CaliberAtlas › Compare › 9mm Luger vs .45 ACP

9mm Luger vs .45 ACP — Ballistics Compared

9mm Luger shoots flatter with these representative loads: 33.2" vs 48.4" of drop at 150 yards. .45 ACP carries more energy downrange: 230 vs 200 ft-lb retained at 150 yards. 9mm Luger drifts less in a 10 mph crosswind: 10.3" vs 11.4" at 150 yards.

Figures use each cartridge's representative factory load, computed with our validated G1 model at standard conditions. Full tables and every load are on the cartridge pages: 9mm Luger ballistics · .45 ACP ballistics.

Pick 9mm Luger if…

you want the flatter trajectory (33.2" vs 48.4" at 150 yd)

Pick .45 ACP if…

you want more retained energy at distance (230 vs 200 ft-lb at 150 yd)

Side-by-Side Specifications

	9mm Luger	.45 ACP
Representative load	147gr Speer Gold Dot 9mm Luger 147gr GDHP	230gr Winchester USA 230 gr FMJ
Muzzle velocity	985 fps	835 fps
Muzzle energy	317 ft-lb	356 ft-lb
G1 BC	0.164	0.157
Case length	19.15 mm	22.8 mm
Overall length	29.69 mm	32.4 mm
SAAMI max pressure	35,000 PSI	21,000 PSI
Common twist	1:10"	1:16"

Drop Comparison (inches)

	9mm Luger	.45 ACP
50 yd	-0.9"	-1.9"
100 yd	-10.9"	-16.8"
150 yd	-33.2"	-48.4"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	9mm Luger	.45 ACP
50 yd	270 ft-lb	306 ft-lb
100 yd	231 ft-lb	265 ft-lb
150 yd	200 ft-lb	230 ft-lb

Wind Drift — 10 mph Full-Value (inches)

	9mm Luger	.45 ACP
50 yd	1.2"	1.3"
100 yd	4.6"	5.1"
150 yd	10.3"	11.4"

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