 Magnum. Please keep in mind a .45-70 Black powder round may move perhaps 500 fps faster than a .45ACP and can still be accurate and lethal to well over 600 yards!

Good luck!

Answer 3

I shot many machine guns in the Army, both the Thompson and the M3 Grease gun. Also the BAR and others.
I own a Thompson and a M3 now and they will shoot and hit at 100 yards. My 1911 A1 will keep all its shots in a man size target at 100 yards if I do my part in aiming and trigger squeeze. Yes soldiers do a lot of shooting to just keep the enemy busy and their heads down so they can be flanked. But that is another good thing that the machine guns do quite well. The heavier bullet will still have more penetration even at lower velocity than the .35 calibers (.357, 9mmL) because of mass momentum.

Answer 4

Are you talking about the scene when Easy Co and elements of Dog Co. are taking the guns at Brecourt Manor? Bill Guarnere shoots a fleeing defender with his Thompson after someone else misses him?
The range was about 50 yards, it looks like more in the scene, but remember it's a view of right behind the shooter. Have a friend walk 50 yards and it looks a lot longer through a lens.
Well within the range of a good Thompson shooter, and Guarnere was a master with that gun. Remember while everyone else was fighting in Africa and Italy, the 506th was training daily for nearly a year in Georgia.

Answer 5

Your assessment of the circa WWII .45 acp bullet is correct. A hardball, 230 grain bullet traveling at less than 900 fps has a maximum effective range of 75 yards when fired out of the pistol. The longer barrel of the Thompson would increase velocity and the range another twenty or so yards but it still is definitely NOT a long range round. During actual battle conditions soldiers may fire simply to keep the enemy from coming closer since no one is foolhardy enough to get within bullet range.

Best.

H

Answer 6

I recall once I haven't shot any .45 in a long time as I was practicing with my .380 for a while. One day at the range, I decided to bring my 1911 and to shoot along side. I bought a box of 100 .45 rounds and well after shooting the .380 for a bit, I decided to open up the .45 box. Needless to say I kept telling myself, "Did I get the right box? These things are HUGE!" Then I shot the target and the holes were MUCH bigger and the power felt great. Overall yeah, after shooting .45 anyone can feel like a superhero. It has that effect.

Answer 7

There is a great difference between accurate firing and "Cover Fire" as you saw in Band of Brothers. In situations like the ones depicted, the volume of fire itself, kept the Germans heads down,preventing them from returning fire, until the American soldiers could flank the German positions and get close enough for sustained and accurate fire. The Thompson 27A1 was in a strictly supportive role in these actions and as most that know will tell you, it wasn't designed for anything but close-up targets below 100 yards, and an increased volume
of fire, nothing more. There was hardly anything that could be considered "Hollywood" about this movie... The problem is the individual perception of what was taking place.....or allowing yourself to believe everything you read on Wikipedia.....

Answer 8

http://www.sightm1911.com/Care/45acp.htm
This sight has the maximum range of the 45 acp out of a Thompson at 1700 yards the effective range however is only 100 yards. This sight specializes in all things 45 acp and M1911-A1.

Answer 9

Yes, the .45 is a bigger round but travels at a slower speed than say a .357. It has more velocity to stop its target, but will not penetrate as deep. The round will not travel as far as a lighter round with the same grains and will be far less accurate.

You are a victim of Hollywood....

Answer 10

Max. effective range is about 100 yds. The .45 ACP ball round , as used by the military only has a muzzle velocity of about 850 fps.